AFS Technologies

Tech Tuesday: Priya: Warehouse Management solution to increase traceability & inventory accuracy

Abby Chitester — Tue, 25 Jun 2013 12:06:35 +0000

You’ve heard the buzz, so here’s your chance to see the powerful AFS Technologies Solutions Suite in action! Join us for a demo of the industry-leading Food & Beverage business solutions that are generating big results and a quick ROI for Consumer Packaged Goods Manufacturers, Distributors and Sales Agencies.

Take a tour of a new AFS Technologies solution each month and discover how innovative technology can provide your company with a true competitive advantage. Each instructional demo offers a sneak peek into key functionalities and features specifically designed to automate daily business operations and boost your bottom line.

SPACE IS LIMITED, so register today!

To register for the June 25 event, please complete the form below!

Business Intelligence without the Smoke and Mirrors

Kevin Collier — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 14:50:44 +0000

Is Business Intelligence a bunch of smoke and mirrors or can it deliver pure power? The reporting benefits that come from utilizing a Business Intelligence tool seem undeniable, so can your organization truly thrive without relying on one?

During this webinar, important questions related to the use of Business Intelligence in the food industry will be addressed and debated. Join us for a hard look at the evolution of Business Intelligence tools, the type of analytics and actionable data that Business Intelligence tools can generate and how CPG companies are capitalizing on those analytics to strengthen productivity and profitability.

Additional questions that will be discussed include:

Why are advanced analytics so important in today’s marketplace?
Is a Business Intelligence tool the best/only way to gain a competitive advantage?
Should a Business Intelligence tool be identified as a need, want or priority for my organization?
What types of Business Intelligence tools are available?
Are there any prerequisites for utilizing a Business Intelligence tool?

To register for the June 19 event, please complete the form below!

Tech Tuesday: Discovery G2: The next-generation Business Intelligence solution

Abby Chitester — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 12:05:28 +0000

SPACE IS LIMITED, so register today!

To register for the June 11 event, please complete the form below!

How to Maximize and Optimize Every Order

admin — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:05:09 +0000

Creating demand for a product, selling that product, fulfilling the order accurately and receiving payment are key factors responsible for creating a sale. However, possessing an intimate understanding of the Order Management Process and maximizing the potential of every order – especially at the time the order is being taken – is what truly sets a successful organization apart from the competition.

Join us as we outline the three crucial steps needed to create ‘the perfect order.’ This 60-minute web event is ideal for General Managers, Sales Manager and anyone responsible for ensuring maximum potential during the order process.

Key takeaways from this webinar will allow your team to:

• Improve sales through increased line item penetration
• Reduce customer returns through increased order accuracy
• Maximize margins and profits on every customer
• Increase customer loyalty by improving their profits
• Enhance customer service by allowing clients to place orders at their convenience

To register for the May 22 event, please complete the form below!

Alan El-Kadhi

Kevin Collier — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:38:13 +0000

Alan has successfully managed the creation and commercialisation of multiple software products. In the early 1990s he started his own software development company in the UK, and his security and workflow products were sold to major banks in the City of London. His company was acquired by Silvon Software, the US market leader at the time, and Alan ran product management in the US, and then relocated to Australia to establish Asia Pacific sales channels. He was General Manager of Commericalisation for the University of New South Wales, one of Australia’s largest universities, and generated millions of dollars in licensing and venture capital to fund start-up companies. He then restructured and ran sales for a VC funded start-up specialising in Video Analytics (Sensen Networks) and for a global BI software company (Phocas Software). He recently took 2 years out to volunteer in Indonesia, where he transformed a small local wildlife organisation into a well-funded and international award winning conservation NGO.
Alan has joined AFS to manage the Mobile product suite. He has a BSc from the University of Wales, and an MBA from Trinity College Dublin.

Tech Tuesday: AFS TradePro™ Foodservice: Contract management and verification tool

Abby Chitester — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:03:32 +0000

SPACE IS LIMITED, so register today!

To register for the May 21 event, please complete the form below!

