Q&A with Olivia (Ross) Taylor, Director of CRO at Directive Consulting

Olivia Taylor, Director of CRO at Directive Consulting has 10 years of working experience in graphic designing and has expert knowledge in CRO/UX in landing pages and websites designing.

Olivia was recently nominated for the Orange County Business Journal's Top 25 Women in Business Awards.

MEDIA 7: What’s your superpower?
OLIVIA TAYLOR: I would like to think my superpower is empathy. That’s part of what CRO is: figuring out and understanding what’s going on through people’s minds and finding out what people need and want.

M7: Does it point to user intent, a term generally used in Account Based Marketing?
OT: 
Yes, exactly that. Because I’m able to basically understand where the consumer and the buyer is coming from, I can better optimize my clients’ websites, change that language in the headline and the subhead to relate to the customers’ pain points and better describe the benefits of what my client can provide to them.

M7: Your career spans an impressive 8 years from a Graphic Designer to being a Director of CRO at Directive Consulting. What attracted you to this industry, and how does Directive Consulting fit into your story?
OT:
I became a designer because all other subjects in school were boring. 2+2 will always be 4, but with design, there are so many possibilities - so many different solutions to a problem. Plus, I always loved drawing and creating.
While going to school, I worked as a designer at a few different places. Then upon graduating, I worked at a tech company in-house but it just wasn’t for me. I moved on to an agency that was full-service, but that also was not the right fit. After that job, I ended up at a PPC agency where I learned about CRO. I started there as just a designer and left there as the Director of CRO.

Using the skills I learned there, I was able to join the upstanding company that is Directive where I’m learning so much more, and doing so many more awesome things than I did at any other job and it has been amazing. It’s so wonderful to work at a place that is professional and that takes the work so seriously, only striving to be the best at being different. 


"The best way we can convince the customers is that we need to address what our client does, that no other competitor can do."

M7: Could you tell us about your best practices for creating an ideal customer experience?
OT: 
A functioning website that loads quickly
Easy navigation and user experience
Clear offerings and clear unique value propositions (what is it that you do that no competitor does?)
Great social proof (testimonials and case studies from current clients, awards, etc)

Great customer service: prompt support, regular email check-ins to see how your customer is doing, offer deals and promotions - all of these things keep a customer coming back for more.

M7: While creating a unique value proposition, how do you drive in the utility? In other words, how do you convince the customer about the uniqueness of your service?
OT: 
We definitely have to utilize this through the headline and anywhere in the hero section of the landing page or the homepage because that’s where people are landing first and you need to be able to grab their attention in the first five seconds. So, the best way we can convince the customers, is that we need to address what our client does, that no other competitor can do.

If you can say we’re the only platform that does x, y, and z, that is a great unique selling point. Another thing to consider is backing up your clients with data. If you are offering some sort of platform that will save me time on the implementation of a process, then tell me how much time I’m going to save. If you say, “Cut down your execution time by 90% with our platform” that’s a unique value proposition. That shows the benefit to the user there, and that will entice users to click through and complete the form. So, gaining conversions is usually based around giving real data that explains exactly what value the visitors are going to see or how much money is going to be made or saved, and how much time is going to be saved to solve a problem with this solution. The other side of the coin is “we are the only ones that do x y z” and that will basically set a business apart from their competitors.

M7: How does collaboration and communication come into play in your role?
OT: 
It’s the entire job. I oversee a design team and I need to make sure my team is not only communicating with me but communicating with other departments. PPC, SEO, and CRO must all work together to get the job done and we’re stronger together than apart. I have daily follow-ups on different accounts, weekly meetings, client sync ups - whatever it takes to make sure that I and the rest of the team have complete transparency into what is happening with these accounts so that we can assist in whatever way we can. We want our specialists and account managers to own their strategy, but the directors are responsible for approving the strategy and improving it if needed.


"As designers, we need to remember that form follows function, so we must be sure that this information is easily accessible, that the message is clear."

