[How it Works]  [The Ordering Process]
[Functions Availabile]  [Connecting with your system]

Before an order is taken the customer list and product list must first be uploaded to the handheld.  Other set-up requirements include having barcodes available for each product.

Before an order can be placed, the customers details must first be either selected from the list that has been uploaded from the previous step, or in the case of a new customer, their details entered manually into the handheld.  New customer details can be entered via writing their details on the screen of the palm, or by using the on-screen keyboard.  

Once the customer has been selected/entered, their contact details are then displayed to ensure that this is in fact the correct customer.  Any previous orders that have been made after the last HotSync are also displayed (i.e. the customer wants two orders and on the second order the first orders summary details will be displayed).  To start a new order the Newbutton is then selected.

The next step is to take an order.  The on-screen display of the hand-held now shows ordering information such as code, description, price and allows manual updates for quantity and discount given.  To record a product, the operator uses one of the buttons on the side of the handheld to activate the infrared beam and to scan the barcode for any given product.  The default quantity for each item can be set so that when the barcode is initially scanned, the previous determined quantity is selected.  To alter the quantity it is as easy as tapping the +or -button on the screen of the handheld, or alternatively to write the quantity on the screen.  The on-screen keyboard is also available for this function.  Discount is recorded in a similar method.  By writing in a figure in the discount field, for instance 10, it will record a 10% for that product.  Once again a default can be given for that customer before the order is started to ensure that they receive a certain discount for all of their order, or by giving a default value of 0, the user can select a discount at any time.

At any stage of the order, a total can be displayed by clicking on the done button.  To continue with the order the operator can click on backto go back to the ordering screen.  If the order is finished, then the screen that displays the total of the order also offers the customer to select a delivery address and a delivery date. Once the delivery date has been selected then the operator clicks on done and the order is then committed and is ready to be sent to the application.  At any stage before a HotSync, the operator can go back into this order and add/remove/alter any products.

Once the order is committed then it is time to send the order across to the application that is on the desktop or laptop.  For a sales rep this step may differ by them using a modem cradle that will HotSync over standard phone lines.  This could be done after each order, or possibly once at the end of the day.  To HotSync the handheld is placed on a cradle and with the press of the button the information is sent to the application.  If the Auto Print option is selected, then a copy of the order will start to print.  The user can select before a HotSync how many copies they require.

Now that the order has been downloaded to the application, a large number of reports can be generated within the application.  These reports are tailored for a trade show environment where the user can determine the current amount of sales during the fair, and even determine how many of each item has been sold.

The orders can then be exported from the application into a text file/CSV file.  With some fine-tuning, this file could be imported directly into your accounting package, thus eliminating the need to manually key orders into the system.