What do the numbering systems mean?
When we joined the industry over twenty years ago, we were assigned an ASI number, and it has remained the same ever since. That number is our identifier, and many suppliers use it to learn about our business. We were also given a number by PPAI when we joined many years ago. It has never changed either, and is used for the same purposes. ASI has done a superior job of marketing themselves as the premier number identifier in the industry; and suppliers feel that by knowing your ASI number, it is easier for them to serve you. For years, the practice of the suppliers asking for your ASI number was the only way they knew how to find out about you. This practice is leveling off since other service providers like DistributorCentral and SAGE have arrived on the scene. They also assign numbers to distributors, and many suppliers will accept those numbers as a way of identifying your company.
