BisTrack, a cloud-ready system for building suppliers, streamlines operations. Eleven years of user experience highlight its robust features, including user group creation and advanced data analytics.

What is BisTrack?

BisTrack is a comprehensive business system specifically designed for building supply companies. It’s a cloud-ready solution, meaning accessibility isn’t limited to a specific location, offering flexibility for users. With over a decade of practical application – as evidenced by users with 11 years of experience – BisTrack has proven its capability to manage complex operations.

The system isn’t just about basic functionality; it extends to sophisticated features like user group management, allowing for tailored access and control. Furthermore, BisTrack integrates with Epicor ERP data analytics, providing valuable insights for informed decision-making. It’s a tool built to optimize processes, from sales and purchasing to inventory and work order management.

BisTrack’s Core Functionality

BisTrack’s central capabilities revolve around efficient management of key business processes. This includes robust Sales Order Management, Purchase Order Management for stock items, and detailed Inventory Management, including count setup and adjustments. The system also excels in Work Order Management, covering basic procedures, scheduling, and completion.

Beyond these core areas, BisTrack offers advanced features like Data Transformation – renaming, appending, and merging data – and Demand Forecasting utilizing GIB Dispo-Cockpit Forecasting (DCF). Crucially, BisTrack Journey Planner and Delivery tools optimize logistics. These functionalities, combined with Epicor ERP data analytics, provide a holistic operational overview.

Getting Started with BisTrack

BisTrack requires secure user login, and the interface is designed for intuitive navigation. Customization options allow users to tailor their dashboards for optimal workflow efficiency.

User Login and Security

BisTrack prioritizes secure access for all users. Initial login requires credentials provided by your administrator, ensuring only authorized personnel gain entry. Robust security protocols are implemented to protect sensitive data, including sales, purchase, and inventory information.

User groups, configurable within the system, allow administrators to define specific access levels and permissions. This granular control limits exposure to critical functions based on job roles. Regularly changing passwords and adhering to strong password policies are crucial security best practices.

Furthermore, BisTrack’s cloud-based nature benefits from Epicor’s ongoing security infrastructure updates and threat monitoring, providing a consistently protected environment for your business operations.

Navigating the BisTrack Interface

BisTrack’s interface is designed for intuitive operation, though initial familiarity requires exploration. The main dashboard provides a centralized view of key performance indicators and quick access to core modules like Sales Orders, Purchase Orders, and Inventory Management.

A clear menu structure organizes functionalities logically. Utilize the search bar for rapid access to specific records or features. Customizable dashboards allow users to tailor the display to their individual needs and workflows.

Remember that the generic training manual may not cover all complexities; however, understanding the foundational layout will significantly enhance your efficiency within the system.

Customizing Your BisTrack Dashboard

BisTrack empowers users to personalize their dashboard for optimal workflow efficiency. Tailor the interface by adding, removing, or rearranging widgets displaying critical data – sales figures, inventory levels, or open work orders. This customization ensures immediate access to the information most relevant to your role.

User groups, a feature available after eleven years of development, can influence dashboard access and content. While the generic training manual offers basic guidance, experimentation is key to unlocking the full potential of dashboard customization.

Remember to save your changes to retain your personalized view.

Sales Order Management

BisTrack facilitates efficient sales order handling, from creation and item addition to payment processing, streamlining the entire sales cycle for building suppliers.

Creating a New Sales Order

Initiating a new sales order within BisTrack is a fundamental process for building supply businesses. The system allows order entry personnel to quickly establish customer orders, ensuring accurate record-keeping and efficient fulfillment. Begin by accessing the sales order module, then inputting essential customer details, including billing and shipping addresses.

Carefully select the appropriate customer account or create a new one if necessary. Following customer selection, define the order type and any applicable special pricing or discounts. Accurate data entry at this stage is crucial for downstream processes, like invoicing and reporting. BisTrack’s interface guides users through each step, minimizing errors and maximizing productivity.

Adding Items to a Sales Order

Populating a sales order with specific items is straightforward in BisTrack. After creating the initial order, users can search for products using item codes, descriptions, or keywords. The system displays available inventory levels, aiding in accurate order fulfillment and preventing backorders.

Once an item is selected, specify the quantity required and any applicable unit pricing adjustments. BisTrack automatically calculates the extended price and updates the order total. Users can add multiple items to a single sales order, streamlining the process for complex customer requests. Review the order details carefully before proceeding to payment processing.

