New impress stock solution announced by MAM Software

MAM Software is pleased to announce the second in a new range of mobile applications developed for Microsoft® Windows® powered mobile devices.

Printable version 27 January 2005

MAM Software is pleased to announce the second in a new range of mobile applications developed for Microsoft® Windows® powered mobile devices.

Following shortly after the release of their 'van sales' solution, MAM Software today announced the release of a remote impress stock solution. Combining the power of a lightweight, voice-enabled PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) with the latest Web services technology, MAM's new eImpress software will save suppliers valuable time when administering the stock held at their clients' premises.

Written for Microsoft® Windows® Mobile™, eImpress is a remote extension to MAM's popular Autopart factor management system. Using a web-enabled PDA, it allows staff to check the stock held at clients' sites against desired levels and produce replenishment orders accordingly. Information recorded on the PDA is transmitted to Autopart via a GPRS Internet connection or by returning the device to its docking station.

The PDA is capable of storing a complete list of impress accounts, together with the relevant impress stock profile for each client. Once this initial information has been uploaded via the docking station, stock at each impress account can be counted when required. The touch-screen allows data to be entered manually or selected from a drop-down list, and the optional barcode reader enables items to be scanned for quick data entry. The software will advise which products need to be counted and will alert the operator of any uncounted items.

On completion of a stock take, eImpress will create a purchase order for all items that fall below the required level. Using XML and Web services, this order can be transmitted to the branch using the PDA's integral GPRS capability or saved for future transmission or download. Once received at the branch, the order will automatically appear in Autopart's point-of-sale as an incoming order. It can then be processed, without the need for re-keying, and the necessary customer invoices, backorders and picking notes produced.

In addition to creating impress orders, eImpress can also interrogate live Autopart data to confirm client-specific prices and verify stock availability at the branch. It can also raise and transmit orders for non-impress stock items. 

"eImpress offers substantial improvements in efficiency" explains Lee Broad, MAM's Technical Director. "This solution allows suppliers to quickly and efficiently manage stock held at their customers' sites. Having accurate control of inventory will relieve pressure and eliminate costly errors, thereby saving time, resources and money".

eImpress uses a powerful Windows Mobile based PDA. In addition to running MAM's dedicated application, it's also a personal organiser, mobile telephone and GPRS modem. The PDA's familiar Microsoft® Windows® Mobile™ software means it can also be used to work on Word® and Excel® documents or view PowerPoint® slides.