Back to the Micro Florist Product Line
Back to the Micro Florist
Product Line
Feature List
As far as how Visual Ticket compares to other Order Entry products, I am now prepared to give it a resounding #1. I have come to really appreciate its capabilities. MicroCode has been able to incorporate into it, virtually all of the features of Flora-Ticket, and then have gone far beyond that, by adding a vast spectrum of capabilities that the Windows environment makes possible.
But, it is the natural flow of data entry that is possible in this product, that has really turned me on. Now, I imagine that there are gurus who have analyzed data entry to death, and generally I find that data entry process is predetermined by the programmer, not the user. However, somehow in Visual Ticket you have provided the flexibility necessary to mold the form to the not-always-logical flow of information from the customer.
Joe Johnson - Hearts & Flowers Sep./96
Sessions. Visual Ticket offers individual Sessions for each User on each station. Each Session has it's own set of beginning balances, ending balances, operator preferences, order entry default values, and system behavior. Each session can be setup as either a Novice or an Expert mode, making the system fit the skill levels of the operator.
Access Levels. Based on the Access Level assigned by the Manager, each Session's Operator has access to certain level of sensitive information.
Punch-In. While starting a Visual Ticket Session, the Operator can easily and quickly Punch-In (Employee Time Entry tied into the Micro Florist's Payroll system).
Modal or Non-Modal, That is the question...
From the beginning of time (say around 1975 !, where computerized order entry came into being), all order entry systems have been prompting the User for the next action. The User really had no other choice but to follow the flow dictated by the system Designer. Even now, at the dawn of the 21st century, all "text based" order entry systems out there, have a "Modal" interface, meaning they pull the User through the order every step of the way. A good example of a Modal interface is our own Flora-Ticket system.
Even though the Flora-Ticket system is a "Text Based" Order Entry system, and has a Modal Interface, it is still is far more sophisticated than all of it's rivals, allowing certain amount of deviation from the standard flow of the order (we are referring to the "Instant Edit" feature invoked by the <Home> button). But even then, you still have to start from point A, go to point B, and end up in point C, before the order is completed.
Non-Modal Interface. This means you are completely in charge of the Order Entry flow, instead of the program (or the Programmer). The system does not force you from point A to point B and point C. Instead you decide which section of the Order Entry screen you want to access next, and then you simply click on it.
You are probably wondering, what if the Operator forgets to go to a certain part of the order, and thus the information is left incomplete ? - Not to worry. Visual Ticket reminds the Operator to fill out any area of the order that is left incomplete, before the Operator is allowed to "Save" the order.
What in a world is a "Grid" ?
No, "Grid" is not a type of breakfast, here in the Pacific Northwest !!. Grid is very much like a table with rows and columns. Visual Ticket uses the The Grid concept to provide quick and efficient access to different sections of multiple line-items.
Visual Ticket uses a Grid to show up to 99 line items (rows) per sale. Each line item, depending on the type of sale (Cash & Carry, Delivery, Wire-out and Pickup), has its own specific buttons (columns) to access the relevant Popup Windows
So, once you have a grid in front of you, you can easily go to Delivery window of Line-item#3 (Row # 3, Button # 3), and then jump to the Enclosure Card message on Line-item #5 (Row # 5, Button # 2) by simply clicking on different cells on the grid. As you access different parts of the order, the folder shown on each button, changes shape to indicate that this portion of the order has been completed.
VT (Visual Ticket) allows you to view the entire order on one screen, using the "Summary" button. The "Summary" information, for each order, can be setup as the default mode, so that when navigating between orders, the Summary information is always shown.
As far as the Customer (or the Sender) is concerned, there are 3 types of sales. The type of sale, is selected from a simple Drop-Down list, and is the very first field specified for each order.
General Sales. The sale is made to a Non-Registered (unknown) customer. VT does not require you to specify a Customer, from the Customer table (Database). In this mode, the Sender's first name, last name and phone number is all that is necessary to complete the order.
