RouteEZ© is designed to assist companies with product distribution in a direct store delivery environment.  RouteEZ© was designed to make ordering, delivering, inventory control, tel-sell, and invoicing a simpler and faster process for the user.  By using features such as Load Profiles, Customer Profiles, Buildup, On-hands and Route Book History, RouteEZ© assists the salesperson in servicing customers.

RouteEZ© will run on any PC-compatible handheld or notebook computer using MS-DOS 3.2 or higher operating system.

1.1. RouteEZ© Application Features

1.1.1. Pre-Sell Route

In a pre-sell environment, RouteEZ© will allow the salesperson to record orders for future delivery.  The salesperson may also change the date of delivery and, if allowed, may change the price at which the product is to be delivered.

1.1.2. Conventional Sell Route

In a conventional delivery route, the salesperson will load product onto the vehicle (using load profiles by day or a default load profile for all days) at the start-of-day, and have the load approved by a level 2 security code.  During the day's sales activity, RouteEZ© will lead the salesperson through the route and keep track of the day's inventory and sales.

1.1.3. Delivery Route

RouteEZ© will have a pre-determined load sent to it from a host computer.  The salesperson may adjust the load to correct any errors discovered during the truck loading process, and have the load approved by a level 2 security code.  RouteEZ© will have the orders for the day (transmitted from a host computer) stored in the handheld, and the salesperson need only make changes to the order, or enter returns which need to be added to the invoice.

1.1.4.  Tel-Sell

In the tel-sell mode RouteEZ© is designed to run on a desktop PC with a full 80 column by 25 line color display.  The salesperson will use RouteEZ© to call customers and take orders for delivery over the phone.  In this mode, RouteEZ© makes full use of the screen showing any call backs or suspended invoice sessions.  RouteEZ© will automatically dial the phone for the salesperson.

Tel-sell may also be configured to run on a network in a multi-user mode.

1.1.5. Full Service Vending Customer

RouteEZ© will support vending machines, allowing the sale of designated products only.  These products can also be linked to other product codes, loaded out under a case product code, and then sold by the unit.

1.1.6. Full Screen Product Entry
 
All entry of product quantities is made through a screen.  The number of products on a screen is determined by the size of the computer's display.  The salesperson scrolls through these products, an item at a time or a screen at a time, entering quantities.  The salesperson may switch to line item entry at any time, where item code and quantity are entered.

1.1.7. Product Group Scrolling

The salesperson may switch between scrolling product to group scrolling. Products are assigned to groups.  When the salesperson selects a group RouteEZ© will switch back to product scrolling with the first product of the group at the top of the menu.

1.1.8. Start-of-Day

RouteEZ© will record the salesperson's starting odometer and print any incoming messages.  If a level 2 security code is entered, the salesperson's number may also be changed.

1.1.9. Profiles
 
Load profiles can be created, by day or a default for all days, to define a standard load which the route salesperson can adjust to reflect the actual loadout.  A customer profile can be set up for a specific customer, chain of customers, or for the flagship products, and an average sales quantity for the customer.

1.1.10. Load Request

At the end-of-day the salesperson may perform a load request for the next day and automatically set up the load request to be used as the next day's load-out, or the salesperson may enter a load request for up to seven days in advance (Load Request by day of week option).

If the Future Order option is selected, the Next Day Load Request function will also build pre-sold orders and a new load file from the future order file.

1.1.11. History

Each customer may save a (user-defined) number of weeks of sales history, by product.  When the salesperson enters an order for this customer, RouteEZ© can be directed to display the average quantity ordered, for items with sales history, providing the salesperson with a profile of the customer's buying history.

1.1.12. Build-Up

Each customer may have seven days of build-up quantities. The route salesperson may print or edit these build-up quantities.  As each item is entered on an invoice, the current day's build-up and history (Norand 6100) will be displayed for the salesperson in the information window.

1.1.13. On-Hands Build-Up Processing

The route salesperson may record the on-hands and have RouteEZ© create the order or invoice from the Build-Up file.

1.1.14. Suspended Invoices

At any time during the creation of an invoice the salesperson may suspend the invoice and start a new invoice.  The salesperson may switch between suspended invoices (with a function key).

