Abstract:
Systems and Methods for tracking and managing an inventory of consumable products. A system in accordance with the present invention comprises a setup unit, a tracking unit and a reporting unit, and preferably has a database for storing data and is an interactive system accessible via the Internet. The system is used preferably in conjunction with a data collection device capable of reading and storing product bar codes, and transferring data to and receiving data from the main system. A method in accordance with the present invention comprises using the data collection device to read the product bar code of each consumed product unit into the system.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/230059 filed Sep. 1, 2000. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to systems and methods for managing an inventory and, more particularly, to systems and methods for tracking and managing an inventory of consumable products.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    On-premise operators need to interact and do business with a complex array of suppliers, wholesalers, advertisers, and entertainers, as well as recruit and train employees, and make effective use of various business services, industry news, and modern approaches to marketing. All these interactions and communication challenges are critical for business success, all are time-consuming, and many of them involve dealing with a habitual subset of an actually larger available set of options.  
           [0004]    As clear as the need for a modernization of on-premise business communications may be, various aspects of the on-premise business have stood in the way. On-premise businesses tend to be highly traditional, doing things today the ways in which they always have, and they have not been quick to take to new communication technologies. Beyond tradition, there are other business facts of life at work. On-premise operations tend to be small and owner-operated, isolated from one another in any operational sense with huge operational variations from outlet to outlet. A factor compounding the operational individuality is that even with the entry of modern communication technologies in the form of point-of-sale devices, a sweeping standardization of devices has not occurred, and as a result, an array of POS devices are in use. Thus, as a result of individual on-premise businesses being small, and for being collectively fragmented and unable to combine resources, the resources and skills required to develop or invest in an On-premise-appropriate information-bearing network with high upfront fixed costs have not developed.  
           [0005]    Timely product consumption data, in particular, are very valuable to participants at each level in a consumer market stream, including manufacturers, distributors, and owners of a retail outlets. Data are useful toward numerous ends, including short term inventory tracking, longer range analysis of trends, and analysis of consumer responses to promotional campaigns and related events. The value of such data is compounded if it is high resolution in terms of being attached to geographical and calendar points, and can be processed in a database that collects data from many outlets, and if it can be integrated with data from other consumer markets.  
           [0006]    The liquor and spirits industry is an example of a retail operation where high-resolution end-point consumption data are difficult to obtain. Transactions are often cash, and the distribution of liquor into consumed drinks is simply not quantifiable with any resolution because of individuality in operations and drink definitions. A long-standing traditional method of tracking consumed product is to conduct an inventory of consumed product at the end of each business night which consists of gathering empty bottles and tossing them individually into a trash receptacle and breaking them, whilst making a mark on an inventory list, bottle-by-bottle. The list which is produced every night is thus called a “breaksheet”, and it is a highly accurate volume-based accounting of consumed product, which is uncomplicated by the various forms in which the product is actually consumed. The short-coming of this type of data collection is that it generally is not translated into digital form, and is not transmissable to a database where it can be processed into more meaningful information.  
           [0007]    Thus, there exists a need within the on-premise industry to modernize data collection and to integrate it into a unified form of business and marketing service. Of all forms of informational input into the system, the most central would be highly accurate, high resolution consumption data. Critical to the success of obtaining these data and building a system around it would be the acceptability and ripple-free entry of such an inventory tracking system into the existing traditional business environment within the on-premise industry.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention provides systems and methods for tracking and managing an inventory of consumable products. A system in accordance with the present invention comprises a setup unit, a tracking unit and a reporting unit. Preferably, the system has a database for storing data and is an interactive system accessible via the Internet. In addition, the system is used preferably in conjunction with a data collection device capable of scanning and storing UPC bar codes, and transferring data to and receiving data from the main system.  
           [0009]    In a preferred embodiment, a user utilizes the setup function of the system in conjunction with an inventory data collection device to set up and store in the system database a profile of inventory information for various inventory points throughout the user&#39;s retail store, bar, nightclub or restaurant (hereinafter collectively referred to as “venue”). The inventory information preferably includes information for all the distributors the user utilizes for delivery of his products (e.g. contact information, order days, delivery days, etc.), the type of inventory points (e.g., storage point or order point), inventory data (e.g., number and type of products at each inventory point), and par level (i.e., optimal inventory level) for each of the products. Preferably, the distributor information, the type of inventory points, and the par level for each of the user&#39;s products are directly input into the system via an electronic data transfer such as a data transfer via the Internet, which are modifiable at any time, and subsequently downloaded to the data collection device. The data collection device is preferably used to collect inventory data and upload the collected data to the system database.  
