Allied Electronics and CONNX

Technology Category

Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Exchange & Integration
Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Data Management Platforms

Applicable Industries

Electronics

Applicable Functions

Business Operation
Sales & Marketing

Use Cases

Supply Chain Visibility

Services

Software Design & Engineering Services
System Integration

The Challenge

Allied Electronics, an electrocomponents distributor, wanted to increase sales at its 70 branch offices scattered throughout the U.S. & Canada. The idea was to create a quote system that could use Allied data stored in an RMS database running on a VMS server. The Allied Quote system would enable managers, salespersons, credit managers and product managers to communicate through web forms using ASP.NET technology. The system would allow them to produce new quotes for customers, get management approval on certain quotes, have a contact database, provide a way for the various users to register inventory checks, and create orders, among a long list of other activities. The main interest was to capture data that was getting lost during phone conversations with customers, and also to be more responsive to the changes in their entry process. Gathering all the data on their quotes would give them a lot more information and allow their salespeople to dispose of their need to keep voluminous files on all of their customers.

About The Customer

Allied Electronics is an electrocomponents distributor based in Fort Worth, Texas. Established in 1928 as the radio parts distribution arm of the Columbia Radio Corporation, the company has been providing excellence through customer service. Now, as part of the Electrocomponents Group of the United Kingdom, Allied has added a global presence to its customer orientation. This combination of Allied’s commitment to a high level of customer services and Electrocomponents’ global reach ensures a powerful solution to meeting all present and future customer demands. The company has 70 branch offices scattered throughout the U.S. & Canada.

The Solution

CONNX Solutions and Allied worked as partners in creating a detailed specification that involved examining more than 20 years of a rich and complex existing code base. Allied’s part in the initial stages was to validate the documentation of the business rules. The final product is divided into several basic areas that enable Allied sales people to track their current contacts, enter new contacts, record customer needs, perform product entry, perform credit checks, arrange shipments of any sort, arrange pricing and discounts, and manage approvals, among other things. The new web application helped save them money in unexpected ways. For example, they were able to flag every shipping address as to whether it’s a residence or not, saving them many thousands of dollars. The new quote system also increases accountability within the organization, improving communication between departments and helping staff respond more quickly.

Operational Impact

The new quote system enables managers, salespersons, credit managers and product managers to communicate through web forms using ASP.NET technology.
The system allows them to produce new quotes for customers, get management approval on certain quotes, have a contact database, provide a way for the various users to register inventory checks, and create orders, among a long list of other activities.
The new web application helped save them money in unexpected ways. For example, they were able to flag every shipping address as to whether it’s a residence or not, saving them many thousands of dollars.

Quantitative Benefit

Saved many thousands of dollars by flagging every shipping address as to whether it’s a residence or not.
Potentially increased revenue due to increased efficiency and improved processes.