Initial Needs Assessment & Planning: Consultation with VAI and project stakeholders to identify business goals, required modules, workflows, and any industry-specific needs. Assign a dedicated project manager to coordinate the process and manage expectations.
System Design & Configuration: Tailor S2K Enterprise modules for your organization (order management, warehouse, financials, etc.), mapping current business processes to the software’s features. Configuration includes setting up company data, users, security roles, and custom fields.
Data Migration: Extract, clean, and import data from legacy systems (such as customers, inventory, suppliers, and financials) into S2K Enterprise. Validate the quality and completeness of migrated data, often requiring several cycles of testing and adjustment.
Integration & Customization: Connect S2K with existing business applications like e-commerce, CRM, or WMS using APIs or custom interfaces. Custom development may take place for industry-specific workflows or reporting needs.
User Training: Hands-on training sessions for end users, management, and IT staff. Training covers daily operations, reporting, and administrative tasks to promote adoption and reduce resistance to change.
Testing & Validation: Conduct full system testing, including business process simulations, to identify and resolve issues. Both manual and automated validation ensure that customized elements and integrations work as expected after each update.
Go-Live Preparation: Finalize user setup, security, backup plans, and rollback strategies. Prepare support teams and communicate clear cutover schedules to all involved departments.
S2K Enterprise, developed by VAI, is an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system designed for industries such as wholesale distribution, manufacturing, retail, and more. A key strength repeatedly noted by users and analysts is its high degree of customizability and flexibility to meet specific business and industry requirements.
Preconfigured vertical editions for industries such as apparel, automotive, building supply, electronics, HVAC/plumbing, industrial, medical, office supplies, plastics, and tools/fasteners.
Industry-specific modules and workflows ensure that key processes unique to each sector are addressed out of the box.
Flexible, modular components allow businesses to pick and choose functionalities relevant to their operations, enabling both partial and comprehensive implementations.
Customizable workflows can be configured to match unique business processes, not just generic industry standards.
Ability to scale from small businesses to large global enterprises, with support for both cloud and on-premise deployments.
Open API enables integration with third-party solutions, including shipping providers, payment processors, point-of-sale systems, and e-commerce platforms.
Built-in support for EDI, mobile apps, and other extensions to enhance existing operations or build bespoke solutions.
Custom modules available for:
Order management and processing
Inventory and purchasing
Warehouse and logistics management
Financial management, including custom financial reports and rebate tracking
Manufacturing and production workflows
Analytics and business intelligence
Customer relationship management (CRM) and sales automation.
Ability to tailor business logic, data fields, and approval workflows for different departments and divisions.
User interface allows for custom roles and permissions, custom dashboards, and tailored analytics views by user or team.
S2K Enterprise offers a robust suite of training solutions aimed at onboarding and empowering new users:
Instructor-led sessions available via Zoom, Webex, RingCentral, and other platforms.
Real-time walkthroughs with interactive Q&A for direct engagement with experts.
Convenient remote access—no need to leave your office.
VAI educators deliver customized sessions at your location.
Tailored agendas can be based on standard workshops or developed to fit precise business workflows.
Targeted instruction is provided for both end-users and management roles.
Hands-on exercises simulate real-world tasks for practical skill-building.
In-person classes cover S2K implementation, accounting, customer orders, inventory, CRM, retail POS, warehouse management, purchasing, and manufacturing.
Specialized workshops for System Administrators (IBM i operations), customer service roles, and warehouse staff are available.
Access to an extensive library of video modules and recorded webinars covering system features, best practices, and application-specific functions.
Use cases: employee onboarding, refresher training, and ongoing learning.
Detailed user manuals, guides, and FAQs are provided for reference.
Step-by-step walkthroughs and troubleshooting tips are available in a searchable knowledge base.
S2K Enterprise backs its users with a wide array of customer support resources:
24/7 Live Support: Live representatives for urgent issues, accessible by phone, chat, or help desk ticket.
Email and Online Help Desk: Submit tickets and receive responses from technical experts.
Knowledge Base & FAQ: Searchable access to solutions, troubleshooting guides, and user tips.
Phone Support: Direct access to support teams for rapid issue resolution.
Community Forums & User Groups: Access to peer discussions and shared user experiences.
Training Certificates: Some courses include knowledge testing and certification for compliance or audit purposes.
S2K Enterprise, developed by VAI, implements a robust suite of data security and protection features. These measures help ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive business information for companies across wholesale, manufacturing, and other sectors.
