Posted by Becky Bornstein on February 13th 2012 | 0 comments
At DataSource we believe that one of the most important steps when working with a client is the assessment and planning stage. This is one of the first steps where we establish a benchmark so that we can set realistic targets and goals. We analyze your business processes and procedures to understand your current business environment in order to provide recommendations that are specific with target and cost savings objectives. We have worked with many clients throughout the years and we have found a set of questions that are really key to this portion of the assessment. They will help tailor the recommendations we offer. Below are the top 10 assessment questions that we have found most useful:
What current processes does your company have in place? What processes are actually used?- What are each processes used for? And who is involved with each process?
- When is the last time you evaluated your processes?
- Who keeps the processes updated?
- What are the top 5 issues you are currently facing?
- What is good about your current process?
- What are 3 specific goals you would like to attain?
- When do you want everything set up by?
- How do you currently measure your productivity?
- Are your current processes aligned with your overall business strategy?
There are a ton of other questions and evaluations that we preform. But these questions are a great place to start the process and get an introduction into the company that you are going to be working with. Data Source conducts a complete supply chain analysis so that we can maximize your cost reduction potential. Industry-specific assessments can be conducted for the commercial, restaurant/hospitality, and automotive industries.
What other questions would you add to the list?
Photo courtesy of flickr
Posted by DataSource Newswire on August 30th 2011 | 0 comments
When it comes to print supply chain management, find a system that works and stick with it.
With clients in the restaurant industry, automotive industry and commercial industry, DataSource understands their needs unique. Innovation and creative solutions sets DataSource apart from the competition by focusing on the individual needs of each client. With apparel and event specific products, brand identity and protection is always a priority for DataSource.
Changing and adapting is necessary for the survival of any business. DataSource helps pin-point and examine specific target markets then develops, designs and delivers campaigns to fit your needs. Sometimes when DataSource is hired, clients have campaigns already in place. DataSource can help run the campaign more efficiently with print supply chain management, buying power, or slight modifications to the campaign.
Having DataSource examine print supply chain management needs with fresh, yet very experienced, eyes means innovative solutions can be successfully paired with a company’s system. DataSource continually monitors client services and results to keep its innovative solutions working efficiently for the long term. DataSource develops solutions, designs innovative approaches and delivers outstanding results to its clients time after time.
Posted by DataSource Newswire on August 5th 2011 | 0 comments
Every automotive dealership, regardless of size or experience, needs to establish a strong customer base in order to stay relevant and successful. Attracting repeat business is not just about the car you sell. Customer service, efficiency, and being accessible helps turn car buyers into loyal customers. Loyal customers like to tell others about their great experience.
So, how do automotive dealerships become more efficient?
Let’s start with the print supply chain management capabilities of DataSource. Small changes to the way automotive dealerships function can sometimes make a big difference in the highly competitive new car sales market. DataSource may be just what you need to reach that next level.
DataSource specializes in the unique print supply needs of today’s auto dealerships. DataSource has more promotional products to fit particular dealership needs than any other print supply chain company. DataSource not only supplies a dealership with necessary extras, such as signage, banners, document needs, employee incentive products, and showroom supplies, they also help reduce the overall costs of these supplies.
Rather than seeking out several individual companies to supply various products, DataSource is literally a one stop shop for everything you need. This helps reduce warehousing costs, shipping costs, and time dealing with several supply chain establishments. DataSource also has the unique ability and structural capacity to assist small to large dealerships.
The automotive industry is fast-paced from the showroom to the parts and service departments. So many variances and individual components can help or hinder the growth of any dealership. With DataSource taking care of the print supply chain management needs, automotive professionals have more time to take care of customers instead of choosing who to print business cards.
Posted by DataSource Newswire on July 22nd 2011 | 0 comments
Fresh ideas come from experienced places. At DataSource, our goal is to help our clients become more fit. Survival of the fittest in the corporate world means adapting to new environments, understanding the changing market and competing on a healthy level, locally and globally.
Creativity that makes a difference is something that can be sparked when the right minds come together with the same goals. DataSource professionals study your company’s needs, develop ideas, design solutions and deliver implementation.
It’s time to break free from the status quo and get on the road to higher successes by utilizing the services of DataSource:
Planning & Assessment
Marketing & Creative
Procurement & Sourcing
Fulfillment & Distribution
Technology Integration
Reporting & Management
At DataSource, we keep what works efficiently in your company while implementing workflow improvements, print management solutions and other services that help improve your company’s position in the market.
