2009 Schedule

Day 1 - Tuesday, September 22, 2009

• IDEA Standards Committee (ISC) Meeting

  8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

• Tech Fair and Welcome Reception

  5:30 PM - 9:00 PM

  Kick off the Forum the right way by familiarizing yourself with technologies that can help boost revenues for your company. Buffet dinner and drinks provided.

Day 2 - Wednesday, September 23, 2009

• Tech Center

  7:00 AM - 5:00 PM

  The Tech Center is a mini-tradeshow where technology companies meet with attendees to provide education on how to cut costs using more efficient processes. The Tech Center will be open for the duration of the Forum and will host breakfast, lunch and breaks.

• Breakfast

  7:00 AM - 8:00 AM

• General Sessions

• The Evolution of a New Era of IDEA

  Bob Gaylord, President & CEO, IDEA and Ron Schlader, V.P. Operations & Quality, Crescent Electric Supply

  8:00 AM - 9:30 AM

  IDEA’s organizational stance is to draw inspiration from the past to drive with confidence into the future. On the heels of a first decade in serving the industry as its leading provider of synchronization and eCommerce solutions, IDEA has incorporated new services and a new direction to its business model. IDEA spent the past year researching and developing services that were determined by the unique requirements of its customers - these needs paved the way for new and developing services. Bob Gaylord will discuss the company’s credible track record with its innovative services, support and concepts; highlighting the advantages enjoyed by many customers.

• Morning Break

  9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

• How to Compete in a Global Economy - Todd Buchholz, Renowned Economic Advisor and Author

  Todd Buchholz, Renowned Economic Advisor and Author

  10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

  Never before have businesses felt such excruciating pressure to compete. While riding a roller coaster stock market, firms have struggled to raise prices, even when their costs go up. Loyal customers seem ready to jump to a competitor. How can your company and industry survive and thrive? What will Congress do to help or hurt your industry in the coming year? Learn how to anticipate the new trends that open up fresh opportunities for the electrical supply chain, service and technology companies.

• Networking Lunch

  11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

• Using IDW Data to Optimize Customer Pricing & Internal Gross Margin * Educational Lunch Session

  Randy Hughes, epaCUBE, Inc.

  Electrical distribution companies have spent years implementing technology and processes to reduce the cost of doing business. While vendor costs and customer sell prices are among the more significant variables affecting an electrical distributor’s profitability, relatively few dollars have been spent automating the evaluation, impact, and modeling of these critical data elements. In addition, the complexity of customer and vendor price agreements and lack of accurate, unblemished product data in their ERP system makes the job of modeling an almost impossible task for any business. Join us in this session to understand how companies are using IDW product data loads to evaluate and manage changes and the impact of those changes on their gross profit and bottom line.

• Breakout Sessions

• (A) Sessions

• Capturing Your "Green" Opportunity * Executive Session

  Bill Bean, President, Green Planning & Coaching and Denise Keating, President, DATAgility

  1:00 PM - 1:50 PM

  The Green Sector is one of the fastest changing and growing industry segments today with even greater opportunity in the near future. This presentation will: (1) site examples of industry opportunities in the Green space, (2) introduce the mechanics of building a business plan to “lead the change” to your Green success, and (3) explain how changes in your business data processes could result from that plan.

• Extranet Security

  Ken Hoover, Supplier Info

  Manufacturer extranets have evolved from a customer self-service alternative into an integral part of the distributor/manufacturer relationship. A distributor employee who might have made use of two manufacturer sites ten years ago is likely accessing a dozen or more sites today. The depth (and confidentiality) of information accessible via extranet is exploding as well. These positive developments bring with them an increased need for security. This session will examine industry best practices from both the manufacturer and distributor perspective.

• IDX User Group * NEW! User Group

  Tom Guzik, IDEA

  This session will provide a platform for connecting with other Industry Data Exchange (IDX) users. The IDX User Group is formed to cultivate relationships, share experiences and exchange ideas regarding electronic commerce within the IDX. Attendees will experience hands-on training on the IDX Tracker application as well as discuss challenges, solutions, tools and resources. Specifically, users will discuss how to most effectively use IDX to accelerate commercial velocity, enabling your business to do more and react faster. The session will focus on how you can leverage IDX to drive more revenue and reduce costs. IDX users and attendees interested in implementing an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) solution should attend.

