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E x c l u s i v e l y f o r D i s t r i b u t o r s –– E x c l u s i v e l y f o r P C - N e t w o r k s
Touchstone/2000TM provides a comprehensive suite of sophis-
ticated business management software applications
designed exclusively for distributors using PC-network
technology. The vast majority of distributors are turning to
Local Area Network (LAN) technology to tap the power of
today’s PCs as workstations and increase enterprise
productivity. So it makes sense to upgrade now to
Touchstone/2000 – the only proven network-based software
that provides the sophisticated functional capabilities
distributors need to manage complex business transactions,
deliver superior customer service and increase profitability.
Touchstone/2000 utilizes leading PC-networks such
as Microsoft NT and Novell Netware to efficiently process
business transactions and manage corporate data. The
database platform is SQL and ODBC compliant to provide
flexible and efficient custom reporting capabilities. And,
naturally, Touchstone/2000 programs and its database fully
comply with all Y2K standards. Touchstone/2000 is designed
exclusively for distributors and exclusively for PC-networks.
That’s why Touchstone/2000 is the
established industry standard for
profit generating software function-
ality on today’s network technology.
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T o u c h s t o n e / 2 0 0 0 S e t s N e w S o f t w a r e S t a n d a r d
Comprehensive Asset Managementfor Distributors
Touchstone/2000 is a sophisticated software system
designed to increase distributor productivity and profit-
ability. Effective asset management is the basis for
financial success in the distribution industry. That’s why
the business philosophies and operating procedures
championed by the industry’s leading asset management
experts are the foundation upon which Touchstone/2000
is built. Business automation without an underlying
transformation of strategic processes is simply no longer
enough to remain competitive, and certainly will not by
itself significantly improve profitability. Improved
business performance results from improved business
procedures – the procedures found in Touchstone/2000.
Industry experts universally agree with the following
tenant: A superior asset management system is fundamen-
tal to creating competitive advantage in the marketplace.
Inefficiency progressively erodes the ability to compete.
Profit without effective asset management is a mirage that
vanishes over time. Long-term performance is sustained
only when inventory and receivables are consistently and
efficiently converted back into cash. Touchstone/2000
provides you the comprehensive automated systems
you need to take complete control of your business,
manage your inventory investment, and collect your
accounts receivable while improving customer service.
Touchstone/2000 stands alone. And the experts agree:
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“Terrific use of windowing with very solid and complete adherence to
Gordon Graham concepts. ‘Graham on a LAN …and it works.’ One of the
best values on the market. Nobody else in that price range has anything
like that.”
Gordon Graham
Inventory Management Consultant, Author, and
Distribution System Design Consultant
“Touchstone/2000 far exceeds the standards Gordon Graham set for distri-
bution software. Unique concepts such as the StockAid and Costulator are
powerful tools that can help distributors reduce inventory levels and lower
cost. Its features are superior to any system in its price range on the market
today.”
Jon Schreibfeder
President, Effective Inventory Management, Inc., Author, and
“Inventory Subject Expert” American Productivity and Quality Center.
“Touchstone/2000’s implementation of our Profit Centered Credit and
Collections” system is comprehensive and well designed. Proper use of this
powerful business tool can transform the function of collecting Accounts
Receivables into a profit-generating process that improves customer rela-
tions and increases customer service.
Abe “WalkingBear” Sanchez
President, A/R Management Group, Inc.
Author, Business Management Consultant
interdependent “Scaleable Feature Sets” that define
transaction-processing rules and determine which specific
features in the software are activated. These Scaleable
Feature Sets are utilized in combination to define rules for
each customer, vendor, item and document to define the
most efficient processing procedure for any given
transaction. Dimasys calls this unique method of
software control “Scaleable Feature Set Technology”
(SFST)TM.
By developing Touchstone/2000 using SFST Dimasys
provides each distributor the ability to “customize” and
optimize system transaction procedures without the need
for customized software. In an era defined by “personal-
ized” customer service, the ability to treat each customer
and vendor as an individual entity – and easily meet
individualized needs – provides a distributor an over-
whelming competitive advantage. SFST transforms a
Comprehensive Business Management
Touchstone/2000’s core application suite includes the
following processing systems:
• Sales Order Management & Sales Analysis
• Lead & Prospect Management
• Customer Accounts Receivable
• Vendor Accounts Payable
• Inventory Management
• Purchasing & Warehouse Management
• General Ledger & Financial Reporting
• Executive Information Management
The integrated management system consists of
several dozen highly interactive transaction-processing
applications that control mission-critical business
functions. Each major system is controlled by several
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S c a l e a b l e F e a t u r e S e t T e c h n o l o g yTM
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W hen A. E. Carter decided to replace our highly customized
software system, we reviewed detailed RFP responses from
over 30 leading distribution software companies. We
narrowed the list and thoroughly investigated a wide range of products
including FACTS, Prophet 21, Daly & Wolcott, and J. D. Edwards. Cost was
NOT a factor. Touchstone/2000 was selected strictly on the basis of
functionality and features, not price, and it was on those grounds that Touchstone/2000 beat all other
competitors, including the big boys. Touchstone/2000 had the highest overall rating of any package we
examined, and we looked at everything.
