A tough thing to EXPLAIN -- but someone has to try

Somehow we are NOT co-ordinated -- here is the PROBLEM

Part # a is being replaced by Part # b .... that happens all the time -- but there is something WRONG on the way it FLOWS thru the system and ends up in EXPLORIS ( Nexpart by WHI ).

Example - PLB 12258B1 is changing to a much easier and INDUSTRY STANDARD part # H1 B1 ( b1 referring to the display pac ) ... but when you see the MOVEUP SCREEN ( click image to make larger ) --unless you have memorized these ....how in the hell would you have any idea ... and the 2nd part # also is updated from 12258CVS2 to H1 CVS2.

The point I am trying to make is --that someone at CARQUEST has to WALK thru the entire process and see what the jobber sees and has to deal with .....

What would help - a MUCH BETTER moveup screen for one thing ... with the option to see DESCRIPTIONS -- and remember we have to see BOTH desc #1 and #2 ....

IF only the delay in getting fixes and improvements wasn't at such a glacial pace ... cloud computing is supposed to offer FAST improvements - WHI has sure burst this idea ... we have seen slow but this is slower than slow.

I will forward a copy to my two fav's - Mike Deal and Dane Hunter - so I can get them to have a coffee and see this point I am trying to make...

HOW does a JOBBER do a moveup - when there are many supercessions in a line ?????? If we go out of step with what the warehouse does - all we get are B/O's ...

Note --warehouse sales are MOVED to the new part # --so sales you see are sales on the part AFTER the first move.

DUMPING the whole Inventory Report ... hmm ...

Talking with Bob Miller - he has been dumping ( exporting ) the entire inventory INFO report for his store for more than a year on a monthly basis ... sure put a shame on me ...

Points

-remember to save as Excel data only

-the file will cut into 62,000 records on sheet #1 - then continue to sheet#2 - and if you have a HUGE amount of stock - to sheet #3 ( we have only been live for 10 mths - so we have approx 120,000 records - you will find a HUGE amount of crap ..remember in J-Con we could only have 62,000 records -- heck - you have 40,000 parts o f sheer junk - too bad you can't delete

-handy way to change TEXT to NUMBERS - do a google search - you can add a 1 to empty cell - copy and then paste special to all cells you want to change - paste special - Multiply -- neat ... first time I have done it that way ( Bob tells me that latest Windoze version has an even better way - but I have Mac version )

-we added a couple of columns - Sales in Dollars ( sold 12 months x cost )

- total Inv $$ ( qty on hand X cost ) ...these columns will help you sort out your problems to the top or bottom on Excel

-sort out the inactive parts and move to new sheet - consolidate remaining data into one sheet -and start sorting

So I have some learning on this report. The first pass we sorted on ascending sales ( looking for ZERO sales $$ ) and descending Inv $$ .... so we can see what we have NOT SOLD in 12 ( or 24 )months ... and look for problems

Stay tuned - and thanks Bob for the 'gentle' reminder to do this .... . smile

Define an EXCEL GEEK ?

So you know you are a redneck ... when ..... is the start of the punch line for many jokes ...

Time to start a new one -- you know you are an EXCEL GEEK when .... and this is aimed at Bob Miller from Walker Rd Auto ... Bob has now passed me to the next level of EXCEL GEEKdom

Yesterday he calls (Bob doesn't type as best I can figure - he rarely posts on the CARQUEST JOBBER Message Board ) -- but boy --does he have good idea's . .. anyways he asks if I am still dumping all the inventory into Excel. In J-Con you had to do this to get any good report but in EXPLORIS ( NexPart by WHI ) the reports are so crappy I have avoided this ... waiting for the universal report writer that may never happen ( the 2-20 screen in J-Con ). Aways he tells me he IS dumping the data and pulling quite a bit f good info

- the third column that is UNMARKED by some sku;s have an asterisk * --these parts are flagged as being REPLACED by something else - this allows you to sort and then look further on issues ... now if we had additional fields in the INVENTORY INFO report - we would look at te DESCRIPTION#2 (which is only available on a count list ) ,.... but this is the system we have now.

-Bob is also sorting on the sales for 12 and sales for 24 months to see dead stock ...

OK -he has shamed me into starting to run this report.