M7: What are the biggest mistakes you see businesses making when attempting to optimize their site to increase conversions?
OT:
These companies spend tens of thousands of dollars on a rebrand which will be done by a branding agency that has no knowledge of designing a site for increased conversions. Too many times we’ve had clients come in that just had a rebrand done and their conversions plummeted. So we will go in and audit the site to find out what is causing the problem. Too often, design takes over function but we must always remember that form follows function. As an example, the white space in the new site may be beautiful, but none of your visitors can even see what you’re offering until they get halfway down the page. Things like this are the biggest issues we see.

Also, with too many changes implemented at once, it makes it harder to pinpoint what caused the drop in conversions. It’s often times all of the things combined together that caused the problem. If a company is going to focus on increasing conversions, the changes need to be based on data and not on whims or best practices. Data doesn’t lie.

M7: What is the most challenging part of doing a conversion optimization project? What type of resource commitment do you require from your team?
OT:
The most challenging part is that the results cannot be guaranteed. Our tests are based on data but they’re just that: a test, a hypothesis. Nothing is written in stone. 9 out of 10 times I will be right in my hypothesis, but there will always be a test that fails. We still celebrate the failure because we still learn from it. We can find out why the test didn’t work and use it to narrow down on what will work.

As far as resources are concerned, we want to make sure that we’re testing at least a few things each week per client. We use Hotjar for qualitative research as well as Google Optimize for on-page testing, and Instapage/Unbounce for landing page testing. Reporting is a big part of our deliverable so a good amount of our time is spent gathering the data and providing insights to the client.

M7: According to you, what prompts a visitor to scroll down to the bottom of a webpage?
OT: 
Usually you would have to have a message that entices them in the hero section of the landing page. Just like we discussed about the UVPs, we need to show the customer right when they land on the page, that this is the solution for your problem. That will entice them to scroll down. You can sometimes kind of coax people to scroll down: I like to use false CTAs to get more information and if they click that CTA, it will scroll down to the benefit section on the page and that will get people to start scrolling. And from that benefit section you could have a CTA linking to the case studies on the landing page and get them to scroll down even further on the page.

The main issue is people think of redesigning their page to look better and they see horrible conversions because it may be beautiful but it’s not functional. The messaging is vague and does not relate to what it is they do as a company that’s better than anybody else. They don’t adjust the benefits, and they’re too stuck on this flowery and technical language that a lot of SaaS companies like to use. So, the biggest thing is being very upfront with what you do in layman’s terms, making it as clear as possible to the lowest common denominator, so that you have a potentially larger pool of leads versus only having that technical jargon that only a few may understand. This usually relates a lot to B2B and SaaS clients. They get really hung up on their own language that’s very technical but the common man that needs their service doesn’t understand that...just tell them what the benefit is.

So, to summarize that long rant: basically, make sure that the messaging is clear about the benefits right away, then use CTAs on your page to entice people to keep scrolling so they continue to learn more. Keep people engaged and reading, section by section.


"Gaining conversions is based around giving real data that explains what value the visitors are going to see or how much money is going to be made or saved, and how much time is going to be saved."

M7: In a world where anyone can start a web-based business, generating trust is more important than ever before. Considering this, what impact does design have on revenue?
OT: 
It has a huge impact. If you land on a site that is poorly designed - it’s ugly, it’s confusing, you have no idea what they sell - do you think you would stay on that site for long? No, you’d go to a site that has a clear hero image showing the product and how it works, and a headline that explains what sets it apart from any other competitor product. The way information is presented is just as important as what information is being said.




