The sales quoting process is the most important, yet most challenging procedure, for steel service centers, metal fabricators and building manufacturers. Profit or loss begins with sales quoting and every aspect of operations, from purchasing through production, is impacted by that estimate. Getting it right the first time is critical for building profits in the …
Read MoreMetal distributors and fabricators have busy warehouses and distribution centers already stuffed full of inventory. Maintaining certain types and volumes of inventory is necessary for certain customers, but how much is too much? Businesses can quickly lose money on overstocking the warehouse or find themselves stuck with obsolete materials. Take a strategic approach toward inventory …
Continue reading “Metal Distributors and Fabricators Need Inventory, How Much is too Much?”
Read MorePreparing estimates and quotes in the steel and metals industry is a challenging task in and of itself. What happens after you secure the contract? Are you able to ensure your project follows the budget and time milestones established in the quote? Coordinate job costing and manage project budgets, from start to finish, with a …
Continue reading “Coordinating Job Costing and Project Budgets in the Steel and Metals Industry”
Read MoreCustomers in the steel and metals industry have high expectations for quality products at reasonable prices. This particular marketplace is also highly competitive and customers are often quick to turn to the competition if you can’t be as responsive as the next steel service center or fabricator. Don’t waste time during the quoting process or …
Continue reading “Know What Customers Want With RealSTEEL”
Read MoreSteel and metals service centers, fabricators and others in the industry struggle with challenging operations—from estimating projects to forecasting inventory needs to completing customer projects on time and in budget. Managing all the moving parts of a complex business with disparate specialty software only adds to the struggle. Too many systems lead to too many …
Continue reading “Too Many Systems, Too Many Problems”
Read MoreStrong inventory control is essential for any business, but especially for those in the steel and metals industry. Many customers have unique project specifications, which makes it difficult to have the right inventory, in the right quantity, at the right time. Gain control and insight over inventory needs and protect your bottom line by deploying …
Continue reading “Inventory Management That Contributes to Your Bottom Line”
Read MoreSteel service centers, metal fabricators, coil slitters, pipe and tube processors and others in the steel and metals industry have to prepare complicated estimates for customer projects. There is a lot of information to consider for an estimate including material and labor costs, overhead, and outside processing needs. Not only do you need to prepare …
Continue reading “Improve Job Costing, Control Projects and Profits”
Read MoreSales representatives and project managers within the steel and metals industry likely know their customers very well. In this business sector, customers often have very precise specifications and needs. Knowing customer needs is important; however, are your customers as profitable to your business as you think? At the surface, fulfilling customer orders shows that business …
Continue reading “How Well Do You Know Your Customers?”
Read MoreWhile accounting processes and financial management operations are seemingly different activities, they are also related. Many businesses, including those in the steel and metals industry, use accounting information to evaluate the fiscal health of their enterprise. Most often by moving information from accounting software into spreadsheets for analysis. Though these processes are different, you don’t …
Continue reading “Businesses Don’t Need Separate Software to Manage Accounting and Finances”
Read MoreRoll forming and building material manufacturers rely on skilled workers to perform tasks with reliability, integrity and productivity. High quality products are necessary to satisfy demanding customers and employees play a large role in successful operations. The other part of the equation is data. Business leaders must have operational insight to improve the quality of …
Continue reading “You’ve Hired Skilled Workers, Now Provide the Tools For Success”
Read MoreBusiness leaders, particularly those with years of experience in the roll forming and building material manufacturing industry, often have a ‘gut feeling’ or the simple intuition that business is going well and that customers are satisfied. However, is it really safe to base business decisions on your intuition? Drive your business in the right direction …
Continue reading “Base Your Bottom Line on Data Not Intuition”
Read MoreMarketplace changes and evolving customer demands are putting pressure on roll forming and building material manufacturers to make line of business changes. Moving into a different direction and offering other products and services might make sense for your business. On the other hand, there may be orders that shouldn’t be accepted or new products that …
Continue reading “Don’t Miss Projections, Maximize Production Lines”
Read MoreIn order to make smart, data-driven decisions, roll forming and building material manufacturers must have quick access to reliable financial and operational data. Understanding operational efficiencies is necessary for understanding the costs of material and labor, which are needed for accurate quotes and monitoring profit margins. Are your financials buried in disparate systems or entry-level …
Continue reading “Are Your Financials Buried or Front and Center”
Read MoreMetal distributors and fabricators who manage high-volume or unique inventory know it can quickly become expensive, putting the pressure on cash flow. In order to meet customer specifications and profit margins, you must be sure you are getting the best prices and that these items will eventually sell. Gain greater insight into inventory movement, strategize …
Continue reading “Strategize Procurement and Control Inventory Costs”
Read MoreBusinesses in the steel and metals industry have a difficult time finding management systems that support complicated operations. Traditional enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions simply don’t have the features or functionality to address complex inventory management, streamline the quoting process or provide visibility into profitability or customer satisfaction. Struggling with inefficient legacy systems isn’t good …
Continue reading “Solving the Steel and Metals Industry’s Technology Challenges”
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