ALLEN IMPACT SERVICES

works with Microsoft Dynamics AX®

as their software solution for

BUSINESS SOLUTIONS DISTRIBUTION

“We wanted to increase our online orders by 80% and create an environment for customer self- service, which could increase productivity for all parties.”

Bill Ratcliffe, President of Allen Impact Services

MBS Dev Makes it Easier for AIS to do Business with its Customers

When George W. Allen and Impact Office Products created a shared services company in 2003, both companies had a strong mid-Atlantic presence. The partnership between George W. Allen, an office product distributor for the government sector, and Impact Office Products, a commercial accounts distributor, made perfect sense. The above companies and its new operations company, Allen Impact Services (AIS), soon became one of the largest independent business solutions suppliers in the U.S.

Offering business solutions to their customers means more than pencils and paper; in addition to technology products, jan/san, breakroom supplies, electronics recycling, office furniture, and yes, paper, AIS had a vision of offering more to their customers in this highly competitive market. AIS has competed against the big-box suppliers, all of which put vast amounts of R&D dollars into ERP, EDI and e-commerce solutions, since their inception.

Bill Ratcliffe, President of AIS, knew that the company’s competitive edge relied on the high levels of customer service AIS could provide

compared to the big competitors. He simply needed to maintain that competitive edge at a reasonable price and with a low total cost of ownership (TCO). AIS initially engaged the legacy-based TSH solution for its ERP needs; however in 2004, that solution began an acquisition-based sunsetting; AIS realized it needed to start shopping for more preferable alternatives, and fast.

THE STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMEL’S BACK

Bill Ratcliffe knew he didn’t need a system with out-of-date technology that would constrain the company’s growth; rather, he needed a system with superior advanced technology that would easily adapt to a changing business environment. The initial system goals of increased efficiency, ease of maintenance and support, and customer-friendliness were top priorities.

“We wanted to increase our online orders by 80% and create an environment for customer self-service, which could increase productivity for all parties. The up-sell, cross-sell and complementary selling components were also elements we lacked,” Ratcliffe recalls.

AIS purchased the new SAP hosted solution in early 2005 in hopes of reaching its goals, but as the project progressed Ratcliffe realized that SAP was not the flexible, suitable solution AIS needed. The straw that broke the camel’s back came when AIS acquired a large customer which required a new website; the site simply could not be delivered in a timely manner with the SAP solution.

A POWERFUL SOLUTION + A KNOWLEDGABLE PARTNER = AN ADDED BONUS In the fall of 2006, with a renewed focus on increasing the company’s competitive advantage against big-box suppliers, AIS set out to discover a solution that had the capacity to adapt and grow with the company. Bill Ratcliffe engaged MBS Dev, a Microsoft Dynamics AX partner with a highly specialized focus: a software solution focused on distributors of business solutions.

MBS Dev’s extensive industry knowledge and robust solutions indicated they were the right choice for AIS. In line with their

WWW.GWACO.COM WWW.IMPACTOFFICEPRO.COM

HEADQUARTERS: Beltsville, MD

REVENUES: $65,000,000

EMPLOYEES: 170

PRODUCTS/SERVICES: Business Solutions

INDUSTRIES SERVED: Government and Commercial Entities

ERP SYSTEM: Microsoft Dynamics AX, MBS Dev Wholesale

Distribution Suite with the Office Supplies Vertical Extension

ALLEN IMPACT SERVICES COMPANY SNAPSHOT

“I’ve seen significant growth in business without an increase in our overhead cost” Bill Ratcliffe, President of Allen Impact Services

commitment to their business partners’ success, MBS Dev successfully implemented Microsoft Dynamics AX with the MBS Dev Wholesale Distribution Suite and provided a host of pitch-perfect solutions for AIS: Office Supply Vertical Extension, Customer Connect (e-Commerce) and Sales Rep Connect.

This set of solutions, combined to fulfill the competitive need and goal to provide superior customer service, opened the floodgates of opportunity for AIS.

An added bonus? MBS Dev was able to deploy that newly acquired customer’s website within six weeks, and AIS retained the business.

TOP-NOTCH CUSTOMER SERVICE AT THE READY

The MBS Dev solution optimizes distribution management for the very specific needs of the business supply industry and for AIS. Features such as advanced pricing and costing capabilities; product cross-referencing features; wholesaler interfaces; real-time inventory stock checks; freight estimating and tracking; flexible commission calculating, and catalog management makes information integration with Microsoft Dynamics AX seamless. The MBS Dev software solution perfectly complements AIS’ focus of offering true business solutions to its customers.