One-size-doesn’t-fit-all and I’ve seen pages that - funny enough - looked horrible but converted better than the redesign we did, just because the form was more readily available. All the information was above the fold and it looked really scrunched. However, the customers got whatever they needed right away and that was what was important. So even when you’re seeing this image of bad vs good, we could argue that maybe the option on the right still won’t convert because it’s not quite explaining any unique value composition. It has a lot of beautiful imagery but it’s not getting to the point. Although these full-width websites with huge images is the trend, I think it needs to be taken with a grain of salt and used sparingly; and it needs to be dialed back a bit when it comes to conversions. You have these big beautiful images and people have to scroll very far just to get down to the first paragraph which is not good for conversions even though it’s trendy. As designers, we need to remember that form follows function, so we must be sure that this information is easily accessible, that the message is clear and if it is, then great! The beauty comes after that, but messaging has to be clear, concise, and easily understood.

M7: Directive Consulting ranks #1 on Google for “SEO Agency”. What SEO strategies and tools does the company leverage to channelize its sales campaigns?
OT: 
On page SEO and targeted guest posting with keyword driven anchor text. Then we continually write content around SEO and internally link back to our core SEO page.

M7: As a child what did you want to be when you grew up?
OT:
I wanted to be a speleologist (a cave scientist) for years. I was obsessed with caves, stalactites, and stalagmites. I’ve always been interested in maths and sciences, but there are dangers tied to being a cave scientist so I gave up on that. I still sometimes wonder what would have been if I had gone into the sciences instead of design. Maybe I’ll try it out in a few years!

M7: That sounds interesting! Have you visited caves in your earlier days?
OT: Yes, I did visit just a few caves, nothing big like the Man of the cave or Carlsbad cavern but as a child I was very interested in science – Biology, Zoology, Geology just the world around me and caves are interesting because they��re the dark places that not many people go to. I love history, I love biology so I think caves are kind of that interesting combination of both cause they’re ancient and they have these creatures that are so bizarre you know, like these blind salamanders which is like a different world there. I got very fixated on that for a few years as a child, reading all the books I could about it. I had my mind set, this is what I was going to do and I didn’t take into account the dangers of being a cave scientist. You’ll have to get into tight little spaces and there could be cavemen, you could get lost and stuck. Me being a homebody and kind of a bookworm, I decided, you know, maybe this is not the path for me, but I was also an artistic child. I was drawing all the time and that’s how I ended up in design school instead. So a very different path, but I still love science and history so I might dabble in it later in my life but for now it’s been design.

ABOUT DIRECTIVE CONSULTING

Directive does beautiful search marketing for B2B and enterprise companies that share our values. We redefine the global standard for how marketers work, live, and grow. We are a group of SEO, PPC, and content experts who are passionate about working with the best B2B brands in the world. When we are not executing ROI driven campaigns, you can find us drinking cold brew, volunteering in our community, or playing an intense game of ping-pong.

More THOUGHT LEADERS

"It’s time to raise the bar on automotive safety," says Aaron Jefferson Vice President of Product at Luminar Technologies

Media 7 | June 6, 2022

Aaron Jefferson, Luminar Technologies' Vice President of Product, discusses a new era of next-generation vehicle safety and autonomous capabilities for production vehicles. Continue reading to learn more about the global automotive game-changer OEMs....

Read More

Q&A with Sri Gopinath, Director of Global Procurement Strategy at Schneider Electric

