Dynamic Scheduling Overview

Dynamic Dispatch Data for review

In this session we’ll discuss the Dynamic Scheduling Interface and all the information that can be utilized to view the Dynamic Schedule for a route/routes.

The data shown on the DS screens is based upon the last DS run.  This will either be the nightly process or a manual run.  If you use remote data and data arrives after the nightly DS process, you may decide to manually run DS to utilize the most recent machine activity.   The number of days displayed on the Dispatch Route and Dispatch-POS views is based upon the global setting “# of Days to display on schedule”.

Dynamic Scheduling “Dispatch-Route View only” (The view that first appears when you open DS)

Toolbar

• The different options available are represented by an icon. By hovering your mouse on top of the icon it will display its name and function.

 Route List = Clicking on the icon will display your routes. By default it will only show routes that have dynamically scheduled points of sale. You can see all routes by unchecking the box beside ‘Show Dynamic Only Routes. Only routes that are selected will be displayed in Dynamic Scheduling.

Show Dynamic Routes Only = this is a toggle box, when selected it only shows dynamic routes, when de-selected it shows all routes.

Select Date = Select the date that you want to schedule.  Dynamic Scheduling will show this date and the next 6 days.

Load/Refresh = Used when loading or refreshing any new changes.

Run Scheduling = Used to manually run Dynamic Scheduling.  By default DS will run automatically after hours as a nightly process.

Settings = Displays VendMAX Global Settings that can then be altered accordingly.

Records

Route Header/Route Details

The route view can be sorted by clicking on any column heading.  All column headings are active, including the daily summary totals.  Clicking on %D for a specific day, will view the routes based upon the percent depleted.  By default the data will sort in ascending order.  Click the column heading again to sort in descending order.

When you place your mouse on any field within the route detail section and double click, you will be transferred to the POS View for the route.   The field upon which you double clicked controls the POS displayed in the POS View.   Double clicking on the column heading does not move you to the POS view, click on the data values.

• Route Code = Code that has been entered into Vendmax when creating the route.  If you double click on this field,  the POS view will display all POS for the route.

• Route Desc = Description that has been entered into Vendmax when creating the route. If you double click on this field, the POS view will display all POS for the route.

• Target = This is the number entered on the Route master file in Vendmax under the setting “MAX POS Target”.  If you double click on this field, the POS view will display all POS for the route.

• Fixed = This is the total number of “Fixed” or statically scheduled POS’s assigned with this route.   If you double click on this field, the POS view will display all POS with a static schedule.

• Dynamic = This is the total number of “Dynamic” POS’s assigned with this route. If you double click on this field, the POS view will display all POS set as dynamic.

• Total = This is the total number of POS’s assigned to this route. Fixed + Dynamic.  If you double click on this field, the POS view will display all POS for the route.

• Lst Run = Last Date/Time that Dynamic Scheduler was processed.  If you double click on this field, the POS view will display all POS for the route.

• Last R-DEX = Date/Time of the last remote dex file received for this route. .  If you double click on this field, the POS view will display all POS for the route.

• R-DEX POS = First section is the number of POS’s with remote dex. Second section is the number of remote dex POS’s that haven’t received a dex file in the last 12 hours.   If you double click on this field, the POS view will display all POS for the route.

Day Header/Day Detail

When you place your mouse on any field within the day section and double click, you will be transferred to the POS View for the route/day.   The field upon which you double clicked controls the POS displayed in the POS View.  Double clicking on the column heading does not move you to the POS view, click on the data values.

• Fxd = Total number of “Fixed” or statically scheduled POS’s for this day. If you double click on this field, the POS view will display all POS with a static schedule which are scheduled for the selected day.

• $$ = The average collect expected for each POS’s currently scheduled for the day.  If you double click on this field, the POS view will display all POS which are scheduled for the selected day.

• Ttl$$ = Total expected dollars collected for this route for this day. If you double click on this field, the POS view will display all POS which are scheduled for the selected day.

