News and Events

We have exciting news! We recently completed our acquisition of Lowery Systems, Inc. (LSi). Providing a complementary suite of services to Central Data’s current offering, St. Louis-based LSi will increase our customer base by 30 percent and bring a host of new opportunities to our existing clients. As you know, Central Data provides end-to-end technology solutions to help wholesale distributors of all sizes and industries increase productivity, improve profitability and drive growth. Our services and products include consulting, ERP software…

When evaluating new ERP, the partner is as important as the software!!! Embarking on an ERP evaluation includes embarking on a partner selection as well. The process of evaluating an ERP can seem overwhelming and confusing. Where do you start? What do you look for? ERP buyers typically know the “usual suspects” and know what, they need to evaluate in terms of functionality. Buyers may also speak to their colleagues and competitors, attend industry events and typically have a short…

The benefits of ERP are well-known – improved customer service, streamlined operations, competitive advantage, business growth, etc. However, selecting the wrong system or a poor implementation can set your company’s progress back by years. Enterprise resource planning (ERP) system selection and implementation are two of the most important things a company has to “get right”. For distribution management, a successful ERP implementation can help you: Improve customer satisfaction while minimizing cost Reduce order times Know your true costs Know where…

Manufacturers who lead have embraced the cloud. Have you? Modern ERP systems improve user experiences, ensure process workflow, and integrate document management. It also improves the overall business with end-to-end functions, internal and external collaboration, and significantly reduces IT issues by using “true cloud” technology. That’s why the companies you compete with have already started moving to the cloud. From a recent IDC report: “The SMB innovators and early adopters have already moved to the cloud; the early majority is…

A majority of your work in attending TUG Connects is done before you even leave home - Be Ready!   Attending conferences can be an overwhelming convergence of new information, connections and business tools. While scheduling effectively and paying close attention is key, it's your preparation before you even attend that can make the real difference. That's why at Central Data Systems, we’ve created a workshop specifically to help you prepare for your TUG Connects 2018 experience.   Our complimentary…

While nearly every manufacturer has an ERP solution, few are making the most out of it. Unfortunately, as the manufacturing environment becomes more globalized, more complex, and more collaborative, the pain points that manufacturers face currently will only get worse as time goes on. With more data to manage, higher customer expectations, and more competition, manufacturers that can leverage a unified, agile, and complete ERP solution will be able to handle the evolving challenges presented in the manufacturing world. To…

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) software is nothing new, and is actually quite commonplace in the manufacturing industry: Recent Aberdeen research found that 97% of leading manufacturers utilize ERP. However, with 88% of “followers” also using it, it’s not a question of whether or not an organization has implemented the software, but how well they use it. The recent Aberdeen Group report, Creating a Modern, Effective Manufacturing Environment with ERP, looked beyond the yes/no question to find out what leaders were…

Have you heard about Industry 4.0? It’s a new strategy manufacturers are using to build a “smart factory” by automating computing and the exchange of data. Industry 4.0 includes innovations such as Internet of Things (IoT), self-learning systems, and cloud computing. Industry 4.0 technologies could very well give you the competitive advantage you’ve been looking for. But don’t make any moves until you’ve set the right foundation. According to the Aberdeen Group’s newest Whitepaper, the manufacturing industry is in a…