2010 Schedule

Day 1 - Monday, September 20, 2010

• IDEA Industry Standards Committee (ISC) Meeting

  8:00 AM - 11:00 AM

  The Standards Committee made history in 2009 with the first published version of the Electrical Product Attribute Schema, UNSPSC code list progress, EDIPro transaction guidelines and numerous other educational documentation including whitepapers and guidelines. During this meeting, committee members will discuss the 2010 Year in Review and future initiatives. All members and those interested in joining the committee are welcome to attend.

• ISC Subcommittee Meetings

  11:00 AM - 5:00 PM

  Only open to current subcommittee members (closed to public). Please contact Mary Shaw or complete the standards registration form to join a committee.

• 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 “eOptimize Performance and Profitability” for your company. Buffet dinner and drinks provided.

Day 2 - Tuesday, September 21, 2010

• Breakfast

  7:00 AM – 8:00 AM

• 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 host breakfast, lunch and breaks.

• General Sessions

• “eOptimizing Performance and Profitability” Leadership Panel

  Bob Gaylord, President and CEO, IDEA and Industry Leaders

  8:00 AM – 10:00 AM

  IDEA is approaching a major turning point in its history of serving the electrical industry supply chain. The company, having been called a “quiet game-changer” by industry folks in 2010, looks to continue their momentum, and in doing so will be discussing their new integration plans that will change the speed at which customers can adapt to the ever-changing nature of business. IDEA has partnered with key thought leaders in the industry to bring this discussion to the big stage. Hear from three manufacturers and two distributors who have lent their support, expertise and feedback to help us deliver a tool to help customers have a business reach farther than they ever imagined.

• Morning Boost – Tech Center

  10:00 AM – 10:15 AM

• Breakout Sessions

• (A) Sessions

• Driving Profitability with Quality Marketing Data and the Attribute Schema

  Mary Shaw, IDEA

  10:15 AM - 11:05 AM

  Get 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 give you insights on how using the Electrical Attribute Schema to provide enhanced marketing data can improve your competitive position and increase your sales and profit potential every time, all the time. Whether you are a manufacturer or distributor, this is a must-attend session if you want to protect or increase your market strengths.

• Increasing ROI with Advances in Global Data Synchronization

  Dan Wilkinson, 1SYNC; Peter Vient, OSRAM SYLVANIA

  Get a comprehensive insight into the benefits of global data synchronization adoption and the related benefits of becoming GDSN-enabled with IDEA’s IRD CERICOMX® application. The session will begin with a current overview of GS1 US, the 1SYNC data pool and the Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN) including adoption rates, retailer activity, healthcare and foodservice updates. Then the focus will shift to lessons learned from GDSN-enabled companies who have successfully adopted global data synchronization and use IRD CERICOMX® to synchronize with demand partners like Lowe’s, Walmart and McLane. You'll get tips on how to maximize the associated benefits of becoming GDSN-enabled including: cost savings, a more efficient supply chain and an overall increase in ROI.

• B2B eCommerce: Small Steps to Increase Electronic Activity (Beginner to Intermediate)

  Barbara Prince, IDEA

  You have adopted B2B eCommerce for the exchange of basic business transactions (e.g. purchase orders and invoices) and the results have streamlined your order entry process and reduced the time needed to match invoices to PO’s. Now what? This session will explain some of the small steps your company can take to expand the use of EDI to other business processes and open up more of your supply chain to the ease of doing business electronically. Whether you are a distributor or a supplier, you will gain insight into the benefits of adding just two more transactions, the Order Acknowledgment and the Ship Notice/Manifest, to your list of EDI documents. Don’t stop there, what about using EDI to send or receive price files? Would you like to know when your trading partner has made an electronic funds transfer to pay an invoice? There’s a doc for that! Come learn how to “eOptimize performance and profitability” a few small steps at a time. For beginner/intermediate EDI users.

• Lunch Session: Getting to the Facts to Drive Your Business

  Steve Bieszczat, Activant Solutions

  11:05 AM - 11:55 AM

  Actionable data is essential to smart business operations. This session will examine several different types of actionable data and how it can drive your business. Actual examples will be presented representing Macro Economics Planning, Supply Chain Visibility, Supply Chain Integration and Customer Profitability Management. The session is aimed at both manufacturers and distributors and will include case studies from both inside and outside the electrical industry.

