Network Services Recognized for Innovative Data Warehouse

July 1, 2006
CIO magazine recently recognized Network Services Company (Mount Prospect, Ill.), giving the company one of its CIO 100 Awards for 2006. Network is a

CIO magazine recently recognized Network Services Company (Mount Prospect, Ill.), giving the company one of its CIO 100 Awards for 2006. Network is a $12 billion international member-owned organization of independent distributors selling janitorial supplies, food service items, industrial packaging and printing materials.

The company was recognized for the innovative expansion of its data warehouse that allows national account customers to better track and analyze their purchasing data. To accomplish this, transactions from distributor members with varying systems must automatically flow through Network’s data warehouse, thereby allowing Network to produce consolidated reports. Among other benefits, the expanded data warehouse helps customers manage their supply chains more effectively and allows them to monitor Network’s Key Performance Indicators, such as fill-rates and on-time deliveries. Network was included among CIO’s 100 winners for the third time in four years.

“This project has enabled Network to offer its national account customers dynamic reports electronically in real time,” said Paul Roche, Network’s chief information officer. “We used our existing software to eliminate what had been a tedious and costly manual process. We now provide broader supply chain solutions to our customers.”

The enhanced data warehouse is an extension of the NetLink project that earned Network the CIO 100 Award in 2005. NetLink is a supply-chain and e-business system that interfaces with the internal systems of Network’s customers, members and suppliers.

“The distribution business is thriving, but is also becoming more complex and more competitive,” said Jim Alexy, chief executive officer and president of network. “We believe we are providing our distributor members with industry-leading IT programs and scalable systems that help them meet the expectations of our national accounts.”