Builders merchants | News

Development customer-led

Microsoft Progressive Solutions, the leading supplier of modern software to builders and timber merchants, and whose bisTrack software is used by many Unimer members, has announced its acquisition of a US company, ODS Software. ODS Software provides enterprise software solutions for wholesale distributors of timber and building materials.

Weyerhaeuser, one of the largest timber companies in the world, launched the first version of ODS's software application in autumn 2000. ODS Software continued refining, enhancing and expanding its product offerings with the addition of an e-business module, a reporting module and the conversion of the application to Microsoft's .NET technology.

Progressive Solutions will merge ODS Software's product line with bisTrack to immediately enhance its capabilities. The renamed Web Track product is being presented to bisTrack users at their next user group meeting. Web Track is the new web-based interface to bisTrack that allows your company to share information and conduct business with suppliers, customers and other business partners throughout the supply chain. Web Track allows your customers to enter their own orders, track shipments and view their account information.

The exciting acquisition of ODS coincides with the release of some important new added value functions for bisTrack. These include Customer and Supplier Retrospective Discount feature, which is simple to set up and works as a valuable reporting mechanism to show the amount of rebate earned.

Another is the Scan Track function, which facilitates the scanning and storage of document images within bisTrack. A typical use for Scan Track will be when a driver returns with signed delivery notes, which can then be automatically scanned into bisTrack, with the bar code used to index the note back to the sales order. The document can then be accessed, reprinted or emailed as an attachment from the standard Related Documents feature when accessing either the sales order or the invoice in bisTrack.

Among bisTrack's 60-strong UK user base are Unimer members Arnold Laver, the James Latham Group, Beesley & Fildes, Blanchford, CF Anderson, CR Taylor, GPH Builders Merchants, Howarth Timber, John Fleming and Milford, as well as ex-BMF President Peter Buttle's Hertfordshire-based business.

A thriving bisTrack user group ensures that on-going development of bisTrack software is customer-led. A key feature, which is often the deciding factor for merchants looking to specify new software, is that it has been totally developed using Microsoft toolsets. This means it is totally compatible with other Microsoft Windows products such as Excel, Windows postcode look-up software and Crystal Reports — which can be used in bisTrack for tailoring layouts for invoices and other documentation.

It also integrates seamlessly with all the major accounts packages like Sage, Navision and Great Plains. The software is also engineered for scalability and is equally appropriate for a one-branch independent as for a company such as Arnold Laver, which successfully implemented bisTrack for 300-users throughout its 19 branches last year! At each new release, every bisTrack customer receives the full software, enabling each user, whatever the size of the company and number of branches, to benefit from every aspect of its functionality.

Regular seminars are held across the UK allowing groups of merchants to have a useful overview of the software's capabilities in an informal, neutral environment. Private demonstrations are, of course, available by arrangement at merchants' premises and these can be arranged by calling Colette Carlile on 01928 592200.

© 2006. Kindly reproduced courtesy of Unimer News.