In the current issue of Manufacturing Alumni, Manufacturing Journalist, TR Cutler profiles Beverage Control.  The management believed they could use data collection hardware and software to automate these manual processes, noting, “We needed to partner with a technology company that could create a software application to automate our processes and provide our drivers with a handheld device that would work in the field. We partnered with BaxTek Solutions because they had the experience and expertise in field mobile data collection.”

 

The Solution: Handheld Devices with Bottom-Line Results BaxTek Solutions developed a custom software solution that enabled Beverage Control to electronically upload data files from their accounting software program to a Unitech PA600 portable handheld device. According to founder Wayne Baxter of BaxTek Solutions (www.baxtek.com), “We chose the Unitech PA600 handheld device because it was durable, lightweight, had write-on screen capabilities, Bluetooth, and was priced to fit Beverage Control’s budget. Beverage Control looked at other hand held devices, but only the PA600 provided them with all of the functionality they needed at a price point they could afford.”

 

The data files that were uploaded to the PA600 portable contained up-to-date customer information the truck drivers needed when visiting customer accounts. Some of the information on these files included the route information for the driver, products the customer ordered on a regular basis, customer past due amounts, and service information updates. If a customer wanted to place an order for a new item they had not ordered in the past, the driver could use the touch-screen and select the item from a drop down menu from the software application that resided on the portable. With the PA600’s Bluetooth wireless technology, drivers were able to connect wirelessly to a mobile printer and print a receipt for the customer. Since the PA600 captured the customer’s order information and enabled them to print a customer a receipt, they no longer needed the triplicate order forms.

Once the drivers were back in the office at the end of their shift, they were able to put the portable in a cradle and have the information automatically upload to their accounting system software program. Since this data was sent electronically, it improved the accuracy of getting the information to the accounting software program and it reduced the need of manually entering the data. According to Beverage Control, “The new data collection solution has saved us so much money so quickly we have already been able to reduce the number of data entry employees.” The software program on the portable also automatically calculates the extended cost of the delivered products. The drivers no longer needed to manually figure out the cost with a calculator. This software feature has reduced errors in calculating customer extended cost and improved customer satisfaction. “Our drivers love the new portable solution because it saves our drivers time and eliminates costly invoicing errors,” reports Beverage Control. This new technology has enabled Beverage Control to provide their customers with an enhanced level of customer service. Beverage Control’s desire to keep improving their service is one of the many reasons they are one of the top beverage distributors in the southeast.

 

 

BaxTek Solutions

www.baxtek.com

Tina Nagaitis

Marketing Manager

Solutions@BaxTek.com

866 722 9835

 

Professional Marketing Firm for the Manufacturing Community and Manufacturing Journalist to most manufacturing magazines

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