Bookshelf v7.5: Performing Retail Activities

Siebel Consumer Sector Guide > Retail Execution > End-User Procedures >

Performing Retail Activities

If retail sales representatives want to perform a retail activity that is not included as a recommended activity, they can create the activity for the retail visit.

During the visit, the retail sales representative will perform the activities selected for this visit. These activities may include:

Taking an order while visiting a retail outlet

Performing a retail assessment of the outlet

Performing a retail audit of products from the retail sales representative's organization or a competitor's products

Reviewing store conditions

Reviewing billings and collecting payments

Most retail activities are started by clicking an Activity Type hyperlink in the Activities list of the Visit Execution view.

To add a retail activity to a visit

Navigate to the Accounts screen.

In the Account list, select an account.

Click the Outlet Visits view tab.

In the Outlet Visits list, select a visit and drill down on the Visit Date hyperlink.

The Visit Execution view appears.

In the Activities list, add a new record.

Click the Activity Type drop-down list, and select the type of retail activity you want to perform.

Complete the necessary fields.

Some of the fields in the Activities list are described in Table 45.

Table 45. Fields in the Activities List
Field	Comments
Alarm	Select the check box to enable an alarm for this activity.
Assessment Template	The name of the assessment template assigned to the activity. If the activity requires an assessment to be carried out, the relevant assessment template can be associated with the activity. For more information on assessment templates, see Applications Administration Guide.
Assigned To	To delegate the activity to someone else, select the appropriate employee and click OK.
Last Name	The last name of the contact person for the activity.
New	This field is automatically flagged when a visit is first created. Later, you can remove the flag from this field to indicate the visit is no longer new.
Products	Displays products associated with the activity.
Repeat	Select the check box to designate a repeating activity.
Repeat Until	The ending date of a repeating activity.
Start Time	This field is automatically filled with the time at which the activity was created. Change this setting if necessary.
Status	The status of the activity (for example, In Progress). LOV Type: EVENT_STATUS
Suppress Calendar	If a check mark appears in this field, the activity will not appear in the Calendar views.

Taking a Retail Order

Typically, sales representatives take retail orders while visiting their accounts. Retail orders can be taken on a regularly scheduled basis or to make sure there is adequate inventory available when introducing a new product.

To take a retail order

Add the Retail Order activity to the Activities list in the Visit Execution view.

NOTE: For information on adding an activity to an account visit, see To add a retail activity to a visit.

Step off the new activity record and drill down on the Retail Order hyperlink you have just created.

The Sales Order view appears. An order record is automatically created in the Sales Order list.

In the Line Items list, add a new record.

Select one of the products for which you are taking the order and fill in the fields.

Repeat Step 3 and Step 4 for each additional product you want to add to the order.

Use the History list or back arrow to return to the Visit Execution view and perform another task.

For more information on the Orders screen, see Siebel Field Service Guide and Online Help.

Performing a Retail Assessment

Retail assessments measure an account against a set of predefined attributes. Typically, the predefined attributes are created as assessment templates. The assessment template can help to determine the possibility of introducing a new product or measure the retail presence of a competitor. For information about creating assessment templates, see the section on setting up assessment templates in Applications Administration Guide.

To perform a retail assessment

Add a Retail Assessment activity to the Activities list in the Visit Execution view.

NOTE: For information on adding an activity to an account visit, see To add a retail activity to a visit.

Step off the new activity record and drill down on the Retail Assessment hyperlink you have just created.

The Account Assessments view appears. The account you were previously working with is displayed in the Account form.

In the Assessments list, select the assessment you want to perform during this visit.

In the Assessment Attributes list, fill in the fields for each assessment attribute.

Use the History list or back arrow to return to the Visit Execution view and perform another task.

Performing a Retail Audit

Sales representatives perform retail audits to check that products are correctly priced, positioned, and stocked at retail outlets. Retail audits can be conducted on products from the retail sales representative's organization and a competitor's products. The retail sales representative can enter shelf conditions about products using a form or a list. The retail sales representative must complete the following tasks before performing a retail audit on a competitor's products.

Create the competitive product and add it to the product-category hierarchy. For information on performing this task, see Product Distribution.

