Clients and Case Studies
Helping a SaaS Software Provider Understand the US Market Opportunity
A very successful French software solutions provider, who for over 20 years has been supplying Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions for warehouse management, transportation management, supply-chain flow-through, and performance management to the European market engaged with TriPoint to understand the US market opportunity and develop a strategic plan to enter the market.TriPoint's Market Exploration Services have helped us understand the US market, allowed us to develop a very focused positioning, together with a competitive pricing model and a business plan for the entry into the market. The focus group sessions provided unique feedback from executives at potential customers, analysts, consultants and thought leaders - an invaluable tool in the development of our US strategy. TriPoint's comprehensive analysis gave us a very good understanding for the opportunity, the challenges, the necessary investments and the strategic approach. We have decided to enter the North American market and following TriPoint's recommendations, we should be ready before the end of the year.André Suel, General Manager; DSIA, a member of the Kuehne+Nagel Group
Improving Warehouse Operations for a Leading Distributor
TriPoint Interactive was retained by a leading distributor of clothing, incentive
award programs, and protective equipment. The company specializes in a
variety of customization services for its customers, including monogramming,
direct embroidery, patch application, and garment sizing. The company ships
worldwide.
Within 8 weeks, the joint client and TriPoint Interactive teams were able to
significantly improve key supply chain performance metrics without
jeopardizing service levels, illustrated by continued sales growth.
- Average order to ship days reduced 25%
- Receiving to putaway days reduced 27%
- Labor overtime hours reduced 30%
According to the Chief Operating Officer, “I would recommend the TriPoint
team to anyone. They had a fine group of experienced people onsite with
short notice and worked the long days and weekends necessary to get the job
done. I believe in hitting problem situations early, with the right level of
resources. I can call on the TriPoint people when I need them to get us
through a warehouse move, acquisition or whatever other major resource gap
needs to be covered.”
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Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence for the Automotive Retail Market |
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TriPoint Interactive (TPI) worked with Tirecraft Auto Centers, a leading Canadian tire retailer and auto service provider, to integrate data from twenty business applications and provide daily visibility into operational data, financial data and inventory details across Tirecraft's national stores network.
The new data warehousing and reporting environment provides daily visibility into the financial and operational aspects of our company. By integrating the data from 20 business systems, TriPoint gave us tools to improve the management of our business, to make better use of our inventory and to improve our cash flow.
David J. Case —CFO Tirecraft Auto Centers Ltd.
Building on Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Reporting Services and Microsoft Integration Services, TPI used its in-depth understanding of supply chain performance metrics and the relationship of the KPIs to the detailed transactional data to quickly create a high value-add solution.
Off Invoice Discount Management for Wholesale Distribution
TriPoint Interactive (TPI) worked with a national wholesale distributor to create a management infrastructure for off-invoice discounts. Off-invoice discounts have a significant impact on Cost of Sales (COS), are dependent on the distribution channel, and vary widely for seasonal goods. Correctly integrating all aspects of COS is crucial to understand true profitability of products, customers and suppliers.
TriPoint Interactive (TPI) leveraged Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Reporting Services, and Microsoft Office to create an integrated environment to document off-invoice discount programs, accrue the discounts into inventory based on product receipt, recognize COS at time of sale and to provide detailed profitability reports for operations, finance, and sales.
Building on Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Reporting Services and Microsoft Integration Services, TPI used its in-depth understanding of supply chain performance metrics and the relationship of the KPIs to the detailed transactional data to quickly create a high value-add solution.
Leveraging SCOR Process Modeling to Harmonize Global Value |
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TriPoint Interactive worked with Kuehne+Nagel Lead Logistics and one of their global customers to create a harmonized and optimized definition for the outbound distribution of medical equipment worldwide.
Using SCOR (Supply Chain Operations Reference), a team of TriPoint and Kuehne+Nagel facilitated a focused review of As-Is processes, internal best practices, and process challenges before facilitating the design of a globally harmonized and optimized process, built on best practices and generally agreed upon industry references.
Using eCommerce to Improve Customer Service
TriPoint Interactive worked with Canada's largest independent tire distributor, with over 25 branches across all Canadian provinces, distributing more than 20,000 SKUs to over 15,000 customers up to four times per day to improve electronic ordering.
The client had a rudimentary eCommerce infrastructure that customers considered unreliable and difficult to use. As a result, barely 9% of sales were executed electronically in 2005.
The management of the company wanted to propagate eCommerce as a way to
reduce the cost of serving customers while at the same time being able to accept and deliver orders even on the busiest days when the customer service center was reaching its maximum capacity.
TriPoint Interactive worked with the management to grow electronic sales from 9% of sales to 23%, while overall sales grew by 10%.
Improving Supply Chain Performance in Wholesale Distribution
TriPoint Interactive was engaged by a very successful distribution company, having sustained significant year over year growth for many years. The client is extremely focused on service
excellence, which has significantly contributed to its historic growth. However, the management felt that the focus on revenue and service was not complemented by a concentration on inventory performance and cost management.
In close cooperation with the client's management team, TriPoint
Interactive looked at all aspects of supply chain performance including:
- People: The joint team reviewed and evaluated the skill sets, the organizational structure, the training, the reward and recognition systems, and their impact on supply chain performance.
- Process: The joint team reviewed and evaluated the key supply chain management processes relating to the order to cash cycle, inventory management, demand management, supply management, forecasting and replenishment planning
- Profit: The joint team reviewed and evaluated the key financial metrics used in the day to day management of the business as well as their role and appropriateness in supply chain decision making.
- Information Technology: The joint team reviewed and evaluated the existing systems supporting communication, integration, business transactions, analytics and planning.
Within less than 12 months, the joint teams were able to significantly improve key supply chain performance metrics without jeopardizing service levels, illustrated by continued sales growth.
- Average Inventory Turns improved by 25%
- Average Inventory Days of Supply (IDS) dropped by almost 20%
- Return of Working Capital (ROWC) grew by 50%
Improving Freight Management
TriPoint Interactive Inc. (TPI) worked with our client - a large, national tire distributor with over 25 local offices and four major distribution centers, supplying more than 20,000 SKUs to over 15,000 customers up to four times per day - to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their freight spend.
The client was faced with a freight spend that grew faster than net operating revenue. Using a systematic process methodology, the team was able to reduce freight spend by approximately 10% coming from:
- Negotiation of better freight rates
- Elimination of in-house trucks
- Reduction of freight claims
- Carrier self auditing
- Standardized freight management processes
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