eCat iPad App for Furniture Reps

March 22, 2011  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Retail Technology on March 23, 2011

SuperCat Solutions has launched the eCat iPad app for sales representatives.

After a year of initial research, a six-man technical development team created the app with the goal of providing the create an interactive sales tool that quickly shows product vividly and efficiently, takes and submits orders, and checks inventories and order status. Now in its third generation with six months of proven performance among Sarreid Ltd. reps, Sarreid has sold off the eCat software to a new company, SuperCat Solutions LLC, formed in January by investors, the software designer, and the independent software development company that created the app.
 
"What makes eCat different is that it takes the perspective of what a sales representative needs to serve the retail dealers and write orders out in the field, and what the company needs to process orders and better manage the sales function," said Steve Thrasher, president of SuperCat and operations manager for Sarreid. "It is not just a glorified version of a print catalog. eCat automatically syncs with a web server over a secure connection to keep product, pricing and inventory information current, and to efficiently share updated information with the sales team."
 
The product focuses on streamlining the process from presentation through follow up account service. For example, the user can choose from three product display options, all showing both descriptive information and inventory availability: Quick View for rapid browsing of all products within categories; Presentation View with large photos and ability to 'zoom-in' to view product detail; and Detail View with extensive product information.
 
Customized filters enable users to show specific product groups, items available for immediate delivery, or only new items recently introduced. Within each view are multiple selection criteria including trade name, collection, room or product grouping, functional categories, string searches for similar products, and Smart Stacks of specific product groupings.
 
As the sales representative works with a buyer, items can be placed in an order cart with special features such as a "Maybe List" and a review feature that allows the buyer to look at thumbnail photos of the order for final decisions and editing. The user may choose to suppress all pricing, specify standard pricing set by the vendor, or access special custom pricing levels also determined by the vendor. eCat also provides information about minimum orders or products which must be ordered in multiples or as sets.
 
"We spent a year talking with sales reps and studying how they work before writing the first line of software code," Thrasher said. "Essentially, we've taken the step by step details of the sales process from introduction through delivery and put it at the fingertips of the sales person as they work with the dealer. The app has been created through the eyes of management as a nuts and bolts approach to transforming each step into a digital transaction that ultimately provides the sales representative as well as the buyer with everything they need from us to make a decision and place the order."

A one-hour "shirt sleeves" luncheon and demonstration of eCat has been scheduled at the String & Splinter Club in High Point at noon, Tuesday, March 29. For more information or to RSVP contact Anne Wear at 336.884.8700 or by e-mail.