Category: Route Accounting Solutions

Route Accounting Solutions

What Makes eoStar a Top Warehouse Management System?

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eoStar provides a wide range of enterprise resource planning features, professional services, and guidance to those in the warehouse industry. One of our leading products is the WMS module, headlined by our warehouse handheld application: eoWarehouse. This software suite will grant you access to easily understandable metrics, optimize your space management, improve your inventory cycle/accuracy, and more.

These are some of the most essential elements you will need to optimize your warehouse enterprise. Read on to learn how eoStar fits into all those categories.

Easily Understandable Metrics and Dashboard

Having access to up-to-date information is crucial for managing an efficient warehouse enterprise. Managers and employees must be able to find the data they want in a short period of time, and then be able to understand that data without having to spend extra time trying to decipher what they are seeing. When users spend less time trying to find data, they will be able to spend that time elsewhere to improve workplace productivity. 

Another important tool in understanding data from your warehouse management software is being able to define metrics. For example, you can define a year as the metric you want to analyze so that you can look at long-term trends. Alternatively, you can customize looking at a daily metric if you want to see things like short-term trends, employee performance, and inventory tracking. 

When you spend time understanding trends and discovering weaknesses in your warehouse operations, you can improve customer satisfaction. The key element in retaining customers is on time, undamaged, and error-free delivery of their purchased products. Identifying why mistakes or failures happen will allow warehouse management to improve future productivity. 

eoStar’s WMS software suite that will grant you access to easily understandable metrics and data for your enterprise. eoStar also has a support team ready to stand by and help you. Upgrading or switching to an improved warehouse management system can come with bumps and hurdles; however, our team will be able to quickly assist you in order to reduce or completely avoid downtime in your system.

Space Management

Space management is another important element of managing an efficient warehouse. Some warehouses have to deal with empty space, disorganized space, or not enough space. As those challenges mount, whether it is due to business growth, human error, or changes in logistics, having an efficient warehouse management software system will help you overcome those hurdles. 

One of the keys in efficient space management is having accurate inventory location data. It is also important to have a clear plan when you are finding new usage for empty or new space. Additionally, an efficient warehouse management system will compute the most efficient path for employees to move inventory. When time is saved through using the most efficient routes, workplace productivity will increase.

In addition to eoStar’s WMS software its eoWarehouse software can help your business improve its space usage efficiency through its accurate inventory system. eoStar also recognizes that the manner in which your inventory cycle operates will greatly affect your space management. Therefore, eoWarehouse was designed with that in mind. eoWarehouse can also help you figure out where to place certain inventory as it relates to employee travel paths. Reducing the time spent retrieving items for shipment by taking the shortest or most efficient route is another space management optimization technique. 

Track Productivity

While it is clear that having easily understandable metrics is important, it is also important to be able to clearly track productivity and sales. When a warehouse manager is able to track trends in employee productivity, they will be able to identify areas of strength and areas that need improvement. They can also identify the timeframes that it takes for inventory to enter and exit the warehouse.

If a warehouse has FIFO inventory, time is an important component in ensuring the products get out the door. Without optimized productivity, FIFO inventory may end up as dead inventory, which cuts into your profit margins. 

Customer retention is determined through a number of factors, one of which is lead times. Reducing lead times without increasing errors is a goal that many warehouses strive for. In order to retain customers, a warehouse should reduce its lead time by using warehouse management system software that will accurately track inventory locations and levels. This will allow the warehouse to adequately meet customer demands. 

WMS will allow you to accurately track product movement, picking metrics, and general work productivity. It will provide you with both micro and macro analyses of inventory cycling, code date tracking, and how efficiently your employees are working. Having an understanding of your work productivity will help your warehouse managers and staff understand their impact on your business.. 

SKU Proliferation

SKUs can be a double-edged sword in warehouse management systems. They can allow you to become more organized, identify nuanced products, and improve efficiency. However, too many SKUs that are left unchecked can complicate and slow down a supply chain, reduce workplace efficiency, and reduce profits. 

