Microsoft Convergence is a meeting of all people involved with Microsoft Dynamics ERP and CRM solutions - users, developers, resellers, implementers and companies like Flintfox who provide ‘add-on’ specialist functionality to the main Dynamics solutions from Microsoft. People go to learn from the multiple conference sessions that range from Microsoft strategies to deep functional dives into particular solutions. Most go to spend three days networking, catching up with contacts, learning how their peers use Dynamics solutions, discussing how they have solved issues, checking up with Microsoft and other experts on all kinds of Dynamics issues. Some users go to see what new solutions or upgrades might help them, with partner resellers seeking these solutions to help out their own customers back home.

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However, Delano Minnesota based Landscape Structures Inc., renown as leading commercial playground equipment manufacturers, who have designed, made and installed around 50,000 playgrounds worldwide since 1971, chose Trade + to address a number of pricing complexities they share with many CPG operators.

On the other hand Lifetime Products, who apply innovation and cutting-edge technology in plastics and metals to make tables, chairs, sporting goods, storage containers and sheds, are more like a “typical durable goods company” who in addition to pricing challenges characteristically utilize Flintfox’s Trade+ to manage the promotional, rebating, commission and deduction/claim settlement aspects of their trade channel relationships.

Manufacturer and distributor of products for the automotive aftermarket sector, California based Kraco Enterprises is also stepping up its disciplines in managing trade spend. Implementing Trade+ for Dynamics at its affiliate Auto Expressions will assist to optimise returns for all their trade promotional efforts, which in common with most in the Consumer Goods Durables are considerable.

From Flintfox’s perspective it is great to again receive recognition for the depth of trade functionality we bring to companies like these, who according to the TPMA, spend on average 17% of their revenues promoting via their trade channels. So we are very pleased to welcome these three, and our other new customers, to the Flintfox fold, and we look forward to assisting them all to get the most they can from all their trade promotional efforts.

Mike Ridgway, CEO here at Flintfox, says “Our Trade+ suite of solutions is proving increasingly relevant across a broader client base that we had imagined. As any market matures and becomes increasingly competitive the need for a robust, accountable, measurable solution is critical as evidenced by our exponential growth”

Dynamics AX 2012 is a major redesign of Microsoft’s flagship enterprise resource planning (ERP) product, providing a more user-friendly and powerful offering that targets mid-sized and larger enterprises. Additionally the enhanced interoperability with familiar tools such as Word, Excel, Outlook and SharePoint provides Customers with a flexible yet cost-effective business application, that works the way they do.

Flintfox’s integrated best of breed trade planning and management solutions, that include modules for complex pricing, promotions, rebates, fees, along with the associated settlement of accruals, deductions and claims, provide the more advanced trade functionality required many Dynamics AX customers in highly competitive distribution sectors.

For customers, CfMD helps identify Microsoft Dynamics solutions that have been tested for compatibility, meet high quality standards, and are successfully used by existing customers. This certification represents a significant step in elevating the standard for partner-developed software solutions for industry-specific business applications. By highlighting these solutions, Microsoft also creates new opportunities for partners to expand their reseller channel and to better promote their packaged Microsoft Dynamics solution for customers.

“This milestone demonstrates Flintfox’s commitment to delivering the most effective ERP solutions and expertise for our customers,” said Crispin Read, general manager Microsoft Dynamics ERP. “We congratulate Flintfox for meeting Microsoft’s highest standards of quality.”

Trade promotion management (TPM) has been seen by many as the domain of Consumer Goods Companies. But more and more the increasingly competitive nature of sectors such as industrial wholesaling, and the manufacture and distribution of building products, to name just two, drives the search of those sectors most ambitious organisations for applications to assist them compete more successfully.

In addition, a further effect of the Global Financial Crisis has been to make companies more accountable for their trade spend, forcing them to look for better management systems. Mike Ridgway, Flintfox CEO, says: “for our Trade+ it has been a perfect storm, with results nothing less than extraordinary”

The organisational changes will be of most benefit to Flintfox Customers and Partners, who should both expect to gain from the closer collaboration possible between field staff in the US and development personnel.

“There is no doubt the Flintfox USA team have done an excellent job of expanding our channels to market, and this acquisition will allow them to focus on these areas while we better leverage the technical and delivery resources across the group” said Flintfox CEO Mike Ridgway, adding that “the acquisition also ensures better communication and a more appropriate structure to allow for further geographical expansion in the future”.

Brian Timberlake will now concentrate on leading the sales team, with Steve Peppler heading up the services division for the region.

