Press Release

Handy Hardware Builds Superior Warehouse and Distribution Operations with S2K

March 15, 2010

Ronkonkoma, N.Y. -- March 15, 2010 -- VAI (Vormittag Associates, Inc.)announced today that Houston-based Handy Hardware would implement VAI’s S2K ERP for Distribution and S2K for Warehouse Management Software (WMS) solutions.

The addition of VAI’s software will provide the hardware distributor with a solution equipped to facilitate accurate and timely customer shipments, track inventory movement and monitor inventory levels precisely. VAI, an IBM Premier Business partner, offers enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions for the distribution, manufacturing, retail and service industries, designed to navigate today’s global marketplace.

Thirteen independent Houston-area hardware retailers originally founded Handy Hardware in 1961 to consolidate purchasing power. Currently, the distributor has over 1,250 members in 13 states as well as several members in Central America and Puerto Rico. To accommodate its growing member base, Handy is undertaking a long-range expansion project in Meridian, Miss. to complement its current 560,000 square foot distribution center in Houston. The new facility, which has an anticipated completion date of fourth quarter 2010, will add 463,000 square feet to Handy Hardware’s distribution network. Managing two facilities this large requires a powerful ERP solution and S2K is well suited to the job.

VAI’s S2K for Distribution is an advanced, user-friendly and affordable software package that helps companies simplify business operations, effectively manage the supply chain, decrease costs and enhance customer service. S2K for WMS tracks all warehouse activity by user, station, date, time, task, item, quantity and weight. This comprehensive solution will enable Handy to allocate resources to increase productivity and reduce labor costs.

“One of the challenges of this implementation is that we are planning to open a new warehouse facility in October and we need to get our other warehouses installed prior to that time,” said Chris Bennett, IT Director, Handy Hardware. “This very aggressive timeline demanded an ERP vendor that was equipped to handle the job with an outstanding industry reputation. We found both of those qualities in VAI and remain confident that they can help us meet this enormous challenge.”

Tim Whaley, Project Director, Chicago area, VAI, said, “Handy Hardware is unique for many reasons, one being the short implementation timeline, but another challenge for this member-owned entity is that the distributor does all of its own truck routing. This facet of the company’s operations requires a customized routing system that must be integrated seamlessly into S2K. It is essential that Handy continue to provide its customers with on-time-delivery, and S2K is ready for the challenge.”

About VAI (Vormittag Associates, Inc.)

VAI is an award-winning software developer and an IBM Premier Business Partner. Designed for the mid-range market, S2K Enterprise is used by a wide variety of mid-sized companies worldwide, with a number of clients in the manufacturing, distribution, retail, food and related service industries. Advanced applications such as Warehouse Management Systems, EDI, CRM and e-Business provide companies the power to leverage their information technology investment. VAI is headquartered in Ronkonkoma, New York, with branch offices in Miami, Orlando, Chicago and Oroville, California. For more information, please contact Diane Dady at 800-824-7776, ext. 236 or visit (www.vai.net).

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Diane Dady
VAI
631-619-4729
Christine Randle
DPR Group, Inc.
240-686-1000
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