Many distributors still run route sales on paper memos and spreadsheets compiled every evening. Moving to a distribution system pays off quickly, but only if the migration is planned around the people in the field. This is the plan we use.
Step 1: Collect what you have
We gather current price lists, retailer lists per route, SR assignments, credit limits and the evening reports managers rely on. This shows what the new system must reproduce from day one.
Step 2: Clean the master data
- One code per retailer, with market, route and location.
- One item list with correct pack sizes and prices.
- Opening dues per retailer, agreed with accounts.
Step 3: Pilot one route
A single SR and DSR use the new app for two weeks while the old method continues. We fix screens, prices and routes based on their feedback, then compare the evening totals with the spreadsheet.
Step 4: Train by role
SRs learn order taking, DSRs learn delivery and collection, and supervisors learn the dashboard. Sessions are short, practical and held in Bangla where needed.
Step 5: Switch route by route
Once the pilot matches, routes move over in groups. The spreadsheet is retired for each route as soon as its numbers are reliable in the system.
Step 6: Daily close in the system
Collections, returns and stock in the van are reconciled every evening in the system. Managers see orders, strike rate and dues without waiting for a compiled file.
Frequently asked questions
What phones do SRs need?
Standard Android smartphones are enough.
How long does a full migration take?
For a distributor with a few hundred retailers, typically four to eight weeks.
Related reading
For the product view of this topic, read FMCG Route Sales: Spreadsheets vs a Distribution ERP on the Reckon ERP blog.
Planning a project? Book a free consultation with our team, or see our Reckon ERP service.