1.1.15. Call Backs

In the tel-sell mode, using a desktop PC, RouteEZ© will allow an invoice to be suspended on a call back list.  The salesperson will select a time for call back.  The call back window is displayed and when this invoice call back time arrives, and the color of the customer name will change.  With this feature, the salesperson can always see when call backs need to be done.

1.1.16. National Account Invoice

Using National Account Processing invoices RouteEZ© will automatically separate products into separate invoices (max. of five  invoices supported).   Accounts and products can be marked for separate invoices with unique company logos printed on each invoice.

1.1.17. Promotions

RouteEZ© supports five levels of promotions (Plan, Customer-specific, OP Class, Chain, and All).  The promotion search hierarchy may be specified by the user.

1.1.18. Fixed Promotions

RouteEZ© supports full pricing of products, including 9999 different wholesale prices and discounting, by assigning customers to promotion plans for a fixed dollar-off promotion.

1.1.19. Performance Promotions

Up to three performance promotion questions per product may be defined. RouteEZ© will give additional promotional allowances for YES responses.

1.1.20. Tiered Promotions

Customers may be given discounts based on the number of items (five levels) purchased.

1.1.21. Mix 'N Match Tiered Promotions

Tiered promotions may be given, based on the number of items sold over multiple items.

1.1.22. Disqualifier File

Customers may be assigned a disqualifier plan, and RouteEZ©  will disallow the sale of certain products to designated customers.

1.1.23. Split Ticket

A customer may be designated for split tickets, credits and sales must be on individual invoices. The route salesperson records sales and returns and RouteEZ© will automatically create two invoices.

1.1.24. Returns and Empties Processing

Credit may be given for products returned.  Five types of returns are supported by RouteEZ©.  Re-sellable, unsellable, sample returns, out of code and empty returns may be credited on the invoice. Out of code returns may be sold to designated customers.

1.1.25. Post Void

Any invoice or accounts receivable payment can be voided after completion.

1.1.26. Invoice Spooling

Invoices may be completed, but saved for printing at another time.

1.1.27. Catch Weight

If a product is designated as a catch weight item RouteEZ will display a calculator style menu. This will allow the salesperson to enter the individual weights of the items being sold. RouteEZ© will use the total weight to calculate the  price and promotions on the invoice.

1.1.28. Free Samples

Enter free product on the invoice

1.1.29. Unsellable Returns/Exchanges

Exchange unsellable product for sellable product.

1.1.30. Customer Searches

RouteEZ© supports customer searches by name, address or phone number.

1.1.31. Automatic Customer Sequencing

RouteEZ© will automatically sequence the salesperson through the day's route;  however, the salesperson may override RouteEZ© in order to call on accounts out of sequence.

1.1.32. Special Instructions

Pre-sell routes may enter special instructions which will be printed on the Delivery Routes Customer List. Special instructions may also be downloaded with each pre-sold order and printed with the Pre-Sold Order List.

1.1.33. Prior Day Order Review

Prior day order review allows a pre-sell route salesperson to review orders for up to 'n' days.

1.1.34. Invoice Review

Allows the route salesperson to review a completed invoice and/or print a duplicate of the invoice.  If allowed, the salesperson may recall a completed invoice and edit it.

1.1.35. Accounts Receivable

The salesperson may take a payment and print a receipt for the customer. The A/R payment be entered as a separate transaction or as part of the invoice. If done as a separate function the a separate A/R Payment receipt is printed. If part of the invoice then all A/R payments are printed on the invoice.

An accounts receivable file may also be downloaded from the host computer. The invoice numbers and amount due will be displayed for the salesperson. The salesperson may select and invoice for payment from this screen or enter an invoice number for payment.

1.1.36. Customer Notes

RouteEZ© supports three pages of notes per customer (user-defined number of lines per page max. ten).  The salesperson may review and edit these notes while creating the invoice.

1.1.37. Set Call Day

For tel-sell, conventional and pre-sell routes, the salesperson may change the active call day. The active call day is normally the current day of week. By changing the call day RouteEZ© will automatically scroll customers scheduled for service on the new call day.

1.1.38. Oversell Warning

RouteEZ© will automatically warn the salesperson if the truck is being over-sold.

