Story of Retail Company

Someone decides to sell a product. Buyer makes arrangement with Manufacturer or Distributor (acting as Supplier) to supply the product. Buyer places initial order for product. Buyer records initial product and supplier information.

Marketer creates product information including copy, images, and other supporting materials. Marketer makes product information available to the Customer.

End-User or Placing Customer finds desired product Customer Finds Product and decides to purchase it Placing Customer Adds Product to Cart . Placing Customer places a sales order by sending an order for product to the Company by internet or through a Customer Service Rep by fax, paper mail, or a phone call Placing Customer Places a Sales Order (Online Checkout).

If order information looks good and payment or billing information is valid (authorized as needed), Company decides to accept order.

If inventory is not available the order is placed on back-order. If available or on-hand inventory quantities fall below a certain level, or other purchasing criteria is met then Purchaser issues a purchase order to order new inventory from a Supplier. When shipment(s) based on a purchase order arrive Shipment Receiver unpacks the shipment, puts inventory away in desired locations in the warehouse, and records information about the shipment receipt and the location and other information about the inventory.

Once inventory is available (for part or all of the order, depending on preference) the Fulfillment Manager adds items to a picklist. Picker picks all items for all orders on a picklist. Packer packs picklist items and records information about the packages in a shipment. Carrier picks up the packages and delivers them to the Ship-To Customer.
Once information about a shipment that is packed is recorded, Accountant creates an invoice and sends it to Bill-To Customer for the relevant order(s). When payment is received from Bill-To Customer, Accountant associates it with relevant invoice(s) and marks invoices with full payment as paid.

If Ship-To Customer finds the product to be faulty or End-User Customer decides they do not want the product, they will contact Customer Service Representative and request return authorization. Once return authorization is approved by Customer Service Rep Ship-To Customer or End-User Customer will ship the product via Carrier to the warehouse. Shipment Receiver receives the return shipment and either puts it away or sends it to Repairer for refurbishment or disposes of damaged inventory, and in all cases records information about action taken for the return shipment. When Repairer receives inventory they will either repair and re-stock the inventory as a refurbished good or dispose of the inventory, and in either case record information about the action taken.