Since installing Touchstone/2000 we have increased sales by over 20% with no increase in average
inventory and no increase in sales people or accounting personnel. We successfully implemented
Gordon Graham’s inventory management system. Our customer service has improved in several ways
due to the information available to sales people during order entry and the superior special order
process incorporated into Touchstone/2000. Two years ago we absolutely believed Touchstone/2000 was
the best possible choice for us. Today we are even firmer in our conviction that we made the right decision.
Bert V. Pederson, General Manager
A.E. Carter – Salt Lake City UT
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suite of available software features into unique control
systems that become strategic weapons capable of
annihilating competing
distributors that can’t
match your personalized
level of service.
Software ThatGrows With You
Periodic updates to
Touchstone/2000
continually increase the
scope and number of
feature set options.
Distributors using the
product receive system
updates with new
SFST options. And
Touchstone/2000 always
remains upgradeable
since SFST eliminates
the need to individually
customize software for
each distributor using
the product. With SFST
any unused features
are automatically
suppressed during
transaction processing,
so each Touchstone/
2000 customer decides
which features to use
and how the system can
be best utilized to meet
specific objectives.
Touchstone/2000SnapOn Applications
Several optional SnapOn
applications are available
to handle specific
transaction processing
and system integration
requirements not
addressed within the
Touchstone/2000 core
application suite. A SnapOn application is activated with
a licensing code – available at any time your organization
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Item parameters trigger specialized processing controls.
desires to activate these feature sets. SnapOn applications
are not priced by user-count, and are extremely valuable to
distributors that can
increase productivity and
efficiency by expanding
system capabilities to
address specific automa-
tion tasks. SnapOns are
periodically expanded
and enhanced with the
same procedures utilized
in core product develop-
ment activities. SnapOn
product functionality is
available for:
• RightFAX Integra-tion & FaxcentricProcessing
• Profit CenteredCredit &Collections
• Bar Code Printingon Documents &Labels
• Electronic DataInterchange (EDI)Files
• UPS On-LineProfessionalSystem Usage
• Federal ExpressPowershipIntegration
• Truck-load ScaleWeight BillingProcessing
• FABSoft ReformDocumentPrinting
• Trade ServicePFMS Integration
Several new SnapOns
are included in future
development plans.
These concepts offer the
ability to efficiently
interface to leading third
party tools or handle
industry-specific
requirements. Contact
Dimasys or your authorized Touchstone/2000 VAR for
additional SnapOn product information.
Customer transaction processing and pricing are controlledby unique profiles.
Credit Collection SnapOn provides detailed receivableprofiles and customer performance analysis.
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S p e c i a l i z e d C o n t r o l f o r Y o u r I n d u s t r y
Most distributors initially evaluate the suitability or “fit”
of business management software by scrutinizing the
features within the sales order processing and inventory
management applications. Features in these applications
provide most of the “mission critical” controls required
by a particular industry segment and address specific
customer service capabilities that distributors place on
the “must-have” checklist. Since these features are
critical to an initial review of a software product in every
industry segment and market niche, a majority of this
Touchstone/2000 feature presentation is devoted to
detailing this functionality.
Market Served Development
SFST allows a broad range of industry-specific features to
be designed into the foundation of the entire system.
Powerful feature sets are embedded into virtually every
application and provide complete control of system
documents. Touchstone/2000 provides sophisticated
scaleable feature set options to meet the needs of most
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A s a regional distributor for a leading manufacturer of outdoor
power equipment, Mon-Dak Stihl is ultimately responsible for
the success of the product line in our geographic territory. We
were convinced that any software product would have to be heavily
customized to handle our industry’s unique requirements. But we don’t
have customized software. We have Touchstone/2000, and it provides us
the specialized tools we need to work effectively with the manufacturer and hundreds of authorized
retail outlets in our area to help create brand awareness and insure product availability. There are a
whole lot of little things we like about the system that makes our business more efficient, but we are
most impressed by the way new features and enhancements are added to the product that add to our
ability to provide outstanding service to our customers. We are no longer stuck using customized
software that doesn’t keep up with changes in the market.
One of the capabilities the system provides is the ability to offer retailers extended payment terms
with various split payment options and available discounts so that seasonal products are on the shelf
and not in our warehouse when the customer is ready to buy. Inventory mix and order fill rates have
improved by selecting different replenishment methods for each item type, and we now have better
overall control of our service items and seasonal products. We even save $6,000 on postage each year
and over 200 man-hours by including invoices with each shipment. All of the little things add up to a big
plus for our business.
Vonnie Fagerland, Vice President
Mon-Dak Stihl, Inc. – Rapid City, SD
6
major industry segments and many smaller specialized
niche markets including:
• Industrial Equipment, Tooling & Supplies
• Building Material Supply Industries
• Electronic Components & Equipment
• Fluid Power & Hydraulics
• Lawn & Garden Equipment
• Chemical &Hazardous Materials
• Medical Equipment& Supplies
• Safety Equipment& Supplies
• Jewelry &Precious Metals
• Office Products& Supplies
• SpecialtyDistributors
• Fasteners &Hand Tools
• General & SpecialtyElectrical Supplies
• HVAC EquipmentSupplies
• Importers &Exporters
The procedural
control and transaction
processing requirements
of distributors in dozens
of diverse industries are
completely and compre-
hensively addressed by
the SFST options
available in the product.
