Single Point Entry
Once and done
What is Single Point Entry?
The single point of entry concept in ALERE is designed to consolidate and relate data in the ERP system that might otherwise require significant internal knowledge or notes when attempting to complete a task. The concept prevents a host of issues that arise when data “is the same but different,” such as vendors that are also suppliers, customer locations, and customer and supplier inventory item numbers.
Enter Once
ALERE enables users to only enter information for a company a single time, then convert or reference a the company everywhere in the system. This solves the common problem of requiring data entry multiple times such as when the company was a prospect. Then again when they become a customer. Then again as a vendor. Once more when a refund is required, and so on. Users only need to add the supplemental information required to support the new relationships, i.e.: where to send an invoice or a purchase order.
Documents from other facets of business remain interlinked with the company profile despite the change in the relationship, allowing ALERE users to reference a single CompanyID to retrieve all the historical information for the account.
Consolidate Customer & Supplier Data
ALERE takes a different approach to structuring customer and supplier data, especially those with multiple locations. Traditionally, different locations of customers and suppliers are treated as if they are wholly separate entities. This leads to situations where notes need to be made about the location to send an invoice if the shipping location differs. Poor data management practices, such as allowing Bill To fields to have addresses free-formed into them. There is also difficulty looking up historical information such as past invoices or sales orders because the document relies on the shipping location rather than the overarching organization.
ALERE allows users to consolidate multiple customer and supplier locations into a single structure and assign attributes to each location, such as the ability to ship, invoice, remit payment, or send a PO. It also allows users to control the preferred shipping carrier by location and define a preferred ‘ship from’ location if your organization has multiple warehouses.
