How Does a Buyer Use Yesler Groundwork?
Matt Meyers
- Products
- November 2, 2021
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How Does a Buyer Use Yesler Groundwork?
In the first installment of this blog found HERE, we discussed how Groundwork is “Built for Buyers, Essential for Executives.” In this installment, we cover how a buyer uses the key features of Groundwork.
Three key features of Groundwork for buyers:
Yesler Groundwork places data from all locations and data systems in one easy to use dashboard, regardless of SKU or data source complexities. It provides:
1. Focus – an intuitive dashboard directing attention to the highest buying priorities first.
2. Visualizations – to show purchases and inventory levels for current and future weeks.
3. Analysis – to model purchasing scenarios.
Basic components of the Groundwork dashboard
1) Quick view filters bring focus
When a buyer is planning to purchase, they need focus. They are often reviewing purchasing needs for a focused product area and for specific locations. Easy to use, yet sophisticated filters let the buyer focus.
Quickly filter by product families or specific products. Filter by location or combine multiple locations. Consider usage locations separately from inventory locations (example: evaluate usage across multiple yards that pull inventory from a common reload).
2) Visualize in time
Different people like to see data in different ways, so data is always shown multiple ways and always in time (not just today’s inventory level). Below is a tabular format showing inventory by week for a specific product where color coding indicates warning areas (such as, red = out of stock) and quantity needed to cover the gap.
There is a chart format showing inventory control targets set by the buyer. We even use patterns on charts for buyers who don’t easily distinguish between colors.
The chart and tabular views above show the same data in different ways. Both show data in time.
3) – Gap to Blue – Where to focus first!
In Yesler, Blue means on-target. Black is above inventory target. Yellow means below target. Red is out. When a buyer opens the dashboard, their eyes are immediately drawn to opportunity and risk.
In the tabular view below, yellow draws the eye to the estimated arrival week of 11/19. The number in the yellow box indicates that 4 units of this item are required to get back to blue – within inventory target range. Within seconds of login, the buyer sees the need.
What if a buyer wants to buy now while prices are low to cover all needs through 12/17? The number 21 in the red box under estimated arrival week of 12/17 tells you how many units to buy.
Quick Buys and Quick Responses to Offers
Buyers typically have a preferred tally. But usage varies. What is the ideal tally for a future week? It’s right here: 4/12s, 11/14s, 23/16s.
If a buyer wants to cover all inventory through 12/17? The tally is at the far right of the table: 5/8s, 0/10s, 21/12s, 51/14s, 81/16s.
If a seller offers a tally heavy to 10 ft lengths for arrival week of 11/19, the quick answer is “no thank you.”
What are the common use cases among lumber yards for Groundwork? CLICK HERE for part 3 of this blog.
