CITS - Scanning, Web Order Management System

Before you can begin using the scanning system, you'll need to run through a process to install the included barcode scanner. This was actually not the easiest of processes and I never did get it to work on one of my laptops due to a persistent error message that was not resolvable by any means I found (I opted to install it on my desktop instead of utilizing CIS' customer support since the error was clearly Windows XP-related). In order to use the CIS Website to upload restock items the following applications must be installed on your computer:

• Microsoft .NET 2.0 Framework,
• Microsoft ActiveSync 4.5 or above,
• CIS Relay

It takes about 10 steps to get everything running and cookies need to be enabled in your web browser (they are on by default) in order to utilize the software. CIS provides a phone number for support (866-4MY-CITS) which I used pretty quickly after setting up the system when my scanner took a dump on me and decided to reset. When it came back up the application I needed was nowhere to be found and I couldn't use it to scan anything. It only took a few moments to show me how to reboot it properly and get it back to where it needed to be. Overall, the company seems eager to make sure that custom installers are able to get what they need in order to be successful.

The actual scanning is simply a matter of pressing the big yellow button and aiming the unit at the barcode located inside each organizer. It seemed to pick up the codes very easily, though I didn't test it in direct sunlight. The unit can be used to assign a new jobsite - recommended before starting a new scanning session. Adding anything in terms of text via the barcode scanner is a tad cumbersome and there aren't dedicated keys for 'Space' or any of the commonly-used symbols (like a hyphen). Once you learn some of the tricks (like how to delete something you scanned) it's not so bad.

Docking and Managing

The final piece of the puzzle is what the CITS system is all about. Docking the scanner at your PC allows the system to upload all of the scanned inventory to the CIS website and automatically associate those scanned parts with the job/customer you specified before you began scanning items (you did remember to do that, right?). The CIS website has a utilitarian feel to it (mostly due to the red-on-black graphical design) but it seems to get the job done. While short on aesthetics and amenities, it shows the necessary information and allows easy export of the relevant purchase data to either QuickBooks or a standard .CSV file.

Reports can be viewed in any of several ways

Aside from auto-replenishing parts from a submitted installer scanner docking session, reordering parts can be done via search, part number or browsing categories.

The CITS system allows you to export invoices to QuickBooks and easily print hard copies.