Customer Profile
This family-owned electrical distributor serves commercial, industrial, and residential markets across the U.S. Known for personalized service and product expertise, the company has grown into a 15-branch operation with a focus on operational efficiency and scalable growth through technology adoption.
- Industry: Electrical Distribution
- Company Size: 15 branches
- Ownership: Family-owned
Business Challenge
The distributor faced significant limitations with a legacy ERP platform that lacked flexibility, automation, and integration capabilities. Their existing AS400 DOS-based system (CAPP by IBM) lacked the flexibility, automation, and scalability needed to compete in a rapidly modernizing industry.
As the business scaled, so did the complexity of its operations, creating bottlenecks and inefficiencies in daily workflows, inventory management, and pricing strategy. Key challenges included:
- Manual Processes: Resource-intensive workflows slowed daily operations and introduced errors.
- Inventory Visibility: The lack of real-time stock data led to frequent stockouts and emergency purchasing.
- Pricing Complexity: Customer-specific pricing was difficult to manage and protect at scale.
- Scalability Barriers: The legacy system couldn’t support branch expansion or modern technology integrations.
The team knew they needed an ERP platform built for the distribution industry – one that could evolve with their business.
Solution
In 2014, the distributor implemented Inform ERP by DDI System, a solution designed specifically for the distribution industry. The platform replaced the outdated system with one that was intuitive, scalable, and automation ready.
Inform ERP Delivered:
- Rapid Onboarding & Ease of Use: A clean, intuitive interface allowed new employees to become productive quickly, shortening training times and improving morale.
- Operational Automation: Automated workflows eliminated redundant manual tasks, enabling faster and more accurate order processing, purchasing, and billing.
- Real-Time Inventory Control: The system provided instant visibility into stock levels, reducing emergency replenishments and improving inventory turns.
- Advanced Pricing Tools: Inform ERP’s pricing matrix and rules-based engine empowered the team to manage complex customer pricing while protecting margins.
- Scalability Without Overhead: Despite growing from 4 to 15 branches, the electrical distributor never had to increase its IT staff thanks to the system’s architecture and low admin burden.
Results
Over a 10-year span, Inform ERP has become a mission-critical platform central to the distributor’s success. The impact is reflected across every corner of the business:
- 4.5x Revenue Growth: From $16M to $73M
- Flat IT Overhead: No new IT hires despite 275% branch growth
- Improved Inventory Management: Better inventory turns, fewer stockouts, and more efficient purchasing
- Enhanced Margins: Pricing automation is projected to significantly lift gross margin performance
- Scalable Foundation: The company is now evaluating AI, CRM, and enhanced integrations to further extend value, built on Inform ERP’s solid core.
Learn More
This story is just one example of how distributors are transforming operations and unlocking new growth with Inform ERP. From pricing intelligence to inventory optimization and branch scalability, Inform ERP empowers teams to work smarter, faster, and more profitably.
Explore what Inform ERP can do for your business.