Sigma Order is an exceptionally flexible invoicing/order entry system for use on single-user and multi-user microcomputers. It provides an integrated set of facilities for order entry, invoicing, the printing of order confirmations, picking lists, dispatch notes, invoices and credit notes, and, if required, automatic allocation and updating of stock levels.
The system is designed to be easy to install and use, and yet to cater for many different management requirements and ordering procedures. You choose the way you want to process orders, whether you wish to update stock levels and the content and type of forms that you want to produce, by giving the system a number of different "parameters" which allow you to incorporate individual requirements into the system (and change them if you need to) without expensive programming effort.
What is order processing?
Within Sigma Order, order processing is defined as a sequence of events, starting with the entry of a document into the system, through the movement of stock and the printing of specific forms, and ending with the posting of the resulting invoice (if required) to the sales ledger. Put more simply, order processing is a series of stages in the life of an order.
The sequence of events for each document may span several months, or may be completed in a matter of hours. This time span for the order processing sequence is important, and has a major effect on the choice and use of the available parameters.
Sigma Order can only be run in conjunction with the Sigma Sales ledger system. Any of sales ledgers (single or dual currency) can be reformatted by Sigma Order for use as an invoicing ledger; each one is handled independently and has its own order processing rules. Each sales ledger may only have one set of invoicing/order entry rules associated with it.
Sigma Order can be interfaced with the Sigma Stock control system thus providing automatic stock adjustment and enquiry facilities. Several order entry systems can integrate with the same Sigma Stock stock control group. Alternatively, if this facility is not required, you can maintain a product file within Sigma Order instead.
Overview of facilities
The Sigma Order invoicing/order entry system offers a wide range of facilities. For example, it will:
- Process orders as received for subsequent dispatch and invoice.
- Automatically link with Sigma Sales to provide facilities for checking customer status.
- Automatically link with a Sigma Stock control group to extract product and pricing information, check stock availability and allocate or update stock levels.
- Maintain a product file, if you are not integrating with Sigma Stock.
- Allow you to define the layout of all your output forms such as invoices, dispatch notes, credit notes etc.
- Allow you to define the layout of any reports you wish to produce based on the Customer file, the transaction file or the details file.
- Automatically generate back orders, on request, when there is insufficient stock to meet the dispatch quantity.
- Allow accurate tracking of transactions at all times by use of extensive enquiry and reporting facilities.
- Allow you to hold multiple delivery addresses for your customers.
- Allow you to hold standard text items for frequently used product or service items.
- Provide extensive discount facilities related to both customer and product categories.
- If you have the optional recurring invoice facility, allow you to set up a number of agreements which can be posted to the invoicing ledger automatically at regular intervals.
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Enter transactions from an ASCII file created outside Sigma Order.