While it is important for warehouses to add new products to satisfy customer demands, it is also necessary to stay on top of organizing the SKUs. New and increased inventory has the potential to increase your revenue; however, that revenue could be reduced through increased operational costs if SKUs are mismanaged. 

eoWarehouse offers tools and modules that will allow you to efficiently organize SKUs, especially if an influx of SKUs arrives at your warehouse doors. eoStar recognizes how important it is to both grow your business and inventory stock while also staying organized. Using eoWarehouse will help you accomplish both of those goals. 

Contact eoStar

eoStar has been helping warehouses through providing professional services and optimization software for years. On top of our services, we will back up our products with a readily available IT team. We believe our WMS software and eoWarehouse is the top software suite for warehouse businesses to optimize their enterprises. If you would like a consultation about WMS, eoWarehouse, or any of our products, contact us today. 

Route Accounting Solutions

From eoStar User to CSM

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How It Started

Connie Rowe has an interesting background because she used eoStar software as a customer before working for the company. Connie stated, “I actually worked for a beer distributor for 11 years. The last 4 years that I was with them, we had actually started using eoStar, the program. So I used the program hands-on for 4 years.” 

When Connie decided to make a move from Illinois to Michigan, she had eoStar in mind as a future employer. She cultivated a relationship with eoStar, and when she was ready to move, she reached out about a job opportunity. Connie’s previous experience working with the software made her perfect for the job. She started out working in the support department, but after a year, a Customer Success Manager (CSM) job opened up, she applied, and the rest is history!

Setting Customers Up For Success

Connie works with existing eoStar customers. She serves as a liaison between the software and the customers. As Connie stated, this is a “proactive position.” A lot of her job revolves around keeping customers in the know. She lets them know about any upcoming changes to the program and makes sure that they are doing their software upgrades. In addition, she does monthly calls with her customers to see how things are going and to check for issues. If Connie hears about issues or enhancement requests, she lets the developers at eoStar know so they can add it to their list!

Big Projects!

Connie is always working on various projects. One current task keeping her busy is helping her Coca-Cola bottler customers through the process of transitioning to ASN (advanced shipping notices) and EDI invoice payments for Walgreens. She is testing these processes for each customer to make sure everything is set up properly. A project that she was most proud of was a pilot with Coke bottlers for the myCoke app. The app is a customer web portal system through Coke that uses the eoStar interfaces. Connie worked as a facilitator on this project. She made sure everything was working smoothly for her customers and that everyone was communicating effectively. 

Outside of Work 

When she’s not working, Connie loves to read. She also enjoys watching TV, especially crime dramas and British shows. Connie also loves spending time with her two daughters and her 18-month-old grandbaby!  

We’d Love to Hear From You! 

As proven by Connie, eoStar takes great care in managing customer relationships through the work of their Customer Success Managers. If you are interested in employment opportunities or if you are interested in eoStar’s software products and services, contact us today. We look forward to hearing from you!

Route Accounting Solutions

Luis Loyola, Bringing Passion to eoStar

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eoStar is a business that has been growing exponentially over the years. As the business grew, new opportunities became available to help customers use the software to become more efficient and improve their bottom line. Inside Sales Rep Luis Loyola is someone who switched roles within eoStar and has seen the business grow through a variety of different lenses as his position has evolved over the years. We got a chance to sit down with Luis and learn more about his role on the sales team and his overall passion for eoStar.

Joining eoStar

Luis joined eoStar 3 years ago. When he first joined the company, it was a lot smaller and didn’t have a sales team. He was hired as a Customer Success Manager (CSM). In this role, Luis spent a lot of time working with customers to ensure that they were set up for success. As he continued to grow in his role, it became clear he had a knack for sales! Luis was frequently acquiring new business through avenues like plugin sales, additional professional services, and more! 

Luis’ Current Role

Between Luis’ passion and his evident talent for sales, it became clear that a sales position would be perfect for him. As the company grew, a sales team formed and Luis became a part of it as of June 2020. His official title is Inside Sales Rep. 

Sales and Beyond!

Luis mentioned that one of the great parts about working for a company the size of eoStar is that he can see the impact that his work has on the company and on the customers. In addition to sales, Luis works on other projects to help the company further grow. One side project Luis worked on was doing consulting for businesses to help them better determine how to use the eoStar software. The goal is to help the businesses learn how using various parts of the software can improve efficiency and their bottom line. Another exciting recent project for Luis was presenting at eoStar’s annual convention. At this conference, he was able to share with customers new forecasting capabilities. 

