

May 2008 Company News \| From the Desk of \| Industry News Special Offer Meet Scott King Zerion’s product is its people. Since it’s rare that our friends and clients get to meet all of the outstanding professionals that make up our company, this month we’d like you to introduce you to Scott. Residence: Orlando, Florida Hometown: Born in Katy, Texas but grew up in Ponca City, Oklahoma Position with Zerion: Consultant What did you do before joining Zerion? I was a full-time college student, but I also managed a children's entertainment center. What is your specialty at Zerion? Branch operations and purchasing are the two things I focus on most. What is the best location you’ve traveled to for your job? I would have to say Seattle or Las Vegas. What is your favorite “customer success” story? The most rewarding experience I've had thus far was when I successfully taught a customer in Tennessee how to use the purchasing system in Eclipse. It was the first time I had tackled purchasing on my own, which is a difficult aspect of the system to teach. How do you spend most of your time when you’re not working? I enjoy playing golf or being near the water, whether at the beach or on a lake. I also cherish time spent with my new fiancée, since I travel a lot for work. What is a little known, interesting fact about you? I lived in Dubai for a short time when I was young, from a little under a year old to about 2. Favorite book or movie and why: I'm a movie buff and Jurassic Park is one of my all-time favorites, including the book. I was always fascinated by dinosaurs. In one sentence, describe your philosophy on life and work: Step back and take a deep breath, then act. Back to Top A few months ago, Tony used this space to address the economy and the opportunities it can present for your business. Since this topic continues to keep many of our customers awake at night, it only makes sense to spend more time on it. Here’s my take … Those of us that are old enough to remember gas lines, 16% prime interest, stagflation and 11% mortgage money, look at the current economic environment from a different perspective than those that have only enjoyed the tremendous, unprecedented growth over the past 15 years. During those difficult times of the 1970’s, the companies that not only survived, but also thrived, took a deep look into their businesses and realized that they could no longer outsell their problems. They became leaner and more productive. As I compare our last bout with a slow economy to today, a major difference that jumps out are the tremendous strides in technology. There is a vast arsenal of resources at the disposal of companies that can play a large part in driving down operating costs and increasing productivity. Many of these solutions have relatively short paybacks, but will yield substantial cost savings for years to come. During these times, I think it’s important that you pause to consider what implementing a productivity enhancing technology solution or engaging in an operational review can do for you. There are several ways Zerion can help you to come out of this a winner, rather than just a survivor: • With the cost of gasoline near $4.00 and diesel at $5.00 per gallon, consider the implementation of a fully integrated logistics and fleet management solution like RouteView. Actual case studies have shown that distributors with a 10-truck fleet have successfully reduced to 8 vehicles through more efficient route planning and monitoring. • Many distributors carry too much inventory to support their current sales levels. Zerion consultants can dig into your data and recommend areas of improvement to your demand forecasting and replenishment systems to dramatically reduce your inventory costs. • As Tony mentioned in March, an RF Warehouse solution can substantially improve your receiving and picking efficiencies, reduce inventory shrinkage and increase customer satisfaction. These are just a few of many ideas. If you’re still not convinced, there is some good news to consider: the Economic Stimulus Package of 2008 recently enacted by Congress has a business provision that give companies additional tax write-offs for investments in new capital equipment, of which, computer software, hardware and the implementation costs qualify. I encourage you to take bold steps to drive efficiencies into your organization and wish you and your business all the best. Jack Whitwam, President 813.758.6103 Back to Top What’s happening with distribution, software and business? Zerion is committed to being a resource for our clients and friends. In the newsroom on our Web site, we have an RSS feed supplying new articles all the time. We also have some links to industry news. Here are some of the recent articles we found most interesting: Growing Number of Small and Mid-Size Distributors Using RF Scanning to Increase Speed and Accuracy 2008 Wholesale Distribution Economic Reports: Now available Transportation costs could reverse outsourcing Wolseley To Close 75 Ferguson Locations Want more news? Visit us at: www.zeriongroup.com/newsroom/industrynews.html Back to Top Get a 2-hour Webinar of your choice ... Haven’t used us, or haven't tried web-based training before? Try us with a 2-hour Webinar of your choice for a reduced, fixed fee. We offer everything from basic sales to purchasing. Contact Tony King for more information. Offer available until June 30, 2008. Back to Top	Have you ever found yourself needing to edit an order while in view-only mode? Whether you're an Eterm or Solar user, there is an easy solution for editing an order in view-only mode. By holding down the control key and number 1 key In Solar, the system will change the ticket from view only mode to edit mode. In Eterm, you use the Alt key plus the number 1 key.

