SeedQuest Forum - Roundtable interview

I think the defining difference between seed companies in the future will be how they manage information. Today most companies process information in the form of silos with headquarters, sales and production each in a separate self contained unit. If you break down these artificial barriers you can create a company that is more responsive to customers as well as to changes in the marketplace.

Have you ever seen Kinko’s company motto in one of their stores?

1000 locations
20,000 employees
All connected
Join our network

What specific solutions does your company offer?

That’s what we’re trying to achieve with our Seed Marketplace product. Provide an affordable online private network for a seed company that keeps everyone connected whether they're a dealer, company salesperson or at headquarters.

With our Seed Marketplace product your sales force can order/book seed, view real-time availability, return seed, edit orders and customer information and run reports that include viewing their own sales totals.

The seed company can not only view over sixteen different reports they can ship seed, print warehouse manifests and even maps for the driver! Then they can import the records into their accounting system and print statements.

Our company’s long term goal is to create what we call a value network – an unbroken chain that runs from the production field to the customer. That’s why we partnered with MapShots recently to offer the seed industry a crop records and field map program that can be networked. The seed company can share maps and field records with partners or regulators.

SeedChoices is an Application Service Provider (ASP) that provides web-based supply chain solutions for the seed business. The company was founded by Rick Mason in 1999 and is located in Portland, Michigan.

For more information about SeedChoices.com, please visit www.seedchoices.com
Rick Mason can be contacted at rick@seedchoices.com

May 2004