AIS has now been using their new ERP system for over a year, and the company has experienced a number of business-enhancing benefits. “I’ve seen a significant growth in business without an increase in our overhead cost,” Bill Ratcliffe states. As Ratcliffe focused on the growth of AIS, the MBS Dev solution eased the transition of expansion through its flexible software.

Strong Business Relationship: The success of the AIS-MBS Dev partnership lies in the unique nature of their customer-vendor relationship: trust, responsiveness, dependability and commitment form the base of their shared successes.

Expansion into Multiple Lines of Business: In keeping with the goal of offering their customers more than just pencils and paper and

with the help of the MBS Dev solution, AIS has moved into complementary business lines such as office equipment service, jan/san, technology products, breakroom supplies, electronics recycling, office furniture, etc. with a focus on “going green.”

Growth through Acquisition: Within the past year AIS has acquired 3 competing companies; the MBS Dev software solution helped ease the transition by quickly and accurately transitioning company data such as customer information into the new system. The system’s increased productivity meant AIS did not have to add additional system users, and therefore saved both time and money in their acquisitions.

Satisfaction and Speed: Fast delivery of new business requirements enables AIS to acquire new customers quickly, satisfy existing customers, maintain low cost to delivery and efficiently deploy the new system functionality.

Electronic Delivery of Billing Information: Electronic transmissions of invoices, order status’ and billing have increased 50-fold and made a positive impact on AIS’ bottom line with more timely customer payments. “One of our big pushes and an enormous savings was in postage and paper: a paperless, electronic, environmentally concerned society has been a huge benefit for AIS.

Remote Access for Outside Sales Force: Sales Rep Connect has quickly became a critical component in AIS’ growth and competition strategy of superior customer service. It enables sales reps to manage order and billing information, customer data and their eCommerce capabilities, deliver customer product information, manage customer contracts and much more, all without having to call back to the corporate office.

Increased Online Capacity and Web-Based Ordering: Customers are able to independently place orders and view order data online. This self-service ability increases efficiency for all parties, and online orders have risen by 93%.

“George W. Allen and Impact Office Products would not have been able to realize their strategic growth vision without MBS Dev and Microsoft Dynamics AX.”

Bill Ratcliffe, President of Allen Impact Services

MBS Dev, Inc. is a gold certified VAR (value added reseller) and ISV (independent software vendor) for the Microsoft Dynamics™ AX solution. MBS Dev was created to assist customers in the new Microsoft Dynamics vertical focus, allowing them to truly differentiate themselves with vertical solutions.

MBS Dev, Inc. also provides professional services, software maintenance and support to assist Microsoft Dynamics™ AX customers with their consulting, development and technical service requirements. MBS Dev prides itself on its World Class technical capabilities and solutions. You can depend on fast, professional deliverables that meet your company’s methodologies and

requirements. We become an extension of your organization that you can depend on to deliver quality products and services.

MBS Dev believes in partnerships and customer service. Your

continued success is our success and we want to partner with you to

achieve your company objectives and vision. Our development

center is staffed with seasoned professionals that have thorough

knowledge of the Microsoft Dynamics™ AX architecture,

development tools and many different business industries. This adds

value to our customers and allows us to achieve the highest quality

of service possible.

Microsoft Dynamics AX Powered for Distributors

MBS Dev, Inc.

9800 Mount. Pyramid Court

Suite 150

Englewood, CO 80112

telephone: 303.469.2346

fax: 303.450.8267

email: info@mbsdev.com

www.mbsdev.com

Copyright © 2009

Microsoft, Microsoft Dynamics, and Microsoft Dynamics AX are either registered brand names or brand names of Microsoft Corporation or Microsoft Business Solutions ApS or their linked enterprises in the USA and/or other countries. Microsoft Business Solutions ApS is a

subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation. All the other company names and product names in this document are possibly brand names of the respective entitled person. The contents of this document may be changed without previous announcement when required. These documents may

not be reproduced and transferred in any form, neither in parts nor as a whole, without previous written approval by Microsoft Corp. Microsoft Corp. rejects every liability for mistakes and omissions in this document. All not expressly granted rights are reserved.