This unique software
development method
provides increasing
value to Touchstone/
2000 customers as feature sets are continually added to
the product. And every customer has the advantage of
being able to continually adapt new business controls and
customer service offerings that may be commonplace in
other market segments but are unique or extraordinary
service capabilities in their own competitive market niche.
There are literally dozens of unique “good ideas” in
this software product that can add tremendous value to
the way your company does business. Innovative
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7concepts you can use to attract new customers to your
business or to anchor your existing accounts firmly to
your organization for years to come. You haven’t seen
software like this before.
Other SFST Options
A diverse and powerful range of feature sets creates a
unique competitive advantage without customized
software. Dimasys’
Market Served Develop-
ment approach continu-
ally adds new features to
the core application suite.
A sample of additional
features sets includes:
• Job LocationControls:
■ Pricing■ Reporting■ Terms■ Credit Limits■ Sales History■ Item Usage
Adjustments
• Comprehensivedelivery andparcel manage-ment
• Blanket sales andpurchase orders
• Credit cardauthorizations
• Cataloging of nonstock items
• Weight BasedBilling
• Multiple backordermethods
• Margin erosionreporting
• Vendor CostIncrease Analysis
• Unit costadjustments for open and closed documents
• Trade Service PFMS Updates
• Unique ability to handle trade-ins, damageditems, vendor over shipments of non stockitems, and buy out purchase orders with theTouchstone/2000 StockAid file
• Hit and Miss Analysis for Customers, Vendors,and Inventory Items
• Foreign Currency
• Sales Team Commissions
Special point-of-sale payment processing easily handlescash, check, and credit card counter sales.
OrderPadTM templates provide a unique streamlined methodto enter customized orders, promotions or sales call productsheets.
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I n v e n t o r y M a n a g e m e n t
financial transaction posting and shipping requirements.
The extensive array of feature-sets include:
Touchstone/2000 offers a sophisticated suite of inventory
management applications that include a variety of
transaction-processing controls and replenishment
methods defined for each item. The combination of
specific parameter settings define how items flow through
the sales, fulfillment, and replenishment systems.
Item Types
A distributor’s inventory contains several different item
types. Unique item-type controls define the system rules
for processing these item classifications:
• Stocked Items • Consignment Items
• Service Items • Build-To-Order Kits
• Stocked Kits • Non-Stocked Items
• Cataloged • Free-Goods(special order) Items
Item Controls
Processing rules can also be set for each item to further
refine the sales order entry and item pricing procedures,
• Item SubstituteRules
• Item Upgrades
• ItemInterchanges
• Customer ItemNumber Reference
• Manufacturer Codes
• Country of Origin
• Serialized Items
• Re-Work Items
• TagAlongTM Item Sets
• Lot ControlledItems
• Promotional Items
• Commodity-PricedItems
• WeightControlled Items
• MinimumMargin %
• Item Family Pricing& Discounts
• HazardousMaterials
• MaximumDiscount %
• Product Groups
• Item Containers
• Back-Order Rules
• General Ledger SetCodes
• Product LicensingControls
• Extended Descrip-tion Controls
• Item replenishmentPath
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W e evaluated about a dozen software programs when look-
ing to move from Macola. After evaluating Touchstone/
2000 I knew I could use the software as the centerpiece for
reinventing our company and its processes. It embraces the solid func-
tions and procedures a distributor needs to make productive change.
So far since installing Touchstone/2000, we have used the software to
make tremendous improvements in our inventory control, shipping, reordering and kit building. Cycle
counting has reduced our inventory variance to about .05% from 3%. Kit-assemblies and inter-
warehouse transfers are completed in one day, which use to take up to two weeks. Backorders have
been reduced by two-thirds and by using the system with the RightFAX SnapOn, we provide better
customer service by generating instant order acknowledgments and requiring less time for ordering and
invoicing processes. Over the next 12 to 24 months we will continue to make significant changes in our
business. Touchstone/2000 will be the key tool our people will be using to make these changes a reality.
John Walker, President
DIPACO Diesel Parts, Inc. – Reno, NV
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Reorder Controls
Comprehensive inventory management philosophies are
ingrained into the feature sets that fine-tune all auto-
mated stock replenishment systems in Touchstone/2000.
Individually defined reorder methods result in suggested
purchase orders for inventory items based upon item
usage history and replenishment review cycles. Reorder
control methods include:
• Item Class
• Seasonal Item Usage
• Flow Point
• Economic OrderQuantity (EOQ)
• Blanket PurchaseOrders
• Min/Max
• Equivalent ItemGroups
• Kit AssemblyProcesses
• Transfers
Dollars, weight,
units and/or volume may
be used to define specific
vendor purchasing
controls. Purchase order
targets may be set for:
• Target Purchase
• Minimum Purchase
• Free Freight Amount
• Item FamilyDiscounts
Touchstone/2000
maintains detailed
information and history
on an unlimited number of vendors for each item.
