As a manufacturer and wholesale distributor, JMP continues to invest in the latest technology to gain insight into their data and to better serve their customers. Watch the video to learn why JMP relies on ArganoArbela as their digital consultant, or download the client story.

James M. Pleasants Company, Inc. (JMP), an employee-owned manufacturing and distribution business based in Greensboro, North Carolina, had experienced steady success over the years. The company saw significant potential for organic growth. To realize that goal, the leadership team at JMP understood that it had to invest in digital technology, laying the groundwork for business transformation and expansion.

Working with a network of more than 30 manufacturers across the region to supply its large inventory of heating and cooling equipment, JMP recognized that the success of the company is in large part driven by the success of its supplier network. Success of its manufacturers means success for JMP.

To keep up with evolving demands and gain competitive advantage, JMP needed to improve selling efficiencies and enhance their supplier relationship management. The company recognized the need for digital transformation but was held back by labor-intensive sales/quotation processes and insufficient workflow capabilities. JMP and its suppliers were reactive serving their customers, rather than proactive and predictive. The challenge was exacerbated by operations in multiple locations across several states, with each field office having its own way of handling, mostly paper-based, processes. Employees and suppliers alike wanted more visibility into their quotation and opportunity pipeline, and data on lost opportunities.

The company turned to Microsoft and their business applications and cloud services to help them in their digital transformation journey. Microsoft then connected the JMP team with Arbela Technologies to implement Microsoft Dynamics 365. After measured analyses of JMP’s goals, market, platforms, and processes, Arbela designed a cloud-based, enterprisewide solution to integrate all business processes and data. The team upgraded JMP’s core platform with a complete stack solution using Dynamics 365 and other Microsoft services. The solution was built on the cloud, including Azure Data Factory, Power BI, Dynamics 365 Finance, Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, Dynamics 365 Sales, and Dynamics 365 Customer Service. A value mapping was the first step and was done to ensure alignment between Microsoft stack solutions and JMP’s strategies and objectives. Arbela then evaluated JMP’s business requirements to implement the right capabilities.

Improving sales processes with actionable data insights driving deeper engagement

Dynamics 365 Finance and Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management automated many critical steps, and Arbela’s pre-built software solutions ensured rapid information sharing and integration across multiple systems and locations. Operational status updates from Dynamics 365 Finance and Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management are now automatically shown within Dynamics 365 Sales processes to provide a vastly improved user experience with self-service capabilities. Additionally, with the move to the cloud, this enabled JMP to seamlessly transition to remote work, giving them a competitive advantage and passing it on to their suppliers, during the pandemic. The integrated enterprise solution empowers sales reps with real-time information they can use to solve challenges, drive upsells, and create a more satisfying experience for their suppliers.

The new solution enabled JMP to eliminate paper processes and fully integrate and automate the transfer of information. Within the first year of implementing Dynamics 365, JMP has optimized its sales process, resulting from a new digital customer engagement experience and the automation of existing processes. JMP employees now spend less time solving problems and more time innovating new products and services because they are able to act on predictive data rather than reactive data. Through automation and standardization of sales activities that enable more frictionless sharing of information, JMP is quickly emerging as an innovator and trendsetter establishing a hub for industrial product suppliers, who are looking to align themselves with digital transformation and position themselves for success.

To learn more contact us today at info@arbelatech.com.