• Dnmc = Total number of “Dynamic” POS’s scheduled for this day. If you double click on this field, the POS view will display all POS with a dynamic schedule which are scheduled for the selected day.

• SP = The average number of sold out products for POS’s scheduled. Fixed or Dynamic. If you double click on this field, the POS view will display all POS which are scheduled for the selected day.

• SC = The average number of sold out columns for POS’s scheduled. Fixed or Dynamic. If you double click on this field, the POS view will display all POS which are scheduled for the selected day.

• Acpt = The number of POS’s that meet minimum threshold requirements but are not scheduled.  If you double click on this field, the POS view will display the accepted POS.

• Dfrd = The number of POS’s that were deferred to a different day.  If you double click on this field, the POS view will display the defferred POS.

• Stps = Total number of “Locations” scheduled for the day. If you double click on this field, the POS view will display all POS which are scheduled for the selected day.

• %D = The average percentage depleted for POS’s scheduled for this day. If you double click on this field, the POS view will display all POS which are scheduled for the selected day.

• Msd = The number of POS’s that meet maximum threshold requirements but are not scheduled. If you double click on this field, the POS view will display the missed POS for the selected day.

Floating Reports

Floating Views are anchored on the right side of the Dynamic Scheduling Screen and provide access to additional information.

• Scheduled POS List

Shows the machines that are scheduled for the selected date.  This is a quick way to see the POS scheduled for specific date.  Double clicking on a POS in the floating Scheduled POS List, provides a quick jump to the selected POS on the POS View.  If the list of POS looks good, there may be no need to go into the POS View.

Auto Hide: The push pin can lock the Scheduled POS List on the screen.

• User Activity

Shows users currently working in the Dynamic Scheduler and the routes being accessed.

Dynamic Scheduling “Dispatch-POS View”

Trainer Note:  First time showing POS View, limit view to list of scheduled POS for specific date.

Dynamic Scheduler POS View is where you can view the list of POS that is scheduled for a specified date.  It is also where you can view the status of every dynamic machine on the route and make adjustments to the schedule.  The screen shows the current date plus the next six days.

• Toolbar:

• Route Totals Area

The route totals section show the status of the route for the selected date plus the next six days.  As scheduling changes are made, the route totals are automatically updated.  The data is same as that shown on the Route View (1^st screen in DS).   Tooltips are available as you mouse over each field.  The tip provides a description of the data shown.

Clicking on certain fields in the Route Area, will control the Points of Sales that show in the POS Area.  

On first use, the screen will display scheduled POS for the dispatch date selected only.  Changes to the default setting occur when changes to layouts are saved, including the last saved settings for Scheduled Only and Show Hidden POS buttons.

Show Hidden POS – A toggle button which will hide or display Vending Non-Revenue Points of Sale.  The default setting is based upon Global Setting – Display Non-Revenue Vending Points of Sale.

Scheduled Only – When toggled on, this setting will display only the scheduled POS for the selected dispatch date.  When toggled off, this setting will display all Points of Sale on the route.  

All Sorted by Schedule Date – When toggled on, this setting will sort the POS list based upon the schedule date.  The data will sort based upon the scheduled date, followed by the next scheduled day and so on.

All Sorted By Stop – When toggled on, this setting will sort the POS list based upon the Stop value.  it is recommended to display the Stop field in order to follow the sort sequence.

• POS Details Area

This section of the screen shows information relating to the group of POS selected.  The left side provides descriptive details pertaining to the Point of Sale.  The right side of the screen shows machine performance details for the scheduled date and the next six days.

Headers

The sequence of the column headings can be customized by right clicking on each heading and choosing a different option.  All headings in the first four columns can be rearranged with the exception of the address field. This field is fixed in location.

POS Organization

Grouping

The order in which the POS are displayed can be determined by sorting a column or using the grouping feature.  To group the Points of Sale, click on the desired column heading and drag it to the grouping area that is shown in light grey.  The Points of Sale will be grouped by selected the column.