Vendor-Item controls that influence purchasing recom-
mendations include:
• Standard PackQuantity
• Master PackQuantity
9
Stocked items are individually managed by fine tuningparameters in the item warehouse record.
Vendor item cost tables provide easy price updating from avendor and detailed cost analysis of identical itemspurchased from multiple vendors.
• Vendor Promotions
• Full Landed ProductCost
• Vendor Item LeadTime
• Vendor Item CostTables
• Vendor FamilyDiscounts
• CostulatorTM VendorComparison
Touchstone/2000’s item usage history and replenish-
ment calculations may be used to follow Gordon Graham’s
exact specification.
Order point and line
point controls allow each
purchase decision to be
optimized for each
vendor purchase order.
For all “special order”
items, catalog items,
and special purchases of
stock-items, Touchstone/
2000’s exclusive “Re-
served-Line” purchasing
procedures insure special
purchase orders are
matched to sales order
lines – automatically.
Complete inventory
and vendor-item manage-
ment systems provide
sophisticated options for
implementing and
managing advanced
warehouse disciplines
and vendor relationships.
Powerful SFST options
are provided to handle:
• Cycle Counting
• Item TurnoverAnalysis
• Vendor ProductLine Performance
• WarehouseTransfers
• Item MovementClass Analysis
• Service LevelRatings
• Item ValuationReports
• Vendor Item PriceContracts
• Vendor Rebates
• Vendor ReturnAuthorization
• Vendor Price FileUpdates
• Price/Cost (TradeService) Updates
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S a l e s M a n a g e m e n t
Comprehensive sales order management features include
flexible customer service, account management and
administrative systems for the following transactions and
functions:
• Lead & Prospect Management• Rebate Management• Pay-From Account Credit Management• Sales Order Processing• Returned Goods Management (RMA)• Tax Jurisdiction Reporting• Sales Quotation System• Minimum Order Charges• Sales Commissions• Order Bookings Analysis• Minimum Order Margin• NSF Check Processing• Customer Billing & Invoicing
• Remote Customer Access• Document Archive & Reprint• Shipping Confirmation• Summarized Account Invoicing• Customer Contact Phonebook• Order Service Level Reporting• Co-op Advertising• Accounts Receivable Management• Customer Usage Reporting• Point-Of-Sale (POS) Processing• Customer Memos• ScratchPad Quotes & Orders• On-line Profitability Profiles• Customer Revenue Ranking• OrderPad Sales Templates• Vendor POS Reporting• Available-To-Promise (ATP) Calculations
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A little over five years ago Carolina Machine & Tool purchased a
software system that would completely change the way we do
business. Now our salespeople do more than take orders from
customers – they create new business relationships based upon improving
the profitability of our customers. We use technology and systems supply
programs to reduce our customer’s total cost of product acquisition. The
flexibility of Touchstone/2000 allows us to customize our value-added services and reporting for each
customer. From detailed department level customer item usage reporting and customized summary
billing options to replenishment systems that allow CMT to pro-actively manage a customer’s on-site
inventory stores, Touchstone/2000 gives us the ability to set standards for customer service that our
competitors simply can not touch.
We never compete for business on “price,” but we can deliver products and service for the lowest
absolute cost primarily because of the efficiency of our internal systems built around the power of the
Touchstone/2000 product. Our systems are so well defined and easily monitored that we recently achieved
ISO9002 certification – yet another standard for customer service that will further distinguish CMT from
our competitors, that’s made possible by our software.
John Stevens, Operations Manager
Carolina Machine & Tool – Greenville, SC
10
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Specialized Sales Order Controls
Powerful order-management processes are built into
specialized programs to handle the different types of
orders distributors are often required to process. Each
type of sales-order program contains its own flexible
parameters to tailor customer service options around:
• Basic Orders
• WarehouseDropship Orders
• Will-Call Orders
• Future Orders
• Vendor DirectOrders
• Tag & Hold Orders
• Repetitive Orders
• Ship-CompleteOrders
Additional param-
eters are managed at the
sales order line level to
define procedures for:
• Sales From Stock
• Stocked KitAssembly Orders
• Service Items
• Build To Order KitConfiguration
• Non-Stock Items
• Order Commentsand MemoLinkTM
Printing
• Special Order Items
• Future Lines
• Vendor DirectShipments
• Warehouse Transfers
• Warehouse DropShips
Sales order lines
may contain different shipping dates, ship-to locations,
purchase order numbers, release numbers, and product
commit dates. The sales order line type determines how
product demand is filled and how service levels are
measured.
On-line access to credit management information,
document archive look-ups, sales history, product
availability and item cost information is available from
Sales order entry is fast and efficient. Special features andoptions are present only when activated.
11within order entry if user security permissions allow the
information to be displayed.
Customer Document Controls
Print control parameters for customer documents are
managed by customer and transaction type. SFST
controls are included for:
• OrderAcknowledgments
• Packing Slips
• Order & InvoiceComments
• Picking Tickets
• Customer Invoices
• Statements &Dunning Messages
• Delivery Tickets
• Memo Invoices
• DepartmentalUsage Statements
• Language Masks
• Currency Selection
• Paper or FaxDesignation
Sales Order Inquiries
Customer service is
improved with easy access
to critical information.
