The latest in LBM software

fNousrnv soFTwARE providers conI.tinue introducinp new soitware to keep their dealer ind wholesler customers on the cutting edge. Among the recent releases: eCommerce Industries, Inc. (formerly Advantage Business Computer Systems) has integrated eProcurement with its e-commerce solution, ECinteractive.

DMSi is now partnering with Element Payment Services, which allows fully integrated credit card processing with advanced Agility features.

Element is a Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard-compliant processor, helping dealers to more easily comply with mandatory credit card industry security requirements and improving protection of customers' credit card data. With the new E,lement interface. processing is enhanced because it automatically recognizes credit cards as commercial/ business cards. It also includes detailed information from Agility in the card processing transaction.

"The real value in a product like eProcurement is the ability for all dealers at all levels to compete and win the businesses of large national accounts or any business that requires interfacing with procurement software," said v.p. Stacy Heemsbergen.

In addition to allowing the acquisition of larger accounts, eProcurement allows dealers to deploy electronic purchasing catalogs across their organizations and automate purchase order receipt and iul fil lment l-unctions.

Epicor (formerly Activant) has added a new module to Catalyst to automate processes and streamline dealers' workflow.

Business Process Management is designed to help LBM dealers com&ilding'hoducts.com municate better internally and track outstanding tasks and issues to make sure they don't fall through the cracks. It alerts salespeople and their managers of quotes that have not been sent to customers or when a quote has been pending for too long. Quotes that turn into sales are registered as "won" transactions, allowing managers to analyze a salesperson's performance by running reports on the numbers of "won" vs. "lost" business.

Ponderosa Software has introduced "anywhere, anytime" access to and usability of its Ponderosa Enterprise Resource Planning software on iPad tablet computers. The release follows last year's addition of iPhone compatibility. "Due primarily to the iPhones' small display, Ponderosa functionality on the iPhone was relatively limited," said managing director Frank Motta. "The iPad's larger diagonal display area of 9.7 inches overcomes the smart phone's usability limitations to provide full, unrestricted software access, as if they were accessing Ponderosa at their desks."

Progressive Solutions has introduced lumberTrack imaging (the ability to scan, store, attach transactions, and retrieve images) and lumberTrack online, which allows customers and remote salespeople to browse inventory, request quotes, and check the status of orders and account information. 2417.

PSI also now offers its software on a web-hosted basis. Its secureHosting service eliminates the need for companies to maintain and support in-house servers and related IT infrastructure.

Spruce Computer Systems continues adding to the number of wholesalers and manufacturers tied into SpruceWare.NET's EDI network.

The newest interface is with Monroe. La.-based buying group Allied Building Stores, joining Do it Best, Orgill, Emery Waterhouse, True Value, Handy Hardware, LMC, Ace, and Freeway.

In addition, SpruceWare.NET supports X.l2 communications through Kleinschmidt, a value-added network that ties with many other LBM vendors, including Black & Decker, ENAP, Midwest Fasteners, Merillat, National Hardware, Reeb Millwork, and Wooster Brush.

The wide range of communication partners allows users to securely and reliably place orders and receive remittance advice. invoices. price updates, catalog updates, item photos, etc.. from their vendors.