The Efficiency Gains by Document 1. FCB2B 832 Price/Sales Catalog vs. Manual Price Sheets The FCB2B 832 is the engine of product data management. It provides a complete, standardized catalog of products, prices, and specifications. • Manual Process: Retail staff must manually receive, review, and input printed or spreadsheet price lists from every supplier into their Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software. This is a time-consuming task that is highly susceptible to errors. A single typo in a price or product code can lead to incorrect quotes, lost sales, and contentious invoice disputes. • FCB2B Automation: The supplier’s system sends the 832 directly to the retailer’s FCB2B-enabled system. The system automatically updates the retailer’s ERP or Point- of-Sale (POS) system with new product introductions and price changes. This always ensures 100% pricing accuracy and dramatically reduces the lead time for launching new products, giving the retailer a competitive edge. 2. FCB2B 850 Purchase Order (PO) vs. Manual PO Entry The FCB2B 850 initiates the entire fulfillment cycle and is arguably the most critical document. • Manual Process: A retailer generates a PO, which is then faxed, emailed, or manually entered into a supplier’s website. The supplier’s sales representative or customer service rep must then manually key that information into their own Order Management System (OMS). This multiple-step process introduces delays and a high probability of errors in product codes, quantities, or ship-to addresses. • FCB2B Automation: The retailer’s system generates the 850, which is instantly transmitted and automatically loaded into the supplier’s OMS, ready for picking and packing. This eliminates order entry errors and reduces the time from order creation to fulfillment by hours or even days, ensuring faster delivery to the end customer. 3. FCB2B 855 Purchase Order Acknowledgement (POA) vs. Manual Confirmation The FCB2B 855 provides assurance and transparency. • Manual Process: After receiving a manual PO, the supplier must manually check inventory and then call, email, or fax the retailer back to confirm acceptance, back- ordered items, or shipment changes. This confirmation process often requires multiple exchanges over several days. • FCB2B Automation: Upon receipt of the 850, the supplier’s system automatically sends the 855. If there is a discrepancy (e.g., product quantity adjustment), the 855 reflects the change, allowing the retailer’s system to immediately flag the issue. This instantaneous feedback allows the retailer to make quick adjustments, reducing stock- outs and customer dissatisfaction. 4. FCB2B 856 Advance Ship Notice (ASN) vs. Manual Receiving The FCB2B 856 is a powerhouse for logistics efficiency. • Manual Process: When a shipment arrives at the retailer’s warehouse, receiving staff must manually compare the physical contents against the paper PO. This is a slow, error-prone process that ties up personnel and dock space. • FCB2B Automation: The 856 is sent when the goods leave the supplier’s dock, detailing the contents and expected arrival. The retailer uses this data to pre-load its Warehouse Management System (WMS). When the truck arrives, the ASN allows for expedited, almost paperless receiving (often called “blind receiving”), dramatically cutting down on labor costs and improving inventory accuracy.
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker