NEW! Professional Service Available to IDEA Customers

IDEA is now offering our Synchronization Audit Service to all IDEA customers. Originally created in collaboration with Affiliated Distributors (A-D), IDEA’s new Synchronization Audit Service was introduced to help IDEA companies do more with less. Many have used all options to cut costs and increase profitability from reducing inventories and staff to limiting travel and other various cutbacks so “What’s next?” IDEA’s Synchronization Audit Service helps you discover new ways to thrive in an uncertain economy by building a custom roadmap to maximize profits with strategic trading partners.

During the audit, IDEA staff will work with customers to define goals and gather critical information about their companies. Then we will then take this information and perform assessments against IDEA data and current industry trends. We will walk our contacts through the three steps of the audit including Measurement, Analysis and Recommendations. The end result is a customized step-by-step guide that will help each company reach its goals more efficiently.

Manufacturers and distributors have already taken advantage of this professional service to reach goals related to trading partner relationships, performance and profitability.

Find out more - Download the IDEA Synchronization Datasheet now or access it later in the Resource Center.

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IDEA to Reveal Latest B2B eCommerce Solution at Activant Summit Next Month

IDEA will reveal the latest B2B eCommerce solution during an educational session at the Activant Summit on Thursday, March 11. The session titled “Unleash Your Business Potential with NEW! Web Enablement from IDEA” will explain IDEA’s new Web Enablement solution, which conforms to EDIPro standards and can be used by virtually anyone. This is the first public session that will discuss the new and exciting offering. The solution eliminates the need for you to implement complex, full-scale eBusiness programs, yet still delivers a low-cost, fast exchange of business information.

The solution is designed to help you reduce costs associated with orders by:

• Integrating IDEA’s manufacturer catalog data and VAN service
• Using accurate, consistent, and timely standardized data for distributor ordering
• Allowing distributors to order from multiple suppliers in one location
• Giving suppliers the ability to manage security with existing IDW authorizations
• Conforming to multiple languages for global companies

See screen shot below for the Web Enablement product preview:

Session Title: Unleash Your Business Potential with Web Enablement from IDEA
Where:Activant Summit 2010; Washington, DC
When: Thursday, March 11, 3:30pm-4:30pm
Speaker: Nick Manzo, IDEA

More details about IDEA’s new Web Enablement solution will be released throughout 2010.

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2010 Forum Sponsor Details Revealed

Take a first look at the IDEA E-Biz Forum 2010 sponsorship opportunities to position your company as a leader in eBusiness. The event themed “eOptimizing Performance and Profitability” will be held in Dallas, TX, September 20-22 at the Omni Mandalay Hotel. Sign up now to be recognized during the official 2010 website launch and media release.

Why sponsor now?

If you sign up in the next week, your company’s logo will be live on the Forum website for the official 2010 launch. Sign up by March 26th to get longer visibility with decision makers through:

• Speaking opportunity – Gold level and above (limited space available)
• Recognition in official Forum press release
• Recognition in pre-event mailer
• Earlier and longer visibility on Forum and IDEA website
• First choice of sponsored event

Early sponsor benefits end 3.26.10 - Download the Exclusive Sponsor Sneak Peek!

Please return your sponsor form or contact Kristin Ballance at right away to gain the most from your Forum sponsorship.

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Second UNSPSC Audit Completed – Manufacturers to Receive Reports

IDEA commissioned a third party audit to examine manufacturer product marketing attributes and assess and validate the assignment of the UNSPSC international coding structure for product categorization - the foundation of product marketing data. The second audit is completed and will be sent to manufacturers over the next couple weeks.

The first audit report was completed to help manufacturers prioritize tasks to meet the UNSPSC mandate determined by the IDEA Industry Standards Committee (ISC) stating that all IDW SKU’s require a UNSPSC code at the class level as of January 1, 2010. The second audit was performed to help continue the momentum of this important industry cost saving project, keep manufacturers updated on their progress, and equip them to meet the next deadline of July 1, 2010. UNSPSC codes will be required at the commodity level at that time.

All manufacturer customers of the IDW Data Synchronization Platform will receive an email from their account manager in the next couple weeks with directions to access their second audit. The IDEA staff, ISC, and our strategic partner, DATAgility, are here to assist with on-going UNSPSC code assignment efforts. We also wish to identify the products where a suitable code is not available so that we can include the appropriate one.

Please download the UNSPSC Training and Assistance Program datasheet to find out how we can help you develop a custom assistance program and contact your IDEA account manager or email to sign up this month.

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New B2B eCommerce and Synchronization Customers

IDEA welcomes one new IDX customer, one new IDW and DAC customer, and 15 new IRD CERICOMX customers. Read more about these companies and how you can begin trading with them electronically to expand your business.

New IDW and DAC Customer

Atlas Lighting Products, of Burlington, NC, became an IDW and DAC customer on February 5, 2010. Atlas offers a wide selection of commercial and industrial lighting products designed for quality, performance, and ease of installation. They will utilize the IDW Data Synchronization Platform to synchronize product and pricing information with distributors and will take advantage of the Data Audit Certification (DAC) to ensure their data in IDW is clean and error free. Find out more at www.atlaselectric.com.

New IDX Customer

Blue Medical Supply, of Jacksonville, FL, became an IDX customer on February 3, 2010. Blue Medical is a supply-chain solutions company of consumable medical and surgical supplies, diagnostic equipment, and pharmaceutical-related products. Through its distribution network, diverse product offering and expertise in technology, logistics and supply-chain management, Blue serves thousands of physicians throughout the Southeast. They will be taking advantage of the cost savings and reliability of Industry Data Exchange (IDX) to exchange their B2B documents. Find out more at www.bluemedsupply.com.
 
New IRD CERICOMX Customers

IDEA, a 1SYNC Data Pool On-Board Solution (OBS) partner, implements suppliers that subscribe to the 1SYNC data pool using IDEA's IRD CERICOMX® application. IDEA was recently assigned 15 suppliers:

• Sherry MFG Co. Inc.
• Blaste Corporation
• American Housewares MFG. Corp.
• RootsOnly, Inc.
• S.E.W. Friel LLP
• Fair Oaks Farms, LLC
• Trade Lines Inc.
• TTW Farm Products 
• Chocmod USA, Inc
• Amtai Imports
• Fresh Meal Solutions 
• Vilore Foods
• Mid-Town Rec
• Jada Toys of City 
• Cokem International

These companies will be trained to use IRD CERICOMX®, an online catalog that suppliers use to register product data with the GS1 Registry® and GDSN via the 1SYNC Data Pool. Suppliers also use this solution to publish product data to demand partners including retailers like Lowe’s and Walmart.

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