           [0010]    Similarly, the user utilizes the tracking function of the system in conjunction with a consumption data collection device, which is preferably the same device as the inventory data collection device mentioned above. Preferably, the data collection device is used to collect data regarding consumed products (e.g., the number of consumed products and the frequency of consumption at each and every order point) by scanning and storing the UPC bar code of the empty packages of the consumed products. With the consumption data periodically uploaded to the main system, the system is capable of offering a suggested order amount and distributor for a product; changing, confirming, making and printing product orders; and changing and confirming distributors; and tracking and managing product inventory. Other tracking functions of the system include providing data transfer history; viewing, modifying, confirming and printing suggested distributor orders and order amounts; adding distributors and inventory points; and adjusting inventory and par levels.  
           [0011]    Furthermore, the system allows the user to view and print various reports, including a current inventory report, an inventory adjustment report and a product consumption report. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a functional page flow for an inventory management system in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a wireframe for a web page of an inventory management system in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a wireframe for a web page of an inventory management system in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a wireframe for a web page of an inventory management system in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is a wireframe for a web page of an inventory management system in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is a wireframe for a web page of an inventory management system in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 7 is a wireframe for a web page of an inventory management system in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 8 is a wireframe for a web page of an inventory management system in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 9 is a wireframe for a web page of an inventory management system in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 10 is a wireframe for a web page of an inventory management system in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 11 is a wireframe for a web page of an inventory management system in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 12 is a wireframe for a web page of an inventory management system in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 13 is a wireframe for a web page of an inventory management system in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 14 is a wireframe for a web page of an inventory management system in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 15 is a wireframe for a web page of an inventory management system in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 16 is a wireframe for a web page of an inventory management system in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 17 is a wireframe for a web page of an inventory management system in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 18 is a wireframe for a web page of an inventory management system in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 19 is a wireframe for a web page of an inventory management system in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 20 is a wireframe for a web page of an inventory management system in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 21 is a wireframe for a web page of an inventory management system in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 22 is a wireframe for a web page of an inventory management system in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 23 is a wireframe for a web page of an inventory management system in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 24 is a wireframe for a web page of an inventory management system in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 25 is a functional page flow for an inventory tracking device in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 26 is a wireframe for a screen display of an inventory tracking device in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 27 is a wireframe for a screen display of an inventory tracking device in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 28 is a wireframe for a screen display of an inventory tracking device in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 29 is a wireframe for a screen display of an inventory tracking device in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 30 is a wireframe for a screen display of an inventory tracking device in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 31 is a wireframe for a screen display of an inventory tracking device in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 32 is a wireframe for a screen display of an inventory tracking device in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 33 is a wireframe for a screen display of an inventory tracking device in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 34 is a wireframe for a screen display of an inventory tracking device in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0046]    [0046]FIG. 1 illustrates the general page flow of an inventory management system in accordance with the present invention. Preferably, the system is an interactive system operable via the Internet and accessible by multiple venue owners at multiple locations. The operation of the system can be separated into three general categories: setup, tracking and reporting, which will be discussed in detail below.  
         [0047]    Still referring to FIG. 1, a user of the system first arrives at a Home Page  100  by connecting to the system via the Internet. Home Page  100  allows the user to create a profile for his venue. The user profile includes information regarding the user&#39;s venue such as the name and location of the venue, a system login password and/or a user name. Preferably, Home Page  100  also serves as the starting point for services such as email, customer relations, new event announcements, and business center. The user then enters the inventory management system Start Page  101 , at which point the system recognizes the user as a new member (i.e., a user who has signed up for but has never used the inventory management system), a member (i.e., a user who has completed the setup process of the inventory management system), or a nonmember (i.e., a user who has not signed up to use the inventory management system). If the user is a nonmember, the system brings him to a Nonmember Page  104 , which provides an overview of the system and information on how to order the inventory tracking device (i.e., the “BeaST™ handheld”) used in the system (see FIG. 2), which will be discussed in detail below. If the user is a new member or a member without any new product or new inventory stored in the system&#39;s database, the system bypasses decision blocks  302  and  308 , which will be revisited and discussed in further detail below. Based on the user profile, therefore, the system brings the user to an appropriate New Member page  106  or Member Page  108 , which are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively.  
