All-In-One Consumer Goods ERP for Importers and Wholesalers
Wholesale and consumer goods distribution moves fast. Suppliers, warehouses, channels and customers all demand attention simultaneously, and thin margins leave little room for slip-ups. That’s why you need Aptean Distribution ERP-purpose-built for your industry. Our solution gives mid-sized and large businesses a single, connected system to run operations more efficiently, serve customers more reliably and protect margins in a competitive market.
Run a Leaner, Better-Connected Distribution Operation
Whether you're navigating retailer compliance requirements, scaling direct-to-consumer (DTC) shipments or managing transactions across multiple trading partners, Aptean Distribution ERP gives you purpose-built tools and dedicated expert support to handle it all-without stitching together multiple solutions.
Purpose-Built Functionality Out of the Box
Our specialized consumer goods ERP is built from the ground up for importers, wholesalers and distributors. Embedded retail compliance management, long lead time forecasting and chargeback management tools are all included as standard. And cloud deployment means the solution preps you for the future from day one.
Real Results, Straight From Our Customers
Consumer goods distributors and importers using Aptean's solution tell it best. Here's what they have to say.
"Aptean Distribution ERP offered the best out-of-the-box functionality to meet our business needs. We were able to implement the solution without the need for additional IT resources or costly customizations. We are seeing the benefits of tighter integration and improved visibility throughout our operations.”
Jon Richey, Operations Manager, Modus Furniture International
An ERP Built for Bottom-Line Impact, Today and Tomorrow
Importers, wholesales and distributors who've outgrown legacy systems or are patching together point solutions pay steep costs—in time, errors and missed opportunity. In contrast, Aptean Distribution ERP is built specifically for your industry and ready to deploy with the functionality you need from day one. You can expect faster implementation, immediate operational benefits and a platform that grows alongside your business when you choose us as your technology partner.
Is Your Tech Stack Holding Your Distribution Business Back?
Recognizing when your current tech stack is holding you back isn't always straightforward, especially when workarounds have become routine. This blog walks through the telltale signs it's time to upgrade, the must-have functionality to look for in a consumer goods ERP and the steps to build a business case that gets leadership on board.
Software Tailored to Your Segment
Every consumer goods segment brings its own operational demands, and Aptean Distribution ERP is built to handle them all. Whether your priorities are retailer compliance, long lead time management or supply chain visibility, our solution has the right functionality for your business.
End-to-End Capabilities for Consumer Goods Distribution
Our consumer goods ERP covers every functional area your business depends on and is purpose-built for the way you operate.
Import Management
Track shipments, vessels and containers in real time while the system automatically calculates true landed costs as goods move through the supply chain. Precise visibility into incoming inventory helps your team plan optimal receiving and fulfillment.
Warehouse Management
Built-in warehouse management handles receiving, picking and putaway with the flexibility consumer goods distributors need to manage high-volume, multi-SKU inventory accurately. No third-party WMS required—it's all in one system.
Forecasting and Planning
Point-of-sale data, historical sales trends, customer demand forecasts, seasonality and supplier lead times are all factored into distribution resource planning (DRP) tools. They help your team make smarter purchasing decisions, even when lead times stretch months ahead.
Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)
Coordinate the work of multiple teams across every stage of product development within a fully integrated system. Workflow management tools keep tasks on track and give everyone involved a clear view of where each product stands.
Chargeback Management
Retailer chargebacks can erode margins quickly when left unmanaged. Robust tracking and records maintenance help you reduce the number of chargebacks incurred and recover erroneous charges before they hit the bottom line.
Financials and Accounting
General ledger, accounts payable and accounts receivable all run through the same system as the rest of your operation. This relieves you of the burden of reconciliation that comes with separate financial tools. The result is accurate numbers, less manual work and a cleaner audit trail.
