Article Number : 4335 |
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| Date | 3/31/2009 9:55:08 AM |
| Written By | LGM & Associates Technical Flooring Services |
| View this article at: | //floorbiz.com/BizResources/NPViewArticle.asp?ArticleID=4335 |
| Abstract | By Steven Feldman It seems like a no brainer. Chicago area distributor All-Tile has found a way to increase efficiencies, something in which few wholesalers are taking part: electronic invoicing... |
| Article | By Steven Feldman It seems like a no brainer. Chicago area distributor All-Tile has found a way to increase efficiencies, something in which few wholesalers are taking part: electronic invoicing. According to Bob Weiss, president, All-Tile on April 1 will begin invoicing its customers via email. Until this point, the process was handled via the postal system. “We are set up for B2B,” he said. “Some customers place orders and are invoiced via EDI, and some customers prefer the traditional channels of placing orders, either via fax, phone or over our secure Internet site. But while they may be ordering in non-traditional ways, they still have been receiving their invoices through ground mail.” Remarkably, according to Weiss, most distributors do not invoice their customers via email, and it’s not because of their inability. “Everyone on the Dancik system can do it. “Here is what I’ve asked other distributors: ‘On the last flight you took, how long did it take for the airlines to mail your ticket?’ Unless you are willing to pay an extra $20, you received electronic notification within minutes. The same logic holds here.” Weiss noted that electronic invoicing is in line with All-Tile’s philosophy to constantly seek ways to increase efficiencies and productivity, both for itself and its customers. “Paper invoices take time,” he said. “If you can automate a process without hurting service levels, then you should. If you can replace something with something better, then you should. There is no reason why invoicing should not be automated. Many of our vendors have been invoicing us electronically, either by EDI or email. It’s green, it’s instantaneous, and you can receive it anywhere.” He added that invoicing through email helps All-Tile customers be more efficient in that they can simply electronically file their invoices directly on their computer, where they don’t need to have someone opening envelopes and entering the information into the payable system. Like the airline reservation scenario, there will be a charge for customers who prefer to receive their invoices through traditional mail. “There will be a grace period for those customers whose email addresses we have not captured.” Weiss does not expect to receive much opposition from his customers. “Everyone has email.” Plus, this allows All-Tile to be more competitive in other areas after eliminating the cost for stamps, envelopes, etc. |