Processing Sales Order Payments

Finalizing a sales order involves secure payment processing within BisTrack. The system supports various payment methods, allowing customers to choose their preferred option. Upon selecting a payment method, enter the necessary details, ensuring accuracy to avoid transaction errors.

BisTrack automatically records the payment against the sales order, updating the outstanding balance. Generate receipts for customers and maintain a comprehensive payment history for auditing purposes. Addressing price change discrepancies promptly is crucial during this stage, avoiding customer dissatisfaction and ensuring financial accuracy.

Purchase Order Management

Efficiently manage stock replenishment with BisTrack’s purchase order features. Create orders for stock items, receive inventory, and maintain detailed vendor information for seamless procurement.

Creating a Purchase Order for Stock Items

Initiating a purchase order within BisTrack for stock items is a fundamental process for maintaining optimal inventory levels. Begin by navigating to the Purchase Order module and selecting the option to create a new order. Carefully choose the appropriate vendor from your established vendor list, ensuring accurate contact and payment details are readily available.

Subsequently, populate the purchase order with the specific stock items required, specifying quantities and desired delivery dates. BisTrack allows for detailed item descriptions and pricing information to be included, minimizing potential discrepancies. Review the order thoroughly before submission, verifying all details for accuracy and completeness. This ensures a smooth and efficient procurement process.

Receiving Inventory with Purchase Orders

Efficiently receiving inventory against existing purchase orders is crucial for accurate stock control within BisTrack. Upon arrival of the shipment, navigate to the Receiving module and locate the corresponding purchase order. BisTrack facilitates partial receipts, allowing you to record deliveries incrementally.

Carefully verify the received quantities against the purchase order, noting any discrepancies. The system allows for the input of lot numbers and expiration dates, enhancing traceability. Once confirmed, the inventory levels are automatically updated, reflecting the newly received stock. Accurate receiving procedures are vital for maintaining data integrity and fulfilling customer orders promptly.

Managing Vendor Information

Centralized vendor management within BisTrack is essential for streamlined purchasing and accurate record-keeping. The system allows for comprehensive vendor profiles, including contact details, payment terms, and preferred shipping methods. Maintaining up-to-date vendor information ensures smooth communication and efficient order processing.

BisTrack enables you to categorize vendors and track their performance. You can also associate specific items with particular vendors, simplifying the purchase order creation process. Accurate vendor data minimizes errors and fosters strong supplier relationships, contributing to a resilient supply chain and optimized procurement strategies.

Inventory Management

BisTrack facilitates precise inventory control through setup, adjustments, and transfers. Efficiently track stock levels, ensuring optimal availability while minimizing carrying costs and potential shortages.

Bistrack Inventory Count Setup

Establishing accurate inventory counts within BisTrack is fundamental for reliable data. The system allows for a structured setup process, enabling users to define counting parameters and assign responsibilities. This involves specifying count locations, item filters, and user permissions to ensure a controlled and auditable process.

Proper setup minimizes discrepancies and streamlines the physical count process. Users can leverage pre-defined templates or create custom setups tailored to their specific warehouse layout and inventory organization. Accurate initial setup directly impacts the reliability of subsequent inventory adjustments and reporting, contributing to better decision-making and optimized stock levels.

Inventory Adjustments and Transfers

BisTrack facilitates efficient inventory adjustments to reflect physical counts and address discrepancies. Users can easily record additions, subtractions, or corrections to inventory levels, maintaining data accuracy. The system supports various adjustment reasons, providing a clear audit trail for tracking changes.

Inventory transfers between locations are also streamlined within BisTrack. This functionality enables seamless movement of stock, updating quantities in real-time. Accurate adjustments and transfers are crucial for maintaining optimal stock levels, fulfilling orders promptly, and minimizing potential losses due to shrinkage or obsolescence.

Tracking Inventory Levels

BisTrack provides comprehensive tools for real-time inventory level tracking. Users gain immediate visibility into stock quantities across all locations, enabling informed decision-making. The system displays available, allocated, and on-order inventory, preventing stockouts and overstocking situations.

Detailed inventory reports offer insights into stock turnover, slow-moving items, and potential obsolescence. This data empowers businesses to optimize inventory investment and improve overall efficiency. Accurate tracking, combined with adjustments and transfers, ensures a reliable inventory picture, supporting smooth operations and customer satisfaction.

