Benefits of customers receiving statements by e-mail

Send Statements by e-mail -- The cost savings are HUGE when you factor in the costs of postage and labour to assemble a statement to mail .... then multiply that by 12 months a year then multiply that by ... 20 ? as a number for the number of years you can save $$ ....

We have requested from Data Warehousing ( part of Business Intelligence unit ) a special report to help us audit the existing customers we have set up to receive statements ( and do NOT forget the option to e-mail invoices - dropping the need in most cases for copies of invoices to be mailed with statements ) ---this report will let us look for customers we MISSED on our 9 month push to get customers to accept e-mail statements.

Oh --did I mention that Canada Post is due to go on strike June 2 2011 ?

Quick - name one thing sadly lacking in Exploris - yep - good sales stats

When Exploris was just a gleam in the eyes of many and the writer was asked to be on the advisory council --the better thinks were wildly imagining all the great things that a new system could or should do ... one of them is to have GREAT reporting on what our customers are buying.

Sadly this has not happened and may never happen .... and with recent rumoured changes in TECH-NET rebates -- it is all the more required.

LOOK-- a jobber should be able to DRILL DOWN and look at sales numbers .... what are my stores sales in total ... then he should have the option of looking at a couple of options"

-what do I do by customer type ( all farmers - all body shop .. etc )

-what do I do by product groups or buckets - ( all tool lines - all brake related lines .. etc )

and importantly --what do I do by banner programs - what are my tech net sales .... as a group ... or what do my e-sales do by the group .... and get data LIVE --NOW -- now 45 to 60 days afterwards ....in the case of e-sales

And if we are reviewing sales and comparing to 'INDUSTRY AVERAGES' - we need to have timely LIVE data ... and have the ability to review with our customers over a period of months to see if there are mis-understandings or issues that need to be resolved thru gentle and consistent suasion ...

Exploris needs to be a management tool - not just a typewriter and an adding machine. We need better functionality in Exploris ... and we need it now ... 90% of all updated are BUG fixes --lets go to IMPROVEMENTS that we can use to be smarter and better ....

This link ( click here ) was done in May 2010 - asking for similar ....

EXPLORIS Wish # 1640421 ( our call number )

A while back ( a long time ago ) we started to number requests ... the oldest one we have on record is Dec 09 2004 !! ... and from there we stayed with the 5000 series of request. Then in 2009 as we were getting ready to go to Exploris ...yep --we took our sweet time ...we went to the 6000 series ... well --got this idea ...use the call # when we register a problems/BUG/enhancement...

so here is the start of a new trend ....

#1630421 .... Alternates ....... how do we copy an alternate from master store to all stores ( vs - doing it the LONG DUMB way now )

#1630421 ...same call # -- how can we get a list of ALTERNATES in our system .... time marches on and what was a good alternate will someday be a junk link --how do we get a list of alternates so we can FLUSH the bad out of date ones ?? Remember that in e-cat these alternates show - and you will want to clean up the junk in e-cat for sure....

Ok -- we star the clock -- and wait for things that should have been in Exploris from day 1 ... click here to see previous posting for Alternates ......

Politics and Stupidity get in the way of Customer Service

We are pushing at the highest levels in CARQUEST to have WorldPac (WPC ) show on the front page on the gen-2 e-cat .... but CARQUEST is stubbornly refusing to discuss this issue ... why ?

Well- in Canada anyway = price a fuel filter or a Delphi fuel pump .... Come on CARQUEST -- earn our business the old fashion way - with service and honour.

These higher prices in CARQUEST -- are killing our reputation with our customers -- a recent Delphi example .... $289 from CQ ..... $215 from WPC ... which is in line with another DC at similar prices ....

wrong links in INTERCHANGE - for Canada

There is a lot happening in Gen 2 e-cat during the past few days -- and you will see more INTERCHANGE data be added ... now we have to find the the lines that need to be corrected for CANADA ... see image --remember you can click to make the image bigger

bad lines awaiting updating

BAT - use the Cdn part # ( not the easier to understand USA part # - bit I digress )

CLP - not our line of Calipers - we use CAL and set CLP for something else

Some interesting problems in lines like GSK and SLS ... not sure what is going on --

Problems are easy to spot --look for parts that say NIF ( not in file ) and therefore do not price- these mistakes have been sent in for correction - should be fixed in a few days ... one of the nice things for Gen-2 -fast fixes...

Common Sense fix to EXPLORIS - from Sourcing BACK To E-Cat

Here is a common sense request aired at last nights staff meeting ( from Ken N ) ...how can you add the missing functionality in Exploris to go from E-Cat to Sourcing and ....drum roll please ......... BACK to E-cat to continue selling more parts for that customer.

Ken tells us that is is especially annoying when dealing with a CASH Customer.

