Many failures on light-duty tractors simply can''t be repaired, and used machines often can''t be traded in for credit on new equipment. However, light-duty equipment is very popular, largely due to low purchase price. With proper care light-duty equipment can perform useful chores for many years.But beware: Some manufacturers place overpowered motors into light-duty tractors in order to make them more attractive to buyers. This causes stress and strain beyond the tractor''s design limits, resulting in rapid failure of the drivetrain, suspension, steering or other mechanisms.

"Small and mid-sized suppliers have different needs than large enterprise suppliers, and the available electronic resources have typically neglected to offer options appropriate in both cost and ease-of-use. This dearth has created lag time in the supply chain, slowing inventory turnover and increasing overall lost revenue opportunity," said Archie Black, SPS Commerce CEO. "Northern Tool recognizes the possible return-on-investment by creating new electronic transaction opportunities for their suppliers through our hosted model. We welcome Northern Tool to our customer roster, and are excited by the chance to provide them with our proven method of vendor enablement and hosted integration services."

Retailer Augments Larger Supply Chain Initiative with Market Leader''s Vendor Enablement and Management ProgramSPS Commerce, the leading supply chain integration service provider, today announced an agreement with Northern Tool to provide the prominent mid-west multi-channel supplier of high quality products to do-it-yourselfers and businesses with its hosted supply chain services. Northern Tool will use the SPS Vendor Enablement and Management Program to provide its 900 suppliers with hosted testing and electronic transaction services to more efficiently meet its suppliers'' electronic order management needs.

"When assessing our supply chain strategy, we realized the need for a cost-effective option such as SPS Commerce''s enablement program to incorporate suppliers into our electronic business processes," stated Todd Wermerson, CIO of Northern Tool. "The streamlined approach will grant us the benefits of reduced order errors and full electronic transactions while improving our vendor order management capabilities."To date approximately 80 percent of suppliers are still using paper and faxes to communicate with corporate buyers, causing a huge bottleneck in the supply chain. SPS'' automated supply chain integration services help streamline the transaction process, replacing current costly and error-laden methods with a hosted model that increases efficiencies and improves order accuracy for enterprises such as Northern Tool. Now suppliers will be able to exchange electronic purchase orders and invoices with Northern Tool, improving delivery times and payments for both parties.

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