         [0048]    Turning now to FIGS. 1, 3 and  5 , the New Member page  106  (FIG. 3) provides a user with instructions on how to use the system. The user then presses a “device set-up” icon  106   a  at the bottom of the New Member page  106  with either a mouse or keystrokes to begin the setup process. Note that most web pages in the system, including New Member page  106 , contain a menu  700  which provides hyperlinks to other web pages in the system.  
         [0049]    The setup process starts with Device Setup page  202  (FIG. 5). The “device” referred herein is the BeaST™ handheld or a similar inventory tracking device, which will be discussed in detail below. The device setup process comprises entering a device ID in a window  202   a  for each BeaST™ handheld or similar device used or to be used at the user&#39;s venue. After entering the device ID or IDs, the user presses a “submit” icon  202   b  at the bottom of Device Setup page  202  to complete the device setup process. The user may come back to Device Setup page  202  after the initial setup from any other page to register more devices by choosing the hyperlink “Device” from menu  700  within any other page. After the initial setup, windows  202   a  will be pre-populated with device IDs for devices already registered, and a new window may be selected for entering a new device ID to register a new device.  
         [0050]    Turning to FIGS. 1, 6 and  7 , the system determines whether an initial setup has been completed at decision block  204 . If the initial setup has been completed and the user is visiting Device Setup page  202  to register more devices, the system directs the user to Confirmation page  224 . If the initial setup has not been completed, the system brings the user to Distributor Selection page  206 , which is shown in FIG. 6. At Distributor Selection page  206 , the user enters a new distributor in window  206   a  and press the “submit” icon  206   c  at the bottom of Distributor Selection page  206 . The user is then brought to Distributor Info page  208  (see FIG. 7), where the user enters various information about the distributor entered in window  206   a  on Distributor Selection page  206 . A “Distributor Name” area  208   a  shows the name of the distributor entered in window  206   a.  The address and phone number area  208   b  indicates such particular information of the distributor, and it may be pre-populated if such information is available in the system&#39;s database. The user may change any part of the pre-populated information. On the other hand, the contact information  208   c  must be entered by the user. The user also specifies the order day or days and delivery day or days for the distributor in area  208   d . The user may then choose the “update” icon  208   e  to finish the distributor setup process, or he may choose the “update &amp; add distributor” icon  208   f  to enter information about another distributor. This completes the distributor setup process. Note that after initial setup, when the user wishes to edit the information for a particular distributor already input in the system, he may choose the distributor in window  206   b  on Distributor Selection page  206 , click on “submit”  206   c , and edit the information accordingly on Distributor Info page  208 .  
         [0051]    Referring now to FIGS. 1, 8 and  9 , the system determines whether an initial setup has been completed at decision block  210 . If the initial setup has been completed and the user is visiting Distributor Selection page  206  and Distributor Info  208  to register more distributors or edit the information of a distributor, the system directs the user to Confirmation page  224 . If the initial setup has not been completed, the system brings the user to Inventory Points page  212 , which is shown in FIG. 8. At Inventory Points page  212 , the user inputs the names of different inventory points throughout his venue in area  212   a , along with the types of those inventory points (i.e., order point or storage point) in area  212   b . The user may then choose “update”  212   c  to finish the process or he may choose “update &amp; add inventory point”  212   d  to input more inventory points and their types. If the user is a member and wishes to add new inventory points, he may be brought to Inventory Points page  212  from any other page by clicking on the hyperlink “Inventory Points” in menu  700 . In that scenario, areas  212   a  and  212   b  may be pre-populated with inventory points and their types already recorded in the system&#39;s database.  
         [0052]    At this point the system again checks to determine if an initial setup has been completed at decision block  214 . If the initial setup has been completed, the system directs the user to Confirmation page  224 . If the initial setup has not been completed, the system brings the user to Inventory Prompt  216 , which is shown in FIG. 9. Inventory Prompt  216  is a prompt to instruct the user to download via an Internet connection (i.e., “sync”) to his BeaST™ handheld or similar device the information he has entered online. After the user syncs his BeaST™ handheld or similar device with the system, the user is ready to take inventory throughout the inventory points at his venue (see Inventory Bar junction  218 ).  