MEDIA 7 | July 1, 2020

Sri Gopinath, Director of Global Procurement Strategy at Schneider Electric is a senior procurement leader with in-depth knowledge of global strategic sourcing and comprehensive experience in business strategy, transformation and change management. Sri leads the Procurement Strategy function for Schneider Electric globally with responsibilities for Supply Base Management, Relationship Programs, Category Strategy and Business Transformation initiatives. He previously managed an internal business transformation team within Nissan and led a special assignment for the President of Nissan Brazil to enable business expansion in that market. MEDIA 7: What do you look forward to most when you get up in the morning? SRI GOPINATH: I look forward to making a difference – I have been very fortunate to be able to have gained professional experiences internationally, in many diverse industries and create value for my employers and customers. As part of the procurement and supply chain community, our business and macroeconomic environment is always changing. It greatly motivates me to think about how strategies can be translated into meaningful actions to create value for our customers and stakeholders. No two days are the same, and this makes me excited to contemplate new possibilities each day. Further, I enjoy interacting with talented people in procurement and supply chain and contributing to their career aspirations and development.  I never run out of opportunities! M7: Could you tell me a little about yourself and what led you to your position as Procurement Strategy Director at Schneider Electric? SG: It would be helpful if I connected my career evolution to how I came to Schneider Electric. I came here 5 years ago after gaining valuable experience in leading companies like Nissan Motor Company, Motorola and in management consulting. By working with many talented and senior executives from many leading companies, I learned about best practices and how to understand the CEO perspective early in my career. I then discovered my passion – how to enable boardroom strategies and to be able to make it real and achieve tangible results. Schneider Electric offered me the opportunity to apply my skills in a global organization, interact with people from many countries while driving strategic transformation and change. Most importantly I really connected with the people who share my passion and desire for results. As a case in point, Schneider Electric was ranked #34 in Gartner’s Annual Supply Chain ranking in 2015 and in 2020 we have achieved the #4 position! That is an amazing accomplishment in such a short period of time, and it is rewarding for me to have contributed to that effort. ...

Read More

Q&A with Maliha Aqeel, Director of Global Communications at Fix Network World

MEDIA 7 | January 16, 2020

Maliha Aqeel, Director of Global Communications at Fix Network World is an award-winning, communication and marketing professional who helps companies harness the power of their brand to drive engagement and achieve measurable business results.  She has developed and led content and marcomm programs for B2B companies in the financial and professional services sectors in her over 15 years of industry experience. MEDIA 7: When did you start working and what was it? MALIHA AQEEL: I started my career in 1996 right after high school, freelancing as a journalist and features writer for a magazine in Dubai, UAE. Over time, I expanded my services to include scriptwriting for corporate videos and TV productions, writing and designing client newsletters and promotional collateral. M7: What made you want to pursue a career in branding and marketing communications? What aspect about your role brings you the most joy? MA: I didn’t consciously decide to pursue a career in marketing and communication as my plan was to become a filmmaker. However, I had great curiosity about what makes people prefer one brand over the other when a feature-by-feature comparison didn’t show a huge difference between similar products or services. I had taken a few advertising courses during university and it broadened my understanding of how powerful brand experiences and storytelling can drive business objectives. That balance of strategy and creativity is what I enjoy most about what I do and why I’ve continued to find purpose in my career. ...

Read More

"It’s time to raise the bar on automotive safety," says Aaron Jefferson Vice President of Product at Luminar Technologies

Media 7 | June 6, 2022

Aaron Jefferson, Luminar Technologies' Vice President of Product, discusses a new era of next-generation vehicle safety and autonomous capabilities for production vehicles. Continue reading to learn more about the global automotive game-changer OEMs....

Read More

Q&A with Sri Gopinath, Director of Global Procurement Strategy at Schneider Electric

MEDIA 7 | July 1, 2020

Sri Gopinath, Director of Global Procurement Strategy at Schneider Electric is a senior procurement leader with in-depth knowledge of global strategic sourcing and comprehensive experience in business strategy, transformation and change management. Sri leads the Procurement Strategy function for Schneider Electric globally with responsibilities for Supply Base Management, Relationship Programs, Category Strategy and Business Transformation initiatives. He previously managed an internal business transformation team within Nissan and led a special assignment for the President of Nissan Brazil to enable business expansion in that market. MEDIA 7: What do you look forward to most when you get up in the morning? SRI GOPINATH: I look forward to making a difference – I have been very fortunate to be able to have gained professional experiences internationally, in many diverse industries and create value for my employers and customers. As part of the procurement and supply chain community, our business and macroeconomic environment is always changing. It greatly motivates me to think about how strategies can be translated into meaningful actions to create value for our customers and stakeholders. No two days are the same, and this makes me excited to contemplate new possibilities each day. Further, I enjoy interacting with talented people in procurement and supply chain and contributing to their career aspirations and development.  I never run out of opportunities! M7: Could you tell me a little about yourself and what led you to your position as Procurement Strategy Director at Schneider Electric? SG: It would be helpful if I connected my career evolution to how I came to Schneider Electric. I came here 5 years ago after gaining valuable experience in leading companies like Nissan Motor Company, Motorola and in management consulting. By working with many talented and senior executives from many leading companies, I learned about best practices and how to understand the CEO perspective early in my career. I then discovered my passion – how to enable boardroom strategies and to be able to make it real and achieve tangible results. Schneider Electric offered me the opportunity to apply my skills in a global organization, interact with people from many countries while driving strategic transformation and change. Most importantly I really connected with the people who share my passion and desire for results. As a case in point, Schneider Electric was ranked #34 in Gartner’s Annual Supply Chain ranking in 2015 and in 2020 we have achieved the #4 position! That is an amazing accomplishment in such a short period of time, and it is rewarding for me to have contributed to that effort. ...

