What is van selling

Van selling combines taking an order and handing over available goods during a visit. In pre-selling, the order is captured before a separate delivery. A hybrid model delivers some items from the vehicle and orders the rest for a later delivery; keep those lines and documents separate. In every model, payment follows the agreed terms and need not happen at handover.

Choose the model using the economics of the actual route. Compare trip cost and duration, outlets served, order volume, vehicle utilisation, storage constraints, returns and unfulfilled demand. A small or remote outlet alone does not establish a van-selling advantage. Compare routes over equivalent periods and account for differences in assortment and service conditions.

Track the vehicle as a stock location. Book stock equals opening stock plus receipts minus issues: loads and accepted returns add stock; customer handovers, returns to base, transfers and documented write-offs reduce it. Do not count the initial load twice. Reconcile at the same cutoff, by SKU and base unit of measure, separating batches and stock conditions where needed. Convert cases and individual units using the factor for that SKU; the same packaging name does not guarantee the same quantity.

Illustrative example for one SKU: the vehicle starts with 0 units, receives 2 cases of 12, hands over 5 units to a customer and accepts 2 returned units for inspection. With no other movements, book stock is 0 + 24 + 2 - 5 = 21 units. The physical count should also be 21, including the return. If the remaining 19 units are saleable and free of reservations or other restrictions, 19 units are available for the next sale, not 21. Release returned goods only after deciding their condition. Investigate differences using documents and a recount; checks can also take place during replenishment or a vehicle handover.

Reconcile goods and money separately. A credit sale is not a payment received, and a payment may settle an earlier debt. Link cash, confirmed noncash payments, refunds and cash handovers to documents and responsible people. GPS records the device location and timestamp; it does not by itself prove that goods or money changed hands with the customer.

Offline work depends on the configured workflow and device data. Before departure, check prices, stock and customer terms; on reconnection, check transmission, acceptance, errors and duplicates. Distinguish the time goods changed hands from the time the system recorded it: a late document may explain a discrepancy at the cutoff. Resending the same document does not mean another handover. Local saving is not completed exchange. Confirm marking, fiscal and external exchange capabilities for the country and project.