The electronic ordering of merchandise has drastically improved the communication process among manufacturers, materials suppliers, and retailers. Because information can be processed quickly to everyone in the industry, inventory replacement is fast and accurate. This technology has resulted in smaller, more frequent orders eliminating the overstocking of goods. .
Not only is the retail industry taking advantage of this new and effective technology. Large universities are also involved in ordering through the computer. An interview done with the head purchasing agent of University of South Florida informed me of the school's purchasing system for the professors that was started in Spring of 1996 (Henry, Personal interview). Their system is a little different from other retail systems and it is called a Purchase Requisition System. Each professor or coach in the school has the power to request purchases of anything from desks to team cleats through his or her own computer. The process is like this: First, the initiator fills out the computerized order form, then the approver (which is the department head) sends the form to the school purchasing office. From there the purchasing agent sends the order to the vendor. What is great about this PRS system is that there is continuous tracking and information about which purchasing agent is working on the order. Once the purchase agent approves the order the initiator is given a purchase order number to serve as a receipt. Some of the features of this system include notepads for comments, database to help select an object code, database for recommended vendors to assist with addresses, and an insufficient funds adviser. In order to comfort those persons who are not computer literate the purchasing staff provides a training session free of charge. .
Electronic order systems have a barcode symbol for each different product. This is how merchandise is kept organized, tracked, and sold.