Account Sale. The sale is made to a Registered customer. In this mode, the system allows you to pick a customer from the Customer Table. If the customer does not exist in the database, the proper Windows are activated to add the new customer to the Customer table. Depending on, whether or not the Customer has been setup with a Credit Limit, the system allows you to bill the Customer for the entire (or partial) amount of the order.
Wire-In Sale. The sale has been called in (or transmitted) by another shop. In this mode, the system activates the appropriate windows to pick the Sending Florist Information, from the Directory, and automatically handles the necessary adjustments to the Price and Delivery Charge amounts, based on the amount given by the Sending Florist.
The type of line-Item sale, is selected for each row (on the Grid) from a simple Drop-Down list that is available on each line of the Grid.
Cash & Carry. This is the simplest form of Line Item sales, and all that is needed to complete the sale, is the Item Selection, Item Quantity, and Item Price.
Item Selection. Performed using the extremely powerful, and yet very easy to use "Visual Search Engine". The Search Engine provides incremental search, locating items, and showing their pictures, as you type each character. You can sort/Search by Item Id, by Item Description, or by Price. The system also fully supports "Barcode interface", for selecting Inventory Items.
Pickup. Has all the elements of Cash & Carry sale, plus the Enclosure Card, and the Prep (Preparation) buttons.
Enclosure Card Button activates the "Visual Enclosure Card" window allowing you to select messages from a set of canned messages. You can also specify Special Occasions, and Promotional Codes for mail merge and marketing purposes. The Visual Ticket Enclosure card can also contain a bitmap picture that will print on the Card.
Preparation Button activates the "Prep. Window", allowing you to specify in detail customer's first and second choices, as well as the due dates, and the time of delivery (or pickup). You can modify each Item's "Care Tag", and select a picture from a list of available pictures that best resembles the customer's selection.
You can easily setup VT to contain the entire FTD, AFS, Carik, Teleflora, and Redbook catalogs combined, with all the pictures, descriptions, and pricing, so that your Sales staff, and Designers can actually look at real pictures when selling or producing arrangements.
Delivery. Has all the elements of Pickup sale, plus the Delivery button.
Delivery button activates the Delivery Window, allowing you to quickly and easily collect Recipient information, specify the Delivery Instructions, choose the Driver, and view / update Delivery Status. The Delivery Window automates the Delivery data collection using automatic Delivery Zone lookup, and past recipient data insertion. The Street Match accessory automatically assigns the right Driver / Delivery Charge for specific addresses setup in the map of your own county, as you enter the Recipient address.
Wire-out. Has all the elements of Delivery sale, plus the Wire-out button. The Wire-out button works in conjunction with the Directory Window.
Wire-out Button activates the Wire-out window, allowing you to select the Wire Service, and the Transmission Method (Phone, Mercury, Fax and Internet). The reset of the information is automatically inserted by clicking on the Directory Button.
Directory Button activates the Directory Lookup window, with a Filling Florist located in the Recipient's City / Zip code already being shown on the form. All you have to do is to click on the Ok button, and the Florist Information is added to the Wire-out window. In the Directory window, you can also stamp shops as "Preferred", or "Blocked", and quickly search for Preferred florists, or florists with Mercury or FTO (Mercury), by clicking on appropriate buttons. You can select a florist with a Fax number, and have the VT automatically fax the order, as you take a sip from your coffee.
Line-item Status Button. This button at the end of each line-item on the grid, activates the Status window where you can change the taxable status of the item, the delivery and the service charges. You can also change the "Amount Given" to the Filling Florist, based on the necessary adjustments due to varying delivery charges, and item availability surcharges.
Line-item Menu. You can have up to 99 different line items on the Grid, with each line item being a combination of the above sales. You can add / delete/ and repeat line items by simply clicking on the line-item menu button.
Payment. After you are done entering the line-item(s), you can then click on the Payment button to activate the Payment window, and specify the Method of Payment. You can click on Cash, Check, Credit Card, or Billing short cut buttons to specify the method of payment, and finish the order. You can also specify multiple payment methods, have the system automatically insert customer's credit card number, calculate customer's remaining credit, print receipts, invoices, credit card slips, and open the Cash Drawer. When payment is made by credit card, clicking on the Flora-Credit button, obtains the authorization from the bank in record time!.
