What Earnest & Associates does

Earnest & Associates (E&A, LLC) is a US-based business optimization firm serving small and mid-market discrete manufacturers and wholesale distributors, founded in 1978 in Baltimore, Maryland and headquartered in Hanover, MD. The firm sells, implements, and extends Infor ERP solutions — including CloudSuite Distribution, SX.e, FACTS, and VISUAL — as a Gold Level Infor Channel Partner certified in both Distribution and Manufacturing, with seven regional sales and support offices across 28 states serving 400+ customers with combined revenues exceeding $13 billion.

The company's core proprietary technology is the "Profitability Suite": ProAdvisor (SaaS business performance management on Power BI, launched 2022), ProSales (customer stratification on Power BI), ProDecisions (SQL-based BI for SX.e/FACTS, 2011), CloudDecisions (Azure SQL BI for CSD, 2023), and ProData (Infor Data Fabric replication). Adjacent modules cover warehouse management (ProWarehouse), shipping logistics (ProShipLink, CloudShipLink, ProCloudShip), mobile sales enablement (ProMobile), and quality management (Infor IQM), with integrated partner offerings for eCommerce (Unilog CX1), AR automation (Wholesail), supply chain (Kodaris), shipping (Körber, StarShip), and tax compliance (Avalara).

Revenue is generated through two streams: (1) ERP professional services — consulting, implementation, integration, and business optimization using the firm's proprietary ISOC/SIP methodology — typically delivered against project-based engagements, and (2) subscription-based SaaS and cloud BI products (CloudDecisions, ProAdvisor, ProData), sold on annual subscriptions that leverage customer-owned Excel/Power BI licenses. Distribution occurs through a direct enterprise field sales motion across regional US offices, supplemented by channel sales through the Infor partner network. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.

Name

Earnest & Associates

Legal name

E&A, LLC

Website

https://earnestassoc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Earnest & Associates is an Infor Gold Channel Partner that sells, implements, and extends Infor ERP systems for mid-market wholesale distributors and discrete manufacturers in 28 US states, and monetizes a proprietary SaaS productivity suite (ProAdvisor, ProSales, CloudDecisions) alongside implementation and business optimization consulting.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

ERP Business Optimization Software

NAICS

Process, Physical Distribution, and Logistics Consulting Services (541614), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511), Software Publishers (513210)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)

akta.pro primary industry

Product Lifecycle, NPI & Industrialization (Design-to-Operate) (BPAHAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Enterprise Application License Advisory, Vendor Management & Optimization (BPAEAGAO), Integration, API & Middleware Consulting (BPAHAEAJ)

Keywords

• ERP consulting services
• Business optimization software
• Warehouse management systems
• Customer stratification analytics
• Infor ERP implementation

Headquarters

HQ city

Glen Burnie

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Subscription Software (SaaS): Cloud-based software solutions sold on subscription basis including CloudDecisions, ProAdvisor SaaS product launched in 2022, and CloudDecisions launched in 2023. Leverages existing Excel and Power BI licenses.
2. Professional Services (Implementation & Consulting): ERP consulting services including implementation, integration, business optimization consulting, and process change management. Provides support through ISOC/SIP methodologies for implementations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Earnest & Associates is a business optimization firm and Gold Level Infor Channel Partner that sells proprietary SaaS productivity tools (ProAdvisor, ProSales, ProDecisions, CloudDecisions, ProData) alongside implementation, consulting, and reselling of Infor ERP solutions (CloudSuite Distribution, SX.e, VISUAL, FACTS) for small and mid-sized manufacturing and distribution companies. Core delivery combines ERP integration, customer/item stratification analytics, business intelligence reporting built on Microsoft Power BI, and warehouse/shipping logistics solutions.

Product overview

Earnest & Associates operates as a business optimization firm serving small and mid-sized manufacturing and distribution companies, offering both proprietary SaaS products and partner-based ERP/system integrations. The core proprietary portfolio — the E&A Profitability Suite — centers on ProAdvisor (business performance management) and ProSales (customer stratification/sales enablement), both using Microsoft Power BI as the visualization chassis. The broader solution set spans Sales Enablement (Infor CRM, ProMobile), Enterprise Resource Planning (Infor CloudSuite Distribution, Infor Distribution SX.e, Infor VISUAL, Infor Distribution FACTS), eCommerce (Unilog CX1, ProB2C, Channel Advisor, Unilink EDI), Warehouse Management & Shipping Logistics (Körber Edge WMS, Total Warehouse Logistics, StarShip, CloudShipLink, ProShipLink, ProCloudShip), Business Intelligence & Reporting (ProDecisions, CloudDecisions, Infor Birst, ProReports, CloudReports), Quality Management (Infor IQM), and Data Management (ProData, ProLookup, Infor Operating Service, ProSQL Replication). E&A also provides Advanced A/R Automation through its Wholesail partnership and tax compliance via Avalara. Services include Enterprise Software Consulting, ERP Implementation, Business Optimization Consulting, and E&A University training.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ProAdvisor Business Performance Management SaaS software that connects hundreds of distribution and manufacturing analytics to company objectives in one interface, enabling decision-makers to compare results to industry benchmarks and identify root causes of underperformance. Built on Microsoft Power BI.
• ProSales Sales enablement SaaS solution built on a Microsoft Power BI chassis that applies Customer Stratification and Modeling Theory to identify opportunities to grow revenue, margin, and EBITDA while increasing fulfillment throughput and customer satisfaction.
• ProDecisions SQL-based ERP reporting and data analysis solution for Infor SX.e, FACTS, and TakeStock. Extracts data from ERP on a defined schedule, stores in a SQL database, and presents data via MS Excel or Power BI with prebuilt visualized content.
• CloudDecisions Azure SQL-based cloud ERP report solution for Infor CloudSuite Distribution that delivers prebuilt visualized content via MS Excel or Power BI. Sold on a subscription basis and runs on E&A's Azure environment.
• ProData Dynamic ERP data management tool that communicates with the Infor Data Fabric and replicates data in an accessible data warehouse in near real-time. SQL database is accessible by virtually any reporting tool and is deployable in MS Azure or on-premise environments.
• Infor CloudSuite Distribution Cloud distribution ERP solution tailored for wholesale distributors, combining the benefits of the cloud with industry-specific functionality. E&A is a Gold Level Infor Channel Partner certified to resell and implement this solution.
• Infor IQM (Quality Management) Highly integrative Quality Management System (QMS) solution rich in quality competencies and extensibility, integrative with core sales, procurement, and production ERP platforms. Includes Communication, Equipment, Documentation, and Control competencies such as SPC, Non-Conformance, and Cost of Quality.
• Wholesail AR Automation AR automation platform built for wholesale distribution, integrating directly with Infor CloudSuite Distribution and other ERP systems. Includes customer onboarding, payment portal, AR collections, fee management, autopay, and cross-vendor data for credit decisions.
• Enterprise Software Consulting Consulting services for ERP requirements, software selection, implementation, integration, and support delivered through ISOC/SIP methodologies. Includes ERP Requirements advisory, change management, and ongoing support for SMB manufacturers and distributors.
• Business Optimization Consulting Business optimization consulting services covering process improvement, pricing optimization, customer stratification, sales enablement, and ongoing business performance improvement beyond initial ERP implementation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Customer business growth of 30% or more attributed to E&A partnership
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration27 records

