Imagine is fully automated in real time

Planning

OTB uses past history to lay out a future OTB plan.  This plan can be run at any level of company, store, vendor and up to 10 merchandise classifications.  This plan can then be adjusted by trying different senarios to plan different results.  OTB in Imagine is really a 25 monthly column by 100 data row (retail, cost, units, margin, orders, on hand etc.) by unlimited worksheet matrix that can be formatted by the user to suit just about any planning purpose.  It is fully integrated in Imagine and runs in real time.  Automates the planning and executes the orders for fashion items.

Merchandise Planning uses a categories planned purchases as a budget to manage the ordering of items within this category.  With the category budget on the screen the buyer enters planned orders for each item.  Planned orders are immediately rolled up to the category for control purposes.  The entire categories individual and total planned and actual orders can be viewed on the same screen.   Order merchandise within the budget set in OTB.

Automatic Pre-distribution to stores  Orders planned by company, when approved, can automatically be spread to stores based on each stores historic performance within this items merchandise category.  The pre-distribution can be adjusted prior to creation of a sized purchase order.  Order by company and allow Imagine to distribute by store performance within this category.

Automatic Purchase Orders The pre-distributed planned orders are now turned into actual PO's.  Adjusted or accepted pre-distributed orders are expanded using historic sizes sold by store to create an accurate PO by size.  These can also be adjusted.  In any event, they can be mailed, e-mailed, faxed or sent EDI to the vendor.   Why create PO's manually when Imagine knows size/run % by category and can create sized PO's automatically.

Automatic Item Management Basic or replenishable  items are included in the OTB plan but are managed by a separate system called AIM.  AIM uses historic information both past seasonal and present sales trends.  AIM uses this information to dynamically adjust model stocks.  These "Dynamic Models" are maintained weekly by Imagine.  Dynamic models are used by auto stock balance and auto reorder to maintain this inventory at the levels set in your AIM business rules.  Basic or replenishable merchandise is perfect for automation.  Imagine can do this job for you.

Automation

Automatic Receiving Imagine has many methods to receiving merchandise.  Carton receiving, PO receiving and UPC receiving are the most common.  These are performed at the DC as well as at the store.  Automatic Receiving validates items received against both store needs and customer orders prior to putting the merchandise on the shelf.    Voice technology is used to inform the store or DC personnel to "put aside this (these) items for customer orders.

Automatic Post Distribution Once merchandise is received an placed in the DC, Imagine has several features that can be used to place this merchandise at the right location.  Drag and Drop Distribution allows for easy movement of merchandise from the DC to the stores.  Automatic Distribution will transfer merchandise to the stores based on user defined algorithms.

Automatic DC Control (2008) Imagine has a put away bin location system that allows for both UPC and UCC picking and control.  RF technology is used during the put away and picking process to manage item and bin location matches.  Items picked are verified and manifested in one step prior to shipment. (2008)

Automatic Stock Balancing Once the right merchandise is in the right stores and the selling begins re-distributing your items to the right location at the right time becomes important.   Sell one and get one can automatically be done as each sale is being updated at the server.  This is great for back stock fulfillment.  Sweeper searches selected items for  consolidation making recommended transfer suggestions.  Auto identification of un-balanced items and using Drag and Drop Transfer to re-balance the stores is perfect for fashion items (items without models).  These are some of the techniques available to re-balance inventory. 

Sales Tools

Picture Marketing - picture marketing is built into the POS System and displays pictures of all items that match a vague search criteria or the actual item number.  Stores with sizes are also displayed.  Single click will order the items and ship it to the customer or back to the store.  Use all your inventory to satisfy customer demand.  Click, click to sell inventory in another location.

Special Orders - special orders are usually fraught with manual errors.  Imagine eliminates these issues by automating the process.  The order is first processed against existing inventory and then ordered from the vendor for drop ship or back to the store.  Customer Inquiry is fully informed of the status of all special orders.  Automation of special orders will increase the potential gross margin from these types of sales.

e-mail Marketing - e-mail marketing ties customer history to our unique e-mail building system.  A click will tie the customer selection to a selected e-mail format placing pictured items in the e-mail.  A customer click will open the item in your WEB Store.  Easily farm your customers to increase sales.

Integrated WEB Store  WEB store is fully integrated with Imagine, processing customer orders, validating these orders, managing credit, finding and allocating the merchandise, controlling picking and shipping.  All reporting is fully integrated with "Brick and Mortar" stores.  With Imagine.com this becomes an easy way to increase sales.

Workbench Reporting

Workbench Reporting Why "Print and Hunt" for valuable insights when Imagine can do that for you plus provide the right platform to execute your decisions

•     Exception reporting

•     Report formats also controlled by customer

•     Drill Down capability to move up or down through stores, vendors and categories

•     Re-sort capability also right on the screen.  Click on the headings to re-sort items

•     POP UP TOOLS by clicking on the Dashboard or right clicking on the report

•         Purchase Order Entry

•         Price Change

•         Drag and Drop Transfers

•         Item Tool (everything you need to know about an item in one place)

•            ... and many more

Dashboard Control

Automatic POS Control Imagine controls all returns by original ticket number reporting all return overrides not in keeping with company policy.  Unauthorized markdowns and non-validation of store credits, gift certificates or gift cards are reported in real time turning on a dashboard warning lights.  Reporting is done by the What's Happening Workbench.

Automatic Dashboard Warning Lights The Imagine Dashboard contains "Warning Lights".  These warning lights are lit by Imagine to warn the users of problems or opportunities.  Customers ask us to customize these lights to suit their needs.  Just think, see the light, click on the light, immediate list on the screen, click on an item will display the customer ticket, transfer order or customer order right on the screen

•     Anytime anyone goes around the automated return system

•     Un-authorized markdowns

•     Non-validation of gift cards, gift certificates or store credits

•     Anytime the 'Dynamic Model Stock" exceeds the minimum model

•     Anytime transfers are in by X time but not out by Y time.  (2008)

•     Anytime customer orders are in by X time but not our by Y time (2008)

• ... your favorite problem or opportunity       

Automatic Integration to both Microsoft Dynamics or Intuit QuickBooks

Automatic Integration to ADP

... all automatic features are controlled by user defined "business rules"