Other Info Button. The Cashier can optionally enter additional information for each order, by clicking on this button. The "Other Info" window allows you to specify the Advertisement Source, add "Sales Reference" from a drop-down list, and specify a "Sales Allocation" account especially suited for Commissions, and Charity sales. You can also transfer the order to another Division (another Branch or Department) by specifying the "Assigned Division". This window also provides a link to the "Problem Tracking" utility, allowing you to assign and track Problem Folders for each line-item of the order.
Sales Notes. Each Visual Ticket order can have an unlimited memo assigned to it. In order to reduce clutter on the Order Pad, the Notes window opens up as soon as you click on the "Notes" button.
Order Status Indicators. In order to manage order status, and allow the user to interact with the Order Pad, and various VT Agents, the system provides the following status indicator buttons, on each order:
Submit Button: This is the most important status indicator button, since all orders must first be submitted, before they can be processed. This is an extra level of protection implemented in VT (as compared to Flora-Ticket), that makes sure only orders approved for processing actually get processed.
Due Button: Shows whether the order is due, or standby. Standby orders are not processed until they become due.
Paid Button: Shows whether or not, the order has been paid for. All orders, except Credit Card orders without Authorization, are stamped paid. Unpaid orders and not transmitted (through the Mercury), and are not posted, until they are paid.
Ready Button: Indicates that the order is Due and Paid. These orders are now ready for processing.
Posted Button: Indicates that the order has been processed (posted) into the Micro Florist Server.
Archived Button: Indicates that the order has been Archived, after the specified number of days has passed from the day it was processed. Clicking on this button, converts the Archived order, into a Current order. Archived orders are usually masked to reduce clutter in the order pad.
Reverse Button: This button is only visible for Processed orders. Click on this button to undo (reverse) the posting status. This is an incredibly powerful button, allowing you to reverse the order in Micro Florist (post the same order with negative amount), as though it was refunded. You can then delete the order itself in VT order pad. This button eliminates the need to delete canceled orders in Micro Florist, with the added benefit of maintaining Audit trail.
Order Entry Toolbar. The toolbar accompanies the Order Pad, and facilitates its use, by providing the following functions. It is important to note that each button on the toolbar has a corresponding "Short-cut" key combination, so that order entry can be performed by keyboard alone, without the need for a pointing device (such as a mouse).
Navigation Buttons. Allows you to move around in the Order Pad by going to the first, previous, next or the last order in the Order Pad.
Browser Button. The Browser utility facilitates navigation through the orders. It lists all orders in a grid, allowing the User to quickly navigate up/down through all existing orders on the Order pad. The Advantages of the Browser are:
1) As each column receives the focus, the grid is automatically sorted by that column.
2) The Browser form appears on top of the Order pad, allowing the User to view the order in the back ground, as the User selects a different order.
3) When the "InterActive" button is activated, as the User clicks on a field, the Order Pad follows the selected record.
4) As the Browser is activated, the default sort of the grid is the "Date/Time" column. This particular sorting allows you to go through all the orders in the orders pad, in a true chronological order (regardless of the order's Division No., or Station No.).
5) As the Sort order is changes, the pointer remains on the selected order.
The Browser window allows you to view orders by Date and Time of Entry (chronological sequence), Sender's name, Customer's Account ID, Order Number (Master_Id), Credit Card No., Authorization No., Micro Florist Transaction No., and Sales Reference.
The browser Window is "Color Coded" allowing you to better distinguish between Archived Orders, Processed Orders, Submitted Orders, and Work-In-Progress.
Save Button. The order remains entirely in memory until the save button is clicked. This insures that the order is not accessible to other users on the network, while it is being edited (changed).
New Order Button. Click on this button to add a new order to the Order Pad.
Delete Button. Deletes an existing order. For Employee Level Access, the "Supervisor Override" window is activated, requiring supervisor approval before VT allows the order to be deleted.
