Hardware & Lumber Revamps Supply Chain and Inventory Management with VAI’s ERP Solution

VAI, a leading ERP software developer, today announced that Hardware & Lumber (H&L), Jamaica’s hardware, home improvement and agricultural supplier has implemented VAI’s latest ERP solution, S2K 6.0. After H&L rebranded following an acquisition in late 2015, the company selected VAI’s ERP solution to help achieve new business goals including increased inventory control, better customer service and reduced costs.

VAI S2K 6.0 enhances H&L’s productivity and improves customer service by increasing visibility throughout the supply chain. H&L’s location in Jamaica requires ample lead time for its global supply chain partners, which extend from the U.S. to China. S2K 6.0 also increases inventory control by tracking inventory in real time and using automated forecasting to create accurate inventory projections to reduce inventory and increase sales. Given H&L’s complex, global supply chain, having greater control of a more accurate inventory will significantly reduce costs and free up valuable time for employees to reallocate to more valuable customer-facing tasks.

“As we continue to grow, we needed a solution that would simplify our complex supply chain,” said Gordon Webster, general manager technology and eChannels, of H&L. “S2K 6.0 will help us to streamline our supply chain operations, inventory management and other business processes so our employees can focus on the business. From making our supply chain more easily manageable, to making our inventory more accurate, VAI’s ERP solution will ensure we have the items our customers need, when they need it, and provide better customer service overall, which is really the ultimate goal. Additionally, the implementation of S2K Analytics will provide better, more timely information to key decision makers, enabling us to be more agile as an organization.”

In addition to supply chain and inventory management, H&L will leverage S2K 6.0 to manage their CRM and customer loyalty program. VAI’s ERP solution features an integrated contact management feature that provides real-time access to all customer and product information as well as marketing automation tools that generate effective, consistent and timely campaigns. H&L will use VAI S2K 6.0 to better structure and automate customer incentive programs.

“Having visibility into supply chain operations is critical for businesses in today’s fast-paced commerce climate, especially for those with complex supply chains,” said Mike Morano, project director at VAI. “We’ve been working closely with H&L to optimize the S2K 6.0 deployment for their unique supply chain and inventory needs, and now that they’re fully on-boarded, we’re excited to see the business results. The company's use of S2K Analytics will also help H&L better pinpoint their trend of data over the course of time, enabling them to make better business decisions. S2K Analytics gives H&L the ability to slice and dice data across applications, as well as create quick ad hoc reports to detect quick business opportunities.”

About Hardware and Lumber
Celebrating its 90th Anniversary, Hardware & Lumber Ltd operates H&L Rapid True Value and H&L Agro. A member of Argyle Industries, the company is the foremost retail and wholesale supplier of hardware and home improvement products under its Rapid True Value brand. Through its H&L Agro business, the company is a trusted partner in Jamaica’s agriculture sector helping to expand the capacity and yield of both commercial and small farmers across the island. It operates ten H&L Rapid True Value locations across the island: Kingston, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Mandeville and May Pen as well as five H&L Agro locations in Mandeville, Montego Bay, Brown’s Town and Kingston. For more information, visit www.hardwareandlumber.com, follow @HandLJamaica on Twitter or “like us” on facebook.com/hardwareandlumber/.

About VAI
VAI is a leading independent mid-market ERP software developer renowned for its flexible solutions and ability to automate critical business functions for the distribution, manufacturing, specialty retail and service sectors. An IBM Gold Partner, VAI is the 2012 IBM Beacon Award Winner for Outstanding Solutions for Midsize Businesses. VAI continues to innovate with new solutions that leverage analytics, business intelligence, mobility and cloud technology to help customers make more informed business decisions in real-time and empower their mobile workforces. VAI is headquartered in Ronkonkoma, NY with branch offices in Florida, Illinois and California. For more information, visit www.vai.net, follow @VAISoftware on Twitter or “like us” on facebook.com/VAISoftware.