Mobile Business, Accuracy and Flexibility needs met with Ohaus RI Retail Scale
 |
When running a small mobile business, the flow of goods is
often managed in a fairly simple way. In fact, it can be limited to
making a comparison between a scale's sales report and the
difference in stock level when an inventory is taken at the end of
the day.
|
When such a mobile business is operated on a small scale this
method can suffice but when a business grows, and must assign goods
to a sales team, the management process needs to be more precise.
Mr P, a cheesemonger specialising in mobile business in South-west
France, operates a fleet of 13 truck-stores all leaving the
warehouse on a daily basis. He approached an OHAUS dealer looking
for a more efficient solution for managing his business.
RI Display
His OHAUS dealer proposed OHAUS RI Series retail scales linked
to the OHAUS XTRM data management software using WiFi.
The RI scale is versatile and multifunctional. It can handle up
to 4000 PLU's which was more than sufficient for this client who
uses a database of 1000 products. RI can be connected to a network
accepting up to 30 floating vendor sub-networks of 10 scales, which
again more than met Mr P's application of 13 sub-networks each with
2 to 4 scales. RI is also equipped with a fast "soft touch"
keyboard that is fully removable and washable, vital in the cheese
trade. Finally, the RI scale can be electrically powered by 220V,
but also in 12 or 24v DC or even by internal rechargeable battery
which again was a decisive advantage for this type of mobile
business.
Each RI scale has been equipped with a WiFi transceiver box, which
communicate with a WiFi router located in the warehouse where the
trucks are stored every night. This terminal WIFI is itself WIFI
connected to a PC into which an XTRM software application is
installed.
The operation is simple:
- Every morning the WiFi base station transmits the new PLU's and
prices to the RIs and before the trucks leave the warehouse.
- In each truck, the scales are networked with floating vendor
functionality for optimum customer service.
- Every night the trucks come back to the warehouse and the
scales transfer the sales made during the day to the WiFi
terminal.
Now the control of the products and sales is rigorous, both in
the truck and at the central warehouse thanks to programmable alert
thresholds. Each truck is considered as a remote site, and pricing
can be adjusted according to the truck's route and the local
competition it will encounter. The time needed to prepare the
trucks in the morning and return them in the evening, has been
greatly reduced as the data downloading and uplaoding process has
been eliminated. In addition, any possibility of pricing errors is
almost non-existent.
The WiFi base station transmits the new PLU's and
prices
to the RI before the trucks
leave the warehouse...
...The RI receives the information
This innovation has enabled Mr. P. to save not only time but also
money. Losses from the trucks have decreased, everything is weighed
and paid. Of course it is always possible for customers to taste
the goods, but it remains within reasonable limits.
Mr. P. now has a more accurate view of differences between
volumes sold and revenue: "Previously, I had to accept the
explanations given to me; today, I know exactly what goes into the
trucks and when there are inaccuracies, the explanations have to
correlate with the system"
Mr. P is very satisfied with this new system for managing his
mobile business.