When grouping is used, the POS list is collapsed and POS scheduling totals are viewed for each group.  The alternating colors of blue and yellow are used to make the screen easier to read.  The colors have no intrinsic meaning.  Use the ‘+’ sign to expand a group and view each POS.  Sub-grouping is available by dragging additional headings to the Grouping area.

To remove the grouping, click on the group heading and drag it back to its normal position.    

Sorting

The Points of Sale can be sorted by clicking on any column heading.  When used in conjunction with Grouping, the Points of Sale will be grouped first, and then sorted by the selected column within each group.

Columns can be sorted in ascending or descending order.   The sort arrow will indicate the direction.  The Points of Sale can be sorted using one of the daily performance headings.  When a performance heading is selected, the Points of Sale will be sorted based upon the date under which the column was selected.

POS Field Descriptions

POS Code – This is the POS Code defined in VendMax

POS Desc – The POS description defined in VM

VEQ Type – Originates from the equipment assigned to the POS.

LOC Code – The Location code under  which the POS is assigned.

LOC Desc – The location description

POS ## – The total number of POS assigned to this location (vending, CF, delivery, etc).

Stop – The stop description to which the POS is associated.

Address – The address for the location.

Remote – The remote ID assigned to the equipment on the POS.

Priority – Defined as Y=High, N=Normal.  This value can be defined at the customer and location level on the Misc tab. It can also be defined on the scheduling tab of the POS.

Type – The type of schedule assigned to the POS.  Dynamic or Scheduled (static).

Filled – The percent filled from last vend visit.

Last VV – Date of last vend visit.

Last Dex – Date of last remote dex file.

Next VV – Predicted next service date.

Daily Status Measures

A/M – Indicates where the schedule for the POS originated.

Blank – POS is not scheduled

S – Static schedule from VendMax

M – Manually scheduled (a user selected the POS).

D – The Dynamic Scheduler selected the POS

X – The scheduled POS was removed for the day.

SC – Number of sold out columns

SP – Number of sold out products

SO – Status of the service order.  L=Locked, O=Open.

$$ – Expected machine revenue.

%D – Percent depleted.

Wght – Weighting factor used to determine the priority of service.

Days – Number of days since last vend visit.

Alerts, Service Calls and Notes

A red icon next to the POS code indicates there is an open service call or alert for the POS.  Mouse over the icon for a tooltip containing the details.  An open service call or alert may be a good reason to schedule a POS for service earlier than expected.

Dynamic Scheduling notes can be viewed and modified on the Dispatch-POS view.  Mouse over the note for details.  Double click on the note hyperlink to edit the notes. The notes are initially displayed in ‘read only’ mode. To edit the notes, click the edit button.

POS: – Notes will display for the selected POS only.

LOC: – Notes will display for all POS belonging to the same location as the selected

POS.

CUS: – Notes will display for all POS belonging to the same customer as the selected

POS.

Drilling into the POS

Double clicking anywhere on a POS row will drill into the POS and provide additional views.

The POS items tab shows the status of every product in the machine starting with the schedule date and the next six days.  This view is excellent for viewing which products have reached thresholds and when they will be sold out.  Click on the % Depl column heading for the selected date and sort the column in descending order.  This will put the sellouts at the top of the list.

ADS – Average daily sales from the last vend visit

Price – Vend price from the last vend visit.

COL – Column ID from the planogram.

DEX ID – Dex ID from the planogram.  Generally used with space to sales.

Capacity – Capacity for the column from the planogram.

Par – Par value from the planogram.

Last Inv – Ending Inventory from the last vend visit.

Last DI – Ending inventory based upon the last remote dex.

Predict I – Predicted machine inventory for the specified date.

% Depl – Predicted percent depleted for the specified date.

Order QT – Servicer Order quantity.

Sales – Predicted machine revenue.

In these views you will be able to better understand the current state of your POS’ and to make better and effective decisions on when to service your equipment.

Note: You will need to activate at least one POS to be Dynamic so the Dynamic Dispatch data will populate. You can do this by going to the POS main page and change the setting from Static Schedule to Dynamic.