InfoNow Press Release
INFONOW INTRODUCES DATACONNECT TO HELP DISTRIBUTORS AND VARS SPEED AND SIMPLIFY REPORTING TO MANUFACTURERS
Solution automates the channel reporting process to partners, ensuring rebates and commissions are received in a timely manner
Denver, August 8, 2007
InfoNow Corporation, a leading provider of channel visibility and location service solutions, today introduced InfoNow® DataConnect, a new solution designed to help distributors and value-added resellers (VARs) improve the speed, accuracy and efficiency of sales and inventory reporting to their manufacturing partners. DataConnect fully automates the channel reporting process, thereby eliminating the time-consuming and error-prone practice of compiling, organizing and submitting data. With DataConnect, distributors and VARs can schedule daily or even hourly reporting to partners, ensuring rebates and incentives are received in a timely manner.
Heartland Technology Solutions, an IT solutions provider for small and mid-sized businesses, recently deployed DataConnect to improve reporting to its manufacturing partners. "One of our primary manufacturing partners has their own requirements for the type and format of data we submit," said Kelly Walker, CFO at Heartland Technology Solutions. "DataConnect enabled us to completely automate our reporting process from extracting data to verifying accuracy to formatting and submitting the information. As a result, we're saving an entire week’s worth of manual reporting processing every year."
InfoNow DataConnect enables companies to automatically extract point-of-sale data from various enterprise applications such as enterprise resource planning, customer relationship management and financial systems. Using company-defined business rules, DataConnect identifies data by partner, processes the information according to manufacturer requirements, and builds and uploads the file in the manufacturer’s format — all without manual intervention. Automated error notification ensures accurate reporting, so rebates and market development funds can be appropriately tracked for payment.
DataConnect Supports Strategic, More Productive Partner Relationships
In addition to providing tremendous value to distributors and VARs, InfoNow DataConnect also supports a more productive exchange of information between these companies and their manufacturing partners. By keeping manufacturers informed on product sales, inventory levels and use of market development funds, distributors and VARs enable manufacturers to make more informed, strategic decisions on product offerings and market segments that can ultimately increase revenue potential for both parties.
“Timely, accurate reporting is an imperative for distributors and VARs that want to maintain productive partner relationships and be compensated quickly for their results, but all too often these organizations waste considerable time with inefficient processes,” said Mark Geene, CEO at InfoNow. “DataConnect frees companies from labor-intensive reporting, allowing them to focus resources on more critical business initiatives that improve operations and drive sales.”
DataConnect has a low licensing fee and provides support and service for a low monthly fee. For more information on InfoNow DataConnect, visit www.infonow.com/dataconnect.html.
About InfoNow Corporation
InfoNow provides channel visibility and location services to companies that sell through complex channel partner networks. InfoNow® ChannelInsightTM gives companies rich, timely and actionable data on channel sales, including enhanced market intelligence on partners and end customers. It also includes tools to help clients use this data to profitably grow their business, through detailed customer segmentation and profiling, targeted opportunity generation, robust partner tracking and analysis, closed-loop opportunity tracking, sales credit assignment, inventory tracking and more. InfoNow® LocationInsightTM directs consumers to the optimal business location such as a branch office, ATM or the appropriate business partner through Internet, voice-response or mobile devices. InfoNow LocationInsight services also provide tools for location data management, business partner profiling, and highly tailored lead routing and management. Since 1996, InfoNow has helped leading companies such as Bank of America, Enterasys Networks, Hewlett-Packard, SMC, LaSalle Bank and Wachovia better serve their end customers through complex channel networks. InfoNow is based in Denver, Colorado. For more information, visit www.infonow.com.