BUT --if that was not enough - he calls today and asks questions on the warranty returns - see REPORTS-FINANCIAL-Line Sales&Purchases ( that would be a 5-1-5 if someone had the vision to number the menus ) ... he is dumping this data and sorting for the bad lines -- now I have a lot of work ahead.

Good points Bob

An EASY hour to save

Want to see how each store can save an HOUR a month ? Well - some stores it might be on 15 minutes but for other stores ( or multi-stores ) it can be well over an hour -- so lets round it off and call it an hour .... That is EVERY MONTH --12 months a year and for how many years ... times how many stores are on EXPLORIS ( Nexpart by WHI ) --and even little things like this will add up.

WHAT is it ?? -if you make the PRINT BUTTON work on POST ENTRIES -then all the extra charges like extra fees on customers WEB-LINK accounts for extra labor programs ..etc would print out --we could state what the charge is and ELIMINATE a lot of customer calls on questions on their statements.

LITTLE things to FIX in EXPLORIS just do not get much easier than this --do their ??????

We wait ....... and wait .....

Thanks to Rhonda for reminding me.

PS -- OF COURSE we would also like to have more DETAIL on the actual statement - where the EXPLANATION is also printed ... think like a customer and we can make better software

Interchange -just a suggestion

Wondering out loud here --on INTERCHANGE data ... I am a firm believer that no enough attention is placed on interchange data ( and the lack thereof - or the errors & omissions )

Look at the image ( click to enlarge )

1) the SM5147 is NOT Monroe --it is KYB ...how do these errors occur -and are they wrong for ALL data or did I get lucky and pick the ONLY ONE - I hardly doubt that

2) when we mistakenly key in a GOOD PART NUMBER ( in this case SHK 142413 ) --- gee --why not show the part number in the data ???????? and make life easier for the counter staff

Note sent to Raleigh --any support appreciated.

For this example we used the Activant e-cat as I believe the interchange is still missing from the NexGen e-cat ... hope someone taps me on the shoulder to remind me when the LONG OVER DUE interchange finally makes it to the NexGen e-cat .... in Exploris ( NexPart )

NOTE --it s ONLY Canada has is missing the Interchange in NexGen -- the USA have it -- OK - yet another example of ..well .. you know

Worldpac in Activant

see our store blog -- click here -- Worldpac e-cat in Activant --too good to be true -- wel -- maybe -- we need to dig the details on the part #'s used

But --there can be hope - for Activant users ... and you will be reminded that MCL file control is a handy thing.

DREAMING of better integration in WL2 to EXPLORIS

In Canada the IT dept is finally rolling out WebLink2 ( WL2 ) - so we are looking at what is new and different -- came across this on the JV store site -- the ability to request invoices and statements ... neat - but wait --this is NOT on our Independent Jobber customer's page ... hmm...

So the question is - HOW LONG will it take to get something similar - so our BEST CUSTOMERS can request on-line extra invoice copies or a statement ...all on line all from one computer to another .....

One Again - OFF Again -- is now back - On Again

Something that I never ever knew -- has been on --then turned off ( due to other issues ) - and is now ON AGAIN. What is it? The script in EXPLORIS ( Nexpart by WHI ) that sees a movement code of ZERO - and will set back any re-order point to ZERO as well.

I wrote this piece about an obsolete report ( click Here ) and had Mike Mizelle take the time to write me explaining I am wrong --and guess what --I am wrong. I also appreciate Mike's efforts to help make the info right.

Obsolete Lists were very awkward in J-Con - but in Exploris they have gotten better. However --there is still a ROAD BLOCK - while we WAIT for Toronto to update the movement codes ... we found that Toronto would DELAY updating the codes -and that stops us from having things move as smoothly as Mike says they should - the image with Dorman 210-631 was verified that it was still a mvt code 8 and not a zero today when I called Angella ... hmm ... the report dated Sept 1 2010 and today is Oct 5h

BTW -- I will post the entire comment from Mike in the original post ( Mike was kind enough to OK this - bravo for him )

How to make Countermen Happier ?

Walking by Ken at D&T just now - he grabs me and says 'if only they could ....'

His BIG BEEF on the invoice-E-cat combo is the ability to 'step' out of sourcing momentarily and got straight to e-cat. Situation -- customer asked for outer tie rod end for 1969 Whatever -- we go and look it up - and go to source it ... then customer says -- hay - I should have an inner tie rod end as well ...