• Lunch Session * Reserved for Sponsor

  12:05 PM - 12:55 PM

• (B) Sessions

• Executive Session - 10 Ways to NOT Benefit from Vendor Managed Inventory Programs

  Tom Kozak, Pan-Pro

  1:00 PM – 1:50 PM

  Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) is no longer just a technology of great promise, it works! We see Distributor’s and Supplier’s Automated Replenishment Programs go far beyond simple VMI and deliver great benefits; yet some still think of VMI as an acronym for ‘Very Mixed Impact’. This executive session will focus on ways to ensure that the full benefits of VMI are NOT achieved including: higher-end customer sales, greater fill for less investment, reduced waste from overstocks and returns, and deeper relationships with shared objectives. Come find out 10 ways to hobble VMI programs and the alternatives that will help ensure your VMI success!

• Making B2B eCommerce and Synchronization Work for You

  Nick Manzo, IDEA

  For over 10 years, many organizations have engaged IDEA to implement and jump-start initiatives focused on driving costs out of their business. Those initiatives centered around what IDEA refers to as ‘B2B eCommerce’ and ‘Synchronization’ solutions. IDEA has maximized its deep category knowledge and experience to identify, refine and provide professional services for customers that are customizable based on business factors that are unique to them. These services help trading partners build/maintain relationships and manage/execute B2B communications, focusing on their product data and electronic data interchange (EDI) transaction sets. This fresh consultative approach gives all company sizes the ability to quickly implement IDEA solutions. Our new services were driven by your ideas and are customized to your needs. Discover the evolution of IDEA’s Professional services and how you can create the right combination for your organization.

• From Infancy to Maturity: Keys to Successful Catalog Content Management

  Jason Archbold, Border States Electric

  Getting your catalog content effort up and running is one effort, but sustaining that effort over the long-haul requires a different approach. Whether you are obtaining content for print catalogs, online or both; the practices you put in place to obtain, organize, load, proof, display and publish content will help produce successful results over time. Join us to discuss one distributor's effort to balance the growth of its catalog assets while maintaining quality of the content in a world of competing forces and priorities.

• (C) Sessions

• IDW Distributor User Group

  Josh Given, IDEA

  2:05 PM – 2:55 PM

  Do you need a refresher on how to setup or schedule a data request? Did you know there are numerous reports available in IDW? This session is designed for distributors who are new to Industry Data Warehouse (IDW) or have not worked with the application in a while. You’ll find out how to accomplish common everyday tasks and learn how to maximize more advanced features that can help you improve synchronization efforts with your suppliers. There will also be an overview of the latest features and on-going projects that IDEA is working on to enhance the solution for distributors. Users will share their experiences and gain insight from others on ways to effectively use the IDW Data Synchronization Platform (DSP) to drive costs out of their business processes.

• Unleash Your Business Potential with NEW! Web Enablement

  Melissa Longnecker, IDEA

  Learn about IDEA’s new Web Enablement service, which conforms to EDIPro standards and can be used by virtually anyone. All you need is a web browser and an Internet connection to be in B2B engagement with your supplier or distributor community. It eliminates the need for you to implement complex, full-scale eBusiness programs, yet still delivers a low-cost, fast exchange of business information. The solution is designed to help you reduce costs associated with orders by: integrating IDEA's manufacturer catalog data and VAN service; using accurate, consistent, and timely standardized data for distributor ordering; allowing distributors to order from multiple suppliers in one location; giving suppliers the ability to manage security with existing IDW authorizations; and conforming to multiple languages for global companies. Come find out how the new Web Enablement solution can eOptimize the way you do business. 

• Buy Low, Sell High: How Master Data Management Can Help

  Suchit Bachalli, Unilog Content Solutions

  We all know Business Principle 101 – “Buy Low, Sell High”. How is it then that we lose track of this very simple philosophy? How can we achieve higher profitability by following this mantra? Having accurate Item Master Data and Vendor Master Data can help you Buy Low. Having an amazing product catalog and accurate cross-references can help you Sell High. This session helps you find the right starting point in your efforts to optimize performance and enhance profit. After all, the engine which drives enterprise is profit, not thrift.