Work Order Management

BisTrack’s work order features support basic procedures for order entry personnel, facilitating efficient scheduling, assignment, and ultimately, the successful closing of each work order.

Basic Work Order Procedures

Initiating a work order within BisTrack is a fundamental process for order entry personnel. This involves accurately capturing essential details, including customer specifications, required materials, and anticipated completion timelines. The system allows for detailed descriptions of the work to be performed, ensuring clarity for technicians.

Proper documentation at this stage minimizes errors and facilitates smooth workflow. BisTrack’s interface guides users through each step, prompting for necessary information. Understanding these basic procedures is crucial for efficient operation and maintaining accurate records. It’s the foundation for successful work order management within the system.

Scheduling and Assigning Work Orders

BisTrack’s work order management extends beyond creation to encompass efficient scheduling and assignment. The system allows managers to view technician availability and skillsets, ensuring optimal resource allocation. Work orders can be prioritized based on urgency and customer requirements, impacting the scheduling timeline.

Assigning work orders directly to technicians within BisTrack streamlines communication and accountability. The system tracks progress and provides visibility into potential bottlenecks. Effective scheduling minimizes downtime and maximizes productivity, contributing to overall operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. Proper assignment is key to successful completion.

Closing Work Orders

Successfully closing work orders in BisTrack is crucial for accurate record-keeping and performance analysis. This process involves verifying all tasks are completed, documenting any materials used, and recording the time spent by technicians. Accurate data entry at this stage is paramount for insightful reporting.

BisTrack facilitates a streamlined closing procedure, allowing for quick confirmation and finalization. Closed work orders contribute to a comprehensive history, enabling trend identification and process improvement. Proper closure ensures accurate costing and billing, ultimately impacting profitability and customer relationships.

Reporting and Analytics

BisTrack offers Epicor ERP data analytics, standard report generation, and customization options. Leverage these tools for insightful business intelligence and informed decision-making.

Epicor ERP Data Analytics with BisTrack

BisTrack seamlessly integrates with Epicor ERP, unlocking powerful data analytics capabilities for building supply businesses. This integration provides a comprehensive view of key performance indicators (KPIs), enabling users to monitor sales trends, inventory levels, and operational efficiency. The “Fact Sheet” details this connection, offering insights into programmable logic controllers and automation controllers, indirectly supporting data-driven decisions.

Users can leverage this data to identify areas for improvement, optimize pricing strategies, and enhance customer service. Analyzing Epicor ERP data within BisTrack allows for proactive problem-solving and strategic planning, ultimately driving profitability and growth. This analytical power is a core benefit of the system.

Generating Standard Reports

BisTrack offers a suite of standard reports designed to provide immediate insights into critical business functions. These pre-built reports cover areas such as sales performance, inventory valuation, and purchase order history, offering a quick overview of key metrics. While the generic training manual may not cover complex scenarios, standard reports provide a solid foundation for routine analysis.

Users can easily generate these reports with minimal customization, allowing for efficient monitoring of business operations. Accessing and interpreting these reports empowers informed decision-making, supporting both day-to-day tasks and long-term strategic planning within the building supply industry.

Customizing Reports

BisTrack allows for report customization to meet specific analytical needs, going beyond the standard offerings. Data transformation techniques, like renaming objects and merging queries, enable tailored views of your Epicor ERP data. While the generic training manual’s limitations are acknowledged, users can refine reports to focus on crucial KPIs.

This flexibility empowers users to analyze data in a way that directly supports their roles and responsibilities. Customization options include filtering, sorting, and grouping data, providing deeper insights than pre-built reports alone; Mastering these features unlocks the full potential of BisTrack’s reporting capabilities.

Advanced Features

BisTrack’s advanced capabilities include user group management, sophisticated data transformation, and demand forecasting via GIB Dispo-Cockpit Forecasting (DCF) for optimized planning.

User Group Creation and Management

BisTrack allows for the creation and management of user groups, a feature highlighted by a long-term user with eleven years of experience. This functionality is crucial for controlling access to sensitive data and streamlining workflows within the system.

Administrators can define specific permissions for each group, ensuring that users only have access to the modules and data relevant to their roles. This enhances security and improves operational efficiency. Properly configured user groups simplify administration and reduce the risk of errors.

