IBS Prepares Electrical & Electronics Distributors to Take On Opportunities & Dangers Facing the Industry

IBS Prepares Electrical & Electronics Distributors to Take On Opportunities &
Dangers Facing the Industry

International Business Systems (STO: IBS B) in Australia kicks off a new series
of industry-specific events, themed “Executive Industry Insights”, with the
first event focused on the electrical and electronic distribution industries.

Sydney, Australia - April 12, 2010 −  The notion that there are six silent but
deadly ‘margin killers' that can bring down a company will be one of the topics
addressed in the inaugural event, titled “Electrical & Electronics Industry -
Looking To The Upturn”. This will look at the opportunities and dangers facing
the electrical and electronic industries in the aftermath of the GFC. Identical
sessions will be held in Melbourne (April 21) and Sydney (April 22).

“Gross margins are the bread and butter of all companies,” says Ian Leach, a
senior manager from IBS Australia, one of the speakers at the initial
presentation in the series. “And while they are ostensibly a fairly blunt metric
of company performance, they can be severely impacted by a number of different
and often hidden factors. These range from over-enthusiastic sales staff through
to poor logistics management or to a basic misunderstanding of the total costs
of doing business.”

“Six of these factors are real margin killers that can and probably do affect
virtually every company right now. But there are solutions,” he says.

The Insights series are designed for senior C-level management, where IBS will
partner with an industry expert at each event to deliver content that will keep
senior executives updated with the current challenges and trends of their
specific industry. 

Leach will be joined at the event by Bill Petreski, the Australian Industry (Ai)
Group's principal adviser for the electrical, electronics and ICT sector. IBS
has invited Petreski to deliver the keynote address, which will outline topical
opportunities for the electrical and electronics industries in 2010 and beyond,
set in the context of the current economic climate and regulatory/policy
frameworks.

In the week before the events, Petreski will have attended the Asian Electronics
Forum in Taipei, and his presentation will include the absolute latest
information from that event. He will also discuss how distributors might
position themselves for the rollout of the national broadband network, the
switchover to digital, and the implications of proposed national legislation for
minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) and energy labelling as well as
issues such as overcoming skills shortages and increasing productivity.

“It's all about watching revenues, cutting costs and keeping ahead of the trends
for new devices,” Petreski says. “There's still some watchfulness in the market
about spending - savings are up, and that's not usually great news for retailers
- but I think there are actually great opportunities to prepare and plan for
some significant growth. It's not going to be an easy year, but I think having
ridden out the storm of last year's GFC, there's plenty of positivity for the
rest of the year.”

Taking advantage of that positivity, while at the same time being aware of the
pitfalls of not keeping a weather eye on inputs, means there is much that can be
learned about the opportunities and dangers facing the distribution industry.

It is thus highly appropriate that after this keynote address, Leach will
present on the six most common margin killers. “These are critical”, Leach says,
“especially in the electrical and electronics sector, which is characterised by
extremely tight margins. Many senior executives may not be aware of the
potential opportunities or dangers facing their distribution business.”

For further information or to register for this first Executive Industry
Insights event, visit:
http://www.supplychainsecrets.com.au/ibs-executive-industry-insights-electrical-
2010/

Alternatively, contact IBS Australia at info@ibsaustralia.com or phone 1300 882
467.

About IBS
International Business Systems (IBS), the leading business application supplier
for wholesale and distribution helps companies differentiate themselves on the
strength of their distribution operations. 

Founded in 1978, IBS has over 30 years of experience in the distribution
industries ranging from automotive and electronics to paper, publishing,
pharmaceuticals, food and beverage. This deep understanding of distribution
models and best practices is embodied within IBS Enterprise, a distribution
resource management application suite on which thousands of the world's most
successful companies now rely.

IBS B share is listed on NASDAQ OMX First North Exchange Stockholm. For more
information, please visit www.ibs.net