• Afternoon Boost – Tech Center

  2:55 PM – 3:10 PM

• (D) Sessions

• IDW Manufacturer User Group

  Josh Given, IDEA

  3:10 PM - 4:00 PM

  Have you recently assumed a position in your organization that requires you to send data to Industry Data Warehouse (IDW)? Want help understanding the options to send data to your channel partners? The IDW Data Synchronization Platform (DSP) has many features and functions to help manufacturers provide data to their channel more efficiently. Come see how it all works and learn the many features available to make your life easier. We will explore the various methods of sending data to IDW  in detail and discuss which one makes sense for you. We will also look at some of the tools you can use to save time along the way. Come join us in the Tech Center for a hands-on demonstration after the break-out sessions end at 5:00 PM.

• Standards 101: How to Speak One Common Language

  Brenda Maxwell, Acuity Lighting Group; Lorraine Mott, Cooper Industries; and Tammy Paters, Werner Electric Supply

  Standards can improve your bottom line. It’s a fact; standards are impacting the industry in a positive way. They are helping companies all over the globe cut costs by reducing resource waste. Hear what eCommerce standards are available to you, why you need to use them and how you can be part of the team that develops standards for the electrical supply chain. Let your company’s voice be heard by participating in the industry’s efforts to improve business processes and provide clean, consistent data. Find out how the latest industry standards can help your company avoid getting caught in the “manual process” whirlpool.

• Leveraging Metrics to Achieve Collaborative B2B eCommerce (Advanced)

  Tom Guzik, IDEA; Josh Hardy, Sterling Commerce

  Metrics enable you to track the effectiveness and efficiency of your B2B eCommerce initiatives and allow you to prevent and address potential issues before they become major problems. Collaboration is the only way businesses can increase efficiencies and enable companies to dramatically improve the way they manage their cross-enterprise, value chain processes. Essentially, collaborative B2B eCommerce is the successful integration of business processes and information systems between different departments, branches and companies. This session will provide the information you need to successfully implement a collaborative B2B eCommerce initiative internally and with trading partners.

• (E) Sessions

• IDW Distributor User Group (REPEAT SESSION)

  Josh Given, IDEA

  4:00 PM - 4:50 PM

  Do you need a refresher on how to setup or schedule a data request? Did you know there are numerous reports available in IDW? This session is designed for distributors who are new to Industry Data Warehouse (IDW) or have not worked with the application in a while. You’ll find out how to accomplish common everyday tasks and learn how to maximize more advanced features that can help you improve synchronization efforts with your suppliers. There will also be an overview of the latest features and on-going projects that IDEA is working on to enhance the solution for distributors. Users will share their experiences and gain insight from others on ways to effectively use the IDW Data Synchronization Platform (DSP) to drive costs out of their business processes.

• IRD CERICOMX® User Group

  Sarah Earleywine, John Etrie and Tony Gaffney, IDEA

  This User Group was formed to cultivate relationships between IRD CERICOMX® users and provide a platform for users to share experiences and exchange ideas about synchronizing data in the Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN®). Attendees will experience hands-on training in the IRD CERICOMX® application as well as discuss challenges, solutions, tools and resources. The session will focus on how supply-side partners (e.g. manufacturers) can successfully register and publish items to demand partners (e.g. Lowe’s, Walmart) and use IRD CERICOMX® to reduce costs. All IRD CERICOMX® users and attendees interested in global data synchronization should attend.

• Partnering with Partners Leads to Success

  Matthew Doornbos, Kendall Electric; George Droder, Erico; Lawrence Laake and Vicki Stokes, Rockwell Automation

  An electronic trading partner relationship provides a vehicle for sending data from one partner's system to another, irrespective of the challenges the data may present. It is only through collaborative partnerships that data and implementation challenges are overcome, leading to long term trading success. The road to integration success relies on a constant dialog in both directions. Join us as we discuss lessons learned, best practices, future integration opportunities, and trends from two perspectives --- the channel distributor and the supply chain manufacturer.

• Forum Night Out – NFL Draft Party

  6:30 PM – 9:30 PM

  Trade players with your favorite trading partners. Enjoy a laid back night with dinner, entertainment and a little friendly competition. Be sure to pack your favorite team gear – jerseys and jeans are encouraged at this networking event!

Day 3 - Wednesday, September 22, 2010

• Breakfast

  7:00 AM - 8:00 AM

• General Sessions

• Data Synchronization Town Hall

  8:00 AM - 9:30 AM

• Richard Buzun Award Presentation

  9:30 AM - 10:00 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 B2B eCommerce best practices. Past winners include OSRAM SYLVANIA, Leviton Manufacturing, Viking Electric Supply, Van Meter Industrial, Rockwell Automation, and Graybar Electric.

