Industrial Distribution: Managing Customers and Growth

 
 
 
Join Michael Shoemaker, Director of Microsoft’s Distribution & Consumer Goods Industry Development and Nick Castellina, Research Associate for Enterprise Applications and Manufacturing Industries with Aberdeen Group, as they discuss Industrial Distribution: Managing Customers and Growth. As the economy swings into recovery mode, Industrial distribution companies are getting ready for growth in both their organization and their technology infrastructure. From data derived from Aberdeen's rigorous research methodology, we will show that managing the customer experience, along with the usual cost pressure, is the most important challenge that industrial distribution companies face.

In this webinar, you will see benchmark data that highlights how successful industrial distributers respond to their challenges through Best-in-Class strategies. The speakers will also examine what capabilities and enabling technologies these successful companies bring to bear to drive their strategies. You will learn how successful industrial distributers prepare themselves for growth while striving to still maintain service levels to their customers.

Finally, the speakers will discuss how top manufacturers are answering some of the most pressing technology questions in the industry today, including:
  • What technologies to focus on to support your business strategies?
  • How do successful industrial distribution companies approach modernizing their infrastructure?
  • What benefits should you be getting from your ERP system?
  • Does social media play a role in collaboration with the business?
  • What should you do organizationally to get the most out of your systems?


About Our Presenters:


Nick Castellina, Research Associate, Enterprise Applications, Aberdeen Group
Nick Castellina is a Research Associate in the Aberdeen Group’s Enterprise Applications practice. Nick joined Aberdeen in 2010, since then he has been involved with research pertaining to the capabilities that manufacturers, as well as all other small and medium enterprises, are implementing along with the benefits that these businesses are seeing from their Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solutions. He is currently involved with a series of studies pertaining to the recently increased willingness of businesses to consider Software as a Service (SaaS) as a deployment method for their ERP solutions. Nick has also recently taken part in reports on project management and financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting.



Michael Shoemaker, Director of Microsoft’s Distribution & Consumer Goods Industry Development, Microsoft
As Director of Microsoft’s Distribution & Consumer Goods Industry Development, Michael oversees all key areas of influence pertaining to the Production, Distribution, Transportation, and Logistics segments of the Supply Chain. Key areas of focus include Product evaluation, Vertical Solutions, Internal and External Go To Market, and both Developer and Reselling Partner coordination pertaining to the overall Distribution & CPG strategy for all Microsoft Dynamics Brands. Michael’s history includes 29 years in the Financial Accounting and ERP industry focusing entirely on partner channel driven models including 6 years supporting Deloitte, Touché Solutions globally. Michael lives in Colorado where he attended Western State and University of Colorado and has his BBA in Accounting.