Virtualrain Reaches for the Cloud with VMI Marketplace Solution

Buying Group Selects SaaS Provider to Power Vendor Managed Inventory Initiative

Marietta, GA—Nov. 29, 2011—Virtualrain, a buying group for more than 40 irrigation supply wholesale distributors, has selected CLARITY VMI by Blue Ridge to power a Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) community, linking Virtualrain buying group members to key suppliers for improved inventory performance, reduced costs and collaboration.

The Vitrualrain cloud enables every distribution member to connect with participating suppliers via a proprietary communication hub, providing neutral ground for the demand and supply data that the companies share. The group selected Blue Ridge, a SaaS inventory solutions provider, due to its experience in providing VMI and collaborative solution environments along with the completeness of their SaaS VMI solution. Blue Ridge SaaS inventory solutions are widely used by numerous wholesale and retail companies. Blue Ridge clients are commonly realizing stabilized inventories, with many reducing inventories by 20 to 30 percent, while simultaneously decreasing stock-outs.

“With a tough economy, and with pressure on margins, we knew we needed to use technology to gain efficiencies and competitive advantage,” said Derrick Wright, president of Virtualrain. “We believe the Blue Ridge solution will allow us to create win/win relationships with our key suppliers that will help our members lower inventory, increase sales and earn rebates through this vendor managed inventory program.”

Blue Ridge is experiencing dramatic growth by offering forecasting, demand planning and inventory solutions with a speed-to-value implementation approach. The Blue Ridge solutions assure proper inventory levels and increased cash flow by enabling retailers, wholesalers, and their trading partners to better manage inventory replenishment while positively impacting overall corporate revenue, profitability, customer satisfaction, and business costs.

“After just a short time in a live environment, we are already seeing declines in average inventory, excess stock, and out-of-stocks,” Wright added.

Blue Ridge CEO, Greg White commented, "Virtualrain brings their members together to give them power in a fragmented market. That can't be under-estimated.With Virtualrain providing this collaborative VMI marketplace to their members, they gain the expertise that their suppliers can offer, while assuring that a neutral party keeps the field level.  This is a visionary model that is game-changing in how trade organizations offer value to their members."   

 

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