Can Magic data/orders be used with manufacturers?

Yes. Magic™ produces "Forecasted Orders" which are actual orders (see above on Forecast vs. Order) with the difference being they are in the future. So, a Forecasted Order uses current information combined with predicted information to derive the most accurate future order possible. These "orders" are automatically stored in our Central Data Server location, usually in a HQ-based server, and can be used if store connectivity goes down. They can also be sent directly to suppliers as advanced notice of store-level demand. We have a customer using them for the packing of store-level orders for fresh product directly at the product origin - this saved 5 shelf days in the products' logistics.

What handheld gear do you support?

All legacy Windows CE devices from the major manufacturers and Android devices from Version 5 forward of Android OS.

We will certify and support all Android OS's going-forward. And, with the recent introduction of iOS support, you don't have to worry that you can't use any of your current gear with Magic™. Further, you can "mix" device manufacturers and OS's in a store. Test a new manufacturer, device or OS without issue at any time.

Can we talk to any of your customers?

We can arrange a formal call or visit with any of our customers. We have found that it's beneficial to align the customer visited as best as possible with your business model and go-to-market strategy so questions and methodologies employed have the most impact with each entity. Of course, relationships exist in our industry and if you have one or more, feel free to reach out to those with whom you maintain contact.

What was the biggest hesitancy for your customers to implement Magic?

Once it's decided there is indeed a problem that the system can solve, it's often the resources they currently have to deploy or the other projects they have in queue. Once all the important features and benefits of the system are understood, it's rarely any particular item on the Itasca side that is of concern.

How accurate is your forecast? To what statistical level?

This is an interesting question, and once all the particulars are internalized well, this question becomes almost moot for several reasons. Forecasts are, by definition, always inaccurate, because even the best, most accurate forecasts aren't 100% correct, 100% of the time. So the question becomes: How can we minimize the error rate considering all factors? We are afforded a bit of a reprieve here in that our forecast (and really the order itself) only have to be as accurate as a case-pack: the smaller the case-pack, the closer to the actual unit forecast the better. But in the case of the 12 unit case-pack, if the order is "off" by one or two, it's still within the quantity of the case-pack, and we likely would have ordered another case anyway.