Read More

Q&A with Maliha Aqeel, Director of Global Communications at Fix Network World

MEDIA 7 | January 16, 2020

Maliha Aqeel, Director of Global Communications at Fix Network World is an award-winning, communication and marketing professional who helps companies harness the power of their brand to drive engagement and achieve measurable business results.  She has developed and led content and marcomm programs for B2B companies in the financial and professional services sectors in her over 15 years of industry experience. MEDIA 7: When did you start working and what was it? MALIHA AQEEL: I started my career in 1996 right after high school, freelancing as a journalist and features writer for a magazine in Dubai, UAE. Over time, I expanded my services to include scriptwriting for corporate videos and TV productions, writing and designing client newsletters and promotional collateral. M7: What made you want to pursue a career in branding and marketing communications? What aspect about your role brings you the most joy? MA: I didn’t consciously decide to pursue a career in marketing and communication as my plan was to become a filmmaker. However, I had great curiosity about what makes people prefer one brand over the other when a feature-by-feature comparison didn’t show a huge difference between similar products or services. I had taken a few advertising courses during university and it broadened my understanding of how powerful brand experiences and storytelling can drive business objectives. That balance of strategy and creativity is what I enjoy most about what I do and why I’ve continued to find purpose in my career. ...

Read More

Related News

Supply Chain

Imperial Dade Advances Growth with Acquisition of Advance Shipping Supplies

Imperial Dade | November 06, 2023

Imperial Dade acquires Advance Shipping Supplies, Inc. as its 75th acquisition. Imperial Dade maintains its 15-year growth strategy, combining organic initiatives and acquisitions. Dave Waite, President of Advance Shipping Supplies, emphasizes the company's legacy and commitment to customer service as it joins Imperial Dade. Imperial Dade, a prominent distributor specializing in food service packaging, printing papers, and janitorial supplies, has recently announced its acquisition of Advance Shipping Supplies, Inc. This transaction marks the 75th acquisition made by Imperial Dade under the leadership of Robert and Jason Tillis, who serve as the Chairman and CEO of the company, respectively. The specific financial details of this private transaction have not been disclosed. Imperial Dade maintains its unwavering commitment to the strategic direction established over 15 years ago. This direction involves sustained growth through a combination of organic initiatives and a carefully managed acquisition process. Advance Shipping Supplies Inc., established in 1985, has a remarkable 38-year track record as a leading distributor of industrial supplies, packaging materials, and janitorial products. Under the guidance of its founder, Dave Waite, Advance continues to be a critical supplier in the Ontario market, delivering essential products to its clientele. The company places a strong emphasis on customer service and is strategically positioned to ensure prompt and accurate deliveries. By leveraging the extensive capabilities of Imperial Dade Canada's top-tier platform, Advance's customers can look forward to receiving the same exceptional customized service, now complemented by an even broader range of products and solutions. Jason Tillis, the CEO of Imperial Dade, expressed his warm welcome to the Advance family. He noted that Advance possessed a dedicated customer base and a strong commitment to delivering an exceptional customer experience, which, in his view, made it a valuable addition to their expanding North American platform. Stephane Lapointe, the President of Imperial Dade Canada, added that partnering with Advance marked another significant stride in their objective of becoming the leading national specialty distributor of industrial, food service, and janitorial products. He also mentioned Imperial Dade's eagerness to build upon its existing success and to continually explore ways to enhance its service to both customers and vendor partners. Dave Waite, the President of Advance Shipping Supplies, Inc., stated that the legacy created by Advance over the past approximately 40 years would serve as a strong foundation for Imperial Dade's future growth. He expressed that, under the guidance of Imperial Dade, they would maintain their commitment to delivering exceptional customer service while also expediting the growth they had witnessed in recent years.