Reverse Button. Restores the original order, and reverses all the changes made since the last time the save button was clicked.
New Order Pad. Allows you to open additional Order Pads. This is especially useful, when you want to put a work-in-progress order on hold (while for example the customer is searching for his/her credit card), allowing you to start another order.
Copy Button. Copies the current order to a new order (with all the line-item information, payment, and all other information within intact).
Attention Button. Allows you to stamp the current order with the "Attention Flag", and specify a short description for the nature of the Attention flag. The Attention flag is automatically set for orders that require attention by Visual Ticket Agents (see Agents below). Clicking on the Attention button, resets the Attention flag, if it has already been set. You can focus on, and review "Attention" orders, by selecting "Attention Orders", in the Select menu. This allows you to quickly resolve any pending issues, and speed up order processing.
Super Search Button. This is an extremely powerful Search Utility for locating previous orders. You can perform Incremental Search (system locates records, as you type each character) using the following fields:
Order: Date and time, sender first name, sender last name.
Recipient: Company name, last name, and phone number.
Payment: Amount, credit card number, credit card authorization, sales reference, and customer account-Id.
Item sold: Item Id, item description, and item price.
Florist: Shop name, shop code, shop phone, and contact name.
For example, in order to locate a wire-out order, where Josephine was the contact, all you have to do, is to click your mouse twice, and type in Josephine!!
The Visual Ticket system provides you with tremendous amount of combined power and ease of use. All of the following tools and facilities provide you with functionality that makes the most difficult tasks, become as easy as clicking your mouse.
Repeat. This button lists customer's previous orders, with a check box next to each line-item on the Grid. You can then simply click and select individual items from previous order(s), and the system simply adds those items (together with each item's Preparation, Enclosure Card, Delivery, and Wire-out folders intact) to the current order.
Window Placement. You can click and hold the mouse button on the title of each pop-up window (Delivery, Payment, Enclosure card, etc.), and then drag it to the position you prefer for each one of these windows. The system will then always remember the position you specified, whenever that window is opened from then on. The higher the resolution of your screen, and the larger the size of your monitor, the more of these pop-up windows you can open up simultaneously, with less overlapping.
Caller-Id Button. Activates the Caller-Id interface window, allowing you to view the name and phone number (Account Id) of each individual caller. By selecting a caller from this window, the system pulls up the Customer Profile for that caller, allowing you to view customer's preferences, and account details, all before you even pick up the phone !!
Prompter. Activates the Sales Prompter menu, allowing you to view / setup the Sales Prompter for different areas of Order Entry. The Sales Prompter allows the Manager to setup different Sales Prompter windows with fully choreographed verbiage for optimum Customer Interface. The Prompter window can also be extremely useful for Trainee cashiers, for providing on-line instructions, as order entry is in progress.
Prompter windows automatically open up as the Cashier accesses different areas of the Order Pad. For example, while accessing the Delivery Window, the Cashier will see, what she is supposed to say to the customer regarding deliveries to the Eastside, after 3:00 p.m.
On-Site Help. This button provides access to the On-Site Help utility, which is a stand-alone help database containing instructions and policies specific to your shop. This system is maintained by you (the Manager), and as it evolves through time, it will contain specific instruction with respect to all areas of your shop's operation. You can manage your shop in real time, by sitting in front of your computer at your office and changing the On-Site Help instructions, and the Sales Prompter windows to reflect the latest changes in product and delivery availability, specials, and policies.
Messaging. Allows you to keep in touch with your Sales staff by letting you send and receive messages to/from other VT users on the network. By using the Mail / Messaging system you can give special instructions to, or you can obtain specific information from other VT users.
Order Templates. Using the Template Button, you can save any order as a Template. This will give the selected order an eternal life !! (meaning even after the order is processed, and finally purged, there is always a copy of it available, in case you need to recreate it). Order Templates are saves under the First and Last Names of the Sender, plus a serial number. This way, templates are always easy to locate, and retrieved.
