| The key to understanding what to plan for in | | | | can speed up order taking and eliminate errors. With |
| operations is to recognize that wholesalers survive by | | | | some systems all the order taker has to do is type the |
| providing services to enterprises which cannot be as | | | | callers' name or customer number into a computer to |
| well provided by anyone else. If you accept that fact, | | | | automatically retrieve a file noting the customer's |
| then you will also recognize the necessity for providing | | | | address, phone number, and other ordering information. |
| those services at the lowest cost compatible with | | | | That saves time and reduces the number of mistakes. |
| excellence of service. It is the difference between | | | | An on-line computer system can help eliminate one of |
| your purchasing costs and cost of service that keep | | | | the most common problems of distributors, exhausting |
| you alive. The difference between the two is too small | | | | the stock of a particular item. With a computer system |
| to permit much inefficiency. | | | | the order-taker can tell whether the company can |
| In order, your two greatest costs are, of course, order | | | | immediately ship the item or not and, if not, when (if at |
| processing (including order entry) and the warehouse. | | | | all) and inform the customer accordingly. Once the |
| Let's look at each, beginning withe order processing. | | | | order is entered, the system can also print out |
| Order processing is the heart of the delivery system. | | | | order-picking documents and customer invoices. |
| The quality of order processing controls relations | | | | Although order processing is one reason to |
| between the wholesaler and his or her customers; a | | | | computerize, a wholesaler might use pressure sensitive |
| wholesaler who cannot respond quickly and accurately | | | | labels with bar codes on products on making a sale. |
| to customer inquiries and orders cannot respond | | | | The wholesaler receives a batch of cards, runs them |
| generate or keep customer loyalty. Between inquiries, | | | | through a reader, and the computer ascertains the |
| order entry, order fulfillment, and invoicing, there are | | | | retailers' requirements in terms of profitable |
| boundless opportunities to make errors. | | | | merchandise. |
| Order processing is a prime area for systems | | | | An area of cooperation that helps both the wholesaler |
| development. Because they must handle a vast | | | | and retailer is retail pricing of the goods. Retailers with |
| amount of data in conducting their affairs, wholesalers | | | | a sound feel for current retail pricing can help lower |
| are "naturals" for computerization. Computer terminals | | | | wholesalers' operating expenses by creating priced |
| can be particularly helpful in order processing. They | | | | labels for volume purchases. |