The example
The steps below use a sample distributor, Lone Star Industrial Supply. Your customers, items and numbers will differ; the window and the fields won’t.
Sabine Poultry (customer 100360) is pricing a job and emailed request RFQ-2674:
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| BRG-6200 | 200 |
| GLV-CUT-L | 100 |
They have not placed an order. Give them a quote (good for the standard 30 days), so nothing is allocated or shipped until they say yes. Put their request number in the PO field.
Step by step in Order Entry
- 1.
Open Orders [Order Entry] from the Menu.
- 2.
Type 100360 in Customer ID and press Tab.
- 3.
PO Number: their request RFQ-2674.
- 4.
Tick Quote. The Quote Expiration Date shows 30 days out.
Without the flag this becomes a live order: stock is allocated and it can be picked.
- 5.
Line 1: Item BRG-6200.
- 6.
Type 200 in Quantity.
- 7.
Line 2: Item GLV-CUT-L.
- 8.
Type 100 in Quantity.
- 9.
Press Save. The number that comes back is the quote number to give the customer.
Mistakes that cost money
These are the checks Simetta’s scored test makes on this task, and what each mistake costs a distributor when it happens for real.
Quote not entered
The customer is left waiting for prices and buys from whoever answers first.
Quote entered as an order
A live order allocates stock and can be picked and shipped to a customer who only asked for a price.
Quote lines or reference wrong
The customer compares the quote with their request. Wrong items or quantities cost the sale or cause a wrong shipment later.
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