November 2010 Entries
by Janet Zlokovich
Web-based portal applications hosted by Distributor and Operator trading partners are emerging in today’s foodservice environment as the new “it thing” for handling many aspects of Trade Promotion administration - contract and rebate management.
A frequently used term for these Web-based infrastructures, “Cloud computing” refers to web-based tools and applications that deliver services through common centers and are built on servers accessed via a web browser. We all know maximizing efficiencies is critical to doing business in this competitive market, these applications can result in many benefits for the host company through the framework that will enforce compliance...
Traditionally Thanksgiving is a special time of the year when we reflect on what we’re thankful for. Here at Answers Systems we are grateful for all our clients and individuals that support the company.
Answers Systems is also thankful for being able to provide data management and technical expertise to support foodservice trade promotion management from contract creation to claim/rebate settlement to complex analyses and reporting.
From all of us at Answers Systems, we hope you have a enjoyable and safe Thanksgiving Holiday.
Technorati tags: contractcompliance, trade promotion management
by Kristin Avery
In America, it is important to create new and innovative ways to set businesses apart and make them unique. One way that businesses have creatively set themselves apart from the competition is by playing with the grammatical spelling of their name. For example, Cash and Carry is spelled Kash-n-Karry. If you haven’t noticed it before, I’m sure you will now notice it everywhere. Every time I see one of these crafty signs I often imagine how hard it would be for a person learning English for the first time. How coming to this country and trying to learn...
by Kristin Avery
Being new to the world of trade promotion management, the ironic movie “The Matrix” keeps crossing my mind. I keep picturing one scene in particular. It’s the scene after Neo (Keanu Reeves) takes the red pill and after being, reborn goes through a process of learning new skills. All he has to do is attach an uncomfortable cable into the back of his head and he can learn whatever he wants to by ways of a computer download, leading to one of my favorite lines when Neo says, “Wooh, I know kung-fu”.
I believe the reason why this...
by Kristin Avery
Get into office by 7:30 a.m. Attend Team Meeting Update from 8-9 a.m. Check emails. Attend product meeting. Brainstorm on new ways to enhance product features. Grab quick lunch. Conduct conference call with potential client. Deal with new issues affecting start-up timetables. Finally leave office at 6:30 p.m. Battle rush-hour traffic. Dinner? Aaah, now that is the question.
Options:
a. Have a nice leisurely dinner at a white-cloth restaurant--call spouse and give him/her directions.
b. Make a quick stop at Applebee’s--have kids head over after their baseball game.
c. Pick up Taco Bell--eat in the car or at...
Tracy McQuilkin
Data acquisition and cleansing in the process of rebate settlement can be a challenge. Each day in the Settlement Department here at Answers Systems, we work with thousands upon thousands of fields of data. The data we capture is only as good as the data we receive. Many times in the course of data acquisition, we get partial or illegible information. We do our best to cleanse it and capture it, but there are times when we run into roadblocks.
Sometimes during the rebate settlement process, we have to place a claim on “pending” status or “on hold” to...