It never rains -- it pours .... more info on INVOICE OPTIONS

Working on exporting data from REPORTS >> FINANCIAL >> LINE CODE SALES/PURCHASES ... it is a fairly easy way to get data into Excel --- what a large report ... looking at what the report if telling us ... talking with Bob from Windsor and he asks GREAT questions -- like 'what is your LOST SALES data look like ...' ... and I sheepishly say --well - we have never been strong at pushing staff to record a lost sale ....

HOLD ON TO YOUR HATS ... guess what he says next .... ' well - you know there is a option to record a lost sale AUTOMATICALLY when you source something then drop the item from the invoice' .... whoo .... I have liked this idea --similar to what Worldpac does --every 4 times you look up a part ( but do not buy ) they count that as a lot sale .... well ..this is a seemly good idea ...so lets figure out where this option is ....

Call Help Desk - ask - they have never heard of it ( real popular ? ) --- Get a call back -- found it .... OMG --yet another item in INVOICE OPTIONS -- the last 5 posts are all about STUFF we find of use that has been ignored in INVOICE OPTIONS .... see the image -- that is what you turn on .... will need all staff to exit and log out for the data to get updated ... no big rush -- will not really get valid data for several months while this new option starts generating data ( we hope good info --Bob from Windsor likes it ...

Yet one more example of good stuff that doesn't get mentioned except in passing from one smart user to one semi-smart user trying hard to get smarter .... sure seems like a waste of talent at the way ( or lack thereof ) the help desk and bosses have no plan to push us a bone of knowledge every once in a while ....

Update - sort of - on Nex Gen descriptions

The Last Post ( just below this one - or click here for link ) was showing how we found the way to put the better description on the invoice from a NexGen e-cat lookup .... the example we used was to better describe a part as 'Distributor Cap' and not "Engine Management" part

BUT WAIT -- you just knew this was coming ... we now have a POOR description for Activant e-cat sales ( for us that is 90% of our look ups as we await the NexGen to get better up here in Canada ) ..... WTF ?

So -- what have we learned ....
1) there is a warning that is on the top of the page = that all of us missed initially .... that is 4 Managers ... ....see the image with this post ....
2) somehow the best setting ( for our 3 stores anyways is the TOP BOX of the two shown in the last post --is CHECKED and the bottom on is not ( so CAT DESC ON SCREEN is checked and CAT DESC ON INVOICE is not checked ....) We have asked Theresa on the help desk to dig deeper and explain why .... but we seem to get the same old adequate descriptions we always had on Activant and we get the better descriptions as shown on the post ( click here and see image )

What complicated this - was once our store #3 got involved and un-clicked - then we asked the store#1 and #2 to confirm if they see the problem -- they are saying - what problem ,.. an interesting situation for a problem solver .... we are 80% thru this point ---we think .. unless some other unknown pops up

Take a break -- what in the heck is really going on ??

There is a fundamental problem with the way that GPI ( aka CARQUEST ) is managing the process of training and troubleshooting the EXPLORIS ( aka NexPart by WHI ).

The example in the TRIVIA post just below is a prime example ..... for Greg Guyitt ( who is an owner of a store! ) to see a problem -- but the only option might be a call to the help desk to ask - in his busy day - well - it didn't happen here .... in stead he mentioned it in passing to the writer. Now I have ownership of this issue -- is the POOR DESCRIPTIONS something we feel if worth some effort to explore and ??? see if there is a fix? Well - you bet.

The flaw is in the system -- most jobbers will ask their AE .... What we also need is a system that has a 2nd option --a message board ... ( click here for previous article on this --- the repeated requests for a message board go TOTALLY IGNORED from the HIGHEST PEOPLE at GPI - hard to get much higher than Joe Z !! )

How in the hell would anyone in their right mind --depend upon constant calls to the help desk to solve EVERY LITTLE THING ???? Where are the cost savings in that ? How do you train yourself ? By calling the help desk on everything you want to know ?? WTF !!

So - let this be a poster child for the need to more options to train & trouble shoot - in addition to the role the help desk can play ....

If you want to DUMP the descriptions that SUCK -- here is how -- courtesy of the help desk ( after they figured it out and called me back .... on with the storey

HOW top FIX AWKWARD descriptions ..... to go CONTROLS>STORE>INVOICE SETUP ( side point - been on system for 12 months and never been in this screen - been here LOTS today - see other issue for stupid default qty's also posted on blog - click here )

The two images - one shows the control panel and the TWO boxes to TURN OFF - the other iamge shows a BEFORE (on left ) and AFTER (on right) for the differences .... and the better description comes thru on the customer invoice --- neat eh ? You bet ... now re-read my rant at the top - how do we better train our stores --had I not heard this quick comment - we would still be in dark on this .... message boards work .... well-- with progressive thinking ( anyways )

Next point -- Hey Dane - how can we TRIM the redundant lines -* duplicated descriptions -- so we can get more parts to show on any one screen of data .... every line has a cost ....why should a distributor cap take 4 lines when 2 lines could work ??? for the description and other details ????????