Read More

Supply Chain

Envista to Leverage QAD Transportation Execution for Global Parcel and Freight Shipping

Business Wire | October 26, 2023

QAD Inc., a leading provider of next-generation manufacturing and supply chain solutions in the cloud, announced that Envista, a global family of more than 30 trusted dental brands operating in more than 120 countries, has selected QAD Global Trade and Transportation Execution (GTTE) for high volume parcel, heavy freight and white glove deliveries. The deployment of QAD Transportation Execution in the cloud enables Envista to make time-critical deliveries, standardize shipping across global locations and reduce transportation costs. In addition, Envista has deployed QAD Delivery Exception Management, a centralized portal to track all deliveries, anywhere in the world, with alerts for potential in-transit disruptions. “Implementing a leading TMS system globally will enable us to further improve on our core strategic objective of running a highly customer centric operation,” said Hans Gernler van Marle, senior director transportation & logistics EMEA and APAC at Envista. “By continuous improvement, leveraging innovation where possible, we make sure we keep at the forefront of providing our customers with the best and most dependable transportation services available in a globally ever changing market.” “Envista is a company with truly global operations, with manufacturing and distribution locations across EMEA, the Americas and Asia-Pacific region. Due to the time-critical nature of its products and services, the ability to connect to global and local carrier networks is critical for Envista’s customer success. As such, the company needed a global partner that could support its shipping needs everywhere in the world,” said Carter Lloyds, chief product and marketing officer at QAD. “No other solution comes close in terms of worldwide coverage and the ability to ensure critical shipments reach their destination on-time and in full.” QAD Transportation Execution is a multi-carrier, multimodal, multilingual shipping solution. Industry leaders in every region of the world rely on QAD GTTE to leverage thousands of carrier services and manage millions of global trade and shipping transactions every day.

Read More

Supply Chain

Ferguson and Trimble Team Up to Digitalize Construction Supply Chain

Trimble Inc | November 08, 2023

Ferguson joins Trimble Supplier Xchange, streamlining the construction supply chain. Trimble's Supplier Xchange handles 10,000+ digital connections, 18B in monthly quotes. This integration automates pricing info to purchase orders, reducing errors and streamlining workflows. Trimble, a leading technology, software, and services solutions provider for the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry, and Ferguson have recently announced a significant development in the construction supply chain. Ferguson locations nationwide have officially joined the Trimble Supplier Xchange digital pricing and procurement network. This development marks a pivotal step and further digitalizes and streamlines construction supply chain operations, benefiting both mechanical and commercial customers. Furthermore, it enhances efficiency between construction teams and their most crucial business partners. Trimble's Supplier Xchange network currently facilitates over 10,000 digital connections between specialty subcontractors and their preferred suppliers. It handles an impressive average of 130,000 quote requests every month, with an average total value of USD 18 billion per month. The integration between Ferguson and Supplier Xchange enables contractors to access up-to-date, contracted pricing information and seamlessly convert it into a purchase order (PO). This PO flows directly into the contractor's Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, ensuring that the order is placed and financially accounted for in the ERP system without delay. This streamlined process significantly reduces the time required and minimizes errors typically associated with manual data entry, thanks to the automatic synchronization of the purchase order. By becoming a part of the Supplier Xchange network, Ferguson, a prominent commercial mechanical distributor in the United States, is proactively addressing the common pain points faced by contractors in their day-to-day workflows. Tom Sullivan, Commercial Construction Services and Technology Director at Ferguson highlighted that prioritizing digital connections with their customers was of utmost importance. He explained that as their customers are increasingly looking for ways to cut costs and enhance efficiency, accuracy, and timeliness, Supplier Xchange would empower them to offer real-time customer-specific information. This would effectively reduce the manual processes and time needed in the workflows related to estimating, Virtual Design and Construction (VDC), purchasing, project management, and accounting. The official announcement took place at Trimble Dimensions 2023, where both Ferguson and Trimble are showcasing the Supplier Xchange network. Trimble Construction Management Solutions' Vice President and General Manager Lawrence Smith emphasized that it had never been more crucial to integrate technology solutions to enhance the speed, accuracy, and seamlessness of information sharing across the construction supply chain. He stated that the data collaboration between Ferguson and Trimble was delivering increased efficiency, precision, and swiftness in their customers' workflows, encompassing estimating, procurement, purchasing, accounting, and project management.

