Golden vans linked
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GOLDEN WONDER is investing £100,000 in portable micro-computers for use by its van sales staff. The project, which began two years ago, will see the installation of PCT1 micro-computers in all of the company's 80 vans by the end of this year.
It has been developed by Golden Wonder's management services department and Portable Computer Terminals, and was supplied by Datapoint UK. The removable units comprise a keyboard with a small visual display screen and printer, and have already been fitted to 15 vehicles.
The new system will allow the sales person to key in customer codes and orders, and produce a print-out vat invoice or delivery note while the delivery is in progress. The micro can also produce banking information to assist in calculating the day's takings.
Having completed deliveries, the van-based micro can be connected to Golden Wonder's Market Harborough head office via an acoustic coupler (CM April 2, page 43), allowing trading activities as well as stock figures, cash reconciliations, and van fuel consumption to be transferred to the mainframe computer.
Any code or price changes can be programmed back on to the micro during this period.
The micro-computer's batteries can be recharged overnight, and each machine can keep track of approximately 150 products for 300 customers.
The new system allows the company head office to invoice a credit customer on the same day he receives a delivery note from the salesman, and stock levels to be checked and reviewed daily.