EXISTING - we have to Return 'to Invoice' ( or Cancel - both buttons on the sourcing screen )

PROPOSED - add a button that allows the user to return 'to E-Cat' and bypass the delays seen in the existing. This could also hold the info for cash customers.

Call # 1355773 called in 10-4-10 .... lets see how long this request takes .... at least Ken - you know I asked on behalf of you and all countermen everywhere.

Productivity in EXPLORIS

The attached chart shows TOTAL HOURS worked by our office by year - the large drop happened when we switched to CARQUEST (part way thru one year ) ... but notice the INCREASE in hours worked this year as a result of the new EXPLORIS computer. We are spending MORE TIME - we challenge any claim that this is a more efficient system.

The hours represent standard office duties ( but not for inventory control ) and my hours are not part of this data. Examples of MORE WORK required to do the same job -- posting payments. We have reported these time wasters - but ...

How we treat our CUSTOMERS

The Web-Link2 roll out has been in USA for a year - but us up here in Canada are just getting it. One point worth noting --is the responsibility for WEB-LINK has gone from Marketing to IT Dept ( Business Tech - aka computer guys ) .... so what you say ...

HMM ...have you realized that your customers are finding WL2 more difficult than WL1 to work with? Well the call volume is WAY WAY up .... and the help desk staff have been reduced from 17 to 7 ... so ...the call times ( because why would be offer IMMEDIATE help for our BEST CUSTOMERS ?? ) have gone from hours to DAYS on a call back.

TRY THIS yourself -- log a call and see the delay. Then remind your BEST CUSTOMERS to ask you --and have you try to help - because such SLOW RESPONSE is no way to treat your BEST.

Questions on Importing Data into X lInes

There are various notes in here on IMPORTING X LIne data into EXPLORIS - but it is still interesting to see how many CARQUEST jobbers do NOT know you can import the data --and they are manually keying in the data ... OMG

A question came up - we were lead to believe that ORDER POINTS could be added to the template ( after all it is ON the template !! ) -- it now turns out that order points are NOT ADDED, so that answers a new question we had -- on a PRICE CHANGE - what would happen when you change prices -- and left the order point column blank -- moot question for now.

The curious problem comes up on what do you do when a part becomes obsolete in the price update - we ran into this on a Truper Lawn Equipment update --so we changed the description to reflect it was 'DISCONTINUED 9-2010'. We new this because we took the original file and updated cost prices - so any part that did NOT UPDATE we knew was not a currently valid part #.

Part 4 - missing Images - How long can we WAIT ?

Here is a good( albeit long ) story --- missing Images .... take a line like ECC by Wells - no better example of why images are SO IMPORTANT --does the switch you need have have a square or round 'widget' hole .... ????

So - follow me on this --- there are a HUGE amount of ECC images we are missing. In some cases if we

knew the WELLS number - believe it or not --some are in the system - but tagged to the wrong part # ...how do you get a Wells part #? They know they have a problem and we await the IT dept to re-load the images --but they are TOO BUSY on the new e-cat to spare any time to fix an old problem ... and they are NOT loading any more ECC corrected images until the old bad-linked ones get fixed ( can you spell catch-22 ?? )

So - Wells announced a new improved web site ... the trouble is in their INTERCHANGE they do NOT

have loaded the CARQUEST part number to find the equiv WELLS # .... see attached images to prove this

So --we are busy chasing our tail ( image for that one too ) --there are a few things that can be fixed --we just wonder who cares ???

Update - there is a new E-Cat on the internet for ECC - click here for the link- but the problem here is oyu have to RE-LOOK Up the part application one more time - if it had a direct link on the page for Images - or iwe could make the interchange work (some issues - and are told we need to put the dash in the right spot .....aaawwwhhhh )

CANADA -- BLAME CANADA ---

Here is yet another example of the ROADBLOCK the Cdn operations put on the Cdn CARQUEST jobbers ... to recap -when new parts are added to the USA data base they send Canada a lista nd ask for proper Cdn pricing - in theory the Cdn DC staff ( under Peter McNally ) completes the data and sends it back and it is added.

In FACT what happens the data request SITS on someone's desk and waits - and waits. The end result is that the Cdn Jobbers can NOT sell the part. Or we can sell it - but must source it from from one of the numerous other warehouses who have their act together and have the products.

