Understanding Order Processing Information

Before you can process order information, you must define the methods and data that the system uses to process orders. Order information that you should set up before you begin processing data includes:

• Commission information

  Using commission constants, you can specify the rates, basis, and criteria that the system uses to calculate commission amounts on different order types. You can set up commission information to conform to the needs of an organization.

  Additionally, you can set up a sales group to distribute commission amounts to a group of salespeople who contribute to a customer's sale. You can define commission information for each member of the group.

• Branch sales markups

  You use branch sales markups to set up the additional costs that are associated with transfer orders and interbranch sales orders. For example, if the company sells from one location but fills and ships orders from another location, such as a central supply warehouse, you can ship the order from the central supply warehouse directly to the customer.

• Flexible account numbers

  Flexible account numbers enable you to configure each segment of the account number according to the needs of the organization. For example, you can use a format that includes information such as salesperson, branch, sales territory, and other address book category codes. Or you can set up the structure of the flexible account number based on how you track the performance of items and customers through sales detail and the general ledger.

• Order templates

  You create and assign order templates to speed up the order entry process. A template contains information about frequently ordered items. You can create standard templates, that the system can use for all customers, or you can create customer-specific templates. You can create order templates based on sales history, or you can update existing templates based on sales trends.

• Order hold information

  You can define the conditions that the system uses to place orders on hold and attach those conditions to a hold code. For example, you can define minimum and maximum order values. If the total order amount is not within this range, the system assigns the hold code to the order to place the order on hold and stop further processing. You can also define sales margin and credit holds. Based on this information, the system places an order on hold if the order or order line does not meet the sales margin or exceeds the customer's credit limit.

• Self-service information

  You set up information to enable the customers and suppliers to review and update information on their own. You can set up customer and supplier profiles to limit access to only those programs customers and suppliers are able to use.

  You can also set up product hierarchies, which enable customers to view products by group and hierarchy. By assigning items to product groups and hierarchies, you relieve the customers from having to scroll through a complete list of inventory items.