For Immediate Release
Pine State Trading To Deploy iPad Solution
Ai2, WAM Partnership Yields Automated Rebate Tracking
CHICAGO - July 11, 2011 - Ai2, a software developer serving the convenience industry, announced today that Pine State Trading of Augusta, Maine will be replacing paper-based sales data tracking with a custom version of ProSel, a new application running on the iPad. Pine State is a member of the WAM group of distributors, a cooperative organization that spans the United States.
Manufacturers of candy and snack products offer incentives for distributors and retailers to purchase a certain amount of product in a given time. WAM administers these programs for its 23 distributor members, almost all of whom will deploy this solution within the next year. The special version of ProSel was developed to replace the paper-based collection and compilation of data related to hundreds of these manufacturer-sponsored rebate programs. A mobile salesperson will now have instant access to compliance data for every retailer and every program.
WAM is currently using a Scantron sheet that has to be manually fed into a machine, similar to the grading of tests in schools. The new app gives the distributors' outside salespeople the ability to remotely access any retailer's program status. This will help distributors monitor their progress in these programs and increase retailer compliance.
"I'm thrilled that WAM chose us to help their members with this app," said Douglas Katich, CEO for Ai2. "When salespeople can help their retailers by sorting through a mountain of data in a few seconds, they provide tremendous value and encourage customer loyalty," Katich added.
Founded in 1940 by Charles Canning, Sr., Pine State remains a family-run organization today and covers New England and parts of New York. They have over 700 employees and serve over 4,000 customers. For more about Pine State 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.
###
Ai2 Media Contact
Ray Walsh
(800) 835-3200