The Teak system manages many, many facets
of the distribution, but it “hides” the complexity from
the user and presents an easy-to-use and easy-to-understand view.
Settings are made initially for each customer location, each publication,
and each draw, and the system takes it from there. Following are a
few examples of how day-to-day tasks that can be difficult or time-consuming
are made easy for the user:
- The system contains an “Action List” feature allows
making changes for a set of locations in one step instead of having
to make changes one-by-one. It works like this: the user identifies
which locations are to be affected (example: certain customers
or customers receiving certain publications or customers in a
certain Zip code) and an “Action List” is created.
The user then indicates the action to be taken (example: set a
new Price Code) and the system applies the change to all locations
in the list.
- When a publisher sends a spreadsheet with draw changes for
a large number of locations, the columns can be arranged into
the Teak format and emailed into the Teak server. All draw changes
will automatically be applied to the locations.
- While routes, summaries, and reports can include all types
of locations, separate screens support commercial accounts, vending
machines, and home delivery customers reflecting the differences
in each type of location.
- The system supports multiple Price Codes and Cost Codes, effectively
subdividing a publication as necessary for billing and draw request
purposes. For example, separate figures are available by region
and by Cost Code for draw requests sent in to the publisher.
- Multiple invoice formats are available and each customer can
be assigned its own format. Also, locations can be grouped for
a single combined invoice. Separate billing cycles can be defined
for different customers. These features simplify the billing process.
- A separate screen is available of recording vending machine
collections, reflecting the different manner in which revenues
for vending machines are recorded as compared to normal accounts.
- Each employee with access to the system has a separate logon
and access is limited to only the functions and reports that that
particular person needs to have. For example, a person who scans
in returns will not have access to financial reports.
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