         [0053]    Turning now to FIGS.  25 - 29 , the user begins collecting inventory data with a BeaST™ handheld or similar inventory tracking device in accordance with the present invention. Such a device comprises a scanner, an inventory data collection unit, a consumption data collection unit, and a data transfer unit, which will be discussed in detail below. Preferably, the device is a wireless portable handheld device. More preferably, the device has a pressure-sensitive screen such that an item on the screen may be selected by pressing that area of the screen with a finger or with a pointed object.  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 25 is a page flow for the operation of a BeaST™ handheld or similar device in accordance with the present invention. At Start Page  500 , which is shown in FIG. 26, the user may choose to go into the inventory data collection unit by selecting the “Inventory” icon  500   a ; or he may choose to go into the consumption data collection unit by selecting the “Breaksheet” icon  500   b . In addition, the user may choose to go into the summary section of the data transfer unit by selecting “Sync Log” icon  500   c . The “Sync Indicator”  500   d  informs the user whether there are data in the device to be transferred to the inventory management system. Preferably, Sync Indicator  500   d  flashes when there are data to be transferred. Alternatively, Sync Indicator  500   d  can be made to simply light up to indicate the availability of transferable data.  
         [0055]    Therefore, when “Inventory” Icon  500   a  is selected, the device takes the user to an Inventory Entry Point Screen  502  (see FIGS. 1 and 27). The Inventory Entry Point  502  screen comprises a “Date” field  502   a , an “Inventory Point” fields  502   b , a “Summary” field  502   c , and a “Next” icon  502   d . Date field  502   a  is preferably pre-populated with the current date. If the user wishes to change the date on which the inventory takes place, he may select Date field  502   a  and enter the correct date. Next, the user selects an inventory point in the Inventory Point field  502   b  and selects the Next icon  502   d . This brings the user to Inventory Scan  504  (see FIGS. 1 and 28), a screen where he may collect inventory data. For every type of product at the inventory point selected by the user, he either scans the product&#39;s UPC or enters the UPC manually by selecting and pressing the “Add UPC” icon  504   d.  The user may continue to scan or manually enter the UPC for every occurrence of a particular product, or he may count the number of that product and enter the number manually by selecting and pressing the “123” icon  504   e . Preferably, when the UPC of a particular product is scanned or manually entered only once and then the “123” icon is selected, and a number is entered, the device recognizes the number entered as the total number of units for that product. If, however, the UPC of the product is scanned or manually entered more than once, and a number is entered subsequently by selecting the “123” icon  504   e , the device adds the number entered to the number of times the UPC has been scanned or manually entered. The device then records the sum of the two numbers as the total number of units for the product. Alternatively, the user may scan or manually enter the UPC, and then add or subtract the number of units by pressing one or more of the add/subtract icons  504   c.  For example, every time the “+1” icon is pressed, the device adds 1 to the number of units recorded. Because beverages are often packaged in cases of 12, the “+12” icon can be used to add the number of cases of the product to the total number of units for that product. The icons “−1” and “−12” are used similarly for subtracting a single unit or a case of 12 units from the total number of units. As the user collects inventory data, field  504   i  updates accordingly, with names of products appearing under the “Name” heading  504   a  and the number of units for the products appearing under the “Quantity” heading  504   b . Upon collecting the inventory data for the inventory point selected, the user may choose a new inventory point by pressing the “New Inventory Point” icon  504   g  and repeat the process until all products have been collected from all inventory points at the venue. The user then chooses the “Done” icon  504   h  to communicate to the device that all of the inventory data have been collected.  