S2K Enterprise uses data encryption protocols, both in transit and at rest, to safeguard sensitive information and comply with industry standards.
Encryption prevents unauthorized access to critical business and customer data, whether the deployment is on-cloud or on-premise.
The system offers role-based access controls (RBAC), ensuring users only see and edit information relevant to their roles.
Granular permissions help limit internal risks and meet regulatory requirements for data handling.
Customizable login configurations with strong password policies enhance user authentication and minimize unauthorized system entry.
VAI Cloud, which powers S2K Enterprise’s cloud deployments, provides continuous security updates to its data centers, including regular penetration and vulnerability testing.
Security teams assess and implement the latest security and software capabilities to address emerging cyber threats and vulnerabilities.
Integrated monitoring and detection systems identify irregular activities in real time and help address cyber threats before they escalate.
Real-time monitoring extends to all modules, so anomalies can be quickly investigated and remediated.
All third-party integrations use secure APIs and encrypted data exchange protocols (like AS2, SFTP, FTPS) to ensure the safe movement of data between S2K Enterprise and partner systems.
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) processes are protected through multiple layers of authentication and data integrity checks.
S2K Enterprise cloud deployments take advantage of physically secure and energy-efficient data centers.
Features include restricted site access, hardware safeguards, environmental controls, and high-availability configurations to eliminate single points of failure.
The platform supports compliance with sector-specific regulations (such as FDA, DSCSA for pharmaceuticals) through audit trails, traceability, and data retention tools.
Regular updates ensure that evolving regulatory standards for security and privacy are met.
Regular Major Releases: S2K Enterprise typically unveils major new versions (for example, S2K 6.2 and 6.3) that bundle significant new features, enhancements, and improvements to the software suite. While the exact schedule is not specified, recent years show major updates or new version rollouts usually announced every 1–2 years.
Ongoing Cloud Updates: For customers utilizing the S2K Enterprise OnCloud platform, product upgrades, maintenance, and management releases are delivered automatically, enabling instant access to the latest innovations without manual intervention.
Customer Control: VAI does not force upgrade cycles, meaning customers are not obligated to install every new release as it becomes available. Updates can be adopted at each company's preferred pace, protecting customizations and maintaining operational stability.
Automatic Delivery: Updates and patches are rolled out centrally by VAI for cloud-hosted customers, ensuring that the platform remains current and secure. Customers benefit from seamless access to new features and security enhancements as soon as they are released.
Minimal Disruption: VAI's update model is designed to minimize downtime, with updates managed by VAI's technical team behind the scenes.
User-Paced Upgrades: On-premise customers control when (and if) to install new upgrades or service packs. VAI supports all active software releases, allowing organizations to remain on a stable version as long as needed for business or compatibility reasons.
Customization Support: When managing on-premise updates, customers are provided with the source code, enabling them to adapt the ERP system as needed or collaborate with VAI’s developers for tailored enhancements without risk from forced upgrades.
Comprehensive Support: Managed services, technical assistance, and implementation guidance are available to help customers with upgrade planning, testing, and deployment.
Annual User Conferences: VAI often announces key product advancements and initiatives during user conferences and industry events, keeping clients informed about the latest update cycles and feature availability.
Customer Data Rights: S2K Enterprise generally aligns with industry standards for cloud ERP solutions, meaning that organizations retain ownership of the data they input and store within the platform. Customers have the exclusive right to control, access, use, enhance, and dispose of their business data. This includes the ability to extract their information at any point during the contractual relationship.
Data Access and Control: S2K Enterprise provides authorized users with robust access controls enabling them to manage permissions and determine who within their organization can view, modify, or export data. Customers control their operational and financial records, client relationships, and transaction histories created in the platform.
Vendor Commitments: While detailed public documentation of VAI's legal approach is limited, S2K’s licensing and service agreements typically specify that the customer is the rightful owner of their organizational data. The vendor does not claim rights to business data beyond what is necessary for service delivery and support.
Data Export Capabilities: S2K Enterprise provides built-in features for exporting business data. Authorized users can export records such as financial transactions, inventory lists, and customer information to standard file formats (e.g., Excel, CSV). This facilitates data migration, reporting, and integration with other solutions.
APIs and Integration: The system offers open APIs and secure data connectors to help organizations transfer data between S2K and external platforms. This supports real-time synchronization, third-party integrations, and structured data extraction according to business needs.
