Ask another shop for stock
While billing, each line shows how much of the item your other shops and godowns have, and a substitute when this shop has none. Ask another shop for it, and a transfer is made ready for that shop's person in charge to send.
PLANSFrom Growth
The problem it solves
- The counter says "not in stock" while the godown two streets away has fifty.
- Staff phone the other shop, the goods are sent on a slip, and the stock figures of both shops go wrong.
- Nobody knows which shop asked for what, or whether it was ever sent.
- A customer leaves when a near substitute was on the shelf.
How it works
- On a bill line, the Elsewhere column shows the item's stock in your other shops and godowns. For example: "Godown Road: 48 · Market Shop: 6".
- If this shop has none and the item has substitutes, Elsewhere also says "Try:" with the substitutes.
- Open Trade > Stock > Moving Goods > Ask Another Shop: the item, quantity, From Shop / Godown, To Shop and a note, then press Ask.
- A shop transfer is made in draft, marked Asked By your shop. The sending place's person in charge gets a to-do: "Main Shop asks for 24 BR25".
- They check it and press Send. From there it is a normal transfer: delivery at their end, in transit, and a receipt at yours.
Everything it does
Stock elsewhere on the bill
- Shown on each line of a customer bill, for stocked items
- Every other shop and godown of the Entity with stock above zero
- Substitutes listed when this shop has none
- Read-only, worked out when you open the bill
Substitutes
- Set on the item: Substitutes, any number of other items
- Offered on the bill when the item is out in this shop
Asking
- Item, quantity, from, to and a note
- You cannot ask a shop for stock from itself
- Makes a shop transfer in draft with Asked By Shop filled
- A to-do for the person in charge of the sending place, with the note
- The transfer opens after asking, so you can add more items before it is sent
Store requests (Scale)
- For staff asking a central store rather than a shop: Store Requests in the Trade menu
- The store sends from stock or asks purchase for only what is missing
- Approved through the Store request chain; installed with the Scale plan
Who uses it
Billing ClerkSees stock elsewhere on the bill and offers a substitute.
StorekeeperAsks another shop for stock, and sends what another shop asked for.
Person in charge of a shopGets the to-do and sends the goods.
Trade AdministratorSets substitutes on items and the person in charge of each place.
Where you use it
- Web: the Elsewhere column on bills; Trade > Stock > Moving Goods > Ask Another Shop; Substitutes on each item
- The SmartMy Trade app: Stock on Hand shows an item's stock in every shop. Goods Out and Goods In send and receive the transfer. The app is built and in testing, not in the app stores yet
- Not in the app: asking another shop
What you control
Settings
- Person in charge of each shop or godown: gets the to-do
- Substitutes on each item: none until set
Approvals
- None for asking another shop. Store requests (Scale) go through the Store request chain
Notifications
- A to-do for the sending place's person in charge when another shop asks
- A to-do for the receiving place's person in charge when the goods leave
Questions
Does asking move the stock at once?
No. It makes a draft transfer. Stock moves when the other shop sends it and you receive it.Who can ask?
Storekeepers and managers. As built, a Billing Clerk without the Storekeeper role cannot complete the request; give them that role or ask through the storekeeper.Can a shop refuse?
The person in charge can cancel the draft transfer, and it shows as cancelled with its history.What is the difference from a store request?
Ask Another Shop moves stock between your own shops and godowns (Growth). A store request (Scale) asks a central store, which sends from stock or has purchase buy only what is missing.Related features
BILLING AND STOCKSeveral godowns, racks and transfers between shopsKeep stock in as many shops and godowns as you have, down to the rack and bin. Stock sent from one place to another leaves on a delivery, stays in transit at its value, and arrives on a receipt. What never arrives is written off as short on the transfer.BILLING AND STOCKQuick bill, paid now or on credit, with the party's last rateOne short bill form for the counter and the office. Pick the party or the cash customer, add items, see the rate you gave this party last time, and post. The stock leaves the shop and, when paid now, the payment is recorded in the same step.BILLING AND STOCKStock on hand, goods in and out, and stock countsStock moves by itself when you bill, return, receive or dispatch, so the stock on hand is the real figure. Storekeepers receive and dispatch goods by scanning on the phone, and a count started on the floor is applied by a manager.CUSTOMERS, BROKERS AND REPORTSEach shop's staff see their own shopGive each user the shops and godowns they work in. Their list of bills and returns, and the goods coming in and going out, then show only those places. Trade Managers, and users given no shop, see every shop.ORDERS, PURCHASE AND CREDITPurchase indents with approval and requests for quotationA shop or godown asks for what it needs on an indent. A manager approves it, or rejects it with a reason, through your approval chain. The approved indent makes requests for quotation, one for each supplier, delivered to the place that asked.
See your shop on it.
Tell us what you sell, how many shops and godowns you run and how you bill today. We will set up your items and parties with you and print your first bill.