Outside of Work

Outside of work (pre-pandemic, that is), Luis enjoys attending music festivals, especially those with EDM music. He also enjoys going to the gym. 

We’d Love to Hear From You! 

As attested by Luis, eoStar is a great company to work for. If you are interested in employment opportunities or if you are interested in eoStar’s software products and services, contact us today. We look forward to hearing from you!

Route Accounting Solutions

What You Can Do with eoStar Analytics

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Does your company take advantage of all of its data? If not, it’s not the only one. Most business owners don’t even realize how valuable their data really is, let alone create a plan to take advantage of it. 

It’s not surprising. Most business owners — especially those in warehousing and distribution — are busy people, and data analytics can take a lot of time and effort. The good news? You can make the most of your data without dealing with a bunch of extra hassle. That’s because we’ve got you covered. At eoStar, we offer data analytics services to help you use your data in a positive way. 

With eoStar Analytics, it’s time to see what your data can do for you. You’ll be surprised at the difference it makes. 

What is eoStar Analytics? 

First, though, what is eoStar Analytics? It’s the process we use to help you gather your business data, translate that data into usable information, and then report that data back to you so that you can make the most of it. 

Many business owners don’t realize that their companies generate data all the time, and that information has a lot of potential. You can learn a lot from customer buying habits, the pace at which products move, the timing and effectiveness of your marketing strategies, and plenty of other information. 

You already have the data. Our job is to help you unlock it with our centralized framework. Once you have the right information and context, you can use that data to make even smarter business decisions. 

Turning Data into Insights 

The process starts, of course, with the data itself. Again, we gather the relevant data and then help you turn that data into insight. With the right data presentation, you may notice correlations that you didn’t see before. Maybe certain products sell better in the mornings than in the afternoons. Maybe your marketing efforts work better with certain age groups than with others. 

You may have noticed a few patterns already, but data analytics can take that recognition up a notch. You might see places where those patterns overlap, or you may notice factors that you haven’t observed in the past. Without data analytics, you’re essentially putting together a puzzle without the corners and edge pieces. You can get a glimpse of the big picture, but you’re missing the thing that will really bring it all together. 

Turning Insights into Action 

Once you have all the right insights, it’s time to do something with them. That’s the next part of the data analytics process, and this is where the real fun starts. Your data can unlock secrets about your work. Suddenly, you realize why you’ve been facing specific issues. 

Now that you have the right data, you can start applying some solutions. Even better, those solutions will be real solutions. When you have data analytics on your side, you take away the need for guesswork. This way, you have a better chance of finding the right solution on your first attempt instead of your third or fifth. 

How Can eoStar Analytics Help You? 

Think about some of the most common issues in your company. What are the things that cause you the most frustration? Some of our clients have cited issues such as: 

  • A sudden decrease in certain product sales without explanation 
  • Finding the most efficient routes 
  • Unpredictable seasonal changes 
  • Slowed fulfillment speeds 
  • Unproductive marketing efforts 

eoStar Analytics will help you look at these issues from all angles so that you can find effective solutions. For example, let’s look at unpredictable seasonal changes. Maybe a product that usually moves off the shelves during the holidays isn’t selling as well this year. Some business owners may assume that there’s an issue with the product, but the truth is that there could be any number of issues. 

Analytics can help you see all of the relevant changes, from the products that people are buying instead to the amount of time they spend on your site before ordering something different. Maybe the issue isn’t with the product at all, but with your website speeds. Whatever the case, when you have the right information, you don’t have to waste time trying solutions that may not work. 

Contact eoStar to Learn More 

Analytics is a big topic, and you may have lots of questions before you get started. If you’re ready to learn more about your analytics options and how eoStar can help you, we’re ready to answer your questions. Get in touch with us now to get started. We’ll chat about your options and help you find solutions. 