Read More

Supply Chain

Imperial Dade Advances Growth with Acquisition of Advance Shipping Supplies

Imperial Dade | November 06, 2023

Imperial Dade acquires Advance Shipping Supplies, Inc. as its 75th acquisition. Imperial Dade maintains its 15-year growth strategy, combining organic initiatives and acquisitions. Dave Waite, President of Advance Shipping Supplies, emphasizes the company's legacy and commitment to customer service as it joins Imperial Dade. Imperial Dade, a prominent distributor specializing in food service packaging, printing papers, and janitorial supplies, has recently announced its acquisition of Advance Shipping Supplies, Inc. This transaction marks the 75th acquisition made by Imperial Dade under the leadership of Robert and Jason Tillis, who serve as the Chairman and CEO of the company, respectively. The specific financial details of this private transaction have not been disclosed. Imperial Dade maintains its unwavering commitment to the strategic direction established over 15 years ago. This direction involves sustained growth through a combination of organic initiatives and a carefully managed acquisition process. Advance Shipping Supplies Inc., established in 1985, has a remarkable 38-year track record as a leading distributor of industrial supplies, packaging materials, and janitorial products. Under the guidance of its founder, Dave Waite, Advance continues to be a critical supplier in the Ontario market, delivering essential products to its clientele. The company places a strong emphasis on customer service and is strategically positioned to ensure prompt and accurate deliveries. By leveraging the extensive capabilities of Imperial Dade Canada's top-tier platform, Advance's customers can look forward to receiving the same exceptional customized service, now complemented by an even broader range of products and solutions. Jason Tillis, the CEO of Imperial Dade, expressed his warm welcome to the Advance family. He noted that Advance possessed a dedicated customer base and a strong commitment to delivering an exceptional customer experience, which, in his view, made it a valuable addition to their expanding North American platform. Stephane Lapointe, the President of Imperial Dade Canada, added that partnering with Advance marked another significant stride in their objective of becoming the leading national specialty distributor of industrial, food service, and janitorial products. He also mentioned Imperial Dade's eagerness to build upon its existing success and to continually explore ways to enhance its service to both customers and vendor partners. Dave Waite, the President of Advance Shipping Supplies, Inc., stated that the legacy created by Advance over the past approximately 40 years would serve as a strong foundation for Imperial Dade's future growth. He expressed that, under the guidance of Imperial Dade, they would maintain their commitment to delivering exceptional customer service while also expediting the growth they had witnessed in recent years.

