Member News: AWNA launches new display and classified ad placement software

The AWNA has integrated their Display, Blanket Classified, and Accounting computer applications into one unified system known as Microsoft Navision (Nav). Custom designed by the AWNA staff and developed by Dynamic Manufacturing Solutions (DMS) this is an enterprise resource planning solution (ERP) that will bring our association to the leading edge of technology.

Why did we change?

• Demands of our customers. We’ve been told repeatedly over many years that customers don’t understand and can’t balance to our invoices. This has caused numerous hours spent by both AWNA and customer staff reconciling accounts due to differing system calculations that lead to overdue accounts receivables.
• Old technology. The ONE System is failing, outdated, unsupported, and does not calculate discounts the way our VIP program was designed.
• Inefficiency. Duplicate processes and timely workflows to accommodate the ‘Band-Aid’ fixes of the ONE System and mix-match of applications.
• Future initiatives to expand Nav’s Customer Relations Management (CRM) capabilities for our members, customers, and AdWest.

What has changed?

• Invoice presentation and calculation. Now VIP and agency discounts are calculated on a per publication basis, rather than as a percentage of the total order.
• Flexibility of presentation of information. No longer limited to pdfs, now invoices, statements, and reports can be presented in various formats such as Excel. This allows customers the ability to import data into their own systems for faster clearance, timely cash receipts, and sales analysis.
• Net to Paper. Formerly a system glitch, commissions are now applied to gross national rates, rather than discounted rates.
• Insertion order format. Goodbye to unreadable and minuscule faxes using old Adobe technology; papers will receive full size faxes of their orders.

What can we look forward to?

• Quality. Improved and streamlined workflows allow staff the ability to spend more time serving our members and customers.

• Commissions will be examined and adjusted over the next few weeks, so our members net approximately the same as they did before.

• 1% ComBase levy on display ads will end starting July 1, 2010, providing a higher Net to Paper.
• New AWSOM Archive. Development by DMS on a new in-house archive to be integrated with Nav and our website.
• Better communication. Combining Nav, AWSOM, and the AWNA website for members and customers to access and update their information.

Your patience is appreciated as we continue to test our new system and work through any bugs. Please contact the AWNA staff for further information.