{"id":58362,"date":"2023-12-14T12:47:50","date_gmt":"2023-12-14T20:47:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/?p=58362"},"modified":"2023-12-14T12:47:53","modified_gmt":"2023-12-14T20:47:53","slug":"looking-to-offload-holiday-stress-check-out-elite-dealer-challenges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/the-week-in-imaging-twii\/editors-blog\/2023\/12\/looking-to-offload-holiday-stress-check-out-elite-dealer-challenges\/","title":{"rendered":"Looking to Offload Holiday Stress? Check Out Elite Dealer Challenges"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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In-laws, cooking, shopping, extended family, in-laws, travel, friend time, in-laws, fruitcake, year-end accounting\u2026in-laws. These are some of the pressures we face during the month of December. All of this takes time, money and a portion of our sanity. Most of it is pleasant. Some of it is anything but (and which one would that be?); hey, it all comes with the territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s been a great year in many ways, but it\u2019s also been a tad bit difficult. So as we look at Round Three of our Elite Dealer challenges, let\u2019s take a moment to be thankful. Many business difficulties are of the uptown variety, and we must remember those who are waging onerous life-and-death battles. Virtually everyone has a friend or relative battling cancer; one of my best friends is currently deep in stage four, and this will be his last Christmas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s not just physical maladies; some are fighting inner demons: alcohol, drugs, depression. So while we\u2019re trying to make sense of everything that is happening in our worlds, a warm smile and a hello go a long way when we\u2019re crossing into other people\u2019s universes. Sorry, apropos of nothing and a bit of a downer; let\u2019s take a look at more Elite Dealer challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Making Changes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

It became clear to the leadership of Milner Inc. that its legacy ERP system was hindering its ability to adapt and grow. The solution for the Peachtree Corners, Georgia, dealership was a comprehensive system upgrade. The initiative involved a meticulous evaluation of its existing systems with a focus on using technology to streamline and optimize internal processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe conducted in-depth process mapping to identify inefficiencies and bottlenecks,\u201d Milner wrote. \u201cThe new ERP system has been tailored to streamline these processes, eliminate redundancies, and enhance productivity. With our workforce of more than 350 employees and our decades of experience in the industry, we saw an opportunity to harness our collective knowledge.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Growth falls under the category of nice problems to have, but more business often equates a need for enhanced resources and capacity. As San Antonio-based DOCUmation enjoyed rapid expansion and revenue, the need for more office and warehouse space become apparent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe’ve recently opened a 20,000-square-foot office in Dallas-Fort Worth with its own warehouse and are expanding our San Antonio warehouse for the second time,\u201d the dealer noted. \u201cMeeting increased demand also calls for a constant cycle of hiring, requiring time and effort for recruitment, interviewing, and onboarding processes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

At Evoke Networking of Rolling Meadows, Illinois, one of the chief concerns was identifying and partnering with the ideal document management vendor. The dealer had a number of options at its disposal and a burgeoning demand for digital document management solutions. Thus, securing a provider with a robust product and top-flight customer support was imperative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe conducted a rigorous evaluation of multiple companies, eventually narrowing our selection to three finalists,\u201d the dealer reported. \u201cThrough comprehensive discussions with all their sales and support teams, we found that DocMGT stood out as the most suitable partner. Their outstanding product and a highly knowledgeable team, coupled with their willingness to develop customized solutions, made them the clear choice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Margin Squeeze<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

When supplies margins get compressed, it\u2019s bad news for dealers of all sizes. DEX Imaging in Tampa, Florida, has five-year service agreements with clients that include 12% annual escalators. Thus, when one of the company\u2019s manufacturing partners raised its supplies costs to nearly 22% this year, that meant DEX would need to absorb the loss. The impact was felt the most in its MPS business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOvercoming this took some creativity, but we found a solution for moving forward,\u201d the dealer wrote, pointing out it has more than 250,000 MIF. \u201cIn this case, our solution was to start manufacturing our own OEM cartridges, which we started doing in April of this year.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