Set up product distribution lists. A competitor's product must appear on an authorized product distribution list before it can be included in a retail audit. For information on performing this task, see Product Distribution.

To perform a retail audit using a form

Add a Retail Audit activity to the Activities list in the Visit Execution view.

NOTE: For information on adding an activity to an account visit, see To add a retail activity to a visit.

Step off the new activity record and drill down on the Retail Audit hyperlink you have just created.

The Retail Audit view appears.

Click the Retail Audit view tab.

In the Retail Audit list, click List Products.

A list of all products authorized for distribution to the account and designated for a retail audit appears in the Retail Audit list. The list includes both products from the retail sales representative's organization and competitive products and is sorted by merchandising location.

In the Retail Audit list, select a product for which you want to perform a retail audit.

In the Store Conditions form, the retail sales representative records observations about the conditions of the selected product in the appropriate fields.

In the Account Activity form, click the Status drop-down list, and then select Done when the retail sales representative has finished conducting the audit.

The current time and date are automatically recorded in the Completed field.

Use the History list to return to the Visit Execution view and perform another task.

To perform a retail audit using a list

Add a Retail Audit activity to the Activities list in the Visit Execution view.

NOTE: For information on adding an activity to an account visit, see To add a retail activity to a visit.

Step off the new activity record and drill down on the Retail Audit hyperlink you have just created.

The Retail Audit view appears.

Click the Retail Audit List view tab.

In the Retail Audit List drop-down list, select Retail Audit.

In the Retail Audit List, click List Products.

A list of all products authorized for distribution to the account and designated for a retail audit appears in the Retail Audit List. The list is sorted by merchandising location.

In the Retail Audit List, select a product for which you want to perform a retail audit, and then record you observations about the shelf conditions of the selected product in the appropriate fields.

In the Account Activity form, click the Status drop-down list, and then select Done when you have finished conducting the audit.

The current time and date are automatically recorded in the Completed field.

From the Retail Audit List drop-down list, select Retail Audit Analysis to view a graphical representation of Facing Number by Product.

To create an RMA (Return Material Authorization)

Add a Return Order activity to the Activities list in the Visit Execution view.

NOTE: For information on adding an activity to an account visit, see To add a retail activity to a visit.

Step off the new activity record and drill down on the Return Order hyperlink you have just created.

The Details Order view appears.

In the Sales Orders list, add a new record.

Click the Type drop-down list, select the type of RMA you want to create, and fill in the fields.

Drill down on the Order Number hyperlink.

The Order Entry - Line Items view appears.

Click the Line Items view tab.

In the Line Items list, add a new record.

Click the Product select button.

The Pick Product dialog box appears.

Select one of the products for which you are creating the RMA and click OK.

Fill in the fields.

Repeat Step 7 through Step 10 for each additional product you want to add to the RMA.

For more information on creating RMAs, see Siebel Field Service Guide and Online Help.

To review an RMA (Return Material Authorization)

Navigate to the Accounts screen.

In the Accounts list, select the account for which you want to review an RMA.

Click the Orders view tab.

In the Orders list, perform a query in the Type field for the type of RMA you want to review.

Collecting and Recording Payments

Retail sales representatives periodically review account billings and collect payments, which must be recorded.

To collect and record payments

Add a Review Billings activity to the Activities list in the Visit Execution view.

NOTE: For information on adding an activity to an account visit, see To add a retail activity to a visit.

Step off the new activity record and drill down on the Review Billings hyperlink you have just created.

The Account Invoices view appears.

Review the listed invoices and determine if any are outstanding.

To record a payment, drill down on the Invoice # hyperlink.

The Invoice Line Items view appears.

In the Invoices screen, select the Payments view tab.

Create a new payment record.

Complete the necessary fields.

Reviewing Store Conditions

Retail sales representatives periodically review the store conditions of an account. The review measures store conditions over time and is useful for managers who are analyzing an account.

To review store conditions

Navigate to the Accounts screen.

In the Accounts list, select the account for which you want to review store conditions.

Click the Store Conditions view tab.

In the Store Conditions list, select the product for which you want to check store conditions.

A list of previous store condition reviews appears.

From the Store Conditions drop-down list, select Store Condition Chart to view a graphical representation of changes in the Price Point or Facing Number between various store condition reviews.