For Immediate Release
Mountain/Service Distributors to Track Rebates Via iPad
New York Wholesaler to Save Time With New App
CHICAGO - July 11, 2011 - Software developer Ai2 announced today that Mountain/Service Distributors of South Fallsburg, New York will soon deploy a custom version of ProSel. Ai2 is providing an iPad-based mobile application designed to track compliance in various manufacturer-sponsored rebate programs. The custom app is a solution for members of the WAM group, a company that facilitates cooperative volume discount buying for distributors in the convenience industry.
The solution was developed in a joint effort between Ai2 and WAM, a private company that acts as an agent for distributors in the convenience store industry. WAM's main focus is the administration of the monthly programs that manufacturers sponsor to promote certain product lines. Rewards are available for distributors and retailers who purchase the required amount of product in a certain period of time. Distributors and retailers need to track their compliance with each program they enter, a procedure that was paper-based until now.
The current procedure for tracking rebates for WAM’s 400-plus salespeople and 20,000-plus retailers involves Scantron, generating a massive amount of paperwork. The ability to share data with distrbutors and disseminate it to the mobile sales force via the iPad will save thousands of hours annually for WAM and its members. The new process will also help retailers track how close they are to their next reward.
"We're very excited about the opportunity to help Mountain and the rest of the WAM members, said Douglas Katich, CEO for Ai2. "If a sales rep can tell a retailer that he's just one case of candy bars from hitting a bonus, everyone meets their deadline and everyone wins. Nowadays, a sales rep needs to stay connected to all the important information he needs in the field, and this approach will help with that," added Katich.
Mountain/Service, in business since 1929, serves six New York counties from its 45,000 square foot facility in South Fallsburg, NY. They offer store design, store layout, fixture selection, plan-o-gramming and inventory management services, point of purchase displays, and deli training. They also offer price protection on what customers buy and low minimum order quantities. Mountain/Service is a family owned company and carries over 8,000 products. For more about Mountain visit the company's website.
WAM is a private company based in Saginaw, MI. It is engaged in the structuring and implementation of programs designed to increase the sales of manufacturers, distributors and retailers who contract for WAM's services WAM decides which Convenience Products Distributors and which Manufacturers will be offered the opportunity to contract for its services. WAM is not structured as a buying group. Rather, WAM acts as an agent for distributors and the retailers they service with "preferred" suppliers. WAM retains a percentage of the revenue generated from suppliers for the distributor's sales and merchandising efforts. WAM pays each participating distributor its respective share on an annual basis. For more about WAM, visit the company's website.
Ai2 (formerly Access International) was founded in 1986 and is headquartered in downtown Chicago. Their applications are used by over 75,000 users each day to capture over 75 billion dollars in sales each year. Ai2 improves the order entry process for some of the nation’s largest distributors in foodservice, convenience store, grocery, beverage, hardware, medical, beauty and industrial supply. For more information about Ai2, visit www.ai2.com.
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Ai2 Media Contact
Ray Walsh
(800) 835-3200