May 2008

Company News | From the Desk of | Industry News
Special Offer

Meet Scott King
Zerion’s product is its people. Since it’s rare that our friends and clients get to meet all of the outstanding professionals that make up our company, this month we’d like you to introduce you to Scott.

Residence: Orlando, Florida
Hometown: Born in Katy, Texas but grew up in Ponca City, Oklahoma
Position with Zerion: Consultant

What did you do before joining Zerion?
I was a full-time college student, but I also managed a children's entertainment center.

What is your specialty at Zerion?
Branch operations and purchasing are the two things I focus on most.

What is the best location you’ve traveled to for your job?
I would have to say Seattle or Las Vegas.

What is your favorite “customer success” story?
The most rewarding experience I've had thus far was when I successfully taught a customer in Tennessee how to use the purchasing system in Eclipse. It was the first time I had tackled purchasing on my own, which is a difficult aspect of the system to teach.

How do you spend most of your time when you’re not working?
I enjoy playing golf or being near the water, whether at the beach or on a lake. I also cherish time spent with my new fiancée, since I travel a lot for work.

What is a little known, interesting fact about you?
I lived in Dubai for a short time when I was young, from a little under a year old to about 2.

Favorite book or movie and why:
I'm a movie buff and Jurassic Park is one of my all-time favorites, including the book. I was always fascinated by dinosaurs.

In one sentence, describe your philosophy on life and work:
Step back and take a deep breath, then act.

From the desk of Jack Whitwam A few months ago, Tony used this space to address the economy and the opportunities it can present for your business. Since this topic continues to keep many of our customers awake at night, it only makes sense to spend more time on it. Here’s my take …

Those of us that are old enough to remember gas lines, 16% prime interest, stagflation and 11% mortgage money, look at the current economic environment from a different perspective than those that have only enjoyed the tremendous, unprecedented growth over the past 15 years. During those difficult times of the 1970’s, the companies that not only survived, but also thrived, took a deep look into their businesses and realized that they could no longer outsell their problems. They became leaner and more productive.

As I compare our last bout with a slow economy to today, a major difference that jumps out are the tremendous strides in technology. There is a vast arsenal of resources at the disposal of companies that can play a large part in driving down operating costs and increasing productivity. Many of these solutions have relatively short paybacks, but will yield substantial cost savings for years to come.

During these times, I think it’s important that you pause to consider what implementing a productivity enhancing technology solution or engaging in an operational review can do for you. There are several ways Zerion can help you to come out of this a winner, rather than just a survivor:

• With the cost of gasoline near $4.00 and diesel at $5.00 per gallon, consider the implementation of a fully integrated logistics and fleet management solution like RouteView. Actual case studies have shown that distributors with a 10-truck fleet have successfully reduced to 8 vehicles through more efficient route planning and monitoring.

• Many distributors carry too much inventory to support their current sales levels. Zerion consultants can dig into your data and recommend areas of improvement to your demand forecasting and replenishment systems to dramatically reduce your inventory costs.

• As Tony mentioned in March, an RF Warehouse solution can substantially improve your receiving and picking efficiencies, reduce inventory shrinkage and increase customer satisfaction.

These are just a few of many ideas. If you’re still not convinced, there is some good news to consider: the Economic Stimulus Package of 2008 recently enacted by Congress has a business provision that give companies additional tax write-offs for investments in new capital equipment, of which, computer software, hardware and the implementation costs qualify.

I encourage you to take bold steps to drive efficiencies into your organization and wish you and your business all the best.

Jack Whitwam, President
813.758.6103

What’s happening with distribution, software and business?
Zerion is committed to being a resource for our clients and friends. In the newsroom on our Web site, we have an RSS feed supplying new articles all the time. We also have some links to industry news. Here are some of the recent articles we found most interesting:

Growing Number of Small and Mid-Size Distributors Using RF Scanning to Increase Speed and Accuracy

2008 Wholesale Distribution Economic Reports: Now available

Transportation costs could reverse outsourcing

Wolseley To Close 75 Ferguson Locations

Want more news? Visit us at: www.zeriongroup.com/newsroom/industrynews.html

Get a 2-hour Webinar of your choice ...
Haven’t used us, or haven't tried web-based training before? Try us with a 2-hour Webinar of your choice for a reduced, fixed fee. We offer everything from basic sales to purchasing.

Contact Tony King for more information. Offer available until June 30, 2008.

Have you ever found yourself needing to edit an order while in view-only mode?

Whether you're an Eterm or Solar user, there is an easy solution for editing an order in view-only mode. By holding down the control key and number 1 key In Solar, the system will change the ticket from view only mode to edit mode. In Eterm, you use the Alt key plus the number 1 key.