Why does CQ Canada have to be the slowest to market ?? the Fastest to Market would be such a nice treat. Example DOR 748-172 window regulator for 2006-08 Chev Impala's - but have hundreds of others to show

Dumb & Dumber - Part #3 - Multi Store -add parts

The title is for Multi-store but there are impacts for just single store as well. Background ( yep -a long story ) -- in Jan Neil from Petes Paint was asking when will we get Quick Strut combo for late model Dodge mini-vans ... missing a LOT of sales to Monroe as we wait and wait and wait for KYB ...wrote Darren Tyo ( buyer ) in Raleigh to see - he replied back ... in 4-6 weeks. Wrote back in June and asked again. Going thru older e-mail from June and came across this - looked up the part to see if it was in yet ... hey -- it is on in!!!! and one of our stores ( Pete's - who originally asked for it ) was smart enough to add. ...so go to multi-store editor ...I have trouble and call help desk ( says adding part and sits there for ever - call # 1336913 - also missing fields )

Dave from help desk calls back and we discuss something really interesting points -- he tries to add KYB SR4038 ( and SR4039) to his test data base --- and it says part not found ( see image on this post that I got from another multi-store jobber that also shows the problem).

Now - lets stop and point this out -in the past when we have seen this box saying do you want to add --it had always meant it was was NOT in the system in either the active or the non-sku file - and we were M

AKING UP A PART. Well--what good does it do us to make up a part number ( apart from as a X line we buy outside of CARQUEST ) ?? A made up part won't get updated ... and it has one annoying feature - it gets added with a BLANK PN Code ( sub line ).

BUT --wait --he did it and guess what --the part was added from the non-sku file --with all the right data .... POINT .... when the box comes up saying do you want to add ... we need MORE INFO --we need to know a) is it in the non-sku file or b)do you went to make something up yourself and support it for the rest of your life.

This same box appears many other screens (your single store jobbers - take note). In fact we reported that in ONLY two areas - POS Invoice and the MAIN PAGE of the F-8 Inventory screen does the system look at the non-sku file .... WTF .....

Note to staff -- sometimes you need to say yes -- see if the part is in the non-sku file -- but if it NOT there and the system wants you to add data -- get the hell out and do not add ... damm.... what an awkward system.

Exploris ( Nexpart by WHI ) has a LONG WAY to go before it is ready for serious users ( and we are in year 5! of Exploris.

ps - we have asked Raleigh to FIX the mvt code from 7.1 to 5.9 on these -- if you do NOT have these parts --add now -- KYB SR4038 and SR4039 -late model mini-van.

Dumb Things EXPLORIS does ( or doesn't ) - Part 2

Instead of waiting for Bob Miller to 'get time' to write this ( since he has authoring rights for this blog ) - lets add part # 2 of DUMB & DUMBER things Exploris ( Whi Nexpart Computer system ) does ( and doesn't do )

Issue 0-- you order something from the Warehouse or another store thru SOURCE IT -- fine ...BUT ...they call back and say -- gee --sorry - I can't find it.

Now what ...

if you do nothing --the other location cancels the order but if yo

u think the EXPLORIS should be smart enough to go from their system ( having cancelled the order ) and go into our system and cancel our PO AND NOT ADD the QTY to our system ... well ..;. wouldn't that be far too easy?

If you go find the PO in our system -- still not really work ...gosh dawn - only knows why? The RIGHT WAY to to manually adjust qty on hand the day afterwards ... OH GREAT -- just what we are trying to promote our staff to do -

We NEVER want to have to manually adjust qty on hands ... of all the absolute stupid things to do in this system. To prove this point -- in our 3 stores we BILL a store use account for parts that we find have a wrong count - this is an idea we got from another jobber and loved the idea as it does a couple of things

a) it stops staff from manually adjusting counts ( except for the above STUPID issue)

b) it sends an e-mail to the manager with the invoice so he knows the count issue

c) we see a monthly total on the statement

To force us to manually adjust a count in Exploris is just absolutely plain STUPID and DYSFUNCTIONAL.

