Difference between revisions of "Harley Davidson composite information"

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{{Review}}
 
== Summary ==
 
== Summary ==
Harley-Davidson require their dealers to complete a composite input document. This is a set of performance indicators that are used for comparison to the other dealers who submit figures, and for monitoring the health of the business and identifying areas for improvement.
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Harley-Davidson provide their dealers with a composite input system for performance monitoring. Dealers can monitor the profitability of their dealership in a standard format and see easily the areas where they are successful and the areas that need attention. Depending on your nominal ledger structure and use, you may be able to extract all the required information from your trial balance, rather than using the method detailed below.   
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This article will explain the following; a) how to configure your system so that the reporting can provide the data for the input document; b) how to produce the file for input.
  
 
== More Information ==
 
== More Information ==
There is a suite of reports available to help you compile the information required. This does demand that you configure and use your Platinum system in a consistent manner. The reports can be adapted at reasonable cost to fit in with your business if required.  
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Platinum will provide files to enable you, the dealer, to produce the composite in a straightforward and consistent manner. You will need to configure certain parts of the system carefully to achieve this, but this is no more than you should be doing anyway!
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You must have the latest version of Platinum on your system.
  
 
== Configuring your system ==
 
== Configuring your system ==
In terms of configuring your system, there are some key areas to consider.
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You will need to pay attention to the following items.
=== Bike Sales ===
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For bike sales, the information on the composite for new bikes is broken down by family, so having some easy way to identify the family of bikes to which each of your stock bikes belongs is essential. We recommend using the {{DataPrompt|Category}} on the vehicle for this, since it can be stamped on the model code.
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==== Vehicle Sales ====
=== Stock ===
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* New vehicles need to be broken down by family and this should be done by using the "Features" tab on the vehicle itself or by assigning the feature to the model.
For stock, this is broken down into parts, accessories, motor clothes and collectables. This information is held on the Harley parts file and is updated into your system automatically for genuine Harley parts. You will need to make sure that you flag any other items such as t-shirts correctly so that they fall into the correct category.
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Go to {{Menu|{{VS}}|Add or Edit Vehicles}}.
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* Search for the vehicles that are in stock.  
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* Double click on the first one, and then click on {{DataPrompt|Features}}.
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* You will see {{DataValue|Composite}} category in the list on the left hand side. Click on it.
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* In the middle box, you will see the available options.
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* Click on the appropriate option for this vehicle and press {{KeyPress|F6}} or click {{Button|->}}.
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* Press {{KeyPress|ESC}} and accept the changes made.
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* Repeat this for all remaining bikes in stock.  
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==== Parts ====
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: Hard parts, accessories, clothing and collectables are the categories into which the parts department is broken down for the composite. This should be done by using the Attributes tab on the part number.
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Go to {{Menu|{{ST}}|Add or Edit Stock Items}}.
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* Search for the part numbers in which you are interested.
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* Double click on the first item, and then click {{DataPrompt|Attributes}}.
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* You will see {{DataValue|Composite}} category in the list on the left hand side. Click on it.
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* In the middle box, you will see the available options.
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* Click on the appropriate option for this part number and press {{KeyPress|F6}} or click {{Button|->}}.
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* Press {{KeyPress|ESC}} and accept the changes made.
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=== Workshop ===
 
=== Workshop ===
 
For workshop, you will need to use the Real Time Labour Logging option to get all the information required. This option allows you to hold time attended, time taken and time charged for each technician. You will also need to make sure that some stock items are grouped correctly so that you can get to oil sales, sub-contract sales and so forth.
 
For workshop, you will need to use the Real Time Labour Logging option to get all the information required. This option allows you to hold time attended, time taken and time charged for each technician. You will also need to make sure that some stock items are grouped correctly so that you can get to oil sales, sub-contract sales and so forth.
  
== Producing reports ==
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==== Accounts ====
* There should be a menu option for you called {{Menu|Harley Composite Reporting}}. This will contain the reports to give you most of the information for the operational side of the business - the overheads may need to be input manually depending on whether you use Platinum Accounts.
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* Your customers need to be broken down into Retail, Internal, Warranty and Trade areas. This should be done by setting the Account Group field on Internal, Warranty and Trade customers - for all Retail customers (the majority hopefully!) the group should be left blank; for the other types use the first three characters of the account type, so this should be {{DataValue|INT}} for Internal, {{DataValue|WAR}} for Warranty, {{DataValue|TRA}} for Trade. Please note that the code must be in capitals.
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* If you are using the Platinum Accounts system, you will need to use Division codes on your nominal ledger codes to pull out expenses relating to each department. If your nominal ledger codes do not allow for this, then you either need to change your nominal codes, or carry out a manual exercise to extract the relevant data. If you do not use the Platinum Accounts system, then you will need to extract the expense information separately.
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== Producing the file ==
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* After discussion and consultation, the file should be produced manually. Whilst being able to press one button to create the file is desirable, there is a danger that significant items may be overlooked, such as changes to your headcount or your labour rates, and there are some variable items that cannot be produced automatically.
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* Log into Platinum on today's date, which should be in the month following the month for which you want to produce your information. To be clear, if you are trying to produce June information for composite, your user date should be anywhere in July.
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* Go to "Harley Composite Reports" from your login screen and you will see the individual reports
 
{{Tip|text={{SupportContact}} if this menu is not available.}}
 
{{Tip|text={{SupportContact}} if this menu is not available.}}
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* Run the individual reports and create the input file. This will be called {{FilePath|HarleyComp.CSV}} - if you have a multi-site operation, then there will be three extra characters denoting the site.
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* You can view the input file before you import it by double clicking on the file created in the SX folder on your server machine. Be careful if you are making changes here, adding manual information, that you do not touch the data output from Platinum.
  