• Automatic recallof quoted items
• Credit Profile
• Aging byinvoice number
• Sales History andCustomer ServiceLevels
• CustomerRolodex and E-mail information
• Customer anditem memos
Detailed history windows offer a complete customer profileand help provide better customer service.
• Open Purchase andSales Orders
• Alternate Warehouses
• Pegboard Inquiry –shows open sales andpurchase orderstogether with a netavailable to promisequantity (ATP)
• Customer contract
• Extended InventoryDescriptions
• Kit Component List
• CostulatorTM
• Flexible ItemInquiries
• CustomerTransaction Listing
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• Order Date • Customer• Warehouse • Location• Salesperson • Territory• Vendor • Order Source• Manufacturer • Document Number
Sales Analysis
Flexible detailed and summary
sales reporting systems are
structured for item, customer,
salesperson, territory, and
product group analysis. Addi-
tional on-line sales and gross
margin analysis is maintained by:
• Account Type• Territory• Customer &
Ship-to Location• Price Column• Delivery Route• Warehouse• Customer Source• SIC Code• Item Product Group• Order Source• Sales Person• Vendor Product Line
The power and flexibility
of Touchstone/2000’s sales
order management system
provide distributors unique
capabilities that can create
competitive advantages in the
marketplace. Every customer
can receive personalized
service by utilizing SFST
transaction options to match
system capabilities to indi-
vidual customer needs.
To improve your customer’s
profitability, you should go
beyond selling products for a lower price. With Touchstone/
2000 you can give your customers accurate product performance
information to help optimize their product mix. Touchstone/
2000’s detailed item sales analysis and tracking capabilities
provide the tools you need to make sure that the right products
are on the shelf when your customer calls – helping them provide
better service to their customers and minimize lost sales.
Customer Pricing Controls
Prices and price calculations can be displayed and rounded
using either two or four decimal places. Comprehensive
item-pricing mechanisms include the following base formulas:
List Price Less Discount, List Price Plus, Cost Up %, Gross
Margin % and Multiplier or Price Factor. Several methods can
be used to determine customer prices, including:
• Customer Price Column
• Item Family Pricing
• Customer Contracts
• Product Group Price Table
• Family Discount Table
• Customer ExceptionContracts
• Item Price Table
• Item Promotional Pricing
• Item Reference Prices
• Best Price
Advanced pricing
features, such as Touchstone/
2000’s promotional pricing,
allow distributors to market
and manage themselves in
new ways. Different types of
products or customers may be
targeted for promotion
activity. Also, promotions
provide a great way of
moving dead or slow stock!
Activity is tracked in detail by
hits, misses, units, dollars,
cost, profit dollars and gross
margin percentage for good
management analysis.
Booking Analysis
Order bookings and shipments
are tracked separately within
Touchstone/2000 allowing for
better analysis of the “business flow” and the order fulfillment
process. Bookings detail is presented on screen for quick monthly
snapshots of dollar values by day, and on paper for a detailed
audit trail. Order changes, additions, deletions and their reason
codes, are recorded by date, time, and user ID, providing a
complete and accurate appraisal of bookings activity. Bookings
analysis can be generated in a detailed or summary format by:
Date, item, and customer controls allow promotions to behighly customized. Detailed promotion statistics are alsokept for campaign monitoring.
Advanced reporting capabilities allow sales data to begenerated multiple ways for detailed insight into customerand product sales trends.
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Touchstone/2000 incorporates the hard business tools I need to
allow my employees to make quick decisions in areas ranging
from inventory and pricing to creditworthiness and vendor
selection. The ability to instantly refer to a customer’s past purchases right
in the middle of sales order or quotation entry is an invaluable tool.
It saves countless hours of time, and the time saved is doubled since my
employees don’t have to spend it and my customers don’t have to wait. In addition, one unique feature
saves me five percentage points on my cost of sales every day. The CostulatorTM picks out the lowest cost
vendor on identical items and commodity items taking into account cash discount, year-end rebates,
and any other factors I wish to include. In my size of business that is worth $90,000 per year!
Touchstone/2000 has the flexibility I need to compete with anyone and provide an extremely efficient
operation for the benefit of my customers and my bottom line.
Steve Berdinis, President
Bishop Office City – Houston, TX
Costulator provides easy analysis when comparing vendorsto maximize savings
11aCostulatorTM
Costulator is a selectable feature set that saves many
distributors thousands of dollars each year. It provides
an interactive cost
comparison for the
purchase of an identical
item available from
many different vendors.
The comparison is based
from an adjusted unit
cost, which is comprised
of: unit cost, landed cost
elements, vendor rebates
or item discounts, and
vendor load factors –
which produces a
recommended vendor
and corresponding
savings percentage.
Vendor lead times are also shown. Costulator is also a
key component of Touchstone/2000’s replenishment
worksheet processing. Once a recommended item
purchase order quantity is calculated, Touchstone/2000
will assign the lowest price vendor to an item – if desired.
Automatic Vendor Cost Updating
Vendor list price and cost updates are easily accommodated
within Touchstone/2000. Vendors that provide electronic price
updates can be “mapped”
into the vendor item
records within Touchstone/
2000 to record any new
changes with one simple
process. Individual items
may even be excluded from
price updates just in case
“special” pricing exist.
