IBS US and Entertainment Distributing announce licensing agreement
Press Release May 20, 1999
IBS US provides $300 million media distributor with expansion capabilities
International Business Systems (IBS), the worldwide leader of wholesale distribution software for the IBM iSeries (AS/400), announced today the signing of an agreement with Entertainment Distributing (ETD), a wholesale distributor of magazines, videos, books and T-shirts, to implement IBS' software system. The implementation launches the video and book divisions and will increase ETD's ability to accurately track and monitor larger inventories in less time, reducing costs at the same Time as adding value to their information systems.
ETD sought a wholesale distribution management system that would accommodate room for growth through acquisition and one backed by a company with a sound history to ensure continuous support for the system. A partnership with IBS appeals to ETD not only for their ability to provide Y2K compliant software, but also because IBS offers a wide range of modules that are fully integrated and allow for ETD to expand by acquiring new businesses with a guarantee of future system support.
"ETD needed a technology enhancing application software system that would remain current in the long run at the same time as solving the Y2K problem. IBS also provided a solution to allow for the expected growth of ETD in the future through potential acquisitions," said Alison Curry, IBS senior account executive. Curry commented that "IBS won over several competitors because of its ability to provide a total integrated solution in one software package. The software package included both the distribution and financial modules as well as providing for the future use of IBS Internet Connection Manager."
ETD's video business, which accounts for the majority of their revenue, distributes videos for all movie studios such as Paramount and Warner Brothers to rental retail outlets. The retail outlets place their orders for the video with ETD prior to the time the home videos are released. ETD distributes the videos to the outlets at the correct street date as set by the movie studios releasing the films. IBS has a system that allows ETD to keep track of multiple orders that can only be released to specific groups of customers.
"ETD does not consider itself to be just a magazine, movie, book and T-shirt distributor, but a wholesale distributor. Pursuant to that company image, we sought to purchase a software system that would allow us to easily incorporate new market segments into our distribution operation," said Roger Quigley, Director of Technology for ETD. With the implementation of IBS software, ETD will have an integrated wholesale distribution management system with the flexibility to accommodate their changing business demands. "With the desire to grow through increased market share and product lines, we also wanted a software system that allowed us to take advantage of technology opportunities. e-Commerce and EDI are just two examples that will give us the ability to forge ahead in offering our customers the best in business knowledge management," said Quigley. The ability to relay product information such as in-house availability, shipment times, and business forecasting almost instantaneously through EDI allows ETD to offer increased value to its customers, giving both customer and company a competitive advantage.
ETD seeks to refine and enhance its daily operations including the management of its shipping, freight, labor, inventory, stocking and consolidation of orders. IBS provides Demand Driven Supply Chain Software that offers the flexibility of incorporating new business ventures through long-term strategic plans, while at the same time as providing reductions in cost and Time to increase the efficiency of the customer. The collaboration of IBS with aggressively poised companies such as ETD offers the ideal challenge of utilizing software to enhance the current functionality of the company, accommodate growth, and provide technology to enter the new millennium.
About Entertainment Distribution
East Texas Distribution (ETD) is a wholesale provider of home entertainment videos, magazines, books, and t-shirts with annual revenue exceeding $300 million and over 500 employees. ETD's home video entertainment division distributes videos for major film studios such as Warner Brothers and Paramount. Their book and T-shirt divisions sell to major outlet stores. ETD has a total of nine warehouses in North America, one warehouse in Canada, and handles nearly 3,000 orders a day for 8,000 different outlets.
About International Business Systems
IBS is a leading provider of business software and consulting services for Wholesale Distributors and Manufacturers worldwide. Customers rely on IBS' suite of software applications to automate demand-driven, supply-chain processes and gain a competitive advantage through improved operational efficiencies. IBS is an IBM Global Strategic Alliance Partner. Corporate revenues exceed $300 Million, and a network of almost 2,000 employees that span over 44 countries. IBS headquarters in the Americas is located in Folsom, California.
For further information, please contact:
Dan J. Wells
Vice-President of Marketing, IBS Americas
Tel: 1 (800) 886-3900
dan.wells@ibsus.com
|