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Take Cleveland, Ohio based Oatey Company as an example. They’ve been manufacturing and distributing to the plumbing industry for close to 100 years. Their market-leading products include solvent cements for joining plastic pipe and fittings, vent stack roof flashings, solder and flux for joining copper pipe, washing machine outlet boxes, Sure-Vent® air admittance valves….. and other related plumbing specialty products.

Oatey takes a leaf out of the book of some long time Flintfox customers manufacturing industrial, commercial and building products, such as Columbian Chemical Company and Enodis, in wishing to gain better control over their pricing and rebating activities.

Steve Shemo, VP of IT at Oatey says that “with Flintfox’s Trade+ solution integrated with Dynamics, we will be able to better handle pricing complexities on our wide range of products. Having a very adaptable system to handle our customer rebates, all integrated with our main business system, we will automate our pricing model which will allow us to be more responsive to customers.”

VP of Professional Services for Flintfox, Steve Peppler, who has overseen Flintfox implementations in sectors as diverse as Pepsi Canada, SanDisk and Columbian Chemicals, is looking forward to the many new challenges his team will face this year. “While it’s great starting off with extremely powerful and flexible software, the optimal solution for each customer requires considerable business analysis and process design in order to implement the most effective and efficient solution that delivers benefits across the organization, from finance and compliance to executive management” Peppler said, adding that “and having a consulting and technical team with extensive domain experience in pricing and trade spend across a broad spectrum of manufacturing and distribution customers with all of the cross fertilization of ideas and methods that entails, has allowed us to apply best practices across industries leading to huge improvements in managing pricing and trade spend.”

Flintfox’s aim this year is to increasingly combine the power and versatility of our software with the increasing strength of our service delivery teams to provide world class solutions to our customer’s pricing and trade promotional pains.

While in charge of Customer Finance at Quaker Oats (now PepsiCo Canada) he implemented Flintfox’s APM solution as part of their QAD-MFG/Pro installation. Three years later Steve first worked for Flintfox in the US, fulfilling various roles for the organization including consulting, sales and product management while based in New Jersey.

In 2004 Steve moved to New Zealand with his family to take up the position of CEO. He was instrumental in the company making some tough decisions, not least of which was the applications being redeveloped in .NET for Microsoft Dynamics® AX.

Steve and his family returned to the US for personal reasons, initially to a position with Flintfox customer SanDisk, followed by two years with Hewlett-Packard.

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“We are very pleased to continue to be ranked as a top provider in trade promotions management by the readers of Consumer Goods Technology,” said Mike Ridgway, President and CEO, Flintfox. “Our highest priority continues to be providing Flintfox’s customers with innovative TPM solutions and superior customer support, ensuring they are better prepared to tackle trade and promotion challenges. We are proud of the achievements that our customers in the consumer goods industry continue to realize and are honored when we’re recognized as a valued partner contributing to their success.”

CGT Readers Choice 2011
CGT Readers Choice 2011 for TPM

Exceedra from the United Kingdom and Flintfox International have entered into a partnership agreement that will see Flintfox’s Trade Promotion Management solutions gaining strong representation in the UK and master distribution to resellers in Europe. This move consolidates Flintfox’s other global efforts and success this year in the North American and Asia-Pacific regions.
Exceedra are thought leaders in the supply chain decision making arena, providing best in class true insight driven planning solutions and supply chain planning. Flintfox TPM solutions will now add breadth to Exceedra’s product portfolio particularly for Consumer Goods companies.

Mike Ridgway, CEO of Flintfox, says he is delighted to now have Exceedra on board as a master reseller. “Their seasoned executive team’s experience in delivering solutions for manufacturers and distributors provides us a great platform to expand our customer base in the region”.

Flintfox’s suite of Trade Management Solutions already enjoys wide spread acceptance across Microsoft’s Dynamics AX community in North America and will provide a unique set of functionality for which there is considerable demand in the competitive European markets.

About Exceedra
Exceedra provides insight driven planning solutions enabling clients to maximize revenue, margins and cashflow. Business improvement is driven by timely and a fact based understanding of the market and customer needs.
Exceedra solutions are supporting sales and supply chain decision making in leading manufacturers and retailers such as Heineken, Vision Express and Pirelli in addition to many mid-size companies.

The company is recognised as a thought leader delivering value adding solutions to its customers

Contact: Richard Nicholas, richard.nicholas@exceedra.com, +44(0)844 556 1242, www.exceedra.com

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