• Morning Boost

  10:00 AM - 10:15 AM

• Breakout Sessions

• (F) Sessions

• Making Data Quality a Priority Pays Back

  Tom Guzik, IDEA

  10:15 AM - 11:05 AM

  The role of quality information in creating competitive advantage has been well-documented and is now considered mandatory to succeed in today’s business world. Companies that effectively control critical information can leverage that knowledge for profitability. The difficulties associated with volumes of data brought about the concept of information architecture which has spawned projects such as Operational Data Stores (ODS), Data Warehousing and Data Marts. We'll focus on how making data quality a priority pays back the associated costs - and the returns don’t stop there. You’ll also get more information on the reinvigorated Data Audit and Certification (DAC) program and find out how you can take advantage of the program as another tool to ensure data quality excellence.

• Driving Profitability with Quality Marketing Data and the Attribute Schema (REPEAT SESSION)

  Mary Shaw, IDEA

  Take an inside look at how clearly defined product descriptors and assistance from resources such as the Electrical Attribute Schema 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 give you insights on how enhanced marketing data can improve your competitive position and increase your sales and profit potential every time, all the time. Whether you are a manufacturer or distributor, this is a must attend session if you want to protect or increase your market strengths.

• Graybar’s eChannel - Defined

  John Teipen, Graybar

  Products and services sold through distribution today are rapidly increasing in sophistication and complexity. As a result, the information needed by distributor salespeople to sell these products and the information required by customers to purchase these products, has never been more critical or comprehensive. Add to that the diversity and definition of "customers", their systems and procurement methods, and the opportunity for a distributor's success may well hinge upon the accuracy, breadth and depth of data (product information) available to the customer. Having information that the customer desires easily available when they want it can appear almost insurmountable--even to the most sophisticated distributors. The sourcing of product data (supply side) and presentation of this information (demand side) is a new role that distributors face today and is one that requires a thorough understanding of the channel. Listen as Graybar discusses the obstacles they have faced and hear how they are successfully meeting those challenges. 

• Lunch Session: Paths to Profits

  Angela Baraks, DATAgility

  11:05 AM - 11:55 PM

  Enriched product content is critical to the selling cycle - low data quality leads to lost revenues and reduced profits. To stay competitive, product information must be an essential part of your product offering to customers. For many businesses the solution is master data management and data synchronization. This session demonstrates how to take a pro-active approach using Industry Data Warehouse (IDW) and related professional services to improve data quality. Learn how a leading manufacturer and distributor leveraged UNSPSC codes and the Electrical Attribute Schema to drive sales growth and build brand loyalty in the marketplace. Then apply what you learn to unlock the power of YOUR data. If speed-to-market is important to you, don’t miss this one!

• Lunch Session * Reserved for Sponsor

  12:05 PM - 12:55 PM

• (G) Sessions

• Calculate Your Trading Partner’s Standards Score

  Denise Keating, DATAgility; Mary Shaw, IDEA

  1:00 PM - 1:50 PM

  Hear how IDEA’s newly developed standards scorecard program gives your company the opportunity to evaluate your trading partners on their support of and compliance with data quality standards, usable marketing attributes and adoption of eCommerce communication standards developed for the industry, by the industry. This program gives manufacturers and distributors the ability to identify key focus points for improving their business process flow with trading partners.

• How to Uniquely Identify Your Products and Prepare for eCommerce

  GS1 US

• IDW Manufacturer User Group (REPEAT SESSION)

  Josh Given, IDEA

  Have you recently assumed a position in your organization that requires you to send data to Industry Data Warehouse (IDW)? Want help understanding the options to send data to your channel partners? The IDW Data Synchronization Platform (DSP) has many features and functions to help manufacturers provide data to their channel more efficiently. Come see how it all works and learn the many features available to make your life easier. We will explore the various methods of sending data to IDW  in detail and discuss which one makes sense for you. We will also look at some of the tools you can use to save time along the way.

• Closing General Session

• Increasing Productivity – “Taking it To The Next Level”

  Dan Clark, Best Selling Author

  2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

  We’re told to think outside the lines, think outside the box. What if the answers are still in the box? Most come to conventions in search of new answers when what we need are the right answers. None of us can exceed our potential, we just misjudge it. We can only exceed expectations. When we believe if best is possible, good is not good enough and realize it’s what we do when leadership is not around that makes us champions, we reach our full potential and “Take It To The Next Level” – not because it is expected by others, but because it is demanded by ourselves!