         [0056]    Referring specifically to FIGS. 25, 29 and  34 , the user is brought to the Inventory Summary screen  506  when the “Done” icon  504   h  is selected. Inventory Summary screen  506  includes a “Date” field  506   a,  an “Inventory Point” tab  516   b,  which brings the “Inventory Point” sub-screen  506   bb  to the foreground of the screen, an “Item” tab  506   c , which brings the “Item” sub-screen  506   cc  to the screen foreground, a “New Inventory Point” icon  506   d,  and a “Done” icon  506   e.  Note that both sub-screens  506   bb  and  506   cc  are shown in the foreground in FIG. 29 for illustration only. Inventory Summary screen  506  provides an inventory summary for a given date so that the user may confirm the inventory data he has collected for that date. The “Date” field  506   a  is preferably pre-populated with the current date, however, the user may change the date in the field to bring up the inventory summary for any particular date. The “Inventory Point” sub-screen  506   bb  provides an inventory summary for each and every inventory point throughout the venue. On the other hand, the “Item” sub-screen  506   cc  provides an inventory summary for the whole entire venue. The user may go back to the Inventory Entry Point screen  502  to collect inventory data for a new inventory point by selecting the “New Inventory Point” icon  506   d.  Similarly, at any time before, during or after the inventory data collection process, the user may go to the Inventory Summary screen  506  from the Inventory Entry Point screen  502  by selecting the “Summary” icon  502   c  and then the “Next” icon  502   d . Upon confirming at the Inventory Summary screen  506  all the inventory data collected, the user selects the “Done” icon  506   e,  which brings him to a Sync Reminder Page  522  (see FIG. 34). Sync Reminder Page  522  reminds the user to transfer the inventory data collected with the handheld device to the main system. Once the “OK” icon is selected, the user is brought back to Start Page  500 , and he may then sync the handheld device with the main system. As mentioned above, the “Sync Indicator”  500   d  on the device Start Page  500  would flash to inform the user the availability of transferable data until that data have been transferred.  
         [0057]    Turning now to FIGS. 1 and 10, the user is brought to the Initial Inventory Confirmation page  220  of the system once the initial inventory data have been collected and transferred to the inventory management system. The Initial Inventory Confirmation page  220  includes a “New Amount” field  220   a , a “Par Level” field  220   b , and a “Submit” icon  220   c . Preferably, the “New Amount” field  220   a  is pre-populated with the transferred inventory data, which may be modified by the user if any inventory level were inaccurately uploaded from the handheld device. The user then sets a par amounts per product per inventory point in the “Par Level” field  220   b . Once both fields  220   a  and  220   b  are filled, the user selects the “Submit” icon to store these data in the system database.  
         [0058]    Referring to FIGS. 1, 11 and  12 , the user is then brought to a Match Distributors page  222 , where the user matches his products to his distributors. The system will offer suggested matches in a “Distributor” field  222   a  to ease this process and will allow the user to change any suggested matches or to pair any products and distributors where the system is unable to come up with suggested matches. The system offers its suggestion based on the list of distributors the user has entered into the system using the functions of the Distributor Info page  208  and the information it has in its database with respect to these distributors. At any time, the user may press the “Add Distributor” icon  222   b  to go to the Distributor Info page  208  and add more distributors to his distributor list. Once the user matches his products with distributors, the user has completed the setup process and is brought to a Confirmation Page  224  after the “Done” icon  222   c  is selected. Confirmation Page  224  basically acknowledges that the user&#39;s setup request has been input and processed. In addition to the setup process, the user is also brought to Confirmation Page  224  when he submits other requests such as adjusting inventory, etc., which will be discussed in detail below.  
         [0059]    Once the user has completed the setup process, he has achieved member status and may begin using the consumption data collection (i.e., breaksheet) functionality of his BeaST™ handheld or similar device in conjunction with the tracking functions of the inventory management system. The user has incredible flexibility of his breaksheet usage. While the tracking and reporting for the inventory of the user&#39;s venue works best when breaksheet is completed everyday, the user has the option to complete breaksheet on any frequency he desires while still being able to utilize the tracking and reporting functionalities.  
