Branch managers at the 250-plus locations of Graybar Electric Co., St. Louis, will have more say in which products and brands are stocked at the branch level.
Graybar branch managers, along with the district vice president and director of sales, will determine their branch’s product mix by selecting products from a list of approved suppliers. With the implementation of its new ERP system, the company has converted from what was once a manual new stock requisition process to an electronic system, said Richard D. Offenbacher, senior vice president, sales and marketing. He added that the new system will improve the company’s ability to requisition new product and add investment quicker and with better efficiency.
“We made this change to further enhance customer service,” said Offenbacher. “Graybar wants to ensure that its customers have their preferred-brand products stocked in the right quantities at the local branch. In addition, the change streamlines our internal processes while giving branch managers better access to product and more control over their inventories. It also allows us to enhance our relationships with key suppliers in order to provide the best value possible for their products.”
Graybar does not expect any significant change to its existing supplier relationships as a result of the change, said Offenbacher. However, he added that the company is always looking for new opportunities with suppliers that will help provide solutions to its customers.