Background and Introduction:

Our software expertise began in 1971 when Jere V. Horwitz saw the need to computerize his own wholesale candy and tobacco distribution and automatic vending business. Unable to find a firm capable of translating his business goals into an effective computerized system, Mr. Horwitz designed and installed the software systems himself. From that point until today, Jere V. Horwitz & Associates has nearly 30 years experience developing, maintaining, and installing our automated control system for this arena.

This system is native AS/400 and utilizes externally described databases, open query processing, and sub file screen formats. The system is streamlined and efficient, ideal for fast turnaround distribution businesses.

Order Entry & Billing:

Order Entry allows both regular invoicing and over-the-counter (cash) sales. Both types may be entered continuously during the day, with actual posting and printing of invoices running daily, or as needed. The system offers flexible pricing and discounts, and supports broken units. The rapid and effortless order entry program enables large quantities of billing to be produced in a short amount of time.

The order entry program is simple and quick, performed by entering product codes and quantities for regular billing. Other transactions that are supported within the same program include: credits (with the option to adjust inventory or not); pre-delivered merchandise (will be marked as "Delivered" on the invoice); price overrides; out-of-stock items (to enable tracking of sales lost due to short supply); message lines to print on the invoices; and free-form billing (for entry of miscellaneous items, whether in inventory or not). Broken quantities are supported, and items can be marked taxable on a line by line basis. A running hash total of the quantity entered is displayed on the entry screen, and orders can be reviewed for corrections during entry.

The pricing structure is extremely flexible allowing custom tailored pricing schemes by product group, and individual item for each customer. A full promotion tracking system is included. There are extensive provisions for handling pre-booking and show orders.

Cigarettes are divisible into a variety of sub-groups for additional analysis. The system includes the necessary interface to Cigarette Company Electronic Reporting. UPC presentation is fully integrated into the system. Custom price books and labels may be generated by customer.

Inventory:

The quantity-on-hand (both broken and full), quantity-on-order, and minimum quantity are all tracked in inventory. Detailed stock movement sales and profitability are maintained at the item level.

The purchasing module provides analysis of purchasing history as well as real time building of orders to maximize the advantages for weight and cube. Purchase order numbers are used to reference items. The current cost per unit may be changed during purchasing or receiving. Inventory entry allows for both positive and negative adjustments to receipts. Hash totals are shown on the entry screen, and entries can be viewed and changed.

File Maintenance:

File Maintenance programs are available to give the user control and flexibility as business circumstances change. For example, the Customer Master allows assignment of pricing for variable price product groups, a trade class, and salesman number. Credit limits may also be entered, along with tax exempt status.

The Trade Class file allows entry of suggested retail pricing to be printed on invoices. The Customer Discounts file is where percentages may be entered (by product group) for discounts to be taken and shown on the invoices. Commission rates for salesmen can be set up and changed in the Commission Rates file. File listings are available on demand for the master files, with several reports offering a choice of an alpha or numeric listing.

Accounts Receivable:

Accounts Receivable transactions are entered by invoice number. The transactions supported include full payments, partial payments, overpayments, positive or negative adjustments, credits, and new charges. Hash totals (by transaction type) are available throughout entry to help reduce operator errors.

Sales Analysis:

A full range of sales analysis reports give management the ability to closely monitor their profitability. Customized velocity reports are produced by client as well as a tremendous variety of sales and commission analysis. The proper documents are automatically generated to submit to suppliers for all types of incentive rebates. The weekly Sales Analysis shows (by product group) gross sales, sales profit, and gross profit. Sales Analysis reporting is also available for individual items and customers on a monthly basis. The Item Sales Analysis shows each product, with sales month-to-date and year-to-date. Lost sales (MTD and YTD) are also tracked. The Customer Sales Analysis report gives subtotals by product group, and the gross profit for both month-to-date and year-to-date.

Reports Available:

The following is a sample list of some of the reports included with this system. There are also various on-line analysis reports available.

Invoice Register

Daily Sales Analysis

Office Price Book (Alpha or Numeric)

Customer Price Book (includes their discounts)

Inventory Control Report

A/R Credit Limit Exceeded List

A/R Trial Balance

A/R Statements

A/R Transaction Journal

A/R Listing (with or without drop of fully paid invoices)

Customer Master List (Alpha, Numeric, or by Salesman)

Inventory Item Master (Alpha or Numeric)

Purchasing Assistance Reports

Price Labeling

Periodic Reports Include:

Weekly Unit Sales Report

Weekly Inventory Control Report

Weekly Salesman Commission Report

Weekly Sales Analysis

Monthly Item Sales Analysis

Monthly Inventory Control Report

Monthly Customer Sales Analysis

Cigarettes Sold Month-to-Date

End-of-Year Inventory List

Our Wholesale Candy & Tobacco Distribution System can be integrated with our Vending Machine Route Accounting System. All of our systems' cost are based on a one-time license fee per processor, and complete source code is included with the package.

Return