         [0060]    Referring to FIGS. 25 and 30- 33 , the user begins the breaksheet process with the Breaksheet Entry Point screen  512 , which comprises a “Date” field  512   a , an “Order Point” field  512   b , a “Summary” field  512   c , and a “Next” icon. As with the inventory data collection process, “Date” field  512   a  is preferably pre-populated with the current date, which may be modified by the user. The user makes sure that the date shown in the “Date” field  512   a  is the correct date, and selects in the “Order Point” field  512   b  an order point from which he will collect consumption data. Preferably, if the user selects an order point from which consumption data was not collected the previous day, the device will ask him whether he would like the information he is currently collecting to be averaged over the days missing consumption data or whether he would like the data he is gathering to be stored solely under the day he has selected. Upon making this decision, the user presses the “Next” icon  512   d  and is brought to the Breaksheet Scan screen  514  (see FIG. 31), where he may now collect consumption data. For every unit of product which has been consumed at the order point, the user either scans the empty product&#39;s UPC bar code or enters the UPC manually by pressing the “Add UPC” icon  514   d  and entering the UPC number. The user may continue to scan or manually enter the UPC for every occurrence of consumption of a product, or he may choose to count the number of units of a product that had been consumed and enter that number manually by selecting the “123” icon  514   e . Preferably, when the UPC of a particular consumed unit of a product is scanned or manually entered only once and then the “123” icon is selected, and a number is entered, the device recognizes the number entered as the total number of consumed units for that product. If, however, the UPC of the consumed product is scanned or manually entered more than once, and a number is entered subsequently by selecting the “123” icon  514   e , the device adds the number entered to the number of times the UPC has been scanned or manually entered. The device then records the sum of the two numbers as the total number of consumed units for the product. Alternatively, the user may scan or manually enter the UPC, and then add or subtract the number of consumed units by pressing one or more of the add/subtract icons  514   c.  For example, every time the “+1” icon is pressed, the device adds 1 to the number of consumed units recorded. Because beverages are often packaged in cases of 12, the “+12” icon can be used to add the number of cases of the consumed product to the total number of consumed units for that product. The icons “−1” and “−12” are used similarly for subtracting a single consumed unit or a case of 12 consumed units from the total number of consumed units. As the user collects consumption data, field  514   i  updates accordingly, with names of products appearing under the “Name” heading  514   a  and the number of consumed units for the products appearing under the “Quantity” heading  514   b . Upon collecting the consumption data for the order point selected, the user may choose a new order point by pressing the “New Order Point” icon  514   g  and repeat the process until all consumed products have been collected from all order points at the venue. The user then chooses the “Done” icon  514   h  to communicate to the device that all of the consumption data have been collected.  
         [0061]    Turning specifically to FIGS. 25 and 32, the user is brought to the Breaksheet Summary screen  516  when the “Done” icon  514   h  is selected. Breaksheet Summary screen  516  includes a “Date” field  516   a,  an “Order Point” tab  516   b,  which brings the “Order Point” sub-screen  516   bb  to the foreground of the screen, an “Item” tab  516   c , which brings the “Item” sub-screen  516   cc  to the screen foreground, a “New Order Point” icon  516   d , and a “Done” icon  516   e . Note that both sub-screens  516   bb  and  516   cc  are shown in the foreground in FIG. 32 for illustration only. Breaksheet Summary screen  516  provides a product consumption summary for a given date so that the user may confirm the consumption data he has collected for that date. The “Date” field  516   a  is preferably pre-populated with the current date, however, the user may change the date in the field to bring up the inventory summary for any particular date. The “Order Point” sub-screen  516   bb  provides a product consumption summary that is order-point specific. On the other hand, the “Item” sub-screen  516   cc  provides a product consumption summary for the whole entire venue. The user may go back to the Breaksheet Entry Point screen  512  to collect product consumption data for a new order point by selecting the “New Order Point” icon  516   d . Similarly, at any time before, during or after the consumption data collection process, the user may go to the Breaksheet Summary screen  516  from the Breaksheet Entry Point screen  512  by selecting the “Summary” icon  512   c  and then the “Next” icon  512   d . Upon confirming at the Breaksheet Summary screen  516  all the product consumption data collected, the user selects the “Done” icon  516   e , which brings him to a Sync Reminder Page  522  (see FIG. 34). Sync Reminder Page  522  reminds the user to transfer the breaksheet data collected with the handheld device to the main system. Once the “OK” icon is selected, the user is brought back to Start Page  500 , and he may then sync the handheld device with the main system. As mentioned above, the “Sync Indicator”  500   d  on the device Start Page  500  would flash to inform the user the availability of transferable data until that data have been transferred.  
         [0062]    Turning now to FIGS. 25, 26 and  33 , the user can check the data transfer (sync) history on the handheld device by pressing the “Sync Log” icon  500   c  on the device Start Page screen  500 . The Sync History screen  520  provides the user the date of the last data transfer between the device and the inventory management system in “Date” field  520   a , the last inventory data transfer in field  520   b , and the last product consumption data transfer for a specific order point in field  520   c . Preferably, the inventory data transfer history is venue specific. That is, it reflects the inventory data transfer history for the entire venue. However, the consumption data transfer history is preferably order-point specific. Therefore, field  520   c  preferably includes multiple dates, one corresponding to each order point. The user may go back to the device Start Page screen  500  from the Sync History screen  520  by selecting the “Home” icon  520   d.    