Please - try it yourself - and see what 'limiting' software does to a busy counterman ...

Can you tell me if this is on ant radar to get fixed ... and if so - an ETA --or are we the first to mention it ?? ( note to readers - Ken has mentioned this over the past year - but I have not posted it until today )

Can you think of another COMMON SENSE feature that Exploris is missing ????

Save me from my bad memory ... X lines in E-Cat

It is harder to remember facts .... here is one worth repeating -- I need you to remember this so I can ask you - in case I forget again.

ADDING X lines to Web-Link and Web-Link2

===========================================================

v2 is immediate, upon editing your store filters. We should get that done this morning. ( tip - this is done by asking Raleigh )

v1 is updated monthly to match your stores' legacy MCL.
You also may request a "Weblink v1 MCL update" for your stores through the HelpLine, which will route it to e-Services. ( tip - you can have access to your MCL file or call and ask ... but from a training standpoint you learn a lot by having direct access to your MCL file )

Adding X-Lines to Exploris - part #2

Adding X-Lines to Exploris Computer in CARQUEST pt1

How to add data to your Exploris

This continues to baffle me = so many jobbers wanted the ability to add X line data to their Exploris - a priority from day one on the committee. But so few jobbers do it - adding X line data

Click this link to see previous posts - posted in 2010 - and links to posts done in 2008

Steps we used to add a recent line

1) add the vendor ...

You don't need all the fields - in fact you need very few fields - but you need this to order and set sublines ( PN Codes)

2) add sub lines --called PN Codes in Exploris .... think ahead ... can this make it easier for the future ...or do you dump everything into one sub line ... how do you sort your socks from your shirts at home ( hint - in all clothes in one big pile - oh boy -a tough nut to crack here )

3) add vendor line to the Purchase order file profile - if you want Exploris to run suggested orders ... in NEW PURCHASE ORDER ( hard to remember the first few times - trust me )

4) you need to keep good notes on lines you add -- on your PC or Mac - make a folder for this line of parts and keep your notes there .... trust me -- in 3 years you will not remember what you did --write good notes as every day you get older

5) get the data you want to import --this is the BIGGIE --if you suck at Excel - you need to hire someone ... it is pretty simple --ONCE you know excel ...

The above image is the template you need to fill ... the items in yellow are the typical data you need -the grey columns are rarely used

Getting good at this takes time -the first line you add will take you a LONG TIME - but as you get smarter and better you really start doing this faster. So fast at times you really start tomake mistakes - and since Exploris ( Nex-Part by Whi ) can;t delete - we end up moving the mistakes to PN#999 and labeling this JUNK and changing the description and zero back the price - all handy to do on Mass Modify in Exploris

6) until we get version 50.5 ( in a few weeks ??) we send the file to your local BTM and they import - for use we like them to do it - having the DFIU ( Data File Import Utility - written up on page 8 of the version 50.5 release notes ) just lets us the the job ... all the work is in parts #1 thru 5 .... the DFIU is no big deal

7) do you need the data linked to e-cat .... yes you can -- this will be held for another thread message

Greg

Questions on MOde 2 invoices ... why ?

A few days ago our town had an internet outage by the telephone company - so both our stores in Leamington, n where DOWN and had to use MODE 2 invoicing ... that was a good test in of its self .... but we have questions now .... here is what Rhonda wrote to Dane Hunter ....

I have a little question for you regarding Mode 2 invoices. When an invoice is processed while in Mode 2 it is assigned both a reference number and an invoice number. When internet service is restored and Mode 2 invoices are processed they are reassigned a different reference number and invoice number. Issue arises when a charge account customer calls and wants to know why the invoice they have does not show on the statement. Why can't the system take the invoice number from the Mode 2 invoice and just post that to the account under that invoice number? Why does it reassign a different invoice number?

Good point --this is just one more complexity that needs to be addressed. Since the JV stores rip the data out and go to Oracle ... maybe this question is ONLY an Independent Jobber question ... and who is championing these Independent Jobber issues ...

Care to chat ... 519-322-2558 and ask for Greg or e-mail at gregdothendersonatwrenchead.ca ( done this way to avoid more e-mails from Nigeria ... I have enough Viagara e-mails to last me a lifetime

Exploris Grey Box Error

This error that we have been seeing is fixed. You must call the help desk and they will fix it. I was told by our other stores it was fixed a week ago but we just got ours fixed today. If you don't call it looks like you don't get.

EXPLORIS Moveups - something can make this better

We posted this ...click here ....on Oct 27 2010

And posted this ... click here ... on May 3 2010

It is sad that Exploris has such a LONG CYCLE of improvement --we have no idea if these wil ever happen ..... look at the image .... lots of sales but a slow selling movement code in the 8's -- gee -- if Exploris only had a BETTER SCREEN ... on that we could see the REPLACED PART linked to the first part -- would be nice.