AI capability1 record

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and flagship.

• WholesailcoreTechnology or Integration · 7 May 2026Earnest & Associates partnered with Wholesail to provide Advanced A/R Automation for distributors and manufacturers. Wholesail is an Infor Emergent Partner. The partnership integrates Wholesail's AR automation platform with Infor CloudSuite Distribution and other ERP systems, enabling credit management, AR processing, payment acceptance, and customer relationship enhancement through a unified platform.
• HARDIstrategicGTM or Marketing Partner · 4 September 2025Earnest & Associates joined HARDI as Associate Member in September 2025. HARDI is a major HVAC/R industry trade association. Membership enables networking, marketing, and industry leadership within the distribution vertical.
• KodariscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 November 2024Strategic partnership with Kodaris - The Supply Chain Platform. Announced November 8, 2024. Kodaris provides supply chain platform technology that E&A integrates with to serve distribution and manufacturing customers.
• InforflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGold Level Infor Channel Partner certified in both Distribution and Manufacturing areas. Infor Alliance Partner. Represents and maintains proficiencies in Infor CloudSuite Distribution, Infor Distribution SX.e, Infor VISUAL, and Infor Distribution FACTS. Long-standing relationship since becoming certified affiliate in 1985.
• Körber (formerly Radio Beacon)coreTechnology or IntegrationWMS Partner since 2004 (originally as Radio Beacon, now Körber). Provides warehouse management solutions (Körber Edge WMS) that connect with various ERP solutions including Infor Distribution solutions.
• UnilogcoreTechnology or IntegrationE&A's preferred eCommerce partner offering Unilog's CX1 - a complete suite of eCommerce modules paired with deep domain experience in providing content through product enrichment. Unilink EDI subscription solution also integrated with CSD/SX.e environment.
• Channel AdvisorcoreTechnology or IntegrationChannel Advisor integration enables a two-way connection between Infor CSD or SX.e ERP and omni-channel functionality for eCommerce operations.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Western Computer: Infor Gold Channel Partner focused on ERP implementation for distribution and manufacturing. Closely comparable as another Infor-centric VAR serving mid-market distributors and manufacturers with a similar product/services mix.
• DSD Business Systems: Infor partner specializing in ERP implementations for wholesale distribution. Direct competitor in the same Infor ecosystem targeting similar mid-market distributor customers.
• Reliable Systems: ERP consultancy serving distribution and manufacturing verticals with Infor-aligned implementations. Comparable in target customer profile and vertical specialization.
• Preferred Strategies: ERP consulting firm focused on mid-market manufacturers and distributors. Comparable as a value-added reseller offering implementation, optimization, and BI services to similar customer profiles.
• Dataview Systems: ERP implementation and consulting firm serving mid-market distribution and manufacturing. Directly comparable in business model, customer segment, and delivery approach.

Broad incumbents

• Slalom: Large national technology and digital consulting firm with broader ERP practice including Infor and competing platforms. Comparable as a services provider to mid-market enterprises but with much larger scale and broader portfolio.
• Accenture: Global consulting giant with a large ERP and supply chain practice spanning Infor, SAP, Oracle, and Microsoft. Represents the upper-end incumbent competing for larger mid-market ERP deals.
• Körber: Supply chain and WMS software provider (formerly HighJump/Accellos/Radio Beacon) that is also an E&A technology partner. Comparable as a warehouse management and supply chain platform provider overlapping with E&A's WMS/shipping solutions.

Emerging players

• Wholesail: Wholesale-distribution-focused AR automation platform and Infor Emergent Partner. Comparable as a newer Infor-adjacent solution addressing the same distribution customer base, with potential to either partner or compete in the AR/credit workflow.
• Kodaris: Supply chain platform for industrial distribution that is also an E&A strategic partner. Comparable as an emerging player providing digital commerce and supply chain tooling to the same mid-market distributor customers E&A serves.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/earnestassoc
• Facebookfacebook.com/earnest-associates-166059713430263

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Earnest & Associates