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Southern Book Company Increases Net Margins, Doubles Revenue with Open Source ERP
Distributor implements hosted version of Compiere enterprise resource planning system; integrates accounting, distribution and inventory management functions across DCs
Redwood Shores, CA — August 12, 2008 — Atlanta-based Southern Book Company (SBC) has successfully implemented a hosted version of solution provider's Compiere open-source enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, the solution provider has announced.
Since implementing Compiere in 2006, SBC has increased net margins by 10 percent and more than doubled revenue by integrating the company's accounting, distribution and inventory management functions across various U.S.-based warehousing operations, Compiere said.
"Compiere's open source technology helped us greatly improve business processes with functionality that supports continued growth but at a price that supports our current size and structure," says Brian Schoenbaechler, president of Southern Book Company. "The inventory management and warehousing efficiencies Compiere helped us create have enabled us to expand our business model in a smart, sustainable way."
According to Compiere, SBC has experienced a marked improvement in productivity across its warehouses due to order management functions within the ERP system. When orders arrive, they are now entered into Compiere, on-hand inventory is confirmed, and pick tickets are printed from Compiere. When inventory is ready for shipment, the pick ticket is scanned and the shipping data for each order is transmitted to the third-party shipper's system.
Invoices also are automatically created using the same data, reducing data entry requirements and the potential for billing errors. As an added benefit, SBC's customers can now monitor their inventory through remote system access, a process that presented security concerns prior to implementing Compiere.
"Recent studies have shown that many small and mid-market companies are now embracing open source technology for their business needs due to functionality and affordability when compared to proprietary enterprise systems," said Don Klaiss, president and CEO of Compiere. "Southern Book Company's success is yet another example of Compiere's ability to positively affect companies' productivity and profitability with minimal cost of ownership."
SBC worked with Compiere partner KnowledgeBlue, an open source services provider, to identify the company's ERP needs and develop custom extensions within Compiere for third-party shipping interfaces and a business intelligence dashboard, among others. Knowledge Blue continues to host SBC's Compiere implementation and provides support and additional customizations.
Southern Book Company specializes in the distribution of educational publishing materials and other goods and services across the United States. Founded in 1996, the company is based in Atlanta, where it has a 60,000 square foot warehouse, and it operates an 80,000 square foot warehouse facility in Asheboro, North Carolina. Southern Book Company's customer base is growing and now includes product manufacturers in addition to leading educational publishing companies such as Alfred Publishers and William H. Sadlier.
Since implementing Compiere in 2006, SBC has increased net margins by 10 percent and more than doubled revenue by integrating the company's accounting, distribution and inventory management functions across various U.S.-based warehousing operations, Compiere said.
"Compiere's open source technology helped us greatly improve business processes with functionality that supports continued growth but at a price that supports our current size and structure," says Brian Schoenbaechler, president of Southern Book Company. "The inventory management and warehousing efficiencies Compiere helped us create have enabled us to expand our business model in a smart, sustainable way."
According to Compiere, SBC has experienced a marked improvement in productivity across its warehouses due to order management functions within the ERP system. When orders arrive, they are now entered into Compiere, on-hand inventory is confirmed, and pick tickets are printed from Compiere. When inventory is ready for shipment, the pick ticket is scanned and the shipping data for each order is transmitted to the third-party shipper's system.
Invoices also are automatically created using the same data, reducing data entry requirements and the potential for billing errors. As an added benefit, SBC's customers can now monitor their inventory through remote system access, a process that presented security concerns prior to implementing Compiere.
"Recent studies have shown that many small and mid-market companies are now embracing open source technology for their business needs due to functionality and affordability when compared to proprietary enterprise systems," said Don Klaiss, president and CEO of Compiere. "Southern Book Company's success is yet another example of Compiere's ability to positively affect companies' productivity and profitability with minimal cost of ownership."
SBC worked with Compiere partner KnowledgeBlue, an open source services provider, to identify the company's ERP needs and develop custom extensions within Compiere for third-party shipping interfaces and a business intelligence dashboard, among others. Knowledge Blue continues to host SBC's Compiere implementation and provides support and additional customizations.
Southern Book Company specializes in the distribution of educational publishing materials and other goods and services across the United States. Founded in 1996, the company is based in Atlanta, where it has a 60,000 square foot warehouse, and it operates an 80,000 square foot warehouse facility in Asheboro, North Carolina. Southern Book Company's customer base is growing and now includes product manufacturers in addition to leading educational publishing companies such as Alfred Publishers and William H. Sadlier.
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