Touchstone/2000’s ability
to store and track catalog
items means that updates
can be performed for both
stocked and non stocked
inventory. Powerful, yet
easy to use tools also exist
to allow list price and cost updates to be entered by:
• A range of items • Manufacturers
• Family codes • Vendors
• Product Group Codes • Effective Date
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12
W hen we bought Touchstone/2000 three years ago, my first
project after going live was to hire another customer
service person because we were so bogged down in paper-
work. That person was never hired, our business has since doubled twice,
and we will not need that person until it doubles again. Does it get any
better than that?
As a matter of fact it does. We still do a physical inventory only once each year. We used to be
overstocked on many items and had none of others. This year inventory had a variance of only 1.8%! I
call that perfect. We now ship 99% of our orders on the same day or next and have a good inventory
mix, which is 3% lower as a percent of sales than before we implemented Touchstone/2000.
I have perfect inventory control. I can hire sales people instead of administrative staff. I can always
tell at a glance what is going on in our company and what our customers are doing. I have customers
who are delighted with the customer service we can provide because of Touchstone/2000, and on top of
that, I have never had the software cause us any downtime! Everyday I appreciate what the system does
for Blacoh.
Diana L. Blythe, Vice President
Blacoh Fluid Control, Inc. – Riverside, CA
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E x e c u t i v e I n f o r m a t i o n M a n a g e m e n t
PeriscopeTM
The periscope inquiry system monitors operational and
financial statistics that
reveal a distributor’s
effectiveness and
procedural efficiency.
This executive informa-
tion system provides
managers the ability to
target and track
measurable improve-
ment in each aspect of
business activity. The
gathering, reporting,
and analysis of key
decision making data
has never been easier.
The real-time picture of
Seeing key business trends in graphic detail sharpens yourmanagement focus.
performance trends is maintained for the past 24 months
and can be detailed by:
• Customer Location
• Customer Totals
• WarehouseLocation
• Vendors
Each performance
inquiry provides
monthly transactional
data measuring dollar
amounts for billings,
payables, receivables,
and individual ware-
houses. Document
totals and key statistical
information is kept for
each business function.
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This “dream screen” snapshots vital statistics from keyoperating data of the company.
User defined forecasting parameters can be arbitrarily setand the system will dynamically calculate table values.
Financial performance trends indicate where managementattention should be focused.
13Performance Trends
From the company level down to the individual customer,
Touchstone/2000’s EIS
inquiries, let you see
exactly what’s going on.
The graphic display
makes performance
trends easy to monitor.
The “Cat Scan” inquiry
empowers management
with single-screen
instant feedback on
performance. Monthly,
quarterly and annual
data comparisons of
sales, cost of sales,
profit levels and margins
are provided as is the
crucial incoming
bookings flow. Key
summaries of Accounts
Receivable, Accounts
Payable and Cash
Receipts activity keep
vital cash flow levels
always at management’s
fingertips. If you can’t
measure it, you can’t
manage it!
Cash Requirements
Forecasting
Touchstone/2000’s
sophisticated cash
requirements forecasting
system graphically
projects net corporate
cash flow position using
a combination of
receivable and payable
system information.
The system calculates
expected cash receipts
based upon the out-
standing receivable
balance and customer
payment history. Vendor payments are projected using
payment selection criteria. Projected net cash positions
are derived according to user defined forecast horizons.
Forecast horizons can be sequenced into eight user
defined time intervals.
Each interval shows its
net change and cumula-
tive change for all
preceding intervals.
Financial Ratio
Analysis
Graphical trend analysis
is provided for seven-
teen key financial
performance ratios that
measure corporate
business performance
and return on invest-
ment. Each of the
seventeen financial
ratios can be displayed
in a bar graph or trend
line format. Each
format can be based
on either monthly,
quarterly, or annual
statistics. The ratio
package includes:
• Net Margin• Fixed Assets/
Equity• Current Ratio• Quick Ratio• Inventory/
Working Capital• Times Interest
Earning• Debt/Total Assets• Current
Liabilities/Equity• Cash Velocity• Inventory
Turnover• Sales Margin• Fixed Asset
Turnover• Gross Operating
Margin• Asset Productivity• Return On Equity
• Average Collection Days • Total Asset Turnover
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T h e N e t w o r k A d v a n t a g e
Touchstone/2000 is designed for PC-networks using either
Novell Netware or Microsoft NT Operating System platforms.
It also works efficiently with all of today’s popular desktop
operating systems to allow business data to be easily integrated
with a wide variety of
network and workstation
productivity tools. Touch-
stone/2000 brings the
transactional history of
business operations into clear
focus by transforming
business data into powerful
information you can use. And
the scaleable nature of PC
hardware and powerful
network operating systems
provide tremendous flexibility
in configuring and upgrading
an enterprise business
computing system that will
meet your automation needs
today – and into the future.
Network based systems
offer several advantages over
CPU-terminal configurations.
Multiple sessions of Touch-
stone/2000 can be initiated
from a properly configured
workstation, along with
concurrent sessions of
personal productivity or
business automation software.