Route Accounting Solutions

Innovation at the Forefront

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In this day and age, innovation makes all the difference. For companies that are managing proliferation of SKUs, small margins, innovation can mean the difference between growth and stagnation. At eoStar, we know that our clients refuse to settle for “good enough.” They want to reach their fullest potential so that they can provide the best for their own clients. That’s why eoStar has put innovation at the forefront of everything we do. We’re prioritizing research, new technology, and solving industry challenges to make our clients’ lives easier. Here are just a few of the ways we’re driving innovation. 

Growing Our Team 

The right innovation starts with having the right team members. For that reason, we continue to grow our eoStar team. In addition to expanding our product team, we’ve also hired industry experts, business analysts and data scientists. Their jobs at eoStar include examining our products, looking for improvement opportunities, and turning data into action. 

These eoStar team members also listen carefully to client feedback. They learn all about the challenges that our clients face, and then they work on eoStar products to simplify those challenges. 

Insight Into Action

The eoStar team is working on solutions that enable strategic capabilities. These solutions are dedicated to problems worth solving for you and your business. 

For example, we’re enhancing eoMarket to more than an ordering, allowing you to not only sell products, but market products to customers as well.. Then there’s eoPick, which is an affordable solution to increase productivity and accuracy in your picking process.. eoStar Analytics helps users turn their data into real, usable insights that can help them grow and strengthen their businesses. Next, our advanced forecasting helps our clients have the right inventory at the right time. Finally, our revamp of eoTouch will allow for stronger sales and delivery processes. 

Clients First 

We love innovation at eoStar, but we don’t pursue innovation just for the sake of innovation. Just like everything else we do at eoStar, our commitment to innovation comes from putting our clients first. By listening to our clients, we get to know what they need most from our products. When we make our clients’ business lives easier, they can achieve the best outcomes in their own businesses. 

eoStar Innovates 

Innovation has always been a core part of eoStar, and we’ll continue to evolve our products every day. If your company needs some fresh and innovative options for warehousing, sales and delivery, or data collection, the eoStar team can help. Get in touch with us now to learn more about your options. 

Route Accounting Solutions

RAS Can Be Daunting. Here’s How We Can Help.

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In the distribution industry, route accounting software can make a big difference in business success. On the other hand, RAS can also be intimidating. For one thing, just knowing how to get started can leave owners and managers scratching their heads, even when those owners and managers have worked with RAS in the past. Plus, RAS can come with challenges that other software solutions may not create. 

Still, you need RAS, and you need to make sure that you use the right one. That’s why the eoStar team is here to help you with your RAS. 

Route Accounting Software Challenges 

One key challenge of RAS is the initial setup. New software setup can be difficult for any company, but it can be especially taxing for those who work in warehousing and distribution. The switch from one software to another can take time, but your clients need their products to arrive on time, no matter what your company is doing with its software. 

The other major challenge comes from best practices and learning the ropes. You may have an amazing RAS, but you’ll want to make sure that all of your team members know how to make the most of it. That process can take time, and time is a luxury that you may not have, especially during the busy season. 

Our Professional Services 

The eoStar team understands all of the challenges of RAS implementation, and we’re here to help. In addition to our software, we also provide several professional services to help companies stay on top of things. 

For example, we provide implementation services, including a four-step proven roll-out strategy that can take your RAS from design to deployment. We also offer software upgrade assistance so you can take your software up a notch without losing time or sacrificing performance. With our product training services, you can make sure that everyone stays up to speed, and with our product utilization assessment options, you can realize the full potential of your RAS. Finally, we offer 24/7 technical support, so we’re always there when you need us.

Professional Services Make a Difference 

How can these professional services make your RAS less daunting? For one thing, they can help you eliminate bumps in the road as you change or upgrade your system. You can keep your clients satisfied without getting stuck. You’ll also get the peace of mind that comes from having someone on your side. We take pride in the fact that our clients can rely on us. With eoStar on your team, you’ll be prepared for whatever challenges come your way.

Ready to Learn More? 

Ready to make your RAS upgrades simpler and more accessible? Then contact the eoStar team today. We’d love to chat with you about your options and answer any questions you may have. 

You already provide the best for your clients. We’re ready to do the same for you.