Read More

Supply Chain

Envista to Leverage QAD Transportation Execution for Global Parcel and Freight Shipping

Business Wire | October 26, 2023

QAD Inc., a leading provider of next-generation manufacturing and supply chain solutions in the cloud, announced that Envista, a global family of more than 30 trusted dental brands operating in more than 120 countries, has selected QAD Global Trade and Transportation Execution (GTTE) for high volume parcel, heavy freight and white glove deliveries. The deployment of QAD Transportation Execution in the cloud enables Envista to make time-critical deliveries, standardize shipping across global locations and reduce transportation costs. In addition, Envista has deployed QAD Delivery Exception Management, a centralized portal to track all deliveries, anywhere in the world, with alerts for potential in-transit disruptions. “Implementing a leading TMS system globally will enable us to further improve on our core strategic objective of running a highly customer centric operation,” said Hans Gernler van Marle, senior director transportation & logistics EMEA and APAC at Envista. “By continuous improvement, leveraging innovation where possible, we make sure we keep at the forefront of providing our customers with the best and most dependable transportation services available in a globally ever changing market.” “Envista is a company with truly global operations, with manufacturing and distribution locations across EMEA, the Americas and Asia-Pacific region. Due to the time-critical nature of its products and services, the ability to connect to global and local carrier networks is critical for Envista’s customer success. As such, the company needed a global partner that could support its shipping needs everywhere in the world,” said Carter Lloyds, chief product and marketing officer at QAD. “No other solution comes close in terms of worldwide coverage and the ability to ensure critical shipments reach their destination on-time and in full.” QAD Transportation Execution is a multi-carrier, multimodal, multilingual shipping solution. Industry leaders in every region of the world rely on QAD GTTE to leverage thousands of carrier services and manage millions of global trade and shipping transactions every day.

Read More

Supply Chain

Ferguson and Trimble Team Up to Digitalize Construction Supply Chain

Trimble Inc | November 08, 2023

Ferguson joins Trimble Supplier Xchange, streamlining the construction supply chain. Trimble's Supplier Xchange handles 10,000+ digital connections, 18B in monthly quotes. This integration automates pricing info to purchase orders, reducing errors and streamlining workflows. Trimble, a leading technology, software, and services solutions provider for the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry, and Ferguson have recently announced a significant development in the construction supply chain. Ferguson locations nationwide have officially joined the Trimble Supplier Xchange digital pricing and procurement network. This development marks a pivotal step and further digitalizes and streamlines construction supply chain operations, benefiting both mechanical and commercial customers. Furthermore, it enhances efficiency between construction teams and their most crucial business partners. Trimble's Supplier Xchange network currently facilitates over 10,000 digital connections between specialty subcontractors and their preferred suppliers. It handles an impressive average of 130,000 quote requests every month, with an average total value of USD 18 billion per month. The integration between Ferguson and Supplier Xchange enables contractors to access up-to-date, contracted pricing information and seamlessly convert it into a purchase order (PO). This PO flows directly into the contractor's Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, ensuring that the order is placed and financially accounted for in the ERP system without delay. This streamlined process significantly reduces the time required and minimizes errors typically associated with manual data entry, thanks to the automatic synchronization of the purchase order. By becoming a part of the Supplier Xchange network, Ferguson, a prominent commercial mechanical distributor in the United States, is proactively addressing the common pain points faced by contractors in their day-to-day workflows. Tom Sullivan, Commercial Construction Services and Technology Director at Ferguson highlighted that prioritizing digital connections with their customers was of utmost importance. He explained that as their customers are increasingly looking for ways to cut costs and enhance efficiency, accuracy, and timeliness, Supplier Xchange would empower them to offer real-time customer-specific information. This would effectively reduce the manual processes and time needed in the workflows related to estimating, Virtual Design and Construction (VDC), purchasing, project management, and accounting. The official announcement took place at Trimble Dimensions 2023, where both Ferguson and Trimble are showcasing the Supplier Xchange network. Trimble Construction Management Solutions' Vice President and General Manager Lawrence Smith emphasized that it had never been more crucial to integrate technology solutions to enhance the speed, accuracy, and seamlessness of information sharing across the construction supply chain. He stated that the data collaboration between Ferguson and Trimble was delivering increased efficiency, precision, and swiftness in their customers' workflows, encompassing estimating, procurement, purchasing, accounting, and project management.

Read More