Why can;t Exploris get better faster -- that is our biggest issue... for being cloud computing ...this doesn't change att he pace of other cloud systems .... this should be called Glacier Computing ... or Snail Computing ... as it seems to move at the glacial pace .... or a slow snail on a good day on a greased slope.

Using Alternates --a short term win --a long term loss

The idea of Alternates is GREAT .... you link parts you want your staff to suggest as options -- maybe a good better best or ... well - we are out of this- but have this - just as good.

The execution of Alternates in Exploris is dismal. The major killer is the lack of any report to see what you have and to maintain the alternates.

How can we take these really good ideas and make them work to sell more and give better customer service .... alas this is written up as an enhancement to Exploris and goes on the pile to await ????

E-cat - fixing the order of parts showing in E-cat

As far as I know --to fix the nex-gen e-cat you still need to ask Brian Wiggs in Raleigh - but for the older and still preferred e-cat ( in Canada anyways ) - just a reminder that you can request control of the MCL file to set order ....

this first image will tell if you have MCL access ... and if not - ask - just be careful and you can screw up stuff while you learn ... do baby steps

See this link here on a recent improvement we did for our 3 stores in BRAKES- click here

Love to solve these kinds of PROBLEMS ...

For a couple of months I have heard from key staff that they could not search and find 'some' lines code parts that they KNEW they had sold .. eg: WPC or KST ( Worldpac or eKeystone )

Finally -- we get an answer from hte help desk .... what these lines have in common is --they all have LONG PART NUMBERS .... and the setting in VENDOR>>LINE>>LINE ENTRY .... see image -- change from Alpha Numeric to ALPHA-Long Pad ....then change the length from default 8 to '15' ...and update.

This will make life SO MUCH EASIER now ... finding parts sold in WPC or KST using parts ledger or LISA.

Good catch Ryan, Matt and the guys at D&T for sharing this find.

Vacation over -- lets get back to work ....

the last 2 months have been quiet on this blog -- gee ... can it have a bearing on the fact that Greg H was on vacation in Calif for that period ... well ... I am back ... lets see how we can get the ball rolling again. Once I clear some ...err ...paper work...

The Joys & Frustrations of DUMPING Data into Excel

Had a nice call from Moe from Sudbury late yesterday. He had started to push his knowledge (and that is a good thing! ) -- he was comparing the CORE prices of our Cdn line of Callipers by Cardone with Raybestos ...

Here is the NEAT fact he has learned ... of the 192 sku;s he crossed and compared --the AVERAGE price difference is 58% less in Raybestos .... if you add up all cores in CQ CAL it is $9160 and in Raybestos it is $3827. So ( 3827-9160)/9160= 58% ..... or if you divide by the NEW line it becomes ($3827-9160)/3827 = 139% less. Either way that is an amazing difference. It has not been verified if these core prices have been tweaked by CARQUEST ( or not ) - either way - this is a very surprising report. Remember that CORE PRICES should always have 100% price protection --as this is a value outside of our control. In fact I mentioned to Moe that Cardone is like Bernanke -- when they INFLATE the price -they are printing money - they set the price and then expect us to pay them that price.

Here is an example .....

CAL CQ # Core ......... Raybestos Core ...............% Difference

19B1596..........	63.00	FRC10395	8.00.............	-87%
19B1597	63.00	FRC10396	8.00	-87%
18B8046	67.50	FRC11007	8.00	-88%
18B8047	67.50	FRC11008	8.00	-88%

Now --to the technical side of the cross in Excel ...so we can all learn to o better data reviews.

1) EXCEL ( or openoffice.org or Google Doc or equiv. spreadsheet) is the SINGLE most important piece of software you will ever learn ..the fact that over 85% of all CARQUEST jobbers do not know how to work it - is something that YOU need to address ( do you have a friend - or co-worker - your spouse to help train you ... or grab a book and the don't forget youtube.com

2) run your report to PREVIEW and click the upper right hand envelope to export as DATA ONLY to excel (data only gets rid of many stupid formatting issues - you will see )

3) what version of excel do you have - older versions only handle 62,500 rows - newer versions handle over a million - and when you get going -- you can really get some HUGE reports - for example - dump your entire inventory file -- using Inventory Info .... and sort al parts with dat in the REPLACED BY column ... see how much stuff you have on hand that is obsolete and you could return ... as it is sold as something different ....

