Merchandiser Notification System

Linux database and messaging server with attached nokia cellphone

They have a dedicated PC in their warehouse running software provided by the courier.

This software documents all shipments, prints all shipping labels and at the end of each day, transmits a manifest to the shipping company via ftp.

It intercepts this transmission, analyses the data, looks up the Company’s customer and employee database and generates a set of SMS messages to be sent to Company employed merchandisers to inform them about the shipments.

Each customer has an assigned merchandiser who will visit the customer’s premises to help with the goods arrival.

An onsite SMS server was built from which to send the SMS messages

Manufacturing Business Management System

Access Database located on file server

Each order has multiple products with completely different parameters.

Approximately 150 Sales orders are handled per week.

The company also purchases products from outside manufacturers.

It then generates production orders, and schedules them across their four production lines.

The system handles purchases and goods inward.

Inventory is constantly monitored, and extensive financial reports are available on demand.

The sales and purchases are exported and batch processed monthly into a seperate stand alone accounts package.

Tender Procurement System

Microsoft SQL Server database

Each product will have up to 20 parameters, describing it and multiple options all needing to be priced

The company then negotiates with manufacturers across the globe in multiple currencies to procure the best value.

Quotations are sent to the Customer for approval. This cycle of “negotiate – analyse – quote” will normally iterate a few times before the final order is placed.

The first step is to enter in details of the complete tender with all products parameters and options.

The system then produces “Request for Quotation” documents which are sent via an Excel form or a web form to potential suppliers.

Returned pricing from the suppliers is automatically imported onto the system which then does a full complex profitability analysis.

After analysis, product options are selected and the system generates a quotation for the Customer.

The tender can then be adjusted and the cycle repeated as necessary, until a final order is placed.

The system then tracks the order and all shipments until the order has been delivered in full.

Over 20 staff use the application and a complex set of over 100 tasks are created for each received tender. These tasks are automatically assigned to the correct member of staff, email notifications are sent and progress is monitored throughout the tender’s lifecycle.

Final financial reports are generated for importing into their Oracle based ERP system

Road Warrior System

VB.NET Windows Service Application

MySQL & SQlite

As the agent is about to enter the customer’s premises, the agent runs the application and selects the customer.

The app shows any delivery information for this customer, as well as any notes it has stored relevant to this customer.

Then the agent can create a sales order on a fast order entry system with the customer’s pricing, favourites and recent purchases.

Alternatively the agent can create a text note, create a voice recorded note or even voice record the sales order.

This data is immediately sent to the office staff who can import or enter up the order onto their accounts system as necessary.

The database is stored on the internet, but the smartphone app keeps a local synchronised copy. This way it can continue to operate fully even when out of coverage.