Posted by Becky Bornstein on July 20th 2011 | 0 comments
Picking the right provider for your Supply Chain Management needs is vital to your company. Things you should inquire about when deciding who to partner with are: Do their services meet your needs exactly? Are the people whom you’d be working with reliable and friendly? Do they have previous case studies to show their work? When you find the right partner, you will get great results. Here is one of our very own examples from Data Source:
SCM Services with Horsepower
Van Tuyl Group Inc. manages the largest group of privately help automotive dealerships in the United States. They are admired very much in their industry and are known for being leaders. In saying that, a while back their executives looked at their printing costs and proccesses and saw that there was definitely room for improvement. The way they had it set up was each dealership was buying on its own. They would each make small quantity purchases of a wide variety of forms. This caused inconsistency in their branding and true management inventory was not feasible.
This is where DataSource stepped in and made an assessment of the group’s printing needs. DataSource then proposed standardization of many forms across all the dealerships, and added a pay-on-release provision so dealers could have forms readily available, but would only pay for them as needed. DataSource made sure to stay on top of all state laws regarding forms, so that all locations were abiding by their specific state laws. And DataSource helped The Van Tuyl Group Inc. maintain brand consistency across the board.
As you can see, this was a great fit. DataSource had what The Van Tuyl Group Inc. needed. Since this partnership The Van Tuyl Group Inc. has reduced it’s direct print spending by 42% and significantly saved on indirect costs. The billing process has also been centralized, which has lowered accounting cost.
Are you currently using a SCM Service?
Posted by DataSource Newswire on June 22nd 2011 | 0 comments
Waste is unavoidable when anything is mass produced. DataSource knows digital on demand is the smarter and more efficient way for any company to meet their print supply needs. For business forms, marketing supplies, training materials, and personnel management packets, mass ordering and storing just does not make economical sense.
When a company has limited space, storage is a real concern. Wasting resources and company square footage takes away from other options for that very space. Developing a print supply chain management process is a better option.
DataSource can maintain a steady stream of print supply materials on demand. By using the print on demand capabilities of DataSource, business materials are designed, printed and distributed on an as-needed basis, with minimal cost or waste when changes need to be implemented.
By maintaining a close and personal relationship with each client, DataSource designs, develops and delivers print materials with impeccable efficiency. Individualized service with the capability to adjust and evolve print supply needs with minimal waste makes DataSource both the smart choice and the economically sound choice.
Posted by DataSource Newswire on May 26th 2011 | 0 comments
It’s no secret the automotive industry in our country is struggling to get back on top.
Whether you are a small town dealership branch or the corporate head of an entire chain of dealerships, streamlining, reducing costs, and increasing profits are always on your mind. DataSource professionals are experts in revamping the way automotive dealerships do day to day business.
DataSource knows the automotive industry. Our experts evaluate showrooms, parts and services departments and marketing and advertising departments, and provide valuable insight to improving the flow and efficiency of your print supply chain.
DataSource knows printing. From stationary to buyers forms, insurance forms and promotional products… DataSource will analyze and present real solutions to increase efficiency in your print supply chain. With experience and expertise in the actual operations of automotive dealerships, DataSource sales teams keep an open and flowing relationship with local dealers to better manage on site inventory and print needs. With the right experience mixed with our cutting edge technology, DataSource can help manage and reduce your print supply costs.
With DataSource, we learn the exact custom needs of your automotive dealership, provide a detailed cost-savings proposal, and implement the custom plan that gets you real results.
Partnering with DataSource is a smart move towards getting your dealership on top and keeping it there.
Posted by DataSource Newswire on May 5th 2011 | 0 comments
(KANSAS CITY, Mo) DataSource, Inc., one of America’s leading print supply chain management companies announced the rollout of MarketNow™ – Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Solutions, its newest customized business offering that will source, produce and deploy a wide array of marketing components for its restaurant/hospitality, automotive, financial and general commercial clients.
MarketNow™ is designed to reduce marketing program costs, support brand management and enhance print supply chain efforts through nationwide marketing solutions such as POP, response management and corporate identity; fulfillment services including kitting, customized 
digital production and traditionally printed material; event and trade show support with customized catalogs, premiums and displays as well as marketing channel support such as banners, displays and direct mail programs.
In addition to the production and fulfillment of millions of documents, MarketNow™ will also incorporate QR, or quick response codes in various marketing programs such as hang tags, signs and other printed material as an innovative way to steer customers to a website, marketing video or coupons.