  • Please submit the topics you would like covered in the IDX User Group to Priya Reddy.

• (B) Sessions

• Information Visibility: Discretion As Competitive Advantage * Executive Session

  Paul Sonderegger, Chief Strategist, Endeca

  2:05 PM - 2:55 PM

  More information isn’t always better. The explosion of information online gives customers increased power and burden of choice. The same is true of corporate IT systems and the employees who have to make decisions with them. But a new approach to compiling large amounts of diverse, changing information to support daily decision-making helps customers and employees make better choices, resulting in increased revenue and decreased costs.

• Managing Content for eCommerce Success

  Kerry Young, Enterworks; Diane Young, ILSCO

  Find out how manufacturers can mutually empower their customers and their sales reps with an eCommerce environment that offers an improved user experience, easier maintenance, and a more productive relationship between seller and buyer. A case study will be examined featuring ILSCO, the largest direct supplier of mechanical connectors to OEMs in the United States and Canada. Key take-away points include: ways centrally managed product data can improve and enhance an eCommerce system, tips on integrating legacy applications with web-based eCatalogs and eCommerce systems, workflows to automate key processes in eCommerce transactions and steps to develop a project plan that includes data owners, internal users, and customers.

• IDW User Group * User Group

  Josh Given, IDEA

  This session will provide an overview of new Industry Data Warehouse (IDW) features and on-going projects that will enhance the solution for future use. Users will share their experiences and gain insight from others on ways to effectively use the Data Synchronization Platform (DSP) to drive costs out of their business processes. This is also your opportunity to share your ideas about new services or helpful features to include in IDW. Please attend to help us continue to improve and shape IDW into the tool that meets your business needs.

  • Please submit the topics you would like covered in the IDW User Group to Josh Given.

• Afternoon Break

  2:55 PM - 3:10 PM

• (C) Sessions

• Best Practices on Adopting a SFA Solution

  Matt Hartman, MRH Technology Group

  3:10 PM - 4:00 PM

  Your business system may provide everything you need to efficiently manage your inventory, orders, quotes, receivables and payables but does it provide an efficient means to manage a sales funnel, track sales activities and collaborate on critical customer communications? Stop managing your business using the "rear view mirror". Find out what true sales force automation (SFA) is all about and how your company can start to manage your business through the "windshield" with a clear view of what's ahead.

• Find Higher Sales and Profit in Your Data

  Walter Rausch, Unilog Content Solutions

  No matter your company size or type - good product data is the key to making a sale! By providing the right information about your product - you are helping your customer to save time, money and effort. In an increasingly competitive environment where every company is trying to outdo the other, don’t get left behind because of insufficient product data. In this session you will see how every dollar spent on cleaning and enriching your data delivers profits and sales and how you can stay ahead in today's business scenario.

• Building the ROI Case for Small Partner Enablement

  Josh Hardy, Sterling Commerce

  Organizations forfeit cost savings and supply chain performance benefits by short-cutting B2B automation.
  
  It has been well over 10 years since the eCommerce revolution began. While the benefits that started this revolution continue to expand, the commitment level of most organizations still reflect the 80/20 rule, resulting in automation with only the top 20% of their partners, at best. The belief that it is not worth the time, money, or effort to automate with 100% of your partners is resulting in money being left on the table. The solutions exist for automating phone, fax, email, and postal mail business transactions and the ROI case is clear, regardless of partner size or volume. Find out how it optimizes your trading relationships with partners of any size and realize the greatest cost savings, efficiency, and visibility.

• Building the ROI Case for Small Partner Enablement Additional Resources

   

• Building the ROI Case for Small Partner Enablement Additional Resources

• (D) Sessions

• Next-Generation B2B eCommerce

  Srini Rangaswamy, IBM

  4:15 PM - 5:05 PM

  Over the last decade, Business-to-Business (B2B) eCommerce has evolved dramatically from basic communication and transactions to the incorporation of customer communities as part of the buying experience. This increased focus on the customer is driven by key trends including Business-to-Consumer (B2C)-B2B convergence and product-centered to buyer-centric transformation. While buyers demand rich and personalized experience, sellers want to offer product recommendations, marketing promotions, and build a community around their brand or organization. In this session we will discuss strategies that you can employ to respond to the trends and transform your organization to deliver "next generation" B2B eCommerce (B2B 2.0).

