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Steve Stasiukonis

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Torelli Contemplates the Possibilities with ERP: 'Oh! The Places You'll Go!'

"Congratulations! Today is your day. You're off to Great Places! You're off and away!" Of course, those are the words of the incomparable Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) technology was probably the last thing on the good doctor's mind when he penned those lines, but they perfectly describe the prevailing attitude at Torelli Bicycle Co. these days, as employees contemplate life in the future, aided by an ERP business information system tailored to their specific small-business needs.

By Steve Stasiukonis InformationWeek
September 15, 2010 05:38 PM

"Congratulations! Today is your day. You're off to Great Places! You're off and away!" Of course, those are the words of the incomparable Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) technology was probably the last thing on the good doctor's mind when he penned those lines, but they perfectly describe the prevailing attitude at Torelli Bicycle Co. these days, as employees contemplate life in the future, aided by an ERP business information system tailored to their specific small-business needs.In a video blog posted this week, Torelli's Product Design Manager Christian Feldhake describes how with the company's new ERP implementation, a simple thing like offering a customer free shipping on a product would actually become, well … simple.

When asked by a colleague whether it was okay to extend a free shipping promotion on a phone order, Feldhake explains that currently, only CEO Todd Linscott can authorize the offer on those particular products in question, and the chief executive was off-site at the time, visiting customers. So for the time being, no discount, and consequently, no sale.

But that is all about to change, Feldhake says, thanks to the technology makeover Torelli is receiving this month, courtesy of SAP and Navigator Business Solutions.

"With the new software we're going to have from SAP, we'll be able to go in and put a limit on the amount of discounts, or set predetermined discounts in the software," Feldhake says, taking a break from packing up bike frames to ship out to Torelli's dealer network. As a result, "The salesperson, or the customer directly over the phone, will be able to answer those questions without having to go to higher management."

That kind of empowerment means that everyone at this small company - and even the customers themselves - will have the information at their fingertips to close deals, and thereby help Torelli meet its goals for success.

Or, to put it in Dr. Seuss' words:

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go."

How could your company benefit from an ERP makeover such as the one Torelli is receiving? Let us know the places you'd go!

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