REALLY DUMB things that EXPLORIS can & can't do - part #1

Dumb things that EXPLORIS ( Whi's Nexpart ) can and can't do - lets see - let me count the ways ...:-)

How about call #1332595 placed today to start the long process to fix and make easier -some way -- any way !! -- to handle canceling OLD ORDERS. Issue -- we process orders thru Exploris - but after 60 days the ADIS warehouse system cancels any unfilled Back Order (B/O) -- but the systems are NOT SMART ENOUGH to talk with one another to co-ordinate the canceling. Gee- what is with this -- ADIS is a major player in DC warehouse systems - the systems can talk when we place the order - but not when we have to cancel orders ?

OK -- how about something easy in Exploris to remind stores when they have a lot ( or just one ) OLD order and ask if we want OLD ORDERS cancelled? Well - we have nothing.

Here is a LINK ( click here ) to see what dates are older than 60 days

For our stores we have added a goggle calendar note for mid-month to double check that store managers have remembered to have someone go in and trash older orders ... talk about a system that make work easier ... not ...not this Exploris ( Nexpart ) anyways. Cloud computing is supposed to be innovative and QUICK to adapt .... sees that WHI is more content to pocket the fees and be very slow at standard items one can only think should have been there 5 years ago when this system rolled out ...

FIRST to MARKET ----hhaaa

a lot of great questions come from Jeff Hackney = here is another - he ( and I ) are Cdn Jobbers -- boy do we get pissed off when the Cdn guys DRAGGG THEIRRRR FEEEETTTTT on adding new part numbers. CFI 84151 fits 2011 Fords -- they are selling -- too bad we do not have them in our system in Canada - but the USA has them in their system

We know when the part prices in Web-Link in USA and DOES NOT PRICE from a Cdn customer --that we are missing the data in the Cdn ADIS computer

DAMM

EXPLORIS in Multi-store -- now QUITE ready for prime time

CLICK HERE >>See this link - posted in April 2010

A simple thing in multi-store --is to look up one single part --and wonder WHAT ARE THE OTHER STORES DOING with this PART ?? In J-Con is was simple -- try the 2.2 screen.

In Exploris ( Nexpart by WHI ) it is anything but simple - in fact it really doesn't exist - as I can't really call the multi-store creator-edit screen a user friendly screen. Maybe after a re-think on this screen this could do -- but it sure was slapped together fast and without much care ( imho )
who cares about multi-store users ????

What would help?

- on line help - where you can 'mouse over' one of the many FIELD NAMES in Field Selection ( see 2nd image ) and know --what is the difference in things like DC POP and USER CLASS and

SALESS CLASS 1&2 ( hint sales class 1&2 is the way they handle the movement code 5.1 --they put into 2 buckets )

-any printed help for this screen -- call # 1318520 is a request for some printed help on field selection -so we are not wasting time in trying to GUESS what fields are important and need to be displayed - vs - what fields are junk or just BLANK data and are wasting valuable screen space.

-speaking of LIMITED SPACE available - please give us an option to have sales by the YEAR as an option--to avoid the MANY options for month and month-1 and month-2 -- what a waste and what a pain to not have the option for SALES this year and SALES last year ( or in some reports it is sales this year and sales for the last 2 years - I guess I can get used to this ? )

Damm is is aggravating !

MORE Errors in Exploris - waiting for WHI

While I have my 3 store managers ( and partners ) reviewing the Sales Analysis reports for various customers by - this reminds me of a much earlier bug reported to the help desk - that we await the speedy action of WHI ( ok - sorry for the sarcasm ---called in on April 13, 2010 and with NO ETA on if or when this bug will ever get fixed (call#1133029) - verified this today thru help desk).

The Sales Analysis report --when you export as DATA ONLY ( if you export as formated excel-there are merged cells that STO you from sorting data -- what good is that ) you will see an error in the data -- the excel image posted shows a pink line two rows down --that dat belongs to the RED area on line 7. So the report picked up an extra CR (carriage return) and two wrong LF ( line feeds)

In excel you can add a formula =A7 in the k4 cell. And you can drag this from K4 thru 4 to copy. Then you can drag down to copy formula to the bottom of the screen -- don;t worry -- we will sort and throw out the junk afterwards.

Then you COPY and PASTE SECIAL - just values into the area in red - columns K thru P

Now -- sort - I use column J - sort in ascending order and all your junk goes to the bottom and you can trash ...and you have a corrected data - again. Extra work courtesy of sloppy programing from WHI Nexpart