• Developing Data Governance in Distribution

  Joe Wallace, Van Meter Industrial

  How do you keep your sanity when you have 400+ manufacturers’ data and pricing information coming at you from all different directions and your sales team and customers all shouting demands? In this session a distributor will share his experience and give tips on how to set up data governance rules, procedures and staffing in order to successfully meet, and hopefully exceed, customer expectations of timely order information.

• EDI 101

  Tom Guzik, IDEA

  Electronic data interchange (EDI), has been around for over a quarter of a century. As the first form of electronic commerce, EDI was the harbinger of future communication technologies, including the Internet. Today EDI is used in a number of industry specific implementations. In this non-technical session we will discuss what EDI is, the reasons for its development, how it works, and the issues, you - as a user of EDI - will need to address if you want to exchange EDI transaction sets with a trading partner.

• "A Taste of Two Borders" Night Out

  6:30 PM - 10:00 PM

  Please join us for a true Southwestern experience. With great food ranging from each side of the border, great company and a view of the breathtaking Catalina Mountains, it’ll be hard to wish you were anywhere else. You may be surprised at how territorial things become as the night progresses. Choose your friends wisely as your allies may lead you to riches.

Day 3 - Thursday, September 24, 2009

• Tech Center

  7:00 AM - 4:00 PM

• Breakfast

  7:00 AM - 8:00 AM

• General Sessions

• Data Sync Panel - How to Lead and Succeed

  Moderator: Steve Horton, Director, Product Portfolio Management, IDEA
  Panelists: Dan Wilkinson, VP of Business Development and Implementation Support, 1SYNC; Peter Vient, EDI and Data Sync Coordinator, OSRAM SYLVANIA; Ron Schlader, VP, Operations and Quality, Crescent Electric Supply
  

  8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

  In 2001 there were only 50 companies engaging in global data synchronization. Spearheaded by aggressive mandates from leading retailers in North America and Europe and initiatives of GS1, GS1-US and the Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN), there are now 15,000 companies exchanging standardized and synchronized data with their trading partners globally. Hear from those who are leading the efforts to synchronize the channel. Peter Vient, OSRAM Sylvania, will share how the manufacturer tackled mandates to become known as a leader in the data synchronization arena. Dan Wilkinson, 1SYNC, will offer his guidance on where he sees the industry heading, and Ron Schlader, Crescent, will speak on behalf of the demand side. This session is sure to enlighten all levels of curiosity and comprehension.

• Richard Buzun Award Presentation

  9:00 AM - 9:20 AM

  The Richard Buzun Award for Leadership and Innovation in eCom­merce is named after the late Richard Buzun, the second IDEA Chairman, and former President and CEO of Siemens Energy & Automation. A manufa­cturer and distributor company will be honored for their ongoing work and dedication to eCommerce best practices. Past winners include OSRAM SYLVANIA, Leviton Manufacturing, Viking Electric Supply and Van Meter Industrial. Nominate your company in 2009.

• The Human Aspects of Change

  Ray Bender, Former VP and Research Director, Gartner Group NA

  9:20 AM - 10:20 AM

  Discover the necessary roles in the change process as well the stages organizations must go through to change. The session provides steps to overcome resistance and actions that leaders can take to bring about successful and lasting change.

• Morning Break

  10:20 AM - 10:40 AM

• Breakout Sessions

• (E) Sessions

• Why the eCommerce Professional Must Know It All

  Mark Richards, Leviton Manufacturing

  10:40 AM - 11:30 AM

  Operating at the status quo level is not an option if you want to remain competitive in your career. Professionals need to be well-rounded more so now than ever. In the evolving world of eCommerce, having knowledge of only EDI, which includes understanding ASN’s, UCC labels, certified receiving, customer compliancy and eSPA is not enough. Can you navigate around areas such as VMI, data sync, B2B, data pools and all of the detailed eCommerce touches throughout your organization? Today, the eCommerce individual is becoming the point person on many new initiatives. Come learn about all the different areas you need to be familiar with so that you don't become lost in the competition. 

• How to do More with Less Using eCommerce

  Dirk Heartman, Activant Solutions

  With a sluggish economy, many companies are asked to do more with less people. At the same time, large retailers are increasing the use of charge backs. Today, there are a range of managed services that can enable you to boost productivity and avoid charge backs. These services include charge back abatement, trading partner enablement, web forms, outsourcing, in-network translation and B2B community management. This session will discuss your options and present case studies to show the benefits to companies with all levels of eCommerce/EDI expertise.