4)with what Moe did -- compare one lien with another ... now - that is where it gets tricky. Bob from Walker Rd in Windsor has a program that takes two excel sheets and when the part number match's - brings the data from one to the other --- for example- you have a price list for your callipers (with core ) and a price list for another line .. and a cross reference list ... with some learning you can quickly compare 100 or 1000 or 10,000 pieces of data .... versus the old fashion ay of doing it by eye manually. Personally I mastered the rather complex formula using =INDEX(MATCH) in excel -- if you go to google and type that in -- you will find some youtube video's --remember I mentioned them earlier ( too bad we don't have EXPLORIS TRAINING in 3 minute youtube type video's ) -- caution - this is for experienced users

5) for jobbers who want to learn - some quick excel tips to master

-much of the data comes out as TEXT even thought it looks like a number - when you sort you will see it sorts like text ....1 then 10 then 2 then 20 then 3 ...and so on ...there is an easy way to fix this - search using google and just ask the question "how do I convert test to numbers in excel (look for the multiply by trick )

-for advanced users - using =INDEX(MATCH) --- can;t make itwork ..everything looks right ... this will really blow you away -- the data you are trying to MATCH ... use =CLEAN(TRIM) functions....again google it ... it strips invisible 'junk' and all of a sudden your formula works

Excel is not something you can master quickly - but once you start -- it can be a lifelong friend helping you handle data ....

Now - back to cores being 58% less ( or was that 139% less )

How Many People for it Take to Change a LIGHT BULB ?

A few months ago there was a system wide service outage at CARQUEST for EXPLORIS ( NexPart by WHI ) ... after the dust settled and all was back to normal - we took a look and gave the events a once over ... and asked the question : WHY DIDN'T CARQUEST notify us via e-mail or automated voice mail ( or both ).

LOOK at the image --- here is another warehouse that just seems to have their SHIT TOGETHER (as the saying goes ) .... 6:56am today we get a notification ... calls are placed to all our stores to notify ONE counterman and a REQUEST that that person tell the rest of their co-workers .... and at 8:16am am notification that they are back on line .... and the same calls to ensure the stores know they are back up.

So - -lets look at the issue with CARQUEST

-they have be terribly slow at rolling out e-mail access to their store managers .... hmm ....

-even though senior staff were urged to be more pro-active ... there has to be the BOSS(s) are reluctant to be innovative .... was that Joe Z (who has since retired)? or ?? T3 ?? Someone at the highest level is sending chilling signals for management to 'stay the course' --and that what they have been doing is GOOD ENOUGH. Who is killing innovation ??????

So - when the next outage happens .... we have to resort to calling in to see what the hell is happening ...and WAIT ....

PLEASE -- plagiarism is the most sincere form of flattery ......as the saying goes --LOOK at good idea's and BORROW them ....

I am not saying that this suggested change ALONE will solve ALL problems ... but is is a baby step and every baby steps helps ....

Now --back to the issue of NO TRAINING for EXPLORIS .... gee ...even a 4 minute youtube video on how this or that works .... for us ... show us the Multi-store Creator-Editor for one ... or how about a re-cap on where we are for the Nex-Gen e-cat issue --especially for us Cdn's --who are always keep in the dark ... ( the definition of a mushroom ) ...like when do we get INTERCHANGE for Nex-Gen .... yep --Cdn's do NOT have that ....

OK bosses at CARQUEST ( GPI ) --- your move .... and the last time I said that -- I was told my presence at the San Diego golf outing in Jan-2011 ( that I have attended for 4 years and pay for ) was no longer allowed ( and told months after I paid and sent int he reply ... but weeks before the event is happening (class - eh?) .... gee ...what else can you do to me ?? Guess I need to look out for black helicopters coming my way ... ( smile ) . I have added that to my resume - right along with the fact that I was the FIRST jobber to be fired from the EXPLORIS Advisory Committee -see Mike W --beat you at something ...

How do we EFFECT CHANGE at CARQUEST ??

Tweaking Security

Since opening the ugly issue of yearly review on security settings, etc ... a few things have changed. One IMPORTANT issue I am reminded of ---NEVER ASSUME that Key staff see what I see ... taking with some -- pushing for more understanding on how to write up new parts and make changes that effect all stores ( like a part that is booming -- make sure all stores in our group stock ) .... and guess what ...the settings needed some tweaking ... here is a small change .... the level 2 security ( typical key staff on counter ) now see JUST the Creator/Editor and do NOT SEE the Mass Update option in INVENTORY>>MULTI-STORE ... gee ...even I dislike looking at the mass update tool -- need much more training on that puppy ( hey - GPI --where is the ONGOING training for this system ?? )

Been told that this change applied EARLY to our stores -- will change to all stores everywhere on next security update .... yours might not have changed yet -check in a week ( month? )

======== Additional Change we have requested -- we would like for level 2 staff to at least see ( if not change ) the PN Codes in VENDOR>>LINES>> We are starting to use different PN codes to move CRAP part numbers in the various X lines ( since this system can NOT delete old crap parts out of system -- at least not yet or in the foreseeable future