MODERN DISTRIBUTION MANAGEMENT: DISTRIBUTION SURVEY– 1 IN 3 REPORT UNMET TECHNOLOGY NEED
After analyzing the results of the RSM McGladrey’s 2009 Manufacturing and Wholesale Distribution Survey, Modern Distribution Management determines IT investments must be linked to the company’s strategies and business plan in order to be effective.
Modern Distribution Management Excerpt:
Nearly 90% of companies responding to the RSM McGladrey’s 2009 Manufacturing and Wholesale Distribution Survey said that information technology was a critical component of business operations.
Conducted this spring, RSM McGladrey’s 2009 MWD National Survey includes feedback from 923 leaders of U.S. manufacturing and wholesale distribution companies on their perspectives on the current state of their company and industry, and the strategies they are implementing to sustain profitability.
Further analysis of survey results shows that, to obtain maximum value from IT investments, those investments must be linked to the company’s strategies and business plan. Eight percent of companies in the survey indicate such linkages are present.
While the majority of MWD Survey respondents agree that IT is a critical component, survey results show that comprehensive coverage is an issue for a number of companies. About 1 in 5 respondents indicated current systems are not meeting operational and process improvement needs; the same indicated current systems are not meeting reporting and data analysis needs; and, almost 1 in 4 companies indicated lack of effective systems to communicate with customers and vendors.
Among companies that report IT is a critical component of their business, 1 in 3 still reports at least one unmet need.