S2K Enterprise is designed to support growing and changing organizations, with flexible terms and features that accommodate both scaling up (expansion) and scaling down (contraction) as business needs evolve.
Modular system: S2K Enterprise offers 30+ integrated modules covering core areas such as financials, manufacturing, inventory, CRM, and supply chain, allowing companies to activate or deactivate modules as business processes change.
Industry-specific editions: The platform offers versions tailored to different industries (e.g., distribution, manufacturing), which can be added or removed as the organizational focus shifts.
License model: S2K Enterprise uses a tiered pricing structure based on the number of licensed users. As more users are added, the per-user price for additional licenses generally decreases, making it cost-effective for expansion.
Easy user adjustments: Organizations can add or reduce users to match workforce changes, with costs adjusting accordingly to avoid overpaying during downsizing or paying penalties for expansion.
Cloud and on-premise options: Customers can choose between cloud-hosted (S2K Enterprise OnCloud) or on-premise deployments. This flexibility helps organizations scale IT infrastructure needs up or down quickly.
Automatic or on-demand scaling: Cloud deployments automatically scale computing resources per need, while on-premise customers can adjust modules or resources as their business demands change.
Open API and integration: Easy adjustments in connected tech stack, allowing third-party systems and integrations to be added or removed as business complexity or size changes.
Automatic or Manual Renewal: Contracts for SaaS solutions like S2K Enterprise frequently include options for either automatic renewal at the end of the term or require mutual written agreement for renewal. Most industry examples involve annual, biannual, or multi-year terms, with the possibility of renewal unless either party provides written notice of non-renewal before a defined deadline (typically 30–90 days before expiration).
Notice Periods: Renewal terms usually state a required advance notice if either party does not wish to renew. This is commonly 60–90 days before the end of the current term, but should be reviewed in the individual agreement.
Negotiation Opportunity: Both parties have the opportunity to renegotiate pricing, terms, user counts, or features during the renewal period to ensure the contract continues to align with evolving business needs. Any adjustments should be mutually agreed upon and reflected in the renewed agreement.
Documentation and Formalization: Upon renewal, new or amended terms are formalized in writing and signed by both parties to reflect the new contract period and any negotiated changes.
Notice for Cancellation: Contracts generally require written notice ahead of cancellation, particularly to avoid automatic renewal. This notification period is typically defined in the original agreement and can range from 30 to 90 days before the end of the current term.
Early Termination: Early contract termination (before the completion of the initial or renewal term) may carry penalties, such as fees for remaining months, repayment of any waived costs, or other stipulated charges. These conditions should be defined specifically in the contract to avoid ambiguity.
Written notice is required, specifying intent to terminate, and must be provided within the defined notice window
Both parties may negotiate a mutually agreeable cancellation, but if a party fails to provide timely notice, the contract may automatically renew, obligating continued payment.
S2K Enterprise by VAI is an ERP platform designed to meet compliance needs across several regulated industries, including wholesale distribution, manufacturing, food, and pharmaceuticals. It incorporates multiple compliance measures and supports a range of industry and regulatory standards.
Pharmaceuticals:
DSCSA: S2K Pharma supports compliance with the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA), including features for product serialization, audit trails, licensing, and ARCOS reporting for controlled substances.
DEA and HIN Management: For pharmaceutical suppliers, S2K tracks DEA, Health Industry Number (HIN), and Public Health Service (PHS) licenses required for regulatory adherence.
FDA: S2K Enterprise is built to help food processors and distributors comply with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) standards, including traceability, recall management, allergen labeling, and process controls.
Manufacturing & General Regulation:
ISO Standards: The software provides support for ISO compliance, enabling quality management and document traceability required for various ISO certifications.
AS9100: S2K supports AS9100, a quality management standard for the aerospace and defense industries, enabling manufacturers to maintain compliant operations and records.
Supports regulatory requirements for product labeling and documentation across multiple sectors, including durable goods, medical, and automotive distribution.
Audit Trails and Reporting: Comprehensive audit trails and reporting features designed to meet the documentation needs of regulated industries.
Traceability: End-to-end material, lot, and process traceability for rapid response to audits or recalls in industries like food, pharma, and manufacturing.
Data Security Standards: S2K adheres to industry standards for data protection, including data encryption, secure APIs, and access controls that support compliance with privacy and information security mandates.
TEC Certification: S2K Enterprise has earned recognition from Technology Evaluation Centers (TEC) for its functional coverage and reliability, with a focus on compliance capabilities relevant to regulated industries.