While the pandemic may be a distant memory, the lingering after-effects (read: supply chain) loitered for part of the past year. That prompted countermeasures by dealers such as Loffler Companies of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, which needed its sales, operations and purchasing departments to maintain constant communication with its manufacturing partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThrough effective utilization of run-rate information and lead-time insights provided by our manufacturing partners, Loffler took proactive measures by pre-ordering hardware and accessories,\u2019 the company reported. \u201cThis strategic approach was instrumental in minimizing disruptions to the sales cycle. Furthermore, Loffler successfully implemented solutions to re-lease our clients’ existing device fleets, ensuring their continued functionality and uninterrupted operations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Likewise, the manner in which end-users are conducting business has undergone drastic changes. Advanced Imaging Systems (AIS) of Minnetonka, Minnesota, was confronted with clients downsizing its number of locations and\/or fleet. That required a counter approach to maintain sales per client.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have had to think differently. How can we do more business with the same client without the volume that they were perhaps doing prior,\u201d the dealer wrote. \u201cAdding services such as software, voice, IT all help grow that lost volume revenue in most cases add to it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cost of Business<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

One post-COVID hangover that has been slow to dissipate is the high level of inflation. Dealers including UBEO Business Services of San Antonio found they needed to be aggressive in leveraging its strength with manufacturers to keep costs under control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDespite our strength, we still had to absorb price increases with the rest of the market. Luckily for us, our wide offerings allow us to increase the overall value to our customers and shield us a bit from direct price competition,\u201d the company reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

