The State of Distribution and Sale Force Environments
To say the least, running a distribution business is hard work. Battling with inventory, customer service, collections and cash flow can be overwhelming. Small and medium sized businesses who should be spending their time concentrating on improved customer service and expanding sales, often times get bogged down in paperwork and non-productive administrative tasks. Without substantial automation, the daily struggle leaves little time to seek growth and profitability.
Information Needed to Manage Your Business
Without timely information and accurate accounting and sales data, businesses find it difficult to make intelligent decisions. This is why business owners invest in accounting systems that best meet their needs. The accounting system helps keep track of customer accounts, receivables, invoicing / statements, inventory as well as various reporting tasks such and profit and loss statements.
The three keys in information flow with a distribution business are accuracy, timeliness and completeness of information. While these three factors are at the top of the list, they also seem to be the three elements with which most distribution companies have trouble. Those companies running "manual tickets" in the field are often bothered with having to disseminate a delivery person's handwriting or trying to correct price extensions or tax calculations. This is further compounded by the passing of time. As more time passes, the delivery person's memory becomes less reliable when trying to correct manual tickets.
The only way to eliminate errors and expedite information is to collect the information as close to the sale as possible, not days later.
Technology and Route Sales
It is safe to say that until now, no software vendor has taken the lead in creating a logical direction for the Route Software market. Why should a bakery or a chemical distributor purchase one system in lieu of another? Commonly, most serious systems could cost between $5,000 and $10,000 per truck including equipment. Many systems are either designed for expensive single-use proprietary hardware or for inexpensive and low-function Palm organizers.
Advances in Pocket PC computer hardware running Microsoft Windows CE allow MCNi to put the power of your home office systems in your drivers' hands. The new hardware available allows MCNi to implement route systems for about a third of other professional systems. In addition to the power of the hand-held application, MCNi's route manager utilizes full integration with your accounting system.
Route Management is great, but it's only a piece of the puzzle! Use the MCNi Presales Module to improve customer service, enhance throughput and reduce delivery times.
What We Often See
It's amazing to see how many distribution businesses still operate...see if you're guilty. Most distributors send sales people out with order pads. The salesman visit customers to see what they need and either call in orders or fax in order sheets. A small army of data-entry clerks is often used at the office to re-key the orders for fulfillment. The whole process not only adds room for error, but it also ads days to the delivery cycle.
How We Can Help
MCNi's Presales Module lets your sales people go to your customers prepared with everything they need to sell product. A full history of customer purchases accompanies the salesman along with specials, current pricing / availability and current accounts receivable information (open balance, last invoice amount and date, credit limits and limits left, tax exempt numbers, etc).
How Technology Helps
Utilize new PDA phones to automatically transmit orders throughout the day. Service and phones such as the T-Mobile PDA phone or the There can provide you both internet-linked access as well as a replacement for your cell phone. You can also use your existing phones (Nextel, Kyocera, etc) to directly dial your office and transmit your orders. The options are numerous for connectivity and the MCNi solution is effortlessly and endlessly expandable with both technology and features.
Manage Your Customers Inventory
Manage "build-to" inventories for your customers. Simply enter or scan your customer's stock and have the system recommend a sales order to restock your customer to the desired level. Print a receipt for the customer while on-site or have our server software automatically fax a receipt to your customer's fax number on record while you're still at the customer's location!
Signature Capture
Have your customers sign the PDA to verify the order. Incorporate signature capture with product delivery to ensure unquestioned proof of delivery.
Features:
- Maintain Thousands of Customers and Items on Each PDA
- Simple and Fast Synchronization
- Easy Remote Dial-in Capability
- Setup Hot-Keys for Quick Item Entry
- Extensive Customer Purchasing History on the Hand-Held
- Sell Items From Customer's Purchased History (route card)
- Maintain Up To Four Week Schedule by Day
- Communicate Messages with Drivers
- View A/R Information for Customers While On-Site
- Separate Customers by Route (optional)
- Restrict Sales for Customers Overdue or Over Credit Limit
- Capture Customer's Signature for Proof of Delivery!
- Print Customer Analysis (purchases by month) At Customer's Site
- Manage Hold Tickets
- Do Quotes (letter format)
- Restock Truck with Extensive/Editable and Automatic Replenishment System
- Customize your Invoices
- Print Invoices, Restocks and Reports with Cordless Infra Red Device
- Manage Remote Warehouses' Inventory
- Maintain Perpetual Inventory by Truck and Remote Warehouse
- Optionally Automate your Warehouse Shipping Functions
- Print Department of Transportation Bill of Lading
- Add Barcode Scanning if Needed
- Attach Reminders to Customers or Tickets
- Print Customized MSDS, Procedure Lists, Rental Contracts (etc) Associated with an Item.
- Review Customer Balance Information by Aged Buckets (30, 60, 90 days, etc)
- View Open Invoices for a Customer
- Track Odometer Readings for Trucks (optional)
- Track Price Changes Given By Drivers
- Review Drivers' Time Worked and Start Time/Stop Time at Each Customer
- Many More Features Included!
For more information about this or any of our products please contact us by email or call us at 631-300-2413, Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
