Efficiently managing inventory and promptly responding to customer inquiries are essential for distributors or manufacturers who keep product in stock. However, manually searching through extensive product options and inventory availability can be time-consuming and prone to errors. In this blog post, we will explore how Infor CPQ (Configure, Price, Quote) serves as a powerful inventory lookup tool, revolutionizing the way distributors operate. Let's delve into how this technology simplifies the process and enables distributors to quickly retrieve vital information, such as serial numbers, stock status, and location.

Consolidating Data in One Place

Traditionally, searching for specific product options and availability involved sifting through multiple systems, such as ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), leading to tedious and inefficient workflows. Infor CPQ replaces this arduous process by consolidating all relevant data in one place. Acting as a querying tool, CPQ empowers distributors to sort available options, select desired configurations, and effortlessly access crucial information.

Effortless Inventory Lookup

Imagine you are a distributor of Transformers, catering to dealers who frequently inquire about product availability with specific options. Previously, you might have manually searched line by line through countless machine serial numbers, a time-consuming endeavor. Even with the help of spreadsheets, there’s no way around the fact that this is an extremely manual and time-consuming process. With Infor CPQ, inventory lookup becomes a breeze. Let's explore how it works with a specific example.

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Configuration Screen: Upon receiving a dealer's inquiry, you can navigate to the configuration screen within Infor CPQ. Here, you encounter the initial question, prompting you to select default options for the desired configuration.

2. Selecting Options: Suppose the dealer requests a single-phase transformer with copper winding, a temperature of 115, and DOE 2016 efficiency. By choosing these options and clicking "Continue," Infor CPQ swiftly reads your ERP information and processes it—all in a matter of seconds.

3. Retrieving Serial Numbers: Now, you arrive at the serial number tab where, based on the information scanned in ERP, a dropdown menu appears and displays the available machines in stock. In this scenario, you instantly see one transformer with its corresponding serial number and location—an indicator that it is ready for purchase from your main warehouse.

4. Fine-Tuning Configurations: In case the dealer requests modifications, such as changing the winding material to aluminum and eliminating the efficiency requirement, you can adjust the options accordingly. Infor CPQ promptly updates the available machines, now showing two with their respective serial numbers and locations.

5. Generating Purchase Orders: In instances where no machines meet the specified configurations, Infor CPQ notifies you that a purchase order is required. Leveraging the configurator and the selected options, you can seamlessly generate a purchase order to be sent to the manufacturing company for the desired machine.

Infor CPQ serves as a transformative inventory lookup tool for distributors. By centralizing data and automating the querying process, it significantly reduces the time and effort required to retrieve vital product information. Distributors can now respond to dealer inquiries promptly, efficiently manage stock availability, and even generate purchase orders seamlessly.

If this seems like a feature that could benefit your current process and operations, let’s connect! Reach out to contact@renaissancetech.com or directly here on the web.