IBC—Industrial Supply Plus, Inc., a group of independent industrial and bearing supply distributors, is using Dell servers and network switches to enable its small local business members to compete nationally against larger distributors. IBC, a buying and marketing group, manages national accounts utilizing billing software and a file transfer protocol site running on Dell PowerEdge 4600 and 600SC servers to virtually connect nearly 150 distributor and supplier members with more than 400 locations across the United States and Canada.

Every day, hundreds of data entry users remotely submit electronic invoices to IBC through the FTP site. IBC processes and consolidates the data to provide each national account customer a single electronic invoice at the end of the billing cycle. This allows IBC's members to concentrate on assisting national account customers in cost savings initiatives locally, so they can spend less time handling invoices and managing other financial tasks. Dell technology has enabled IBC member distributors to focus on solving problems and creating efficiencies.

"Dell technology helps our community of members to compete in a trillion-dollar industry dominated by big businesses," says Ed Sullivan, president of IBC.

Says Frank Muehleman, senior vice president and general manager of Dell's Small and Medium Business division, "Our purpose...is aligned with IBC's approach. We are both champions of the small business and, as such, our mission at Dell is to help companies like IBC use technology to better serve their customers and be competitive in their respective industries."

Send Tech Notes to Kimberly Griffiths, kgriffiths@reedbusiness.com.