Greg Henderson

ps- you can do the changes and close POS - you do NOT need to QUIT Exploris like we seem to have to for so many other changes.

Misc Trivia -

a quick update -- some internet reader was kind enough to remind us how to solve the WRONG PER CAR QTY the info is on the article and click the COmment to read his ( and perhaps leave one of your own - we verify before publishing to avoid spam on guys selling Rolex watches, etc ) This seems to work in POS and in Nex-Gen e-cat ..... and we think is specific for that TERMINAL - not a store setting ... but we are still experimenting and more time and more eye's to try will help ....

the other image we have here -- is CUTE --- did you know we have MULTIPLE descriptions .... you get one description when you see the part from the e-cat and another when you sell using the part number ... in this example ( sorry --came from a PC and not my Mac that runs Exploris - so it is smaller than normal - some setting in that Gadwin maybe ??? )

Point being -- our customers want to know it is a cap or rotor -- they get confused when it is all listed as 'CARQUEST Gold Engine Mgmt' ---what kind of part is that ??????? This point came from Greg Guyitt from Auto Barn who mentioned it in passing when looking at the first point ... and you were going to mention this when .... ( smile )

Now you know you can leave comments -- knock yourself out ....

examples of WRONG per car qty ?

click on the image -- you will see the description says "for 2 joint shaft " ...so Ken Niefer's question to me is -- why do we have the default selling qty set at 4 ?? Ken thinks he would rather have default qty set to 1 -- versus something that is WRONG

other image is brake shpes -- were system defaults to TWO SETS ... that is a handy way to boost sales ...and returns ...smile

How many examples of this can you find ??

why CONTROL your MCL file ?

Talking with Moe from Northern Ontario - a new competitor to Monroe on complete struts has finally arrived ( Raybestos series #717 & 727 complete struts )

For a long while we have complained on the un-competitiveness of KYB - either they don't ( or slow ) to make the sku or the price.

The attached image shows that when you have control of your MCL file ( Activant's name for the control file that sets up what liens display in what order ) - you can turn on the Raybestos data ... and be precise - so like us --we don't want ( or need ) the chassis - just the struts

Thanks Moe -- you changed my work load for today .... appreciate the info ( see CARQUEST Jobbers Message board for more data - requires log-in registration and 24 hr pause to get your account set up )

EXPLORIS as a Multi-store computer system ??

There are so many holes in EXPLORIS when you review it as a multi-store system -- gee ... you really don;t know where to begin.

One example -- want to remind staff that some stores may have a 2nd line for that particular 'widget' ....so you go to Inventory>Part Entry>Part Association ( a 3-1-7 had anyone numbered the menu's )

OK --you have done the job---good work --- but wait -- if you have 5 stores -- you have then manually change stores and do it all over again .... and again for store #3 ...and again for store #4 ...and again for store #5 .... almost makes you NOT want to make any changes ... even though such a change can help your stores staff ....

EXPLORIS is far from being a multi-store user friendly computer system ..... help ???

what makes SOURCING SO SSSLLLOOOOWWWWWWW ?

Ken at D&T reminds me on a regular basis -- why is SOURCING SO SLOW .... if you have 2 or more parts on the request.

Is it sloppy programing ?? The speed of sourcing is a MAJOR roadblock for our counter staff - how can we get this better .... well - one way is to post it here and hope we can shame WHI into doing a better job on their Nexpart Exploris.

Love to have someone on Nexpart ( the non-CARQUEST version ) comment on how quick or not their system is .....

Good tip -- on MOVEUPS -- for PO's

We have a unique issue in dealing with the Toronto DC --they HOLD moveup orders TOO LONG ...while they get a break to pull them ... because they take so long - we stared CANCELING our moveup PO's and letting the system grab them in the evening and we get them in 2 days.

A great person on the help desk mentioned a tip -- see Image -- we set the Adjust Forecast PO to 'select' and that will NOT generate a PO ...saving us the steps of canceling in 3 stores -- maybe this tip works for you - at least we offer it.

Since our profile for all 3 stores is only used in Moveups - this change effects nothing else. Be careful if you are a single store.

A sample case of COMPOUNDED DUMBNESS

Get a call from Pete at Petes Paint -- we have done the first of a regular series of data dumps - were we grab some the data in Exploris ( very limited on data due to really inadequate reports offered (see request for universal report writer) and dump into Excel and sort ... and sort ... and sort.

He was working on a list of part with ZERO sales in 12 months and came across a part - FP HP10000 ...and asked questions -- we had a look and we were baffled as well .. this is a movement code 4.2 - this should be a good or at least adequate seller ... so we call our favorite guys ( and we mean this ) at Raleigh in the classogram dept who set movement codes ... sure enough USA sells well ,,, but in Canada this part is a DUD ....

Why ? Well --lets have a closer look ..

