Pen-Based Purchase Order System by NCR and JDS Solutions

October 19, 1992 — A portable purchase order system designed for retail buyers, which features Portable PO software running on the NCR NotePad computers, has been announced jointly by JDS Solutions and NCR Corporation.

It is designed for buyers of general and mass merchandisers as well as specialty stores.

With Portable PO, the screen of the NotePad projects a purchase order form, then the buyer fills in the blanks. Within seconds, the computer changes handwriting entries into readable text and shapes. It allows buyers to store current pricing, models, styles, credit terms and other pertinent information for instant retrieval, with the touch of a pen. Because data can be transmitted to headquarters by modem from the field, it also eliminates rekeying of information.

“The Portable PO System improves the accuracy and timeliness of processing purchase orders,” said Raymond Carlin, NCR’s vice president of the Retail Systems Division. “Because data can be transmitted to headquarters instantly, Port-able PO also makes information available to executives on a timely basis without error-prone rekeying.”

“Portable PO brings this state-of-the art technology to the soft goods industry with applications-specific software that allows the users to enter a purchase order into the computer just as easily as writing on a pad with a fountain pen,” said Dan Friedman, president of JDS Solutions.

Portable PO allows buyers to take the information they need into the marketplace. Among the many capabilities built into the software are Open-To-Buy plans, On-Order statistics, Retail Calculations and other essential information.

Because the system is designed for mobile computing, the buyer can send purchase orders directly into the retail organization’s host system from the field, with the tap of the NCR NotePad’s electronic pen. Buyers can even make sketches or take photographs of merchandise purchased as reminders of what was bought while on a buying trip.

“This product represents the first of many interesting and innovative solutions which will be generated by the long term partnership that has been established by these two leaders in the pen-based industry,” said Carlin.

For the salesperson in the field, ideal for the textile and fashion industries, the system provides an electronic purchase order which can be filled in and transmitted electronically to a central computer. The NotePad’s built-in communications allows salespeople to send their orders back to the home office via a modem.

Portable PO can be used to store customer lists and their buying histories as well as complete product lists including descriptions and pricing. Pop-up sketches or photographs of the seller’s product line can also be used to assist in sales calls.

“The Portable PO purchase order package is the first of a series of applications for the retail industry which are being developed as a result of a partnership agreement between JDS, a leading provider of software for pen-based applications, and NCR,” said Carlin. “Both companies are dedicated to providing retailers with all the benefits that mobile computing technology can bring.”

The NCR 3125 NotePad computer comes with 8MB of RAM and a 20MB hard disk. The new NCR 3130 NotePad pen-based computer offers several additional features include a high contrast backlit screen; larger and faster hard disk drives (60MB and 40MB); greater durability including shock mounted hard drives; and automated data protection.

The JDS software runs with Go Corporation’s Penpoint, or Microsoft Windows for Pen.

The NCR 3125 NotePad computer has suggested retail price of $5,145, the NCR 3130 NotePad has a suggested retail price of $5,500, and the PO software ranges in price from $1,000 to $2,000, depending on quantity.

JDS is a leader in vertical market Pen-Based software applications. Commercial applications as well as custom projects are designed, programmed, trained and supported out of its San Diego office.

NCR, an AT&T company, develops, manufactures, markets, supports and services enterprise-wide information systems for worldwide markets.

NCR is a registered trademark of NCR Corporation. PenPoint is a trademark of Go Corporation. Microsoft Windows for Pen Computing is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Portable PO is a trademark of JDS Solutions Corporation.

CONTACT:
NCR Corporation, New Orleans
Mark Feighery, 513/445-5236
or
Manning, Selvage & Lee, New York
Lisa Hendrickson, 212/213-7135
or
JDS Solutions Corporation,
Dan Friedman, 619/436-8000