Route Accounting Solutions

eoStar: Understanding the Challenges of Today’s Market

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The distribution market evolves on a near-constant basis. If you work in the distribution business, you already understand the importance of flexibility and rising to meet demands in an evolving landscape. However, this past year has thrown even more challenges than usual into the market. Several factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, have shaped the market this year. 

At eoStar, our team includes data scientists, customer service experts, software engineers, and more, all of whom are focused on helping our clients with today’s market challenges. Below are some of the things that we do daily to keep our clients ahead of the curve. 

Today’s Biggest Market Challenges 

First, we thoroughly study the biggest market challenges. We review the data on a regular basis, and we talk to our clients to hear their biggest concerns. 

For example, many of our clients have mentioned inventory concerns. Today’s unstable market has resulted in some product shortages, and our clients want to know what they should substitute for these shortages. eoStar clients also want access to data while in the field so that they can anticipate market challenges without being caught off-guard. 

The first step to addressing any challenge is to understand that challenge, so we’ve invested ourselves in research and communication. By using all of the information that we’ve gathered, we’ve also created specific interventions to help our clients meet these challenges head-on. 

How eoStar Can Help 

In general, we help our clients overcome market uncertainties through our flexibility, innovation, and consistent support. But what have we done specifically to assist clients with their current concerns? 

First, we addressed their inventory concerns. To help our clients avoid guesswork in case of product shortages, we’ve built substitution rules into our software. Users can input product substitutions. When the preferred product is out of stock, eoStar will automatically fill in the substitution that the client has selected. 

Next, to address data concerns, eoTouch lets clients access the information that they need. That information includes historical sales data, product information, and other data regarding customer buying habits. This way, eoStar users can be salespeople and not just order-takers when working with their own customers. 

Finally, eoMarket gives customers the ability to utilize e-commerce tools. They can order products when they need them and at their own convenience. 

Putting Our Clients First 

The bottom line is that at eoStar, we’ve always put our clients first, and we always will. The most important part of our service is working closely with our clients to make sure that they get exactly what they need. Our goal is to be the reason why our clients always have the tools they need for success. 

Need Help in Today’s Market? 

The distribution market has faced challenge after challenge this year. The eoStar team wants to help your business overcome these challenges and face the uncertainty head-on. Start by getting in touch with us. We’d love to walk you through your options. 

Route Accounting Solutions

eoStar Welcomes Chief Operating Officer, John Ross

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On Monday, November 23rd, we welcomed John Ross to the eoStar executive team. John will serve as the Chief Operating Officer.

John is an accomplished executive with a proven track record in building high performing, capable organizations who are empowered to deliver complete, highly scalable solutions concurrently across multiple domains with a high degree of quality, agility, resilience, and reliability. John understands the fundamentals of wholesale distribution, having spent over 14 years with Andrews Distributing. As the EVP of Technology, John was responsible for all aspects of digital innovation, resulting in over 300% revenue growth. John lead the creation of two custom software packages focused on sales enablement and was responsible for developing a Project Management Office and Risk Management Program that reduced the risk profile of the enterprise by over 75%.

As the Chief Operating Officer, John will serve as a key contributor to the leadership team, reporting to Jim Clishem, CEO. He will assist in the company’s growth, structure, and direction in both operational and strategic matters. John will lead and manage eoStar’s Product, Program Management, Software Engineering, Customer Success, Professional Services, and Software Quality Assurance teams. John will also be responsible for overseeing eoStar’s feature and efficiency enhancements to continually improve the client experience and assist in building and maintaining key strategic product and service partnerships to further advance value-based eoStar platform capabilities.

“John is a seasoned and trusted leader who consistently delivers results. He is uniquely qualified to drive strategic prioritization and accountability within eoStar. John has a proven record of building strong, profitable organizations, developing innovative solutions that maximize results, and is recognized as an established industry thought leader. He is an outstanding addition to our team. This is an exciting time for us and for our clients. I believe that John will make tremendous contributions to our company that will really move the needle,” said Jim Clishem, Chief Executive Officer.

Route Accounting Solutions

Professional Services: More than Just Software

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eoStar’s route accounting and warehouse management solutions have helped many clients take their distribution businesses to the next level. These software solutions increase business efficiency, accuracy, and customer satisfaction. However, eoStar is more than just a software company. We also offer several professional services so your company can make the most of its distribution potential.  

