Activant Signs Two Big Electrical Distributors

Stoneway Electric Supply, Spokane, Wash., and J.H. Larson Company, Plymouth, Minn., both recently selected Activant's Eclipse enterprise resource planning (ERP) system as the core software platform on which to run their businesses.

Stoneway Electric is looking to its new ERP system for increased operating efficiencies across its 16 locations in the Pacific Northwest, using Eclipse standard operating procedures (SOPs), document imaging, signature capture, automated job queues, wireless warehouse management and the system's EDI and e-commerce features. Increasing margins through Strategic Pricing functionality and services, based upon customer size, product category, price sensitivity and customer type considerations are also key, the company said.

“About 30 percent of Stoneway Electric's sales are lighting and switchgear, where they use a very manual sales process today,” said Kevin Roach, executive vice president and general manager of Activant's Wholesale Distribution Division. “As a result, Stoneway will benefit from leveraging the Eclipse Job Management module, which will help manage the bidding process, submittals, change orders and release Pos, and track the true profit of all jobs.”

“Our executive team didn't feel we could gain the operating efficiencies needed to compete in today's challenging economy and continue on our previous system, so we are moving forward with the Eclipse solution for the benefit of our 230 employee-owners,” said Jeff Corrick, vice president at Stoneway Electric.

J.H. Larson, an electrical and plumbing distributor with seven locations in Minnesota, Wisconsin and South Dakota, plans to migrate its 140 users to the Activant Eclipse solution from its previous Activant Acclaim system by late 2011.

“As we celebrate our 80th year in business, we look forward to working with Activant to continue our tradition of unparalleled support and service to our customers,” said Greg Pahl, president of J.H. Larson. “We were impressed by Activant's understanding of our functionality needs and the value that the Eclipse system will bring to our business.”