Inventory Control Software Consultant Import-Export Success Story – Hampton Forge, Ltd.
As an inventory control software consultant firm, AKA Computer Consulting (AKA) helps deliver solutions for growing companies in the New York City Metro and Tri-State area. This article focuses on how one successful company now runs more profitably and efficiently with the implementation of a customized solution delivered by AKA. Read the full success story to learn how AKA consultants helped this international import-export company Hampton Forge, Ltd. leverage inventory control software integrated with third-party solutions.
“We’re completely satisfied with AKA Computer Consulting in all aspects: inventory management, forecasting, purchasing, reporting. With international trading, we need to be on top of our game, and AKA Computer Consulting gets us there.”
- Kenneth Siletski - Hampton Forge Chief Financial Officer
Hampton Forge has leaned on AKA Computer Consulting since 1995. AKA helped implement a secure financial management system with integrated third-party solutions to solve forecasting and inventory challenges, process EDI orders, and manage multiple company profiles. Originally, the company used AKA Computer Consulting when they had 5 users. Since then, Hampton Forge has upgraded to SQL. AKA Computer Consulting’s expertise incorporated integrated third-party solutions seamlessly. Now Hampton Forge has a comprehensive front-to-back office solution that accommodates their global, multi-million dollar business with five locations in Asia, South America, and the United States. Working directly with AKA Computer Consulting Hampton Forge has fully automated its international import export business processes.
Managing Global Stock Levels over the years, keeping pace with sales and maintaining optimal stock levels quickly became a challenge as the company expanded to five locations in Asia, South America, and the United States. AKA Computer Consulting specializes in consulting services for helping implement inventory control software solutions for growing International importing exporting, wholesale and distribution companies. It took AKA’s unique expertise and 20+ years of experience to transform Hampton Forge’s challenges into a more streamlined and profitable company.
1. Business Intelligence - Real-time access to current and historical information is now their finger-tips, Hampton Forge employees can have an instant snapshot of current inventory and sales information, business operations and projected growth opportunities. It’s now possible to maintain minimum inventory levels without compromising customer satisfaction. Company personnel can analyze with dynamic ‘slice and dice’ and drill-down capabilities to leverage data and to report what matters by salesperson, department, division or region. Data is obtained from the Sales Forecast and Demand Planning Report and provides “a forecast that is tied directly to cash flow projections,” said Kenneth Siletski, Hampton Forge Chief Financial Officer. “We can see our entire business from acquisition to cash receipts instantly.”
2. Multiple Company Consolidation - As an international conglomerate, Hampton Forge has multiple companies in the US, Canada and other countries around the world. General Ledger’s standard drill-down feature enables company personnel to quickly analyze information by salesperson, department or division. Multi-view capability allows Hampton Forge employees to toggle between companies, view pertinent company data and track global trends by company, country or division. With Consolidated Ledger, Hampton Forge quickly combines account balances and budget information from multiple companies into a single unified ledger to present consolidated financial statements and other reports as well.
3. Bar Coding - The company now has a real-time shipping and inventory management solution. Using radio-frequency bar-code scanning technology, ACCU-DART automates inventory management, controls FIFO inventory processing and instantly updates the ERP system. This supports a knowledgeable workforce that ensures the continuum between planning, picking and shipping. Routine cycle counting is tailored to focus on items with higher value, higher movement volume, or that are critical to business processes by season, design-type or warehouse.
“After using the AKA Computer Consulting Inventory Control software system for 12 months, year-end inventory was off by under $1,000,” recalls Siletski.
4. Shipping Optimization - Previously, outdated inventory remained in stock which was costly to the company’s bottom line. Consequently, every warehouse required oldest inventory pulled, packed and shipped first following the FIFO (first in, first out) inventory management technique. This process was time consuming and inefficient. To solve this business challenge, AKA Computer Consulting customized logic by adding received dates to the inventory and travels from location to location. As a result, the necessary internal system required to pull orders utilizing FIFO was automatically generated for all of Hampton Forge’s warehouses around the world.
5. Shipping Automation - With the increase of internet orders generated, Hampton Forge needed to pick, pack and ship small packages. ShipIT developed by AKA Consulting, integrates directly with UPS and FedEx, and posts the order status online instantly, providing shipping and tracking information to the consumer on-the-spot.
6. Sales Commissions - To solve the complexity of calculating commissions to inside/outside sales representatives, Hampton Forge installed a Sales Commission Module by AKA Consulting. Designed to automate commission payments, Sales Commission Module seamlessly integrates with the inventory control ERP software so every transaction is posted in real time.
7. EDI - Hampton Forge also needed an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) solution that automates order acknowledgments, invoices, ASN’s and other status updates with customers. Auto-generated e-mail alerts report key inventory and sales information and document time-sensitive operations. A bulk picking solution that supports wave picking from bin locations and for multiple orders helped solve warehouse inefficiencies.
Leveraging AKA Computer Consulting’s industry expertise and ability to make customizations in an open database architecture, Hampton Forge solved their inventory control software and alert challenges easily with seamless third-party integrations. As a result, these changes have enabled Hampton Forge to effectively and efficiently manage warehouse functions with minimum effort.
About Hampton Forge, Ltd.
Founded in 1992, Hampton Forge, Ltd. is a privately-held design, importing, marketing and sales company headquartered in Eatontown, New Jersey. Recognized as a key innovator in the tabletop and housewares industry, Hampton Forge creates exceptionally designed flatware, cutlery, serveware and metal-based kitchen tools. In addition to its branded Hampton Forge collections, the company markets private label products for retailers such as Walmart, Williams-Sonoma and Target. Hampton Forge employs approximately 40 people in five locations in Asia, South America, and the United States. Create the perfect lifestyle at - hamptonforge.com
About AKA Computer Consulting - Inventory Control Software and More...
Since 1995, AKA Computer Consulting has established an outstanding reputation in the New York City Metro and Tri-State area for first-class implementation of business management systems, innovative and flexible custom software development and utmost dedication to customer service. AKA offers a wide array of services and solutions to manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, importers and exporters.
AKA Computer Consulting can be reached at www.akaconsulting.com or 888-351-8355.
About Third-Party Solutions by AKA Computer Consulting
Sales Commission Module enables complete automation of paying commissions to outside and inside sales representatives. And they supply ShipIT, which fully automates shipping processes. www.akaconsulting.com
Executive Concepts
Accurate Direct Access Remove Terminal (ACCU-DART) system wirelessly connects warehouse operations in real-time to record shipping and receiving. www.executiveconcepts.com
Another version of this blog was posted on AKA Computer Consulting's Blog on October 27, 2017 - Learn How Inventory Control Software Consultant Helps a Growing International Import Export Company
