Here’s your five-day roadmap for getting better at managing your inventory:

Day 1: Due diligence •Contact vendor to arrange detailed system review •Internal review of high level program goals and system fit •Communication program goals with customers or suppliers •Follow-up questions regarding system

Day 2: Go/ no go decision •Go - Decide to go forward with project •No go - Schedule a future review of project

Day 3: Planning •Review current as is processes •Determine/ articulate VMI goals •Reduce inventory, provide inventory information to suppliers/customers, etc. •Based upon goals determine appropriate VMI approach(es):

Vendor Managed, Consignment, Third Party •Articulate terms of program (who owns inventory payment terms, penalties, inventory levels, etc.) •Select a vendor/customer and their products for a pilot •Map out flow of data, material, and financial information

Day 4: Setup and pilot •Populate application’s provided tables •Setup users and their roles •Setup process flows •Setup integration at appropriate level and points •Provide training for various roles •Load application’s required information •Validate pilot •Measure if program goals were met

Day 5: Rollout •Adjust program if required •Add additional vendors/suppliers •Rollout additional users

The Benefits of a Buyers Agent

Many people feel that real estate agents are for sellers and sellers alone. But this is most definitely not case. The first arena in which a buyers agent is helpful is finding perfect home. Real estate agents have access to MLS on a level that buyers do not. They can search specific criteria and find perfect three- bedroom, two-bath home with a fenced in back yard and a rocking chair front porch. In addition, they can narrow real estate property listing searches by capping minimum and maximum prices that buyer wishes to spend. Once homes are selected for viewing, agent then ensures that appointments are set up with sellers of homes to view property.

Next there is negotiation stage where a buyers agent comes in handy. The first part of this legal area is writing of a contract. Real estate agents can help a buyer fully understand ins and outs of an offer to purchase and give them a sense of exactly what they are getting into. Once a contract is created, presented, and accepted, agent then sets up appointments on behalf of buyer for things like home inspection, pest inspection and appraisals. Your agent can advise you as to which investigations and inspections are recommended or required.Buyers agents also have a sense of who is good at these things and who is not, making these decisions easier on buyer. Then, when closing time comes, agent is there to help buyer warm up their signing fingers before signing all of papers making their home ownership a reality.