Standing Orders. Once you have saved an order as a Template, the Visual Ticket system allows you to schedule the Daily Agent to automatically add the template to the Order Pad on certain day(s) in the future. The advantage offered by the Template Technology (versus the methodology used in Flora-Ticket system), is that Standing Orders do not exist (and thus do not populate the Order pad), until they are due.
VT accesses customer files directly on the Micro Florist Server. All information is accessed and updated in Real Time.
Customer Profiles access all the information contained in the customer file, and you can setup / modify customers form all VT stations.
In addition to customer name, address, memo, financial details, preferences, you can also assign a picture for each customer (or employee) profile.
VT provides full access to customer's Special Occasions, allowing you to view upcoming occasions, as you talk to each customer. You can also add / modify special occasions as you access each profile.
Imagine the phone rings, the Caller-Id interface pulls up the account, you click on the Special Occasions button, and you'll notice that the customer's anniversary is coming up in 2 weeks, and the customer's average purchase is $85, and he likes Baskets of Roses with champagne, but he is just calling to order a Get-well arrangement for his friend . Now wouldn't that be a nice sale to make??!
Visual Ticket also allows you to enter Payment on Accounts directly from the Customer Profile Window.
This gives the Visual Ticket capabilities that was not originally intended for it, since this is really an "Accounting" Function. However, in the quest of making VT a fully self-contained POS environment, this feature now eliminates the need to switch to the MFS Main Menu, for Payment on Accounts entry. The same concept applied, when "Time Entry" was added. Allthough, this is only a single button on the Customer Profile screen, there is a tremendous amount of code behind it, connecting a POS station to the MFS Transaction (and GL) databases.In order to simplify the User Interface and reduce overall Training requirements, the "Payment On Account" form follows the "Payment on Sale" screen quite closely. The "Payment on Account" implementation in VT goes beyond, and surpasses the Short-cut ("Tab" ) implementation in MFS. You can setup all details of the payment transaction, (in a Non-Modal fashion) before you actually submit the payment. Also, the payment can include "Multiple Methods of Payment" on a single form. The "Payment On Account" form, also supports real time Flora-Credit authorizations for Credit Card payments, and it allows the printing of Cashier Receipts, and Credit Card Slips. Payment of Account maybe entered, for a customer, once the customer has been selected on the Order Pad, or you can Select Customers, and apply Payments, using the "Customer" selection on the Administration Menu.
Inventory items can be added / modified from all VT stations. You can also assign UPC barcode for each item.
In addition to inventory item description, Care Tags, and Key-words, you can also modify the Item Counter, and the Adjusted Price.
VT maintains a separate Item Counter (besides Micro Florist's full Inventory Control capabilities), that allows you to keep track of quantity of items (arrangements) sold, so that the item is not over sold during busy holidays.
VT supports Inventory Items visually by allowing you to assign a picture for each inventory item. This allows you to catalog all arrangements in FTD, AFS, Carik, Redbook, and Teleflora catalogs, and place them in your inventory with picture, description, and pricing (you may have to obtain permission for scanning pictures of copyrighted material).
Keyword assignment for each item allows VT Agents to pick items from your inventory intelligently, when orders are received from external sources (such as Mercury, or Internet). Unlike Flora-Ticket that handles all incoming orders as Custom Orders, VT searches the Order Description, and upon locating the keywords (such as Dish Garden, Seasonal, Roses, Basket..), it will automatically pick the right item for the order.
VT provides variety of Order Entry Tickets, with maximum possible flexibility in format, destination, and routing. These tickets include, and are not limited to Work Ticket, Delivery Ticket, Enclosure Card, Cashier Receipt, Sales Invoice, Credit Card Slip, Shipping Label, and Decline Ticket.
Each ticket can be printed using the "Basic" (Micro Florist) format, as well as the new "Visual" format. The Basic Format is the same as the ticket printing in Micro Florist / Flora-Ticket environment. This format is mainly for maintaining backward compatibility, as well as providing fast and "basic" method of printing using "older" types of printers (Dot Matrix). The basic format prints in Text mode, and thus is at least an order of magnitude faster than the Visual format.
