Computer Assisted Ordering
Computer Assisted Ordering (or CAO) is a very useful and productive way to automatically generate orders based on your sales history compared to you current on hand quantities. With CAO you can generate extremely accurate orders in a very short amount of time. According to Ace Hardware Corp., stores that use CAO have larger sales increases with less inventory on hand. Here are some advantages to using Computer Assisted Ordering:
- Shorter ordering times: one employee can generate an average order in under two hours, compare to several employees one or more days with manual ordering.
- More efficient orders: by ordering based on sale, you prevent ordering to much or to little.
A Computer Assisted Order is generated by taking your current on hand quantities and comparing them to a Min (minimum) value that gets set by Inventory Control. When generating the order, the computer will take into account the rounding methods that have been set in the ordering options, and it won’t order any items that have a Discontinued code. If the vendor code for the order is I1 (Ace), then the computer will also exclude any products that have a merchandise class on the “Exclude” list in Order Options.
Creating a Computer Assisted Order
To generate a Computer Assisted Order, click “Add Computer” button in Order Assembly. If the order you are working on has an IN code of “I1″ (Ace), then the Computer Assisted Order Wizard will open. If you are creating an order for any other IN code, the computer will automatically generate an order.
The Computer Assisted Order Wizard for Ace Orders
Whenever you generate a Computer Assisted Order for and Ace order, the Computer Assisted Order Wizard will open and guiding you though generating the order. CAO has the ability to order Ace items base on department number (using each items merchandise class number). This is very useful for easing into the CAO process: you can start be only ordering one department at a time.
- When you open the Wizard, follow the on screen instructions.
- After clicking “Next >”, you will be asked to check the merchandise class ranges that you wish to generate an order for. Click “Next >” when you are ready to continue.
- The wizard will show you a list of the classes it will order. Click “Finished” to generate the section.
- After the order section has been generated, it will appear in Order Assembly where it can be edited, added to, deleted, and compared just like a manual or handheld order.
For more information on you Inventory Control with Computer Assisted Ordering, click the link below.