Accurate weighing, centralized management
 |
Mr. K. is a farmer specializing in strawberry cultivation and
has been selling direct to consumers for several years. In the past
he primarily sold strawberries at a fixed price per basket, or used
standard weighing scales to determine prices. It was impossible for
him to obtain an accurate estimate of the quantities sold, or to
know the daily sales by each individual employee. The sales
generated by each retail outlet were often irregular, and many
times resulted in substantial losses. Forecasting and planning were
also extremely difficult without accurate figures. |
At the beginning of the new season, Mr. K. didn't want to find
himself in the same situation and began searching for a solution to
this sales problem. His main criteria for the scale was that it
could operate in areas without power or phone jack and that it
could be connected to a system for merchandise or Point of Sale
management. Once Mr. K. contacted OHAUS, a solution was quickly
found.
"In some places, the strawberries were counted per
basket and where there were scales, they were often too quickly
weighed. One client didn't receive enough goods and another too
much." says Mr. K
A large commitment
"There are a total of 70 outlets in our strawberry fields and we
want to know what happens at each of these sites," said Mr. K.,
voicing his desire to have more sales transparency. "In some
places, the strawberries were counted per basket and where they
were weighed it was often done too quickly. One client didn't
receive enough goods and another too much."
As both farmer and trader, Mr. K. had to remedy this situation. And
so several engineers and programmers exchanged their offices for a
field of strawberries and began to seek a solution to meet his
specific needs.
New, fully digital, designed on the ground
The RS Series scales were proposed to meet the requirement for
mobile weighing. RS scales robust and multifunctional and offer
both the technical capability to transmit data and the option of up
to 35 hours of battery operation.
The next step was how scales scattered across fields could be
connected to the management system as phone lines were obviously
not an option.
The solution was to use the cellular network- the RS scales send
sales data using a cellular modem (via the GSM norm) to a central
server which then processes and stores the data.
The RS Series
Immediate benefits: time savings, greater accuracy
Mr. K. seems very happy with this solution: "As I can immediately
see what the activity is at each point of sale I am now able to
make quicker and more informed decisions. For example, when I see a
point of sale is unprofitable, I can move it. Or I keep open it
only at certain times". Reliable communication between the scales
and the central merchandise management allows more rigorous
planning and ensures the continuity of sales in the fields as Mr.
K. had hoped. And it is paying off as it means the costs of control
in the outlets is drastically reduced. "With the reduction of
controls in the fields, I save a considerable amount of time! I can
then devote this to other activities, which I previously didn't
have time for" concludes Mr. K.
"With the reduction of controls in the fields, I
save myself a considerable amount of time!" Mr. K.
This innovation has allowed him not only to save time but also
money. So far the losses from the outlets have massively decreased,
by up to 55% in some cases. Everything is weighed and paid and Mr.
K. now has a more critical view of the differences between volumes
sold and revenue: "Previously, I had to believe almost anything,
when the cash drawers were almost empty. Today, I know precisely
what is happening on the counters. And when there are inaccuracies,
I always request an explanation. "
A reliable investment for the future
Mr. K. can now simply relax and await the new season, because he
knows that now direct selling will no longer be based on random
estimates and wishful thinking. "It was the right decision. The
direct selling combined with modern technology offers possibilities
still unexplored."