Mobile and Paper-Based DSD Process Scenarios

Purpose

The DSD process scenario is a cycle in which a tour is prepared, carried out, and settled.

The back-end system provides various functions that enable you to carry out tours. There are different ways of working with the functions provided by the back end, depending on whether you use mobile devices on your tours or a paper-based DSD process.

This has a technical background: Certain functions (such as bar code scanning, electronic signatures, and providing statistical data) can only be used in conjunction with mobile devices.The data required to perform the core tasks of a DSD process are available in both DSD scenarios.

We recommend that you use mobile devices. Using DSD with mobile devices has the following advantages:

  • Reduced processing time for each business transaction

  • Low risk of data entry errors and redundancies

  • Reduced internal costs

    Note Note

    You can use the paper-based DSD process as an alternative or a replacement for the mobile DSD process.

    If a mobile device is temporarily out of order, for example, you can provide the driver with the necessary information in paper form. Once the tour is completed, you can transfer the data collected during the tour back into the system manually using Tour Data Entry. The system supports you in carrying out the tour and the subsequent processes. When the mobile device is available again, you can use it for the next tour as usual.

    End of the note.

Prerequisites

The following are the prerequisites for using the mobile DSD process scenario:

  • You use mobile devices that can handle the scope of functions provided by the DSD back end.

  • You have made the required Customizing settings for handheld connectivity.

  • You have defined authorizations for your drivers, and specified which functions they are allowed to carry out on the mobile device.

Process Flow

Mobile DSD Process Scenario

You use the mobile variant of the DSD process if you want a seamless electronic shipment and visit process from start to finish of a tour. You process all the required tour data in the back end and transfer the tour data in both directions using the DSD connector:

  • At the start of the tour: From the back end to the mobile device (download)

  • At the end of the tour: From the mobile device to the back end (upload)

The DSD process starts with determining all the main settings for order processing and shipment or visit preparation in the back end.The mobile process and the paper-based process run in parallel until the point where the tour data is made available to the driver.

  1. Download

    The tour data is downloaded to the driver's mobile device.

    The driver has access to all the main tour data, additional data (statistical data, for example) and functions (such as invoice printout at the customer site).

  2. Initialization

    The driver logs on to the mobile device and makes basic settings, such as entering the odometer reading.

  3. Check-out (optional)

    Before drivers leave the distribution center, they undergo a check-out process. Checkers can also use the same device as the driver to enter or confirm the counting results of a check-out, for example.

  4. Carrying out visits or shipments and related activities

    Drivers can display various tour data such as what they have to deliver to which customer. The driver can also make changes to existing deliveries on the mobile device, for example, and if there is a printer available, print invoices directly at the customer site.

  5. Check-in (optional)

    The driver returns to the distribution center and undergoes a check-in (similar to the check-out).

    Note Note

    The steps between check-out and check-in can be repeated if the driver interrupts the tour due to a reload and returns to the distribution center earlier than planned to load new material, for example.

    End of the note.

  6. Driver completes tour

    The driver completes the activities on the mobile device.

  7. Upload

    After upload, the data is available in the settlement cockpit in the back end for the subsequent DSD processes.This means that the data does not have to be transferred manually to the back end, a process that is time-consuming and prone to errors.

Paper-Based DSD Process Scenario

You can also carry out a tour without using mobile devices (if they are out of order due to technical problems, for example). In this case, the driver (and the checker) enters all the tour data in documents or other papers.

The mobile process and the paper-based process run in parallel until the point where the tour data is made available to the driver:

  1. The driver can access the tour data in the form of printable documents.

  2. Check-out (optional)

  3. Carrying out visits or shipments and related activities

  4. The driver must enter all transactions during the tour on paper (such as corrections to the delivery quantity, and new orders).

  5. Check-in (optional)

  6. Driver completes tour

  7. Tour data entry

    Once the driver has completed the tour, you transfer the tour data manually to the back-end system using tour data entry. After the tour data has been transferred, it is available again in electronic form and can be used in the subsequent processes such as difference determination.