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Imagine a large warehouse of baking supplies. In its rooms there are literally tons of flour, sugar and baking powder in 500-gallon containers. Each container is piled one on top of the other. An inventory manager is looking for baking soda, but the barrels are hand labeled and it is hard to tell whether the writer inscribed an A or an O on the barrels. In 2012, wholesale baking company Valente Yeast was still relying on this outdated catalog system to keep track of $30 million worth of products in their warehouse.
As demand for its goods skyrocketed, the company purchased the cloud-based software called Microsoft Dynamics GP. This software integrates warehouse inventory and scanning devices. Because Valente Yeast had to train their employees on how to maximize the software features, Microsoft Dynamics GP’s implementation was delayed.
In addition to the software roll-out, the wholesale trader wanted to prepare for a third-party audit certification in quality assurance and to train its employees in sales and business development. With support from NYC Department of Small Business Services’ Customized Training grant program, Valente Yeast funded critical training for the implementation of this new technology and the certification test. The business projected a minimum of $3.5 million increase in revenue over the following five years as a result of training.
“We have given employees raises AND we are more profitable! The employees are happier as a result of the raises. We are a leader in the use of technology to modernize our business,” said Valente Yeast’s CEO, Robert Chory. The business increased the average trainee wages by 12.42%.
Valente Yeast is also in the running for the Best for NYC, a city-wide campaign with free business tools and services that help businesses measure their worker, community, and environmental practices. Read more about the company’s history of investing in talent and their journey to become one the most vibrant businesses in the city »
Learn more about the Customized Training program »
Applications are accepted year round. The next application deadline is Friday, November 6, 2015.