         [0063]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 13, when the user re-enters the inventory management system as a member, the system checks its database for new products that may have been scanned by the user using the handheld device and registered in the system database (see decision block  302 ). If there are registered new products, the system brings the user to a Confirm Distributor page  304 . Confirm Distributor page  304  includes a “Distributor” field  304   a , which is preferably pre-populated with distributor names already entered and matched with specific products via Distributor Info page  208  and Match Distributors page  222 , respectively. The system will offer a suggested distributor from the user&#39;s distributor list for the new product in the “Distributor” field  304   a . If the user wishes to use the suggested distributor, he may select the “Update” icon  304   b . Alternatively, the user may scroll down the list of distributors registered on the system by clicking on the down arrow in “Distributor” field  304   a , and choose another distributor on the list. If, however, the user wishes to use a new distributor, he must select the “New Distributor” icon  304   c,  which will bring him to the Distributor Selection page  206  (see decision block  306 ).  
         [0064]    In addition to new products, the system also checks for unconfirmed new inventory data that may have been transferred to the system from the user&#39;s BeaST™ handheld or similar device. Turning to FIGS. 1 and 14, if such unconfirmed new inventory data are available in the system database, the system brings the user to a Confirm Inventory page  310 . Confirm Inventory page  310  provides the last confirmed inventory data in a “Previous Amount” field  310   a,  the unconfirmed new data in a “Inventoried Amount” field  310   b , and the par level registered on the system in a “Par Level” field  310   c . Confirm Inventory page  310  also includes a “New Amount” field  310   d , which is preferably pre-populated with the unconfirmed new inventory data. The user may change any unconfirmed new inventory data in the “New Amount” field  310   d , along with the reason for the change in a “Adjustment Reason” field  310   e . Preferably, the “Adjustment Reason” field  310   e  is pre-populated with a list of possible explanations for an inventory change so that the user may scroll down the list and choose the appropriate explanation for the inventory change. After entering the reason or reasons, the user selects an “Adjust” icon  310   g  to be brought to the Adjust Inventory page  312  in order to make the adjustment. The user is brought back to Confirm Inventory page  310  after the adjustment is entered. The user then selects the “Submit” icon  310   f  to confirm the new inventory data.  
         [0065]    Referring to FIGS. 1, 4 and  15 , the system brings the member-user to the Member page  108  after checking the availability of unconfirmed new products and new inventory data in the system database. The user may perform various tasks from the Member page  108 . For example, the user may adjust his inventory level by choosing the “Adjust Inventory” label in “Profile” window  108   a . This brings the user to Adjust Inventory page  312 . To adjust inventory levels, the user first enters his name in a “Changed By:” window  312   a . The user may then choose a product from the product list in “Product:” field  312   b , select either “Add (+)” or “Subtract (−)” option  312   c  and enter an amount by which he wishes to add to or subtract from the existing inventory level in “Amount:” field  312   d . In addition, the user has the option of selecting a reason for the adjustment from the “Reason:” field  312   e , and making any personal notes in the “Notes:” field  312   f . The user may then choose the “Update &amp; Add Adjustments” icon  312   h  if he wishes to adjust the inventory level of another product. Otherwise, the user selects “Update” icon  312   g  to complete the adjustment.  
         [0066]    Referring now to FIGS. 1, 4,  16  and  17 , the user can also view, modify, confirm and print suggested distributor orders from the Member page  108 . To accomplish such tasks, the user first selects a particular distributor from the “Orders” window  108   b,  which brings the user to a Suggested Order page  314  (see FIG. 16). Basically, Suggested Order page  314  provides suggested orders for products with inventory levels under par. Specifically, Suggested Order page  314  shows the name of the distributor selected in “Distributor Name” field  314   a , the type of products under par in “Type” field  314   b , the product names in “Product” field  314   c,  the par level for each of the products in “Par Level in Storage” field  314   d,  the inventory level of the products in “Current Amount” field  314   e , a suggested order for each of the products in “Suggested” field  314   f,  which is calculated by the system by subtracting the inventory level of a product from the par level of that product. In addition, Suggested Order page  314  also provides an “Actual Order” field  314   g,  which is pre-populated with the suggested orders. The user may either confirm the suggested orders as actual orders, or he may modify the pre-populated suggested orders in “Actual Order” field  314   g  to fit his need. Moreover, a second “Product” field  314   h  provides a scrollable list of products with inventory levels that are at par or exceeding par. The user may wish to order one or more of these products by entering the order in “Order” field  314   i  if, for example, there is a promotional sale for the product or products. Note that “Product” field  314   h  contains space for a limited number of products. Therefore, if the user wishes to place orders for more at-par or exceeding-par products, he may select the “More Item To Add” icon  314   j,  which enters his order for the products already selected in “Product” field  314   h  and provides blank windows for the user to enter order for more products. Upon completing the order information, the user selects “Confirm Order” field  314   k,  which brings the user to a Confirm Order page  316 . The user may obtain a printout of his confirmed order by selecting the “Print” icon  316   a.  Alternatively, the user may request an electronic copy of a confirmed order to be sent to his e-mail address or a hard copy to be faxed to a facsimile number.  