 
== Entry to Composite ==
 
== Entry to Composite ==
Currently the entry to the composite system is carried out manually. A file import option will be developed if dealers ask for it.
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* Once you have produced the file from Platinum and checked that the figures are accurate, you can then set about entering them into the composite entry system. You should have had training and guidance from Harley-Davidson or the composite provider for this, and falls outside the scope of this document.
  
{{Guide}}{{KB_Tags|Harley Davidson, Composite, file output}}{{ZN_Admin}}
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{{Guide}}{{KB_Tags|Harley, Davidson, Harley-Davidson, Composite, file output}}  
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{{ZN_Admin}}

Revision as of 12:58, 18 June 2012

Summary

Harley-Davidson provide their dealers with a composite input system for performance monitoring. Dealers can monitor the profitability of their dealership in a standard format and see easily the areas where they are successful and the areas that need attention. Depending on your nominal ledger structure and use, you may be able to extract all the required information from your trial balance, rather than using the method detailed below.

This article will explain the following; a) how to configure your system so that the reporting can provide the data for the input document; b) how to produce the file for input.

More Information

Platinum will provide files to enable you, the dealer, to produce the composite in a straightforward and consistent manner. You will need to configure certain parts of the system carefully to achieve this, but this is no more than you should be doing anyway! You must have the latest version of Platinum on your system.

Configuring your system

You will need to pay attention to the following items.

Vehicle Sales

  • New vehicles need to be broken down by family and this should be done by using the "Features" tab on the vehicle itself or by assigning the feature to the model.

Go to " Unit Sales Add or Edit Vehicles".

  • Search for the vehicles that are in stock.
  • Double click on the first one, and then click on "Features".
  • You will see 'Composite' category in the list on the left hand side. Click on it.
  • In the middle box, you will see the available options.
  • Click on the appropriate option for this vehicle and press <F6> or click [->].
  • Press <Esc> and accept the changes made.
  • Repeat this for all remaining bikes in stock.

Parts

Hard parts, accessories, clothing and collectables are the categories into which the parts department is broken down for the composite. This should be done by using the Attributes tab on the part number.

Go to " Stock Control Add or Edit Stock Items".

  • Search for the part numbers in which you are interested.
  • Double click on the first item, and then click "Attributes".
  • You will see 'Composite' category in the list on the left hand side. Click on it.
  • In the middle box, you will see the available options.
  • Click on the appropriate option for this part number and press <F6> or click [->].
  • Press <Esc> and accept the changes made.

Workshop

For workshop, you will need to use the Real Time Labour Logging option to get all the information required. This option allows you to hold time attended, time taken and time charged for each technician. You will also need to make sure that some stock items are grouped correctly so that you can get to oil sales, sub-contract sales and so forth.

Accounts

  • Your customers need to be broken down into Retail, Internal, Warranty and Trade areas. This should be done by setting the Account Group field on Internal, Warranty and Trade customers - for all Retail customers (the majority hopefully!) the group should be left blank; for the other types use the first three characters of the account type, so this should be 'INT' for Internal, 'WAR' for Warranty, 'TRA' for Trade. Please note that the code must be in capitals.
  • If you are using the Platinum Accounts system, you will need to use Division codes on your nominal ledger codes to pull out expenses relating to each department. If your nominal ledger codes do not allow for this, then you either need to change your nominal codes, or carry out a manual exercise to extract the relevant data. If you do not use the Platinum Accounts system, then you will need to extract the expense information separately.

Producing the file

  • After discussion and consultation, the file should be produced manually. Whilst being able to press one button to create the file is desirable, there is a danger that significant items may be overlooked, such as changes to your headcount or your labour rates, and there are some variable items that cannot be produced automatically.
  • Log into Platinum on today's date, which should be in the month following the month for which you want to produce your information. To be clear, if you are trying to produce June information for composite, your user date should be anywhere in July.
  • Go to "Harley Composite Reports" from your login screen and you will see the individual reports
Contact your Platinum dealer or our support team on 0116 230 1500 or by using our website support contact page if this menu is not available.
  • Run the individual reports and create the input file. This will be called 'HarleyComp.CSV' - if you have a multi-site operation, then there will be three extra characters denoting the site.
  • You can view the input file before you import it by double clicking on the file created in the SX folder on your server machine. Be careful if you are making changes here, adding manual information, that you do not touch the data output from Platinum.

Entry to Composite

  • Once you have produced the file from Platinum and checked that the figures are accurate, you can then set about entering them into the composite entry system. You should have had training and guidance from Harley-Davidson or the composite provider for this, and falls outside the scope of this document.


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Keywords AND Misspellings
Harley, Davidson, Harley-Davidson, Composite, file output