1) the PN code ( sub line ) is set wrong - in Canada we have it as a 7 - Misc parts ( see image as proof -this will get changed asap I hope ) were as it should be in PN#6 - fuel pumps ...the billing schedule sets PN#7 at a HIGHER PRICE

2) CARQUEST Toronto is OVERCHARGING us compared to other warehouses in Canada -- theyare TOO SLOW to react to the ever changing US-Cdn dollar exchange rate (amoung other factors) -- ADD most pressure -- and a resulting HIGHER PRICE we charge

3) it sure looks like Delphi is RIPPING the Canadian Market off --see the example in the image from Amazon --they are selling this way below any price available in Canada .... add more fuel to the HIGHER PRICE ... Delphi should get a good swift kick in the ass for this ... notice we left ONE DIGIT of our COST showing ... it is a number two ... ouch -- it needs to start with a number like ONE if we are going to sell this part ... come on Delphi - do you want us to single handedly pull your greedy ass out of bankruptcy ???

So -- if you stock a FP HP10000 in Canada -- you may not have sold many -- and the reasons are many -- but if you are in USA you are selling just fine -thank you ...

Everyone loves a good MYSTERY - right ?

A few days ago we ran into this problem for the first time - where the LINE CODE doesn't show ( see image ) on a part we think was manually created.

Well-- here is an example of a part that we think was created from a MOVE-UP ...part PLB K7B1 --and this problem is ONLY in our store #3 --store #1 and store #2 are OK.

Problem is - the help desk doesn't know how to fix it .... stay tuned -- more to come ( we hope )

PS --the 'SLN' column is set to be dropped in an upcoming release -- unsure what it does

Can't TRACK Worldpac sku's in EXPLORIS ?

Ryan & Ken were talking about the problems in finding data in LISA ( Line Item Sales Analysis ) for Worldpac ( WPC ) parts ... ??? Does anyone out there know why ?

We are testing same issues for PATI and Parts Ledger

See Images -- the part shows when you ask for all WPC parts but doesn't show when you ask for just that part ... hey ... that kills the trust in the system just a bit, eh?

Click on images to enlarge them

Late News Flash -- PATI & Parts Ledger also broken in the same test using WPC ......

Scary things happen AFTER Halloween , too !

Yep- just because Halloween is over -- doesn't mean SCARY THINGS stop happening in EXPLORIS ( Nexpart by WHI )

Any one have any idea's how we added a part # and the line code didn't take ?? Click on the image - the part has some OLD identifier -- whatever SLN refers to ( help desk this SLN column will be taken out in some future release )

When we heard that the help desk could not FIX this problem - we asked that it be sent to the programers ...since there was no release date for the update to remove the SLN column ( and at that time any BLANK LINE would copy the data from SLN - we are told )

See -- scary things happen year round in Exploris ... not just at Halloween....

EXPLORIS(n): overly complex yet lacking

My new definition of EXPLORIS --- overly COMPLEX yet lacking so many functions.

Have a look at this - what way do you have set up in our store? These images come from F8 Main Part Entry screen ... and deal with the differences between Price Field 6 Cost and Price Field 8 Cur Cost .... Bob Miller's (Walker Rd Auto - Windsor ON and one of the smartest users of Exploris I know ) system has PF#6 shown -- and this causes him to have to manually ADD the PF#8 data --so his end of day gross margins are calculated ( otherwise you make 100% GM )

Boy -- this PF6 and PF8 is confusing --especially if you want to run a report and LOOK for all parts where you are missing a PF6 &/or PF8. To the best of our knowledge the ONLY report that will show this is a 6 1 2 5 report ( had the menus been numbered like J-Con -- so the rest of us it is a Cust > Acct > Acct Pricing > Customer Pricing Sheet ... here you can add the PF#6 and the PF#8 data ( on bottom right of screen ) .... but ... wait ... too bad that T3 has BANNED us from exporting this data to Excel --- so scratch that idea for a way to 'dump the data' and look for part sku's missing data in PF#6 &/or PF#8 ....

Just want PF#8 --you can dump that data.... it is a scary list full of problems -- wonder what a list of missing PF#6 data would look like should I be able to get it ??

In summary -- if your store shows PF#6 in your Main Part Entry Screen(F8) --you want to call the help desk and get it changed for the CUR COST(pf#8) and you will save yourself a LOT OF TROUBLE .....just as Bob

EXPLORIS - who is it good for ?

There are more signs that Exploris ( Nexpart by WHI ) is not a jobber friendly system - that this example --

HOW do you know if a part in the F-8 Main Part Entry screen is currently on Promo ?? Such a simple question... the old J-Con system would flag the part so we know -- but -- the Exploris system -- gee -- that would be common sense -- something that must be an optional item that we didn't get.

You see the promo on POS Invoice - or in the pricing plan set up ( Customer>Accounts>Acct pricing ( if you know how it was set up ?? otherwise it can be confusing ) ... but something as simple as showing us the NORMAL COST and the SALE PERIOD COST ...that would be far too customer friendly .... for this system.

One can only hope - but somehow I don't hold much chance for this improvement to EVER happen.