The Visual format prints in Graphics mode, and is especially suited for Laser Jet and Ink Jet types of printers. Visual Ticket templates are fully User modify-able, and you can modify the ticket using your preferred fonts, and layout, and then save it under the User Version of the ticket. The Visual Ticket support a high level of customization with respect to page layout, printer parameters, and destination.
The system supports simultaneous printing of both formats for each ticket, printing on different printers.
Ticket "Print Jobs" are "Division Specific". This is an extremely important and powerful phrase. It basically ties orders in the Order Pad to a specific Print Job setup.
When defining Print Jobs, you first specify a Division Number, and then the format of the Ticket (whether it is Basic or Visual format), and the Destination (the Printer name on the LAN or WAN).
Each order has a Assigned Division field, which defaults to the Division number the order was entered under (the Sold Division). When an order needs to be "filled" in another shop (Division 02), the Operator simply changes the Assigned Division to 02. When the Print Agent sees this order, and it will use the Print Job setup for Division 02, to print the Work Ticket for this order. The Print Job for Division 02's "Work Order" specifies a Visual Format printed on a Remote Printer called "LaserJet Branch-02".
LaserJet Branch-02 happens to be a Printer on a Wide Area Network (WAN), located in the Branch 02 across town, where the Order is supposed to be filled. This allows the Work Ticket to print where it is actually needed !
In summary, the order is taken in Shop 01, is assigned to shop 02, the Print Agent prints the ticket directly on a printer located in the Design Room of shop 02 across town. This is why "Division Specific" printing comes real handy.
Visual Ticket Reports are printed through the Report Launcher interface, located under the File menu. The Report Launcher lists all available Reports, and Listings in a "Central Place". This way you don't have to look all over the place to find the specific Report you are looking for.
The Report Launcher lists reports based on their "Long Descriptions", instead of cryptic file names. Reports appear sorted by their Description, making it easier to locate desired report.
All VT Reports and listings are developed in Visual Format (graphics mode). VT reports and listings contains detailed, and summary sales transactions, production and delivery status, as well as listings of customers, and inventory items.
The Report Launcher allows you to specify Preview, Printer or File for output of each report. The Preview mode provides full zooming in and out functionality, with the ability to view all pages of the report, which in most cases makes the actual printing of the report on paper unnecessary.,
VT software updates in future, are likely to continue adding more and more reports/listings to Report Launcher's available reports.
Visual Ticket Agents are powerful little gofers that do a lot of work, in the background, while order entry is going on in the foreground, making life easier for VT users, and speeding up tasks that would normally take a lot of foreground time to complete.
VT Agents are pre-assigned by MicroCode to specific station numbers based on your purchase order. For example, the work-station physically connected to the Mercury 3000 system, will log-on to station #03 resource, which is configured for Mercury Send and Mercury Receive Agents.
The VT can be configured to automatically launch the all Agents during startup, on the specific stations they are assigned to. Then, depending on the setup parameters of these Agents, orders are automatically downloaded from Mercury, say every 10 minutes, and out-going orders are sent every 20 minutes. The Mercury Agents operate on the central Order Pad, thus eliminating the need to import / export orders to specific systems, back and forth, for Mercury Transmissions.
Orders that are changed / created by VT Agents, are automatically stamped with the "Attention Flag", so that anybody coming across them, would notice them, review them, make the necessary changes, and then submit them for Processing.
Work stations that are designated to run Agents in the background need to be configured with more memory, and CPU processing speed.
Each Agent can be setup to run with a specific time interval, anywhere from a minute, up to 24 hours. The Processing Agents may run every 5 minutes, the Print Agent every 2 minutes, the Mercury Agents every 15 minutes, and the Daily Agent every 24 hours, and so on. VT currently has the following Agents:
The Daily Agent: Goes though all the orders in the Order Pad, converts Standby orders to Current orders, as they become due, converts Processed orders to Archived orders, and then purges older Archived orders, based on the criteria setup by the System Manager.