“We are so pleased to add this new offering to our list of client services,” said David Holland, president of DataSource. As our company continues to move forward, our goal stays the same. To always provide our customers with compelling, efficient and innovative solutions. MarketNow™ will do just that.”
Posted by David Holland on November 29th 2010 | 0 comments
Today’s business environment presents more than a few challenges, doesn’t it? And it’s full of seeming contradictions.
We’re told to think globally but act locally.
Opportunities are expanding but resources are shrinking.
Technology that was cutting edge yesterday may well be obsolete today.
Figuring out how to successfully manage a business enterprise in today’s fluid environment is more challenging than ever. We’re all taking a close look at each decision and in some cases rethinking and retooling business processes altogether. At the same time, those charged with leading and protecting their respective businesses, should maintain a firm grasp on fundamentals that form a solid foundation for any successful business. I would like to share a few that DataSource keeps clearly in view no matter what sort of environment we are in.
What Does Success Look Like? – Our focus at DataSource is to develop, design and deliver integrated solutions that fulfill our client’s strategic business objectives. Unless and until we know what the solution is, we are not in a position to know what strategies and resources will best meet the challenge. Our approach is to understand what the current situation is and measure it against the client’s view of what ”success” would look like.
Solve, Don’t Sell – The lifeblood of any successful business is its sales organization, right? Indeed, sales are important, but the heart of any successful business is helping make clients successful. And you don’t do that by merely throwing down a menu of services and saying “Here’s what we have. Hope you need it.” There are any number of people out there trying to sell this product or that. Our objective is to solve client problems and challenges first, not sell our products. If we solve first, sales will take care of themselves.
Ask “Why Not Do This?” – With our focus on innovation and integrated solutions, we have to be prepared to advocate for and even justify business process improvement recommendations, a marketing campaign, brand management strategies, or document design. Frankly, we enjoy that because it means that our recommendations may not be what clients expected to hear, or are different than what our competitors may offer. Yet, we also must be prepared to think through our recommendations from the perspective of “Why not do this?” Why would a client reject a recommendation? Is it too innovative from their viewpoint? Is the cost (not to be confused with the “value”) higher than what they are used to seeing (or maybe even lower to the point where it appears too low)? Has the approach succeeded for anyone else? Addressing these sorts of questions helps us identify and articulate the benefits to the client so that we can assure them they are making sound business decisions rather than taking leaps of faith.
These are three concepts DataSource puts into practice day-in and day-out on behalf of our clients and our business. Perhaps they can contribute to your business success as well.
What about you? Do you have any rock solid principles that have proven themselves in good times and challenging times? I’d love to hear them.
Posted by Sherie Bartlett on November 23rd 2010 | 0 comments
“A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be.“ – Wayne Gretzky
The simple wisdom from this Wayne Gretzky quote not only served him well on his way to becoming the greatest player to ever wear a pair of skates, but it can serve those of us in business, too.
So often, businesses spend a lot of time and money thinking about where they have been or where they are in the present. And those perspectives are important to the lives of successful people and organizations. Lessons from our past influence our decisions for today, and they should.
But do we spend enough time thinking about where our business – the puck – is going to be in the future? Do we think about where we want it to be in the future and do what we can to get it there? The traditional marketing model has been a retrospective look at what clients and the market have done in the past. What data and behaviors are available to determine what strategies should be in place? That’s the way it has been done for years.
The challenges of today’s economy, however, require that those of us in business…especially those of us who provide services to clients (and frankly, that’s all of us!)…look not just at where things have been in the past, or where they are today, but where they will be in the future. The more that we know about our clients and the evolving needs of their marketplace, the better we can help position them for success in the future.
That is our approach at DataSource. There are tremendous efficiencies in operation and savings that can be found in print supply chain management, marketing services and business process improvement just to name a few areas. The ways in which people approach and conduct business today are changing rapidly. The planning horizon is getting shorter and requires that we build flexibility and adaptability into our business culture. The third leg on the stool, however, is innovation. If we are to develop integrated solutions to the challenges faced by our clients, we must be able to provide insight into innovative document design, brand management strategies and marketing campaigns.
Our clients…and yours…are looking to differentiate themselves in the marketplace. The people and businesses that focus on where things are going to be, rather than just where they’ve been and where they are, will be the ones that opportunity finds, not the ones having to chase it down.
Think like a great player. Play where the puck is going to be, not merely where it is.
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