xTupler #22 | April 2012
Dear Community —
Many people know xTuple primarily as a manufacturing-focused ERP system, but I'd like to share a lot of new functionality available to support wholesale distributors. These features have been contributed to or sponsored by customers and open source community members. Examples include drop ship support, distribution requirements planning (DRP), advanced returns management and our new Enhanced Commissions package.
These features are developed out in the open, and we actively solicit community feedback. See our new development effort - an add-on package called xWD with functionality for wholesale distributors in industrials like electrical, plumbing and HVAC. Have a look at the xWD spec and join the conversation!
Read more in this xTupler issue about our work with electrical distributors, in particular. This is an industry particularly hard hit by what I call the ERP graveyard. There were only a handful of major vendors worked in this space, and now they're all basically owned by either Epicor or Infor - two companies who've rolled up dozens of old ERP software packages and left customers largely high and dry. At xTuple, we believe open source represents a compelling alternative for these companies, and we aim to prove it as we collaborate with distributors (and you) on the new xWD package which is compatible with any edition of xTuple, including the FREE PostBooks.
Thanks, as always, for your support.
Ned Lilly
President and CEO
In this issue
- Distribution Engaged
- Where's Wally?
- Training 101
- Business Intelligence
Featured Events
- IMARK ShowCase
- BDO Annual
- Start Norfolk
- Open Source Business Conference
Where's Wally?
Wally Tonra, xTuple Vice President of Sales, and new partner, Stacey Pandeloglou, just got back from a four-day trip to Chicago for an annual meeting of electrical distributors reviewing new technology products. These companies all are members of IMARK GROUP, Inc., the largest member-owned and -governed marketing cooperative of independently owned electrical distributors in the U.S. Membership includes over 80 of the Top 200 largest distributors in the country. Member companies serve their local customers from over 2,000 branch locations.
This was the first time xTuple exhibited at IMARK, and it was a big hit. Distributors visiting the xTuple booth told us they're ready to start evaluating new software for their companies. And xTuple was the buzzword of the show. More on IMARK at Next Business Blog. Contact Wally at sales@xTuple.com for more information.
Watch out Vegas!
For more information, reach out to Danielle Kerner, xTuple's BDO contact, at sales@xTuple.com.
Startups, xTuple and the Innovation Conversation
xTuple is supporting the global startup community in new ways. CEO, Ned Lilly, mentors budding entrepreneurs during the second evolution of Start Norfolk as well as including the powerful xTuple software and consulting services as part of the winning prize package.
Start Norfolk 2.0 will be held at the Ted Constant Convocation Center located on the Norfolk, Va., campus of Old Dominion University on Friday, April 27th through Sunday, April 29th, 2012. In addition to the startup competition, speakers include Aneesh Chopra, the nation's first Chief Technology Officer. Learn more about Start Norfolk at Next Business Blog.
Open Source, it's who we are!
Will you be there?
xTupleR Staffer Feature
Missy Schmidt
#marketingdirector
Missy joined xTuple on February 1, 2012, as our first Director of Marketing. Most recently Missy served as VP of Strategic Communication & Marketing with a focus on innovation and entrepreneurship for the Hampton Roads Partnership, a public-private nonprofit committed to pursuing global economic competitiveness for the region.
Missy serves on the board of directors of the Hampton Roads chapter of the Public Relations Society of America and holds memberships in the Hampton Roads Chapters of the American Advertising Federation and American Marketing Association as well as Technology Hampton Roads (the region's Tech Council).
Missy holds a B.S. from Virginia's James Madison University. She and her husband, Bert Schmidt, President and CEO of WHRO Public Media for Hampton Roads, reside in the "innovation corridor" of downtown Norfolk, Va., just blocks from xTuple HQ.
Facebook.com/Missy.Schmidt
Twitter.com/Missy_Schmidt
Linkedin.com/in/MissySchmidt
Message her at Marketing@xTuple.com
FREE Webinar
Open Source Business Intelligence
Solutions with ERP BI
Thursday, April 19, 2012
1:15pm - 2:15 pm ET
Register now
Did you know xTuple has a powerful connection to the Pentaho open source business intelligence system? Join us with product designer and developer, Jeff Gunderson of ERP BI Solutions, as he reviews the features of this fully integrated solution. In this live webinar event, we demo the capabilities of this powerful tool, providing you with an inside look at what you need to know to be more profitable.
Available CPE Credits - 1; Activity Level - Basic
Email sales@xTuple.com with questions.
xTuple Partner
Training and a River Cruise!
Five-day course runs May 14-18, 2012. Register now.
Implementing & Managing xTuple
Come to xTuple HQ for an invaluable deep dive into the application. Director of Product Training (aka xTuple Evangelist), Mike Atherton, leads you through a complete set-up with users, items, customers, vendors, all of the accounting basics and more. You'll have a strong overview of how ERP works to bring all parts of an operating business together. By Friday, you'll be ready to run your business more efficiently with xTuple!
Even long-time users tell us it's well worth the time to brush up on their skills, master new features and, of course, meet and learn from other users!
About xTuple
Grow your world with the leading provider of commercial open source business management software for small- to mid-sized companies. Connect with the developer community at www.xTuple.org, the partner community at www.NextBusinessBlog.com and the company at xTuple.com.