The Credit Card Agent: Goes through the entire order pad and looks for orders paid by credit card that require authorization. It then queues them all up, calls the bank, obtains the necessary credit card authorizations, and inserts the authorizations back into individual orders.
For Standby orders just converted into Due orders, by the Daily Agent, the Credit Card Agent gets all the necessary authorization automatically, and then hands them off to the Processing Agent. It is important to note that the Payment Window has a Flora-Credit button, that obtains Credit Card Authorizations directly, without having to wait for the Credit Card Agent to become active.
The Processing Agent: Goes though all the orders in the Order Pad, that have been stamped "Ready", and posts them into the Micro Florist Server, and stamps them "Posted".
The Print Agent: Prints work tickets, delivery tickets, enclosure cards, cashier receipts, invoices, credit card slips, shipping labels, and other tickets as requested on each order.
Each window has a check box for specifying the Print Request for each ticket. The print Agent can be setup such that, only (tickets for) processed orders print. This controls the printing of paperwork around your shop, insuring that only paid, and processed orders are produced by your Designers.
Mercury Send Agent: Is typically activated automatically every 10 to 15 minutes, and it looks for Wire-out orders stamped with Mercury Transmission, and that have been assigned a (Filling Florist) code. It will then automatically activate the Mercury Link, and transmit such orders in background. This means as soon as you specify the florist Code, you are done. The rest is handled by VT Agents. The order is sent, the verification is obtained, the order is posted into Micro Florist Server, and it is then sent to the Archive file.
Mercury Receive Agent: Is run every 5-10 minutes, and it brings in all incoming Mercury orders, and verifications. Orders are translated into Visual Ticket format, and are stamped with the "Attention" stamp. The Attention stamp puts the order on hold (as far as the Processing Agent, and the Print Agents are concerned), and prompts the Cashiers to review each order, and make the necessary changes, correct any misspellings, or what not. The Cashier then removes the Attention stamp, and submits the order for processing.
The VOX Agent: This Agent is designed specifically to work with order transmission via the Internet, and interfacing with foreign systems, importing and translating orders coming from external sources into the VT format. Please contact our Development teams for OTP (Order Transfer Protocol) file specifications.
The Internet Agent: This Agent allows you to contect to MicroCode's Internet FTP site, and automtically download the latest versions of the system software, and support files..
The Caller-Id Manager This Agent interfaces with the Caller-Id Multi-Line Adapter hardware and reads the caller-Id information from your incoming phone lines, and makes them available to other Visual Ticket stations. This Agent can also be added to the Automatic Agent Launch Sequence, or can run from the Windows Start menu. The Interface between the computer runing this Agent, and the Caller-Id Multi-Line Adapter is provided via a Serial (RS-232) cable comnnected to either COM1, or COM2 port of the computer..
The Auto Assign Agent: This Agent in currently under construction. When completed, it will assign Filling Florist shops automatically, for wire-out order, based on a set of criteria setup by the System Manager.
The Auditor Agent: It cycles through all orders in the order pad, verifying that each order has been posted correctly, and if needed, recovering any order that may have been misplaced due to system / network failure.
Production Tracking: Allows direct access by individual Designers in your Design room, letting each Designer to select an arrangement from the list of arrangements that need to be made. VT would then stamp the item with Designer's Initials, and places the starting date/time into the order's Production window. After the Arrangement is finished, VT stamps the arrangement complete, taking it off of the Designer's "Work-in-Progress List", and placing it into the "Completed List". The Production Status of each arrangement, is made available to every VT station, in case a customer calls, and inquires about the status of an order.
Delivery Tracking: Allows direct access by individual Drivers at your Delivery Counter, letting each Driver to select an arrangement from the list of arrangements that need to be delivered. VT would then stamp the item with Driver's Initials, and places the starting date/time into the order's Delivery window. After the Arrangement is delivered, VT stamps the arrangement delivered, taking it off of the Driver's "On-Delivery List", and placing it into the "Delivered List". The Delivery Status of each arrangement, is made available to every VT station, in case a customer calls, and inquires about the status of an order.