• Using the Latest Industry Standards to Sell More and Make Better Buying Decisions * Extended IDEA Training Session!

  Mary Shaw, IDEA

  10:40 AM - 12:00 PM

  Standards are impacting the industry, and some companies may eventually be swept away in the current if they are still following “age-old” business processes with outdated business systems. Find out how the latest industry standards can help your company avoid getting caught in the “manual process” backwater.
  
  10:40 AM - 11:20 AM
  
  We’ll first take an inside look at how clearly defined product descriptors can help both manufacturers and distributors sell more products. There is enormous demand for this information as businesses fine tune their sales, marketing and support processes to leverage the Internet and search technology. This session will provide you with a better understanding of the industry developed Electrical Attribute Schema, UNSPSC product category codes and how enhanced marketing data can improve your competitive position and increase your sales and profit potential, every time, all the time.
  
  11:20 AM - 12:00 PM
  
  With today’s economy the way it is, distributors need to know what their bottom line cost will be before making the “buying” decision. Listen while a panel of manufacturers and distributors share their successes with utilizing the industry standardized methods for communicating Net Into-Stock pricing. Hear what they learned, what hurdles they had to overcome, and why they think the benefits justify making the change.

• Networking Lunch

  11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

• (F) Sessions

• Taking Advantage of Customer Inspired Services * IDEA Training

  Nick Manzo, IDEA

  1:00 PM - 1:50 PM

  This session will give you the latest news on the breadth of IDEA service offerings and recent related announcements -- helping you define your eCommerce and synchronization strategy. The discussion will expand on Bob Gaylord’s General Session, “The Evolution of a New Era at IDEA”. Current and future service offerings that will help you improve cost-savings of your organizations’ processes will be a hot topic. The goal of this session will be to help you jumpstart your roadmap to success in partnership with IDEA. Highlights include: synchronization, community programs and current pilot programs.

• Data Sync Lessons Learned

  Dan Wilkinson, VP Business Development & Inplementation Support, 1SYNC

  This informative session will educate you on the lessons learned regarding the adoption of “true” product data synchronization between trading partners. You will get answers to questions like “where do we start?”, “what attributes must be mandatory?” and “how does this effect or change current business processes?”. This session will provide valuable insight on how the consumer packaged goods (CPG), healthcare, hard-lines and other related channels have successfully adopted GS1 global data standards (GDS) and now over 15,000 companies are actively syncing vital product information. From the good, the bad and the ugly - this session will not be sugar coated. You will gain valuable information regarding how the electrical channel can benefit from “data sync lessons learned.”

• Do Not Disturb… Downloading Perfect Data

  Angela Baraks, DATAgility

  If perfect data is not your reality, you won’t want to miss this session. In 2009, IDEA commissioned DATAgility to conduct a study which revealed the key data requirements of the distributors and questioned the degree to which the manufacturers could deliver that data. For manufacturers, we will reveal what data is truly essential for your distributors and how you can utilize IDEA to deliver your product data more effectively and efficiently. For distributors, you won’t want to miss the plans the manufacturers revealed for providing quality data. We know that more people are shopping on the net, not in the store. Don’t let your customer be one click away from the competition due to incorrect or incomplete product information. Learn how accurate data can give you the competitive advantage.

• Afternoon Break

  1:50 PM - 2:10 PM

• Closing General Session

• Why Settle for the Balcony? Get a Front-row Seat in Life!

  Marilyn Sherman, Owner, UpFront Presentations

  2:10 PM - 3:10 PM

  Life is short – live in the front-row! This dynamic keynote will inspire you to get out of the balcony of life and go for that front-row seat! With so many things out of control these days, you will be reminded that your attitude and perception are 100% within your control. With the right mindset, any seat can be a front-row seat!

• "Showdown at Wildhorse Ranch" Night Out

  6:00 PM - 10:00 PM

  Celebrate the close of a productive and educational Forum before you go back to the office to implement lessons learned. Experience an authentic western night out at the oldest guest ranch in the State of Arizona. Attendees will enjoy the sounds of a high-energy band while dining on a full course western inspired buffet, participating in an electronic quick draw competition and toasting s’mores by the fire pits.