1.1.39. Cases or Units

 The route salesperson may sell product by the case or by the unit.

1.1.40. Reports

   ·  Customer List by Day or All Customers
   ·  On-truck Inventory Report
   ·  Product Package Sales Report
   ·  Pre-Sold Order Report
   ·  Product Brand Sales Report
   ·  Customer Sales Report
   ·  Missed Call Report
   ·  Price Override Report
   ·  Ticket Summary Report
   ·  Cash and Check Deposit Report
   ·  History Report
   ·  Sales By Route Report
   ·  Mileage Report
   ·  Future Order Delivery Report
   ·  Customer Future Order
   ·  Future Load Report
   ·  Load Request Bay Map Report
   ·  Load Request Report
   ·  Un-Authorized Charge Report
 
All reports can be printed by the route salesperson anytime during the day, or can be set to print automatically during the end-of-day process.

1.1.41. Expenses

A maximum of ten expenses may be defined by the user for recording  during settlement.

1.1.42. End-of-Day Check-in and Settlement

For routes which carry product, RouteEZ© will force an end-of-day check-in and produce an inventory variance report. The end-of-day check-in supports FULL POSITIVE or a BLIND check-in process. The end-of-day process will also require cash collected during the day to be entered, cash reconciled with invoices generated, and production of an over/short report.

1.1.43. TCOM Local and Remote Capabilities

RouteEZ© supports a direct connection to a PC communication controller, or may be set up to automatically dial, transmit, and receive data over the phone lines. Multiple TCOM configurations may be defined and the route salesperson selects a user-defined TCOM configuration type (Remote Cups, Remote RJ-45, Direct Connect) from a menu.

1.1.44. Security Code Protection

Four levels of password protection are available.  Functions may require a password to be entered before allowing the user to proceed. Password protection may be turned off by the user.

1.1.45. Minimum Quantity Surcharge

This feature will automatically add a surcharge to the invoice if a minimum quantity is not met.

1.1.46. Dynamic Security

Security code protection for price changes and cash-to-charge payment changes can be enabled.  Dynamic Security is an algorithm computed based on customer number, route, and a downloaded seed and divisor.

1.1.47. Print Host Reports

RouteEZ© will print host reports transmitted to RouteEZ©.

1.1.48. Surveys
 
Survey questions (by specific account, all accounts or salesperson) can be transmitted to the handheld to collect information from the salesperson. Survey questions may also be designated to be printed on the invoice.

1.1.49. Forms
 
User-defined forms for data entry may be downloaded to the handheld computer. These forms may be used for collecting store surveys, competitive surveys, market research and building POP displays.

1.1.50. Product Cut Reason Codes

Record reason codes when a delivery route must cut a product on a pre-sold  order (user-defined reasons).

1.1.51. No Sell Reason Codes

Record reason codes when a no sell invoice is created (user-defined reasons).

1.1.52. DEX/UCS

Supports DEX/UCS standard for receiving dock electronic invoice transmission.

1.1.53. Ordering

The salesperson may place orders (conventional routes only) for future delivery up to seven days in advance of the delivery.

1.1.54. Future Orders

This feature enables a conventional route salesperson to become his own pre-salesperson.  RouteEZ© will allow the salesperson to write orders for the next delivery day or any future day.  During the Create Next Day Load Process, RouteEZ© will create pre-sold delivery orders for all orders scheduled for delivery.   RouteEZ© will also create a new load file from the future order file.

1.1.55. Signature Capture (Norand 6100 only)

Invoices can be signed for directly on the handheld screen and the signature will be uploaded with the invoice data.

1.1.56. Assign Delivery Routes.

A pre-sell route may scroll orders and change the scheduled delivery route for each order.

1.1.57. Un-Authorized Charges

The salesperson may carry an un-authorized charge on a cash customer. RouteEZ© will track these charges, allow the salesperson to accept payment  on an un-authorized charge.

1.1.58. Editable, Full Screen Menus

All menus displayed by RouteEZ© may be edited on a PC and transmitted to the salesperson's handheld computer.  Menus can be rearranged in a more convenient order, turned off, or disabled.  All menus have an instant access key (pressing one key causes the selected item to be executed).  These instant access keys may be configured on the PC.