With an eye toward growth and replicating its success in the states, Chicago-based Green Office Partner expanded into Canada. Doing business in another country presents its own set of challenges: different tax and contract laws, vendor policies, and consumer buying habits, to name a few. The dealer relied on patience and a crackerjack team of professionals to become educated on the nuances of the Canadian marketplace and economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A degree of vendor assistance also simplified the process. \u201cXerox was a massive help under the direction of Karl Boissonneault and his team,\u201d the dealer noted. \u201cBeing able to harness the Xerox Canada infrastructure (XPPS) and being supported by the Xerox Canada Channels team made all the difference.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In-laws, cooking, shopping, extended family, in-laws, travel, friend time, in-laws, fruitcake, year-end accounting\u2026in-laws. These are some of the pressures we face during the month of December. All of this takes time, money and a portion of our sanity. Most of it is pleasant. Some of it is anything but (and which one would that be?); hey, it all comes with the territory. It\u2019s been a great year in many ways, but it\u2019s also been a tad bit difficult. So as we look at Round Three of our Elite Dealer challenges, let\u2019s take a moment to be thankful. Many business difficulties are of the uptown variety, and we must remember those who are waging onerous life-and-death battles. Virtually everyone has a friend or relative battling cancer; one of my best friends is currently deep in stage four, and this will be his last Christmas. It\u2019s not just physical maladies; some are fighting inner demons: alcohol, drugs, depression. So while we\u2019re trying to make sense of everything that is happening in our worlds, a warm smile and a hello go a long way when we\u2019re crossing into other people\u2019s universes. Sorry, apropos of nothing and a bit of a downer; let\u2019s take a look at more Elite Dealer challenges. Making Changes It became clear to the leadership of Milner Inc. that its legacy ERP system was hindering its ability to adapt and grow. The solution for the Peachtree Corners, Georgia, dealership was a comprehensive system upgrade. The initiative involved a meticulous evaluation of its existing systems with a focus on using technology to streamline and optimize internal processes. \u201cWe conducted in-depth process mapping to identify inefficiencies and bottlenecks,\u201d Milner wrote. \u201cThe new ERP system has been tailored to streamline these processes, eliminate redundancies, and enhance productivity. With our workforce of more than 350 employees and our decades of experience in the industry, we saw an opportunity to harness our collective knowledge.\u201d Growth falls under the category of nice problems to have, but more business often equates a need for enhanced resources and capacity. As San Antonio-based DOCUmation enjoyed rapid expansion and revenue, the need for more office and warehouse space become apparent. \u201cWe’ve recently opened a 20,000-square-foot office in Dallas-Fort Worth with its own warehouse and are expanding our San Antonio warehouse for the second time,\u201d the dealer noted. \u201cMeeting increased demand also calls for a constant cycle of hiring, requiring time and effort for recruitment, interviewing, and onboarding processes.\u201d At Evoke Networking of Rolling Meadows, Illinois, one of the chief concerns was identifying and partnering with the ideal document management vendor. The dealer had a number of options at its disposal and a burgeoning demand for digital document management solutions. Thus, securing a provider with a robust product and top-flight customer support was imperative. \u201cWe conducted a rigorous evaluation of multiple companies, eventually narrowing our selection to three finalists,\u201d the dealer reported. \u201cThrough comprehensive discussions with all their sales and support teams, we found that DocMGT stood out as the most suitable partner. Their outstanding product and a highly knowledgeable team, coupled with their willingness to develop customized solutions, made them the clear choice.\u201d Margin Squeeze When supplies margins get compressed, it\u2019s bad news for dealers of all sizes. DEX Imaging in Tampa, Florida, has five-year service agreements with clients that include 12% annual escalators. Thus, when one of the company\u2019s manufacturing partners raised its supplies costs to nearly 22% this year, that meant DEX would need to absorb the loss. The impact was felt the most in its MPS business. \u201cOvercoming this took some creativity, but we found a solution for moving forward,\u201d the dealer wrote, pointing out it has more than 250,000 MIF. \u201cIn this case, our solution was to start manufacturing our own OEM cartridges, which we started doing in April of this year.\u201d While the pandemic may be a distant memory, the lingering after-effects (read: supply chain) loitered for part of the past year. That prompted countermeasures by dealers such as Loffler Companies of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, which needed its sales, operations and purchasing departments to maintain constant communication with its manufacturing partners. \u201cThrough effective utilization of run-rate information and lead-time insights provided by our manufacturing partners, Loffler took proactive measures by pre-ordering hardware and accessories,\u2019 the company reported. \u201cThis strategic approach was instrumental in minimizing disruptions to the sales cycle. Furthermore, Loffler successfully implemented solutions to re-lease our clients’ existing device fleets, ensuring their continued functionality and uninterrupted operations.\u201d Likewise, the manner in which end-users are conducting business has undergone drastic changes. Advanced Imaging Systems (AIS) of Minnetonka, Minnesota, was confronted with clients downsizing its number of locations and\/or fleet. That required a counter approach to maintain sales per client. \u201cWe have had to think differently. How can we do more business with the same client without the volume that they were perhaps doing prior,\u201d the dealer wrote. \u201cAdding services such as software, voice, IT all help grow that lost volume revenue in most cases add to it.\u201d Cost of Business One post-COVID hangover that has been slow to dissipate is the high level of inflation. Dealers including UBEO Business Services of San Antonio found they needed to be aggressive in leveraging its strength with manufacturers to keep costs under control. \u201cDespite our strength, we still had to absorb price increases with the rest of the market. Luckily for us, our wide offerings allow us to increase the overall value to our customers and shield us a bit from direct price competition,\u201d the company reported. With an eye toward growth and replicating its success in the states, Chicago-based Green Office Partner expanded into Canada. Doing business in another country presents its own set of challenges: different tax and contract laws, vendor policies, and consumer buying habits, to name a few. The dealer relied on patience and a crackerjack team of professionals to become educated on the nuances of the Canadian marketplace and economy. A degree of vendor assistance also simplified the process. \u201cXerox was a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":166,"featured_media":58363,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[80,1650,82,1638],"tags":[1186,4403],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58362"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/166"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58362"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58362\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":58365,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58362\/revisions\/58365"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/58363"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58362"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58362"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.enxmag.com\/twii\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58362"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}