Local OrderPlus software streamlines buying processes for large store chains

A new software program developed by local point of sale software developer isoPOS allows large reseller groups to significantly reduce, or eliminate altogether, the need for expensive call centre operations to process the placement of stock orders from satellite retail operations.

The application software, known as isoPOS OrderPlus, functions offline and allows sellers to place orders directly with suppliers. When sellers connect to the Internet, orders entered offline are immediately transmitted to the supplier`s isoPOS point of sale system, which in turn integrates seamlessly into the Accpac ERP 100, 200 and 500 series of back-office accounting programs.

"Our major objectives behind the development and subsequent refinement of isoPOS OrderPlus included streamlining and minimising the human element involved in call centre processing of orders and all that it involves, in order to save costs, give competitive advantage and, through the simplicity and accuracy of the system, create incentives for sellers to buy," said isoPOS managing director Karl Wagner.

"The solution is particularly well-suited to large wholesalers, or groups of stores buying centrally such as supermarket, hardware or pharmaceutical chains and franchises. The central purchasing operation buys the software and distributes the application to the group stores to use the system. Life then becomes so much easier for purchasing stores with a streamlined process that is quick, highly accurate, eliminates human error, integrates into their accounting system and can be operated at any time, even after hours."

The isoPOS OrderPlus package is feature-rich, providing users with facilities that add value, save time, reduce costs and simplify the entire ordering process. Products can be split into categories through the integration with Accpac and the status of orders and price changes can be checked at any time. The system also checks and notes Vatable and non-Vatable items, caters for photographs of each individual product and its availability to be displayed in the stock catalogue and provides a full history of documentation and orders placed.

Order confirmations, invoices and credit notes can be viewed on screen and products are easy for purchasing stores to find and select. Sellers can highlight promotional items and display expiry and last purchase dates.

Buyers can attach their own product codes, descriptions and price mark-ups to the individual supplier`s product codes. This reduces the learning curve on retailer stock codes and speeds up the ordering process. It also allows the generation of quick quotations for the seller`s customers based on their own prices. When such a quotation is accepted it can be converted into an order from the supplier without any need to re-capture. Orders placed in OrderPlus can also be exported for import at a later time or date into other ERP systems.

Quotations, orders and pricelists can be printed and the software automatically updated from the Internet whenever updates are available. When buyers` orders are submitted to the seller via the Internet at times that suit the buyer, status updates, prices, stock availability updates and other information from the seller can be received at the same time.