Our Professional Services 

eoStar offers five professional services for distribution companies: 

  • Implementation 
  • 27/7 technical support 
  • Software upgrade assistance and database performance tune-up 
  • Product utilization assessment 
  • Product training 

Implementation is a four-step rollout strategy for companies that want to make changes without missing deadlines, going over budget, or compromising company security. We’ll design and build your software according to your company’s specific needs. 

With 24/7 technical support, our team can help you with even the most complex technical difficulties. eoStar has team members available to help at any time, so no matter when you need support, you can rest assured that we’re on your side. 

We offer software upgrade assistance to keep your system running at peak performance, and with a product utilization assessment, we can help you find ways to make the most of your software usage and take your company’s efficiency up a notch. 

Finally, with our product training service, we offer on-the-job training, Q and A sessions, new hire product onboarding, and more. This training is vital to company performance, employee retention, and other important success measurements. 

Software and Beyond 

All of these professional services work in conjunction with eoStar’s software products. Whether you choose from our existing software production options or let our team design your software from scratch, we can help you take advantage of all that your software has to offer. 

Businesses need more than excellent software to grow and thrive. With professional services like ours, not only can you maximize your software benefits, you can also keep all of your services running effectively. We’ll help you stay on top of your game so that you can stay ahead of the competition. 

The Benefits of eoStar’s Professional Services 

eoStar’s professional services can take a lot of the stress out of running a business. At eoStar, we’re committed to putting our clients and their businesses first. We’ve designed our professional services to meet all of your most pressing business software needs.

Want to Learn More? Contact eoStar 

Want to learn more about eoStar’s professional services? Contact us now with your questions. Our team members would be happy to talk to you about your options. 

Route Accounting Solutions

Matt Conflitti, Transforming Data Into Insights

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Software companies produce a lot of data. In fact, most American businesses produce data constantly. But what do they do with that data? Well, most don’t do anything at all. That’s too bad, because data can do a lot for the businesses that know how to use it. 

That’s where data science comes in. Data science is all about gathering and using knowledge. Data scientists mine data, gather insights from that data, and then apply those insights to create growth and efficiency. 

To get some more insight into data science, we talked to Matt Conflitti, who works as a data scientist here at eoStar. 

How It Started 

eoStar didn’t always have a data science team. Matt started working for eoStar just over two years ago. 

Like a lot of other data scientists, Matt took a winding road to get into the field. That’s because data science encompasses a lot of knowledge. Matt noted that although data science has gained some more clear-cut definitions recently, it still contains overlapping skill sets. For example, “data science and machine learning engineering are kind of interchangeable today,” Matt explained. 

Matt started with a degree in Computer Science and Math from Grand Valley State University. After various software development jobs, he started working for the accounting firm KPMG. There, several of his projects involved machine learning and data science. He loved those projects and wished he could pursue more of them. 

Fortunately, Matt got a LinkedIn message inviting him to do just that at eoStar. Matt accepted, becoming the first member of eoStar’s data science team. 

Matt’s Work with Data Science 

At eoStar, Matt is laying the groundwork for a full data science platform. He’s working on a few different initiatives, including: 

  • Recommender systems — determining which products work best for our clients’ customers. 
  • Forecasting and demand planning — finding the best models for warehouse forecasting and inventory management. 
  • Clustering — creating rules by examining and applying different data characteristics. 

“I don’t want to be cliche and say I like them all,” said Matt when we asked about his favorite project, “but [because] I’m someone who loves the details of things…all of the projects have been great.” 

The Goal 

Data is valuable, Matt noted, but only if it gets used properly to produce usable insights. Again, not everyone uses their available data. 

At eoStar, we want to do things differently. Thanks to Matt and his team members, we do use our data, and we use it to make our clients’ lives easier. Matt’s work helps businesses transform their workflows in a positive way. This way, our clients can gain efficiency and higher customer satisfaction rates. 

Learn More about eoStar’s Work with Data 

Thanks to eoStar’s data science efforts, we can offer services that our competition cannot. Get in touch with us now to learn more about those services. We’d love to answer your questions about how our work can help you keep your business in its best shape.