S&DCExec 100
Supply & Demand Chain Executive honors those companies that stand out from the competition with their customer-driven solutions and services.
Supply & Demand Chain Executive honors those companies that stand out from the competition with their customer-driven solutions and services.
Two years ago, Supply & Demand Chain Executive (then called iSource Business) magazine announced the iSource 100, which was a listing of software providers, consultants and other organizations that were helping lead the way in transforming companies' supply and demand chains. In 2003 we have revisited this endeavor to pinpoint the enterprise-wide solutions and consulting organizations that have either continued this pursuit of excellence or are carving out their own niche in this rapidly changing and demanding environment.
A lot has changed since 2001 - the stories we could all tell! Many of the organizations cited in the original Supply & Demand Chain Executive 100 don't even exist anymore, and many more of those that do have made dramatic changes to their business models in order to compensate for the shifting market needs. However, what stands out for everyone named in this year's list is the strength of their customer bases and their extreme commitment to providing solid solutions.
As you examine the list of Supply & Demand Chain Executive 100 designees in the following pages, recognize that our editorial staff has not ranked the companies in any particular order, but rather listed them alphabetically. Each designee for this recognition had to satisfy a 12-point criterion (please see the sidebar "S&DCExec 100 Criteria"), as well as had to have customer endorsement in order to make the list.
In a recent readership survey, Supply & Demand Chain Executive asked its readers to cite, of the 12 criteria, what is most important to them to find in an enabler's solution or services. The top five included ease of use, financial stability, easy adaptability, customer service responsiveness and easy implementation. Additionally, when Supply & Demand Chain Executive asked 108 randomly selected readers, "How important are the following criteria when you select a software supplier?" in its April 2003 readership survey, 90 percent of the respondents said that "ease of use" was their No. 1 concern when making a software selection.
This should come as no surprise, since our Supply & Demand Chain Executive readers have often told us that no matter "how sophisticated and recognizable on the market a software provider might be, if its software is not utilized by our end users, it's a wasted investment."
Up next in importance for Supply & Demand Chain Executive readers was a software providers' financial stability. Eighty-seven percent of our respondents said that a vendor's financial track record was important or critically important as they consider purchasing software or services. Such a response has become more prominent during the current economic slump when even the so-called "stable" companies in the software market have suffered serious losses.
Once a customer is satisfied with the software provider's usability and financial standing, their next concern is whether or not "the provider's solution is easily adaptable to my business environment and other systems currently in operation." Supply & Demand Chain Executive readers ranked this issue third, with 85 percent holding it to be important or critically important in their decision-making process.
Next, 84 percent of survey respondents to the readership survey ranked customer service responsiveness as important or critically important, which makes sense due to the increased expectations and service demands.
Finally, easy implementation comes in fifth, just under customer service responsiveness at 83.5 percent. While the IT analyst community has stressed the importance of a quick and easy implementation for new software solutions, this appears to be a big issue for Supply & Demand Chain Executive readers as well.
Several important factors influence the software buying decision for Supply & Demand Chain Executive readers, and it is key for enablers to recognize what is considered to be most important and make sure their business solutions live up to their customers' expectations. For those named as Supply & Demand Chain Executive 100 the point's been well taken, and they've made the right moves to ensure their customers are well pleased.
Congratulations, Supply & Demand Chain Executive 100. We wish you continued success in helping U.S. and international organizations enable their supply and demand chains for greater competitiveness.
| The 2003 S&DExec 100: |  |
| |
| |
