AFS Technologies prides itself on its technically advanced and customer service oriented Professional Services staff. Enterprise application implementation can be a difficult process; but through the combined expertise of our Professional Services staff, implementation is fast, efficient and comprehensive. Prior to implementation, a clear project timeline, scope and execution schedule is developed in order to maintain schedules and milestones while providing the ability for the client to understand exactly what will be involved at each step of the process.

Building on 20 years of food industry experience, the AFS Technologies Client Services team will make industry best practices adherence recommendations to ensure the most successful industry practices and latest standards are used in the development and implementation of all solutions. Since AFS Advanced Enterprise products are specifically tailored to the food industry, simple configurations rather then customizations are made to ensure proper integration into each company’s individual processes.

The Client Services Department offers an array of services that our customers can utilize. Some of the most common services are:

Operational Reviews

Every business benefits from periodic reviews.  An operational review focuses on areas that can increase efficiency, generate revenue, and minimize expenses.  These objectives are achieved in different ways.

Employees who are not fully trained are less productive and cause more errors than someone thoroughly skilled in the use of tools (e.g. ERP system) to complete their daily tasks.  Most businesses experience some degree of employee turnover.  All too often, a person leaves before their replacement is hired or there is a limited overlap period.  Consequently, the new employee is challenged to learn their position from others.  Unfortunately, other people may possess limited knowledge of all of the software features relating to a particular position; they may even teach incorrect procedures.

As part of an operational review, time can be spent with people to discuss their functional area.  What challenges do they encounter?  How can the software be used more effectively?  Are there features they’re not familiar with?  A consultant can identify areas needing attention & customize training to their needs.  AFS consultants work with many businesses.  As a result, they are a hub of business knowledge.  Best practices & implementations of new procedures are discussed.  For instance, what is the most effective way to handle special orders?  How can the company do a better job with picking up products from the customer?  Work with an AFS consultant on these types of operational challenges.

AFS consultants can deliver training that will elevate your employee’s skill level.  The training is not limited to your ERP system.  For instance, additional training can be arranged to teach project management, Crystal Reports, MS-Access, & MS-Excel.  Other training agencies may offer training in these applications.  However, AFS consultants tailor the training with food & beverage applications in mind.  These practical sessions will apply knowledge & techniques in using these applications to your distribution business. 

You can’t manage what you don’t measure!  Most businesses utilize many standard reports to measure business metrics. Key Performance Indicators are used by management to takes a regular “pulse” on their business.  However, just as taking a pulse doesn’t guarantee that a person is in optimal health, standard reports may not reveal all deficiencies within a company.  Some custom reports may be needed due to the company’s unique business model.  Data mining can be performed and then presented in a meaningful way; this can teach volumes. Informed business decisions can then be made that will increase revenue and/or minimize expenses. 

Measuring performance in the warehouse, transportation, sales, buying, amongst other areas will help identify areas needing improvement.  But once these areas are identified, can processes be streamlined to increase efficiencies & minimize errors?  Yes!  Work with an AFS consultant and benefit from their insights.  In many instances, there are software features that were developed that may not be currently used at your place of business. 

Financial Reconciliation

Closing books for month end and year end can be a complex task if a customer hasn't been balancing transactions through the fiscal periods. Our department offers a service that addresses this. The customer can have one of our financial consultants assist them with any balancing issues throughout the period so that they can in turn close their books with minimal work or if they choose, a consultant can assist them in the closing process.