 |
||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||||||||
|
||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
Software
Features - Sales Force Automation
 |
|
| BMA’s new remote OE user capability is currently being rolled out. | |
| This provides the ability for remote users with a Notebook or Tablet PC (remote computer or RC) to run BMA OE unattached to the main database. It does so by allowing the RC to download a copy of some of the BMA files to itself from either the main database or a backup copy of the main database. | |
| Getting data to the RCs: |
BMA now offers a backup utility that can be scheduled (internal scheduler or Microsoft Scheduler) to perform an automatic backup of a BMA database on selected days of the week and at a specified time of day (or run it immediately - NOW). An issue has to do with copying the data when the files are not in use. SO as long as ALL users exit BMA and the BMA backup is scheduled, there will be a copy of the BMA database available from which RCs may copy data during a day without concern over files being in use. |
| Transferring new orders back to the main BMA database: |
RCs may be brought back to the main office, connected to the LAN and the new sales orders may be transferred automatically to the main database by merely selecting a menu selection. A LAN connection is fast. RCs may also transfer sales orders by connecting remotely to the internet and with a VPN connection (see below) and mapped drive accomplish the same thing – just slower because of communication speeds. In either case, the sales orders that are transferred will maintain the same sales order number if BMA is set up to provide independent document numbering by office location (see system defaults to turn this on). Each RC user will be assigned a separate office in this case so that their sales orders are given unique sales order numbers. These sales order numbers can include an office prefix identifier. If BMA is not set up to provide independent document numbering by office location, the sales order number will be changes when transferred to the main database and the sales order will receive a new sales order number based on the next number that would be assigned if the sales order were entered into the main database at that time. |
| Inventory Allocation: |
Inventory is not truly allocated on RCs. Instead, this function occurs as the sales orders are transferred to the main database based on the customer allocation setting and the availability of inventory. |
| Other BMA data: |
Data other than sales orders that is changed on the RCs is not supported in the transfer of data to the main database. So if an RC user changes customer information, the information will not be transferred to the main database. |
| Tracking Sales Order Transfers: |
| When sales orders are transferred, the EDIDATE field of the RCs sales order and of the main database sales order are updated with the transfer date. Sales orders with a transfer date are, therefore, not transferred in subsequent transfers. |
| VPN Connection: |
| NOTE: In order for the remote transfer to work, the main server must be able to provide VPN Services. This is possible with Microsoft Small Business Server, however, Remote Desktop Services are limited to a maximum of 2 administrative connections. It is possible to add VPN Services and Remote Desktop Services to to Microsoft Server Standard Edition. |
 |
 |
 |