AFS Technologies Announces the Appointment of Chris Mitchell to Vice President EMEA

Abby Chitester — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:02:22 +0000

Phoenix, AZ, May 20, 2013 – AFS Technologies, Inc., the leading provider of business enterprise and on-demand software solutions for the Food and Beverage and Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) retail industries, has appointed Chris Mitchell as Vice President EMEA. Mr. Mitchell assumes his new position effective immediately and will be based in the Company’s United Kingdom office.

Prior to joining AFS Technologies, Mr. Mitchell served as Global Account Director at CAS where he worked with numerous global Top 20 CPG companies. In this role, he was exposed to the practical experience and best practice thinking applied at major organizations in the areas of Trade Promotion Management, Trade Promotion Optimization, Retail Execution, Direct Store Delivery and Merchandising.

During an extensive 25 year career in the software industry, Mr. Mitchell has collaboratively worked with many global Pharmaceutical, Consumer Healthcare and CPG companies to successfully deliver IT solutions to support specialized business processes. He has held front office positions as well as senior business development roles at national, European and global levels at large organizations such as Oracle and Accenture and specialized software vendors, including Cegedim and First Consulting Group.

“AFS is proud to have a new European executive with significant knowledge and experience in the global CPG industry,” says Kurien Jacob, CEO of AFS Technologies. “Chris has worked with numerous customers in each of the solution sets we currently offer and has a proven track record of integrating solutions to create powerful strategic sales and marketing platforms. His breadth of expertise will contribute to our efforts to position the diverse AFS portfolio to the global CPG marketplace.”

Mr. Mitchell has been involved in many regional and global initiatives which require a balance between local needs and the standardization required to achieve economies of scale. He has worked extensively with customers in Eastern and Western Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia Pacific thereby acquiring an understanding of diverse business practices and regulations. This has enabled him to actively assist customers in their progressive rollouts of global solutions.

“I’m delighted to join a leading solution provider who is focused on the global Consumer Goods industry and is committed to reducing the cost and speed-to-value of Mobility and Trade Promotion Management solutions,” noted Chris Mitchell. “The industry is blighted with either stalled and expensive programs or a plethora of local solutions which prevent shared best practice. I’m looking forward to providing integrated business solutions that offer the sophistication required by global companies with a low cost of ownership. Customers will be pleasantly surprised at how quickly these specialized solutions can be deployed at costs that make real sense in both modern and emerging markets.” Mr. Mitchell added, “A major consideration in joining this team included the fact that AFS offers complete solutions; with advanced analytics to derive the full value from the data and proven integration to seamlessly link with back office and other front office systems.”

About AFS Technologies, Inc.
AFS Technologies, Inc. is the leading provider of business enterprise and on-demand software solutions designed to meet the unique requirements of the Consumer Packaged Goods, Food and Beverage, and Financial segments. With over 25 years of industry experience, the company now serves over 1,500 customers in more than 40 countries with cutting edge technology designed to optimize the order-to-cash flow cycle and improve efficiencies across the entire supply chain. AFS solutions are utilized by manufacturers, distributors, broker/sales agencies, third party logistics providers and retail operators. These industry trading partners rely on AFS technology applications to automate business processes, optimize trade promotion management, reduce costs, increase sales and margin performance, support regulatory compliance, enhance field salesforce efficiencies, and drive collaborative commerce through data synchronization. All AFS solutions utilize service-oriented architecture (SOA) built with Microsoft .NET framework technology. AFS solutions interface with existing non-AFS systems and offer true deployment flexibility that allow customers to upgrade specific elements of the software without affecting the rest of the system. AFS products are also available as fully integrated end-to-end solutions or as individual modular applications. AFS offers customers true deployment flexibility through traditional licensing or subscription-based programs, from on-premise to on-demand solutions in the cloud. For additional information, please visit www.afsi.com or call (602) 522-8282.

June 2013 Newsletter (B)

Abby Chitester — Fri, 17 May 2013 18:44:40 +0000

Here’s the new and improved version of the AFS Today! Simply click on the title of the article you would like to view.