Problem Tracking: Allows you to view all "open" problems, sort them by their priority, and update the problem status as problems are address, and as corrective action is taken.
Wire-out Assignments: Instead of going through each order on the Order Pad to specify the Filling Florist, this feature presents a list of all wire-out orders that need to be called out (or sent), allowing you to go though the list one by one, click on a single button, activate the Directory window, select the filling florist and then:
a) Specify Mercury for the method of transmission, and be done with it, letting the Mercury Send Agent take over and handle the order transmission.
b) If the Florist has a fax number, click on the Auto-Fax Button, and let VT fax out the order.
c) Click on the Overview button, causing VT to show the necessary information on the computer screen, allowing you to simply call out the order.
Template Management. Using the Template Menu selection you can generate orders from existing templates, or delete any template that may no longer be needed..
Standing Orders Schedule. You can view all scheduled Standing Orders, sorted by their scheduled date.
Order Pad Status Review. This utility is available for manager Access levels only (Levels 3 and 4).It performs the following functions:
1) It sumerizes the Order Entry / Processing activities for a given day.
2) It provides an over all status of orders on the Order Pad.
3) It allows the manager to determine any remaining action that needs to be taken prior to closing a given day.
4) After the Manager has determined that all pending actions have been completed, he/she may choose to start the processing of the orders that are due on the next day.The ability to temporarily change the "Standby Parameter" (for the remainder of the Day), serves the very important function of getting the orders ready for the next day. The system registers the change of the Standby Parameter, only for that day. This parameter is then reset to it's original default value once the system is restarted on the following day. This action is usually taken around 3:00pm to 4:00pm, once all the orders for a given day have gone out, and Designers are ready to start work on Tomorrow's orders.
Visual Ticket (VT) takes full advantage of Windows-95/NT Multi-user environment, by providing access to a centrally located , centrally shared database files, for Order Pad data.
VT requires access to a Micro Florist Server for its Financial data. Micro Florist Server contains Customer, Inventory, and General Ledger files. VT acts like a sophisticated Order Pad posting its sales information into the Micro Florist Server when orders are processed (by the Processing Agent).
The number of (virtual) stations for a VT site, and the feature set enabled on each station is pre-assigned by MicroCode. VT supports Unlimited Usage, Time Limited Usage, and Demo mode of operation, that is assigned on a station by station basis, based on your purchase order.
The Unlimited Usage version is controlled by a single Hardlock key, installed on the VT Server.
The Time Limited version does not require a Hardlock key, and the maximum time period allowed is 30 days. This configuration is available only under special conditions, and is available for purposes of configuration changes, while Hardlock keys are sent back for re-programming.
The Demo version provides full featured functionality, however the number of orders allowed in the Order Pad is limited to 5 orders. This version of VT is available Free of charge when downloaded from the Micro Florist BBS (206-822-9044), or our Web Page located at: www.visualticket.com
Physical work-stations can use the pre-assigned (virtual) Station resources to log-on to VT. This allows for maximum flexibility for running VT sessions. For example, you can have 12 physical work-stations running on a 8 station (VT resources), at different shifts, and locations, as long as only 8 of the 12 work-stations run simultaneously. This can result in considerable savings, for shops with branches running on different shifts.
Each station support up to 99 sessions. Sessions are designated by Station Number + the employee's staff-Id. For example, employee CN can be setup to have sessions on station 01, and sessions on station 03. The system will then allow this employee to log-on to station 01 and 03, and will maintain separate starting, and ending balance for each session ,allowing you to close and balance the Cash Register for each session separately.
Each Session is setup with a set of Defaults that best suites the assigned department, and the employee running the session. These defaults include Order Pad behavior, colors, keyboard response, access levels, and many other system attributes, that minimize the required keystrokes and will customize the VT stations to the specific requirements of the Department.
Each physical work station can be setup to access local or centrally shared data for the Order Pad. Locally entered orders can then be exported to the VT Server (centrally located data) using the VT Export utility.
| This page last updated on: 04/26/98 10:29 PM |
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