26 June 2012

Barcode technology eases Directa’s stock-takes

Industrial and office supplies firm Directa has upgraded its existing Syspro ERP system and is now starting to automate stocktaking using handheld Opticon barcode scanners.

When Directa bought its Syspro-based solution, it also purchased two barcode scanners and a Zebra Technologies barcode label printer to help streamline its warehouse operation and stocktaking procedures.

However, the firm was initially concerned about losing data as it moved from paper to a computerised stock management system so K3 was brought in to manage the data migration.

"The consultation stage went really well," says Cheryl Thompson, secretary to the directors at Directa. "The consultant spent two days with us, teaching us how to best use the devices with Syspro and how to streamline our stocktake process."

Directa's Opticon scanners have now been programmed to allow automatic capture of warehouse locations, stock codes and quantities simply by scanning the barcode. Captured data is stored temporarily in scanner memory in a flat data file format before being validated and uploaded into Syspro via the docking station.

"We run quarterly stocktakes, which previously required a lot of manual, labour-intensive work, with someone physically tallying all our information," comments Thompson.

"We have performed one stock take in our test company so far, with the Opticon devices, and we have not found any problems," she continues.

"Where previously a quarterly stock take would have taken two to three days, we could now get it done in no more than two days."

Author
Brian Tinham

Supporting Information

Companies
K3 Syspro

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