Welcome to E-Biz for Your Biz, a new resource from the Prism Business Media Electrical Group for Electrical Wholesaling's readership. Software Guru and Price Profitability Consultant EW Contributing Writer Allen Ray, president of Allen Ray & Associates will help you learn more about the always-changing world of distribution software, electronic communications standards, and the Web.
The Latest
There’s a lot of buzz in my neck of the woods about the productivity of ERP systems and profitability. I am curious about what electrical distributors think on the following questions:
If you could increase your overall gross profit by 5% would you take the necessary steps? Tell Allen what you think
Meet Allen Ray
Allen Ray, president, Allen Ray Associates, Arlington, Texas, has more than 35 years in the industry, with experience that includes distribution ownership, pricing, profit management, research and business strategy.
After working in his family’s electrical, plumbing and HVAC distributorships and earning a degree in industrial distribution from Texas A&M’s College of Engineering, he became an expert in integrating pricing strategies into ERP software systems while with Trade Service Corp. Since founding his own consulting firm, Allen has written several articles for Electrical Wholesaling and managed major research projects in the distribution software and e-business arena, including a study on the benefits of data synchronization through the Industry Data Warehouse (IDW) for IDEA Inc., Rosslyn, Va. Contact information: (817) 704-0068 E-mail at allen@allenray.com Web site: www.allenray.com
Allen's Articles in EW
The Competitive Edge January, 2006 / By Allen Ray and David Gordon
How electrical manufacturers and distributors can better partner to harness the profit-increasing potential of IDW2.
The Power of Clean Data April, 2005 / Challenged by price-matrix management, many electrical distributors' profit levels drop year after year. They have fallen victim to out-of-control profit leakage, which occurs as a result of poor product and pricing data.
The High Cost of Low Profits/Part 1 September, 2004 / The world of an electrical distributor with less than $25 million in annual sales is changing fast. With net margins down to their lowest in years and new competition from larger distributors and alternate channels, distributors of this size are looking at their businesses more critically than ever.
The High Cost of Low Profits/Part 2 October, 2004 / Although most electrical distributors with less than $25 million in annual sales expect business to grow over the next five years, many aren't sure exactly what they need to do to increase profit margins.
Allen Ray, president, Allen Ray Associates, Arlington, Texas, has more than 35 years in the industry, with experience that includes distribution ownership, pricing, profit management, research and business strategy.
