Computer update; computer systems for the distributor - hardware and software products for beer wholesalers - buyers guide

Modern Brewery Age, Jan 22, 1990

COMPUTER UPDATES Computer Systems for the Distributor

Micro Vane enhances dBEV

"In 1989, Micro Vane achieved the goal of attracting 600 beverage software clients after six years in business," announced Bob Pursel, vice president of Micro Vane, "with the vast majority of business coming through word-of-mouth referrals. We only employ three sales representatives," he continued, "because our emphasis is on support, not sales. By focusing on customer service, we figure we have 600 people out there selling for us, instead of only three." Incorporating ideas gleaned from customer feedback, Micro Vane reported its 7.0 version of the dBEV Beverage Management System will provide more flexible and comprehensive reporting capabilities than previously available.

The new version of dBEV includes a two-year customer sales history and a daily package sales history. Because users will be able to retain invoice detail indefinitely, a date range option has been added to the sales tracking reports so users can get reports for a specified time frame.

To make entry and inquiry tasks easier, Micro Vane noted search windows are provided for quick review of customers and packages. Micro Vane said more flexibility has been added to the system, based on suggestions by dBEV users.

The new version also provides users with increased equivalence reporting along with the ability to change the desired factor for any report. In other words, wholesalers will be able to accomodate breweries requiring a report printed in 24/12 ounce equivalents and government agencies requiring the same report printed in gallon or liter equivalents for tax purposes.

According to Micro Vane, its software packages are among the most user-friendly available to beer wholesalers, with single and multi-user versions that accomodate small and large wholesalers, respectively.

Redesigned versions of its three accounting modules - payroll, accounts payable and general ledger - employ a window overlay technique that makes menus easier to use. With the push of a button, the modules now provide "help" windows that display on-screen documentation. Also, the revision provides search windows to help locate accounts when account numbers are unknown.

Micro Vane has announced the enhancement of its point-of-sale/competitive tap module, called "ONTAP," which tracks the placement and sale of point-of-sale and promotional items, as well as provide wholesalers with competitive tap activity in their market area.

During 1989, the company reported the completion of an interface to Norand's new Model 20 hand-held computer, specifically designed for beverage pre-sellers.

The Model 20 offers the features needed by beverage wholesalers at what Micro Vane said is approximately half the cost of its predecessor. In addition, the new unit can be used to take warehouse inventory. When "uploaded" to the main computer. dBEV can produce an easy comparison of warehouse inventory to computer inventory.

Shelf management from Graphic Data Analysis

According to Graphic Data Analysis, Inc. of Athens, GA the Shelf Manager 2000 is intended to help distributors convince retailers to consider changing shelf sets.

"We had only two objectives," said Jim Williams, system designer. "First, to make a shelf management program that is powerful and usable by front line sales and marketing people who have to fight for every inch of shelf space in today's beer industry. Second, to make the program run on practical inexpensive personal computer equipment that most distributors already have.

"A significant number of Shelf Manager 2000 customers, about 41%, have purchased the program," Williams noted, "and have started up on existing equipment without any additional equipment purchases. Most others just purchase an EGA monitor and card. Expensive plotters are not used in drawing store sets," he observed, "instead we use printers, which most distributors already have in service. We can produce great-looking store set drawings in a continuous form layout for both color and black and white printers."

Using market share data, GDA said Shelf Manager 2000 can show wholesalers how many package facings should be placed on shelves. The system can also apply information on retailer's package movement and finances for correlating product space to sales or profit.

According to GDA, the Shelf Manager 2000 can generate over 150 different reports for comparing shelf space to product sales, financial information and stock inventories needed.

"The Shelf Manager can also analyze your store set proposal and estimate sales needed to justify product shelf space," Williams noted, "allowing the retailer to focus only on those few packages of concern for inventory purposes. This allows you and the retailer time in reaching an agreement on reset proposals. Graphs and charts are produced automatically," he continued, "eliminating the need to buy presentation programs." The system incorporates a report writing feature, which GDA said can eliminate the need to use outside spread sheet and graphics software and give the user independent analysis capability of specific marketing environments.