Domestic and Export Sales
Order, Delivery, and Billing Documents
Easy Export Documents Were Decisive

Challenges Before Implementation

Background

The pandemic canceled Paris Fashion Week, which we had attended every season for 15 years, leaving us uncertain about how to take orders from overseas retailers. In addition to our domestic business, we work with around 30 companies across Europe, the United States, China, and other markets. Transactions use US dollars, euros, and Japanese yen, and wholesale prices vary by trade term, including FOB and DDP. Managing all of these conditions was extremely complicated.

We considered several similar services, but none allowed multiple prices to be registered for one product. DEXTRE was introduced to us while we were trying to solve that problem.
We also considered overseas services for global use, but they did not fit Japanese business practices.
As a Japanese service, DEXTRE supports wholesale-rate transactions common in Japan. That was another major factor.
Its affordable pricing was also important.

Changes After Implementation

Previously, exhibition preparation meant creating line sheets in Illustrator, entering photographs and information for every product, and preparing a separate Excel order sheet. 　　　　　　　　
With DEXTRE, we enter product information in the prescribed Excel form and upload it, then add around ten images to each product page. The process took some effort before we became familiar with it, but eliminating the Illustrator line sheet and Excel order sheet reduced the overall workload even though we now provide more information for each product.

We emailed buyers links prepared for their respective transaction terms and invited them to access DEXTRE. 　　　　　　　　　　　　
We arranged online meetings to explain the system, but buyers found it so clear and comprehensive that some told us an explanation was unnecessary. Orders did not decline even without a physical exhibition, and exhibition costs were reduced, so the outcome was positive. 　　　　　　　　　　　　
It also appears to lower the barrier to initial contact compared with attending a physical exhibition.

First Impressions of the Order Management System

How did the workflow change after orders were placed?

Previously, we entered received order data into Excel one record at a time and manually aggregated each SKU. 　　
DEXTRE provides flexible Excel exports, so we created templates suited to our management needs. We can export domestic, overseas, and individual orders separately and use the data to allocate inventory by warehouse. 　
Being able to monitor ordering progress in real time was also extremely helpful.
　　　　　　　
Order confirmations and deposit invoices can be created directly from order data, making the workflow from order receipt to confirmation much faster and easier. Sizes and colors that will be dropped can be removed by updating the order confirmation, preventing mistakes when information is shared with customers.
　　　　　　　
We also value the ability to select delivered products, allocate them automatically by customer, and create delivery notes in bulk. 　　　　　　　
After creating delivery notes, we can easily generate the commercial invoices and packing lists required for export, greatly reducing document preparation time for each shipment. Invoices for closing-date payment terms can also be created from delivery notes, so DEXTRE now handles the entire workflow from ordering through invoicing.
　　　　　　　
Consolidating work that had been managed across multiple Excel files has also reduced administrative costs. 　　　　　　　

Will DEXTRE Remain Necessary?

Yes, we believe it will remain necessary. More buyers may stop attending overseas exhibitions. Even at domestic exhibitions, buyers can view product images in DEXTRE, so they no longer need to photograph products at the venue. This makes exhibition work more efficient for both us and our customers and leaves more time to try on and inspect each product.
　　　　　　　　　　　　
Having more time for buyers to examine each product carefully is extremely important. 　　　　　　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　　　　　　
Distributing personal-order links to relevant contacts also increased Friends Day sales. Because DEXTRE has a direct positive impact on sales, not using it is no longer an option. Order totals are available in real time instead of being transferred into Excel, and delivery notes and consolidated invoices can be created directly from order data. Errors have been eliminated, and the system is becoming indispensable within the company.
　　　　　　　　　　　　
We understand that the functions will continue to improve and look forward to future development.
　　　　　　　　　　　　
　　　　　　　　　　　　

CATERPILLAR PRODUIT CO., LTD.

Location

Soleil Ebisu 2F, 3-42-12 Ebisu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Number of Employees

Not disclosed

Business

A Tokyo-based men's apparel manufacturer that wholesales The Viridi-anne and DUELLUM to dozens of companies in Japan and overseas.

Official Website

https://viridi-anne.jp