The processing power of each
workstation can be configured
to match the transaction
workload of specific applica-
tions. And every time a workstation is added to the network
the total processing power of the network increases rather than
causing additional system degradation.
The speed and efficiency of networked workstations is so
widely recognized today that even UNIX based systems are
installed with PC-LANs to provide increased data transmission
speeds between the CPU and the workstation. Although CPU
based configurations relegate PC workstations to simple dumb-
terminals when running the primary business application from
the host, having a network in place is so valuable to the
operation of enterprise automation systems today that virtually
every new system is delivered with a network. The simple
question is why not use the enormous computing power of
PC-workstations to process
business transactions instead
of re-purchasing and duplicat-
ing that power on a UNIX
host that must be continually
upgraded and replaced as the
number of attached worksta-
tions increases? With
Touchstone/2000 you can use
the power of the workstation to
process business transactions.
User Level Controls
SFST controls the extent to
which each user interacts with
the system. Similar to the
Customer, Item and Vendor
records, SFST at the user level
can influence the level of
impact each user can exercise.
Event driven “SMART
ALERT” buttons can be
selected for specific users and
will intuitively display on the
screen. SFST offers users the
ability to add item, vendor,
customer and general ledger
accounts on-the-fly, user
restrictions specific to
customers or warehouses can
also be controlled. Many
other user controls can be
defined. SFST truly defines how each user impacts files,
records and field values within Touchstone/2000.
Customer Remote Access
Remote access is another unique feature set provided
within Touchstone/2000. High profile or high maintenance
customers can be granted this extra layer of customer service,
which aligns them even more closely with your organization,
while lessening the load on your customer service personnel.
Remote customer order entry provides a new level of on-lineservice.
Touchstone/2000’s SFST design controls each user’s accessibilityand defines the feature sets available.
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13a
Smart alerts intuitively inform users of impending eventsthat require immediate action.
T ouchstone/2000 allows us to implement Graham’s philosophy of
inventory management, and at the same time implement our
management techniques that are industry specific. We are con-
vinced Touchstone/2000 offers the most comprehensive order-entry system
of any product on the market today. Our customer service level has risen
dramatically and with the help of Touchstone/2000, in three short years we
have increased sales 46% while at the same time significantly decreasing our inventory and holding A/R
growth to a modest 10%. Clearly, this unique product makes a significant difference in how effectively
we compete in our marketplace and how efficiently we manage internal operations.
Touchstone/2000 is also designed to run on Novell’s Netware and Microsoft NT. Although
Graham maintains one should select software to fit ones needs prior to selecting hardware, in the
21st century this cannot be ignored. With Touchstone/2000’s PC-based architecture we have the
ability to integrate our system with a world of products enabling us to be on the cutting edge of
today’s technological revolution.
Danny Kurzmann, President
Linwood Plumbing Supply – Detroit, MI
Customers are given unique logons and passwords to
your system. You decide by customer which of the
following functions you will allow: the ability to check
their A/R aging;
inquire into the status
of any open order,
quote, or credit; place
an actual order
request; check pricing;
or check stock status.
User Defined Alerts
Touchstone/2000
provides a unique
notification mechanism
for action items. Main
menu “SMART
ALERT” buttons
highlight conditions that
require your attention
as soon as they occur, ensuring that important customer
related transaction activity does not get delayed.
Touchstone/2000 alert buttons include notification of:
• Mail • Auto Fills
• Manual Fills • Refills
• Transfer Request
• Drop ShipRequest
• Remote CustomerOrders
• Lead follow upactivity
• Customer orderson holds
The “Fill” alert
buttons are specifically
activated any time
inventory is received or
returned. Touchstone/
2000 looks for
backorders or special
orders and allocates
inventory to them
automatically. The alert buttons provide user notifica-
tions that backorders can now be shipped.
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C r e a t i n g T e c h n o l o g y P a r t n e r s h i p s
Implementing new business automation software requires
many significant changes. One of the more significant
changes can be working with a new software company
and creating new business partnerships. In the past, a
distributor may have looked to a “sole-source supplier”
for hardware, software, training and consulting services –
but today a partnership with only one organization
would probably not deliver the best available talent to
work with your business. Today talent is decentralized –
and the best resources are self-employed or working for
highly focused small businesses. Multiple partnerships
provide access to more specialized expertise. So Dimasys
established a network of specialists to work with our
customers to meet the challenges presented by implement-
ing a new system, using new technology while changing
business procedures to improve customer service and
operating efficiency.
Embedded Database Integration
Dimasys publishes the Touchstone/2000 product and
distributes the powerful Pervasive SQL, ODBC
compliant, database system as an embedded component
of the software application product to permit a level of
integration that optimizes software installation and
support. Developing software to tap the power of the
industry’s leading PC Network SQL database engine
allows Dimasys to offer comprehensive maintenance and
support services to Touchstone/2000 customers covering
both the system and the underlying database engine.
Pervasive Software, Inc. works closely with Dimasys to
provide Touchstone/2000 customers the most reliable
platform available for mission-critical transaction
processing applications available. This partnership also
delivers the lowest total cost of ownership available in the
distribution software industry.