         [0067]    Turning to FIGS. 4 and 24, the user may update a par level for a product starting from the Member page  108 . To accomplish such task, the user first selects the “Update Par Levels” label in “Profile” window  108   a , which brings the user to a Update Par Levels page  318 . The “Par Level” field  318   a  is preferably pre-populated with existing par levels stored in the system database. The user may modify the par levels by selecting the particular par level box and replacing the pre-populated number with a new par level number. The user selects “Done” icon  318   b  to update his par levels.  
         [0068]    In addition, the user may utilize the reporting functions of the system from the Member page  108 . Turning to FIGS. 4, 18 and  23 , for example, the user may view and print an inventory report by selecting the “Current Inventory” label in the “Reports” window  108   c  , which will bring the user to C.I. Report page  402 . C.I. Report page  402  shows a current inventory report outlining the types of products, the products, and the amount of inventory per product. The user may print this report with graphics by using the print command from his Internet browser. Alternatively, he may export the report to a spreadsheet software application such as Microsoft Excel or another similar program by selecting the “Export to Excel” icon  402   a . Furthermore, the user may select the “Print” icon  402   b  to print the report in a printer-friendly, text-only format. This brings the user to the Print Report page  420 , which shows the report in text-only format on screen. The user may then print the text-only report by using the print command of his Internet browser.  
         [0069]    Similarly, referring to FIGS. 4, 19,  20  and  23 , the user may view and print an adjustment report from the Member page  108  by selecting the “Adjustments” label in the “Reports” window  108   c  , which brings the user to Adjustments page  404 . The user may specify a period of time for a report outlining all of the adjustments made during that period by entering the beginning and end dates of that period in window  404   a . Alternatively, the user may wish to obtain a report for all of the adjustments since the date he started using the system by selecting the label “View from Start to Finish” in window  404   a . The user then selects the “Get Report” icon  404   b  to go to the Adj. Report page  406 . FIG. 20 illustrates a sample adjustment report in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Again, the user may print the report with original graphics by using the print command from his Internet browser, or he may export it to another software program such as Microsoft Excel by selecting the “Export to Excel” icon  406   a.  Alternatively, the user may print the report in a printer-friendly, text-only format by selecting the “Print” icon  406   b,  which brings the user to the Print Report page  420 . The user may then print the text-only report by using the print command of his Internet browser.  
         [0070]    Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 21- 23 , the user may view and print a consumption report from the Member page  108  by selecting the “Usage” label in the “Reports” window  108   c  , which brings the user to Consumption page  408 . Consumption page  408  enables the user to obtain the consumption report in two different formats: 1) by type or 2) by order point by selecting the “By Type” tab  408   a  or the “By Order Point” tab  408   b,  respectively. The user can also indicate whether he would want a consumption report for all products in his inventory or just a specific product by selecting accordingly in field  408   c  . The user then selects the “Get Report” icon  408   d  to go to the Consumption Report page  410 . The Consumption Report page  410  provides a consumption report with average consumption amounts for each and every day of the week and on a weekly basis in “Amounts” field  410   a  under the “day of the week” heading  410   b.  Again, the user may print the report with original graphics by using the print command from his Internet browser, or he may export it to another software program such as Microsoft Excel by selecting the “Export to Excel” icon  410   c.  Alternatively, the user may print the report in a printer-friendly, text-only format by selecting the “Print” icon  410   d,  which brings the user to the Print Report page  420 . The user may then print the text-only report by using the print command of his Internet browser.  
         [0071]    Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that the embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and application of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that various modifications may be made to the above mentioned embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.