Accurate estimates of moving expenses can be vital to a company that wants to attain an efficient allocation of resources. If it is estimated that two trucks will be needed for a move and only one is actually used, then the costs associated with not using the vehicle and crew can dramatically affect the profit margin of the move.
To help a company monitor the actual and estimated materials associated to a move, Mover’s Suite has provided the Containers, Packing and Unpacking (CPU) interface. This application allows a user to define exactly what type of materials are being shipped, access to entering estimates for them when a move order is created, and then allows a dispatcher to enter the actual amount of the materials used.
Figure 1: Enter Actuals button available through the Local Dispatch interface.
Once entered and the move complete, an accurate break-down of the actual quantities used can be imported into Revenue Entry, from here, actual amounts can be computed based on the materials and labor involved, and invoices can be generated.
Figure 2: Sample Revenue Entry transaction items for Containers and Packing.
Any number of material types can be defined for each of the Containers, Packing, and Unpacking categories. An administrator can use the Materials setup within the Web Administration Tool to define an unlimited amount of materials that are used to link actual quantities used to Item Codes.
Figure 3: Materials Setup within Web Administration Tool.
Finally, a manager can go back and review the order and see how well the salesperson estimated the move and take appropriate actions to streamline the process.
The remainder of this document will inform a user on how to setup and use the Containers, Packing and Unpacking interface, and, hopefully, help the user discover other ways in which this product can benefit their company.
Managing Material Types