14
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P roviding outstanding customer service is absolutely critical to the
success of our company. Touchstone/2000 is a vital tool in helping
us meet this objective in all areas of our business. The power and
sophistication of the software has given us a significant advantage over
our competition. The people at Dimasys are very quick to respond to our
requests and suggestions, and their responsiveness helps us continually
offer new and better services to our customers. It is a dynamic product that continues to add new
features we can use every year.
Continuous and Never-ending Improvement is a basic principle of our business, and we need
business software that supports this principle. Touchstone/2000 fits in with our business principle
because it helps us to continually improve our processes. As a wholesale distributor, our inventory is our
largest physical asset. In just the past 18 months we have been able to significantly reduce our inventory
(15%), increase our turns (40%) while increasing our customer service level, and thus substantially raise
our profitability. Our Return On Investment (ROI) is up by 39%, which is a pretty dramatic
improvement. Touchstone/2000 played a major role in helping us achieve these results, and we are
obviously very happy with the software.
Paul Gallin, President
Ohio Travel Bag, Cleveland, OH
Building Strategic Relationships
Dimasys maintains unique strategic relationships with
Effective Inventory Management, Inc. and A/R
Management Group, Inc. that provide Touchstone/2000
customers product-specific educational guides, seminars,
and value-added consulting relationships. Dimasys
recognizes a distribution software product is ultimately
an asset management tool, and that real product value is
measured by how well distributors achieve their intended
results. By pioneering strategic relationships with the
premier asset management companies in the industry,
Dimasys provides our customers the opportunity to work
closely with the best available talent in the marketplace.
And the instructional content is not just theory – it is
product-specific instruction made possible by the
framework our partnership relationships bring to the
Touchstone/2000 community.
Industry and Technology Experts
Managing a change in strategic technology may also
require new relationships be formed with local
resources that provide ongoing technical expertise to your
company. A company that understands today’s network-
based technology and also understands the distribution
industry – can partner with you to implement proven,
cost effective technology. That’s why Dimasys established
an authorized network of Value Added Resellers (VARs)
to add value to the product and the companies that use it.
An international network of Touchstone/2000 VARs offer
implementation assistance, data conversion, training,
support and consulting services to help ensure that your
business takes advantage of the full range of tools and
technology that can make a difference in your business –
and in your bottom line.
Contact Dimasys, Inc. or your authorized
Touchstone/2000 Value Added Reseller for more informa-
tion about the leading PC-network based distribution
software product. The only distribution software product
supported by a comprehensive network of independent
industry consultants and local VARs working together to
promote business change. This unique framework
pioneered by Dimasys, combines proven asset manage-
ment procedures with product-based expertise to help
distributors leverage technology as a tool to manage
change. Put the power of the Touchstone/2000
partnership network to work for you – and see how
industry-specific training and technology can create a
competitive advantage for your company.
15
W hen we installed Touchstone/2000 we never imagined the
revolution that it would provoke inside the company. It is
not only a software package, the system is a whole new
way to work and increase productivity, which means more profit for the
company. The work flow procedures designed into Touchstone/2000 re-
fine every area of a distributor’s business from customer quotes to finan-
cial statements. At TBC Mexico we have found that now every employee understands his role and can
contribute to improving the company’s operation and customer service, even when they are miles away
from each other working at 15 different branches across the country. Despite the logistics involved with
managing a decentralized operation, we have decreased our Systems department from 6 Employees to
only 2 and are a much more efficient organization. Touchstone/2000 is the cornerstone of TBC Mexico’s
reorganization program and the catalyst that bonded our employees to the overall mission and direc-
tion of the company.
Ricardo Villalobos, Dir. of Information Technology
TBC de Mexico, S. A. – Leon, Gto, Mexico
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Dimasys, Inc.3010 LBJ FreewaySuite 1207Dallas, Texas 75234
Phone: (972) 888-6043Fax: (972) 888-6091Internet: www.dimasys.comE-Mail: [email protected]
“In Memory of Stan Leu,whose creativity and endless commitment
will forever be missed”.
Touchstone/2000TM is developed and licensed exclusively by Dimasys, Inc.
Touchstone/2000TM, PeriscopeTM, Scaleable Feature Set TechnologyTM, SFSTTM, TagAlongTM, CostulatorTM, StockAidTM, SnapOnTM,“Graham on a LANTM” and “You haven’t seen software like this before!TM” are all Trademarks of Dimasys, Inc.
“Effective Inventory Management with Touchstone/2000” is a copyrighted publication of Effective Inventory Management,Inc. (EIM), a corporation with no affiliation to Dimasys, Inc. Profit Centered Credit and Collections with Touchstone/2000” is a copyrighted work of A/R Management Group, Inc. (ARMG), a corporation with no affiliation to Dimasys, Inc.Dimasys contractually authorizes EIM and ARMG to reprint screens and concepts contained within Touchstone/2000 foruse within these publications and other instructional materials for their own respective use. Dimasys also has licensedpermission to use copyrighted concepts and terminology from ARMG for developing related software functionality.
The names of companies and products otherwise referred to herein are trademarks, tradenames, or registered trademarks oftheir respective owners.