Title Cloud Trends.pdf ✅

Copyright © 2018, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved Page 1 STORIES FROM THE FRONT LINE: The Cloud Addresses Key Trends in Distribution t www.netsuite.com.au
Copyright © 2018, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved Page 3 To the untrained eye, distribution may appear to be a fairly straightforward industry—in all reality, however, it is evolving more rapidly than ever before. From increased competition and changing business models to a barrage of new, innovative technologies, the way distributors do business is starkly and fundamentally different than it was even five years ago. In an age with such pronounced structural change and competitive pressures, to risk not changing is to risk failing. There are five key trends distributors need to pay attention to as they adapt and innovate to the changing industry: 1. The modern consumer is always online – commerce is key for continued success. 2. Competition is everywhere, and they are more innovative and tech-savvy than ever before. 3. Business models are rapidly changing as distributors explore new ways of going to market. 4. Investing in technology is critical for the success of every type of business, not just the Amazons of the world. 5. Enabling employee productivity— particularly among millennials—is critical for achieving long-term goals. If distributors thought the advances in business technology, increased prevalence of online buying and changing business models were not a factor, then they need to think again, and think again fast. Given these key trends impacting the industry, investing in the appropriate technologies to address them effectively is absolutely critical for continued success. By learning about the trends, the businesses thriving in the midst of them and the technology available to address the trends, distributors are arming themselves with the knowledge they need to remain competitive. Stories from the Front Line: The Cloud Addresses Key Trends in Distribution #1. Your Target Market is Online, and You Should Be Too #2. Competition is Everywhere and They are Leaner, Meaner and More Tech-savvy Than Ever #3. Business Models are Rapidly Changing #4. Investing in Tech is Not Just for the Amazons of the World #5. Employee Productivity—Particularly in the Millennial Generation—is Critical for Success
Copyright © 2018, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved Page 4 #1. YOUR TARGET MARKET IS ONLINE, AND YOU SHOULD BE TOO The modern consumer, across every part of the supply chain, turns to the internet as their source of knowledge for purchase decisions—that said, a strong online presence is crucial for continued business success, both in the world of B2B and B2C commerce. Ecommerce continues to be a key trend and distributors need to be ahead of it if they want to remain relevant and fresh in the face of major industry changes. No longer is seeking an ideal customer experience restricted to the online shopper—business buyers and online shoppers alike look for the kind of omnichannel experience that gives them flexibility and power in their purchasing. As a business, capitalising on this customer experience means catering to both your direct buyers and shoppers with an ecommerce tool that can provide functionality for each market. HEAR IT FROM THE BUSINESSES LIVING IT STM Goods is a perfect example of a company experiencing growth in the ecommerce and new B2B markets by capitalising on new commerce technology. Since implementing NetSuite OneWorld in 2014, the company has seen significant growth and expansion, doubling its revenue and slashing operational costs across the entire business. Customer Spotlight: STM Goods Stories from the Front Line: The Cloud Addresses Key Trends in Distribution NetSuite is efficiently able to handle financials, sales, inventory and back-end ecommerce across STM operations in Australia, US and UK, plus 10 warehouses located throughout the globe. The result is a seamless customer experience that has allowed STM Goods to thrive. The company’s retailer network has grown from 1200 to 3000 and their production volumes have doubled, which is a true testament to the importance of distributors building a strong online presence to insure continued growth and success.
Copyright © 2018, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved Page 5 #2. COMPETITION IS EVERYWHERE AND THEY ARE LEANER, MEANER AND MORE TECH-SAVVY THAN EVER In today’s distribution landscape, it is only getting harder to differentiate. With the ever growing number of competitors, how do distributors position themselves as unique and stay a step ahead? What trends are affecting the industry, and how can distributors capitalise on them? Assessing and reassessing these questions on a regular basis is absolutely essential for continued success in the constantly evolving world of distribution. Businesses need to remain agile and poised for change at the drop of a hat in order to compete against the fast-moving, innovative competition. If a distributor wants to quickly add a new product line, onboard a new supplier for a same day order or get their product to the end buyer as quickly as possible, then they, without a doubt, need the technologies in place to cater to rapid pivots. There is no leniency to allow for the costly time associated with manual entry, disparate systems and dated technology. HEAR IT FROM THE BUSINESSES LIVING IT Fresh Produce Group wanted to take its business to the next level and forge ahead of their competition, but the realty was that the systems it was running weren’t going to support the goals and plans they had. Previously running on a DOS-based financial system and Excel spreadsheets to manage operations, the company lacked the visibility they needed to grow their business network across California farms, Sydney restaurants and Hong Kong supermarkets. Since implementing NetSuite, Fresh Produce Group have been able to create a platform that suits their needs perfectly. Building a custom module on NetSuite to manage pallets, integrated with radio frequency technology for barcode scanning, the company can now manage higher stock volumes and has the ability to expand with minimal increase in administrative staff. New sites and users can be added swiftly, allowing the company to grow without being held back by the delays and costs of implementing on premise technology. Customer Spotlight: Fresh Produce Group Stories from the Front Line: The Cloud Addresses Key Trends in Distribution