Electronic Receiving
Becoming Widespread
About half of retailers have electronic receiving, according to
the latest survey by RIS News and CSC Consulting. However, more
than 40% plan to add that capability within the next 36 months.
That ranks electronic receiving third among applications retailers
plan to implement.
Efficiency and accuracy with a fast payback are the prime reasons.
Efficiency comes from labor reduction in distribution centers
and store back rooms; accuracy comes from scanning goods into
each store's perpetual inventory system.
Using wireless or batch handhelds to scan in-coming bar-coded
containers or pallets is the most popular approach.
Small Operations Save Too
Small chains and single-shop owners often compete against big discount
chains with personalized service on the store floor. But such excellent
customer service conflicts with back room efficiency; a person must
leave receiving to serve customers.
According to Jack Sloan, the owner of Landmark Pet, a single
store in Alexandria, VA, "We don't buy cases, we buy onesies and
twosies. When we do order five of something, it may come in three
different boxes." When a single invoice runs 200 lines, items
have to be checked in as they are unpacked or chaos would rule
the back room.
To maintain superior service while streamlining receiving, Sloan
recently bought a Compsee Apex II handheld data collection terminal
from Retail Technology. It integrates with his new point-of-sale
system, a Quicksell 2000 POS from Sales Management Systems.
Sloan can check in new merchandise like he's always done-piece-meal.,
in between serving customers. But now he knows when he finishes
whether he received everything. The color-coded screen identifies
problems: red indicates a variance from the quantity; green indicates
merchandise not on the purchase order. Sloan estimates the new
process saves him several hours a week.
Reprinted from:
RIS News
Edgell Communications
October 1998