Transportation and Logistics
Route management, dynamic routing, bills of lading and packing slips are all handled within the system, bringing a new level of organization and oversight to outbound operations. Your team spends less time on manual coordination and more time moving goods efficiently with our system
Analytics and Reporting
Business intelligence powered by Microsoft Power BI delivers financial, sales and operational reporting alongside compliance data, all in one place. Profitability analysis by customer, product and supplier gives leadership the insight needed to make confident strategic decisions.
Addressing Your Consumer Goods ERP Questions
Whether you're just getting started or deep in evaluation, these answers cover some of the most common questions we receive about our consumer goods distribution ERP.
Aptean Distribution ERP is purpose-built for the specific challenges of consumer goods importers and distributors-not a generic ERP adapted for the category. Built-in capabilities that set it apart include:
Fully integrated EDI that simplifies retailer compliance and strengthens trading partner relationships
Chargeback management tools that help reduce the number of chargebacks incurred and recover erroneous charges before they erode margins
High-volume DTC shipping tools, including Pick by Label functionality, that keep fulfillment accurate and efficient at scale
Advanced analytics powered by Microsoft Power BI that surface profitability insights by customer, product and supplier
Additionally, the solution meets GDPR and SOC compliance standards, so you can have confidence your business meets those high standards.
Beyond the core ERP, several advanced modules are available to extend its capabilities for specific operational needs:
Shipment Manager automates high-volume DTC shipping decisions at scale. Carriers are automatically selected according to business rules, while rates are based on your settings and customer requirements. You have real-time rate comparison across all major carriers and full control over labels, return labels and freight charges.
Mobile Sales Rep gives your field sales team real-time access to product pricing, specs and inventory levels from a tablet or laptop. Plus, it has a familiar shopping cart interface for entering orders on the spot. Both the rep and the customer receive instant order confirmation, no separate mobile app required.
Supplier Production Monitoring provides visibility into third-party manufacturing operations—production status, quality assurance, shipping schedules, labeling requirements and retailer compliance mandates. A supplier portal lets vendors update status directly into your ERP, while rule-based alerts keep your team informed when things need attention.
Aptean Pay is an ERP-integrated payment processing solution that replaces manual check processing with secure electronic payments, automates reconciliation and offers flexible options including merchant portals. It’s fully PCI-compliant, with tokenized security throughout.
Additionally, transportation management solutions are available for businesses that need to optimize fleet or carrier management alongside their distribution operations.
Our ERP software for consumer goods businesses is available in both cloud and on-premise deployments-but for most businesses, cloud is the right choice. It eliminates server maintenance, ensures automatic updates and gives your teams the flexibility to access the system from anywhere via desktop application or web browser. That reduces IT overhead and helps you get to go-live faster.
On-premise deployment remains available for businesses with specific infrastructure, data sovereignty or integration requirements. Whichever model fits your situation, Aptean's implementation team will help you evaluate the options and configure the system to your operation's needs.
Implementation is handled by a dedicated team of distribution software specialists who configure the system to your specific workflows, manage data migration and ensure your team is trained before go-live. The process is structured and collaborative, with milestones aligned to your business's timeline and priorities.
Once you're live, we remain there by your side. Our flexible support options ensure you have the ongoing assistance your business needs. We also provide regular process reviews or access to best practice guidance as your operation evolves. You’ll never need to rely on a third-party. Aptean has your back.
Distribution ERP Resources on Our Blog
Topics that matter to consumer goods importers and distributors are covered in depth on our blog.
Distribution ERP Solutions: 10 Vital Questions to Ask Your ERP Vendor
To successfully compare and evaluate potential distribution ERP solutions, and the vendors that provide them, you need to ask the right questions.
Future-Proofing Your Consumer Goods Business With the Right Distribution ERP Software
If you’re looking to gain leadership buy-in to implement an ERP system in your consumer goods business, try our quick guide to building a solid business case.
Find Out What Our Consumer Goods ERP Can Do for Your Business
Speak with one of our consumer goods distribution specialists and get a personalized demo of what our solution can do for your operation.