Effective group management is a cornerstone of a well-maintained BisTrack implementation, contributing to a more secure and productive environment.

Data Transformation Techniques (Renaming, Appending, Merging)

BisTrack offers powerful data transformation capabilities, including renaming objects and queries for improved clarity and organization. The system also supports appending queries to combine datasets and merging queries to consolidate information from multiple sources.

These techniques are essential for customizing BisTrack to meet specific business needs and for creating comprehensive reports. Mastering these features allows users to manipulate data effectively, ensuring accuracy and relevance.

These tools facilitate efficient data management and analysis, ultimately enhancing decision-making processes within the organization;

Demand Forecasting with GIB Dispo-Cockpit Forecasting (DCF)

BisTrack integrates seamlessly with the GIB Dispo-Cockpit Forecasting (DCF) solution, providing automated demand forecasting capabilities. This integration optimizes demand planning by leveraging advanced algorithms and historical data analysis.

DCF helps businesses anticipate future demand accurately, reducing stockouts and minimizing excess inventory. Utilizing this feature allows for proactive adjustments to purchasing and production schedules, improving overall efficiency.

By harnessing the power of DCF, users can enhance their supply chain management and achieve greater profitability.

BisTrack Journey Planner and Delivery

BisTrack’s Journey Planner and Delivery tools optimize routes and processes, ensuring efficient distribution. Learn to maximize these features for streamlined logistics and timely deliveries.

Utilizing BisTrack Journey Planner

BisTrack Journey Planner is a powerful tool designed to optimize delivery routes, reducing transportation costs and improving on-time performance. Users can leverage the planner to sequence deliveries based on geographical proximity, driver availability, and delivery time windows.

The system intelligently considers factors like traffic conditions and vehicle capacity. Effective utilization involves inputting accurate delivery addresses and preferred time slots.

Furthermore, the planner allows for real-time adjustments based on unforeseen circumstances, ensuring adaptability and minimizing disruptions. Mastering this feature is crucial for efficient logistics management within BisTrack, ultimately enhancing customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.

Optimizing BisTrack Delivery Processes

Optimizing BisTrack delivery requires a holistic approach, integrating the Journey Planner with accurate inventory data and efficient work order management. Regularly review delivery routes generated by the planner, identifying potential bottlenecks or areas for improvement.

Ensure drivers are properly trained on utilizing the mobile application for real-time updates and proof of delivery.

Proactive communication with customers regarding delivery schedules is also vital. By consistently analyzing delivery performance metrics within BisTrack, businesses can refine their processes, reduce costs, and enhance overall customer experience.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Common issues, like price discrepancies, often lack clear solutions in the generic training manual. Contacting BisTrack support is crucial for complex problems and effective resolution.

Addressing Price Change Discrepancies

Price change discrepancies within BisTrack can be frustrating, recurring issues for long-term users. Often, the standard troubleshooting steps don’t adequately address the root cause of these problems. Users report that the help desk frequently directs them to the generic training manual, which unfortunately doesn’t cover complex pricing scenarios.

Investigating these discrepancies requires a detailed review of the item’s price history, vendor agreements, and any active promotions. Ensure the correct price list is assigned to the customer and that no conflicting pricing rules are in place. If the issue persists, documenting specific examples and contacting BisTrack support with detailed information is essential for a timely resolution.

Understanding Generic Training Manual Limitations

BisTrack’s generic training manual, while a starting point, often falls short when addressing complex, real-world scenarios encountered by experienced users. Eleven years of user feedback consistently points to its inadequacy in explaining nuanced problems. The manual provides a basic overview but lacks the depth needed to resolve intricate issues like persistent price change discrepancies or advanced data transformation techniques.

Users frequently find themselves needing more specialized guidance than the manual offers. Supplementing the manual with direct support, online forums, or dedicated training sessions is crucial for maximizing BisTrack’s functionality and overcoming its limitations.

Contacting BisTrack Support

When encountering issues beyond the scope of the generic training manual, or facing persistent problems like unexplained price changes, reaching out to BisTrack support is essential. While the manual serves as an initial resource, complex scenarios often require direct assistance from knowledgeable professionals.

Dedicated support channels can provide tailored solutions and guidance. Be prepared to clearly articulate the problem, providing specific details and examples. Utilizing available online resources and community forums may also expedite resolution, supplementing direct support interactions for a comprehensive approach.