VMI Software .com

Basic VMI Software

The VMI Software in this group is probably the most common type of VMI Software in use today. The actual software resides in possesion of the manufacturer/supplier. They own/rent the software and have control over its use.There are 2 types of basic systems to consider:

Homemade: Some companies decide to construct their own VMI software. It requires expert knowledge in the area of VMI, Inventory Management and of course, a few good programmers.

• Benefits: The benefits of this type of system is that it can be customized specifically for you.You can build the system to reflect the uniqueness of your company.
• Pitfalls: As mentioned earlier, you must have a project group that includes true experts in VMI & Inventory Management. They must have a true understanding of exactly how VMI operates. This would include the EDI sets used (or the internet formating) as well as how to construct a reliable inventory plan. Additionally, you may encounter a problem with your programmers. Once your system is completed, will they be available for future updates or enhancements? In most companies, the project team would have the use of programmers only for a short period. Since most VMI systems need to grow or improve over time, you'll need to have programmers at your disposal on an ongoing basis. Most of the companies I have spoken to that have built their own systems eventually decide to go with a Pre-packaged System (see below).

PrePackaged: There are a few very good off the shelf VMI packages on the market today. This software can either be EDI or Internet based. The software usually has most of the needed basic functionality. Sometimes it  can be customized to meet your companies specific needs.

• Benefits: Most of these packages meet all of the standard VMI needs.
• Pitfalls: There may be additional charges for any customization you require. Also, you can probably expect addional charges for periodic systems upgrades.

For a complete list of VMI Software suppliers, see: VendorManagedInventory's Software & Consulting section.

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For more general information about VMI, please go to: VendorManagedInventory.com or VendorManagedInventory.net

You can Email me at:   vmi@vendormanagedinventory.com

This website is meant to be a general guideline only. The author makes no guarantee as to the accuracy of the information. Please use a qualified consultant before beginning any VMI program