Replenishment Automation in BlueBox

BlueBox ERP has had a Replenishment Module for many years, which effectively acts as a MRP tool with min/max levels and purchase order generation.

We have now added an automation function to this module which can be set to automatically order the required items from a specific supplier on a daily/weekly/monthly basis.

This new feature effectively runs the Replenishment Report and automatically orders any items which are deemed to be required at that time. It generates a Purchase Order and this can be set to be emailed to the supplier in PDF format and also with an attached CSV output file of the items required in an importable format for the supplier.

Linking Items to the Supplier:

This function relies on the items in the system being attached directly to the supplier, either via the 'default supplier' field in the Item Data entry, or via the 'Associated Item Category' in the Supplier User File.

Setting Up Automation Entries:

Automation entries are added by running the filter for a 'Linked Supplier' in the Replenishment Report and switching 'Automate PO for this Supplier' on.

You have some options at this stage:

• If you 'name' the automation it means that you can 'edit' it by simply using the same name in future and over-riding the saved automation with the same name. If you leave the name option blank the Automations is named as per the Supplier Name - so any future 'blank named' automations for this supplier will over-ride this one.
• Automations will run whenever loaded, but only once per day, and optionally only on specific days of the week (ie Mon,Wed,Fri) by entering these into the specified field.
• You can choose to have an email sent to the Supplier by selecting 'send PDF' or 'send CSV', if neither of these is selected no email will be sent when the PO is created.
• The email that is generated will use the 'company procurement' details in the Supplier User File by default (ie email and name) and if these are not entered for the specific Ssupplier then the user-email and first/last names are used. This can be optionally over-ridden by entering an email and/or BCC email (comma sep. for more than one) in the fields provided.
• Note: the CSV that is produced embed the Supplier code for client company. This code is stored in the 'Cgic' field of the Supplier User Data.

Viewing Automation Entries:

Once you have added an Automation Entry you can view it by clicking on 'Automation' in the top-menu of the Replenishment Report.

Entries are listed showing their last run-time:

You can run entries manually by clicking on the button provided or add the script to your server's cronjob queue as specified.

If you click on an Automation Script to view it you will be able to see the history of logged run-scripts that have been stored against it: