BENJYS adopt  Mobile Stock Minder to automate ordering process

Benjys, the fast growing London sandwich chain had outgrown its paper and telephone ordering system. In order to sustain growth and improve efficiency Benjys needed a stock control and automated ordering system that was linked to central sales predictions and store performance. Benjys could have opted for a traditional EPOS system , but chose instead, Information Systems Mobile Stock Minder - a PDA based low cost alternative to EPOS.

Using Mobile Stck Minder, stock levels for over 350 Benjys lines will be recorded on Microsoft Windows Powered Pocket PC handheld computers  by individual Benjys store managers in over 50 outlets. The information will be sent by GPRS connection to Benjys central system. Stock replenishment orders for each outlet will be generated automatically against centrally figured sales predictions. The system is designed to eliminate stock-outs and manage wastage as well as give a central overview of the relative performance of different outlets.

System

Stock Minder is an end to end .NET solution. The handheld components are built using the .NET Compact Framework and use web services for data communication or synchronisation. Benjys retail management system is a .NET Windows application that uses web services to get its data. The back end data repository is an SQL database (hosted by Information Systems for Benjys.). ASP.NET is used to create the web services that wrap the SQL data.

Benefits

		Replaces restrictive paper and phone ordering system.
		Automates ordering process on the basis of stock requirements determined by central sales forecasts.
		Low cost alternative to EPOS.