Managing Complexity

"When things look very simply, you to need to look for competitive edge. When things are complex, you simplify to get the competitive advantage."



The growing complexity of products, the supply chain, and even transactions (with discounts, tiered pricing, rebates, promotions, and other incentives) demands that wholesaler-distributors leverage a robust, flexible, scalable, highly functions IT infrastructure. Yet many distributors continue to utilize homegrown or aging packaged applications that lack the functionality required by e-commerce, cost-plus pricing, sales kitting, back-order rejection, and catch weight in purchasing--to name just a few.



In today's competitive, efficiency-focused environment, distributors must manage complexity by reducing it through simplification--and by employing tools and technology to capitalize on the remaining complexity. The thoughtful application of information technology plays a central role in realizing both objectives. As it was recently put, "When things look very simply, you to need to look for competitive edge. When things are complex, you simplify to get the competitive advantage."

ACTION POINT: Strive for simplicity.