From Batch Processing to Real-Time Control in Pet Food Distribution
Case Study: Trueman Distribution
Trueman Distribution Ltd is a distributor of pet foods, litters, seed products, treats and supplies to the Pet Specialty market. To meet the needs of their customers, Trueman Distribution needed to have a complete picture of their inventory at all times.
Their old inventory management system utilized batch scanning with an iOS app. With batch scanning, all inventory data is stored locally on the device, then downloaded and posted into the system later. This often results in missing or duplicated data. For Trueman Distribution:
“The lack of accurate inventory information made it difficult to manage the inventory in the warehouse.”
Implementing Sage 300 + ACCU-DART
When Trueman Distribution decided to change their ERP system, they worked with Britec Computer Systems Ltd to implement Sage 300 ERP. They also opted to install ACCU-DART to manage their inventory.
ACCU-DART is a real-time inventory control solution designed to integrate directly with the ERP system. Using radio-frequency scanners, ACCU-DART validates and updates item and serial information instantly, ensuring that the correct serialized item is being processed at all times.
For Trueman Distribution, key benefits included:
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real-time inventory accuracy
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validation of serialized items
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ability to reuse their existing iOS devices and scanners
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seamless integration with Sage 300
ACCU-DART can also be customized to meet unique business requirements.
During implementation, Trueman reported:
“We have a very good response time from ACCU-DART regarding any concerns we have had as a new user. Implementation for this module was relatively seamless.”
Training & Go-Live Preparedness
In addition to implementing Sage 300 ERP and ACCU-DART, Britec Computer Systems conducted hands-on training with:
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office staff
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shipping/receiving staff
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IT staff
Britec also created a simulation warehouse environment where employees could practice using the ACCU-DART iOS app for shipping and receiving before go-live. This resulted in an extremely smooth transition.
The Result
With ACCU-DART in place, Trueman Distribution can now process shipping and receiving transactions in real time, providing up-to-the-minute data directly into Sage 300.
As a result:
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warehouse inventory is easier to manage
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missing/duplicated data issues are eliminated
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manual batch downloads are no longer required
A representative from Britec Computer Systems reports:
“ACCU-DART has improved operations by eliminating the time-consuming process of manually downloading and posting batch scans into the system.”
Britec further explains:
“As a pet food distribution company, managing inventory is a core part of their business. The ACCU-DART system is an efficient, economical, and effective system to work with Sage 300 in implementing inventory management.”