Kudos to Our Customers

Congratulations to AFS clients Popcorn, Indiana and Oberto Brands for being selected as a “Standout Small to Mid-Sized Business” by Consumer Goods Technology (CGT) Magazine. The publication recognized each manufacturer for its aggressive and highly-effective growth strategies, innovative products and for leveraging technology to enhance promotional planning across its snacks portfolio.

Popcorn, Indiana has strategically and successfully introduced innovative snacking options to expand the company’s brand presence among consumers. The manufacturer relies upon its Trade Promotion Management (TPM) solution to analyze the efficiency of its trade spend and collaborate with retailers to develop profitable programs.

As the first major brand to offer all-natural jerky, Oberto has also benefitted from new product launches and reinvigorated the meat snack category along the way. The company utilizes a combination of social, mobile and TPM technology to introduce new flavors and strengthen relationships with retailers and promotional partners.

Kudos is also in order for American Beverage. Its Daily’s Frozen Pouches was included among the Top 10 New Food & Beverage Products introduced in 2012. The cocktail was a hit among today’s finicky and frugal consumers for delivering indulgence while simultaneously addressing convenience. New products are the lifeblood of the CPG industry and utilizing technology to manage go-to market strategies can help ensure a successful product launch.

AFS is proud to provide Popcorn, Indiana, Oberto Brands, American Beverage and all of our clients with a market-leading TPM solution that further enables them to make the best possible business decisions to grow their brand and ultimately strengthen their position in the market.

Kudos to Our Customers

Abby Chitester — Thu, 16 May 2013 23:10:21 +0000

Congratulations to AFS clients Popcorn, Indiana and Oberto Brands for being selected as a “Standout Small to Mid-Sized Business” by Consumer Goods Technology (CGT) Magazine. The publication recognized each manufacturer for its aggressive and highly-effective growth strategies, innovative products and for leveraging technology to enhance promotional planning across its snacks portfolio.

Kudos is also in order for American Beverage. Its Daily’s Frozen Pouches was included among the Top 10 New Food & Beverage Products introduced in 2012. The cocktail was a hit among today’s finicky and frugal consumers for delivering indulgence while simultaneously addressing convenience. New products are the lifeblood of the CPG industry and utilizing technology to manage go-to market strategies can help ensure a successful product launch.

Seeing the Shelf with a Shopper’s Eye

Abby Chitester — Thu, 16 May 2013 21:14:50 +0000

The store shelf is the last chance to make a sale. During the 10 seconds it takes for a consumer to scan the shelf, justify the purchase and put the product into their cart is a key timeframe the supply chain would benefit from exploring further. While eye-tracking technology is not new, seeing the shelf through the consumer’s eyes is a fascinating practice. The technology has become much more advanced and can reveal telling facts about overall shopping behaviors as well as offer a strong set of data points providing a whole new perspective on your target buyer.

It’s no secret: shelf visibility is the single biggest driver of sales gains and low shelf visibility is a major reason why many new products fail. As a shopper’s eye scans store shelves, eye tracking can gauge if a product has what it takes to break through the clutter. Is it the packaging that caught the shopper’s eye? Did the shelf layout play a role? Which products were ignored and which were given a second look? This type of information is exciting and can be sliced and diced and analyzed to help an organization make better and more profitable decisions.

With millions of dollars hanging in the balance on the success of a new product launch or a package redesign, getting lost on the shelf is an enormous risk. Eye tracking can provide insight into whether colors, logo, copy or shelf placement have the power to influence shoppers. Since brand loyalty is weakening, private labels are succeeding and consumers are actively seeking out products that address dietary preferences – i.e. gluten-free, non-GMO, low sodium–any fresh insight as to what attracts shoppers to your product is going to be beneficial.

CPG giants including Unilever and Proctor & Gamble are using this technology platform to roll out new products faster and come up with end caps and shelf schematics that boost sales. It’s also being used to dispel myths about what really matters in package design. Eye tracking research has the ability to capture where people are looking, for how long and how often.

Eye tracking is also a valuable tool for evaluating the attention a consumer gives to the nutrition information listed on products. Are nutrition labels optimally designed to help consumers make healthier food choices? This topic of nutrition labeling and the new “front-of-pack” label initiative will be explored in an upcoming blog.