[ic] Preorder & Stock Alert Question

[IF]

On Wed, 4 Oct 2000, Mike Heins wrote:

[del]

> Thanks for the thoughtful comments.
> 
> How would you suggest we make the decision about what is to be done?
> I think you know this, because of your "minefield" comment, but I will
> reiterate for the record that Interchange is not an accounting system,
> and that any inventory it keeps has to be taken with a grain of salt. It
> is designed to work in concert with feedback from an actual accounting
> system.....

[del]

> 
> For instance, some people want inventory decremented when the item
> ships. This is a problem with any sort of shipment prediction based
> on inventory level, obviously. And if you also sell via phone, you have
> to keep the inventory up to date there. The obvious solution is a shared
> inventory database, but there are some problems with hooking that up in
> the real world.
> 
> I put the inventory stuff in under protest -- representing that we can
> actually keep track of that is a bit misleading. We cannot hope to unless
> we are tightly coupled with a purchasing/MRP system.
> 
> 
> Once again, thanks for the comments.  I am very interested in
> creating a dialogue about this type of issue. As we integrate with more
> ERP/accounting systems, we will need to set up a series of models which
> can be selected at different points in the process.
> 
> In fact, perhaps we can let it begin with your message. 8-)
> 

May be, as a starting point, one could compile a list of existing
proprietary inventory management systems with or without integrated
accounting systems used most often in specific industries. Bookstore
inventory management systems come to my mind. 

If it has been established that an inventory management system xy 
is used by 80% percent of merchants in their specific industry, 
Akopia could make a decision for which systems they might want 
to develop a hook-up or integrate with. 

May be Akopia could set up a "wishlist for systems" IC users would
want hook-ups for, just to get an overview and start a feedback
mechanism.

-- 
IF