Purpose
Fetch, also known as BluDex or Suelware, is a device that can be connected physically to a vending machine and uses Bluetooth to connect to the Stock app on your phone or tablet. It can then be used to service the machine on a VMS route using cellular signal. This article covers how the VMS uses predictive forecasting in conjunction with fetch-enabled machines.
For information on how to set up and use Fetch with your machines and VMS, please see our instructional article here.
Context
Fetch is used primarily with machines that do not have a cashless device, and the Fetch device is connected only to collect and send data from the machine to the VMS. This makes the machine a hybrid between online and offline: offline in the sense that the VMS will not receive automatic Scheduled Dex files, but online in the sense that when the machine is serviced, it will provide Dex-like information, including machine meters and stocking information. So, unlike a regular offline machine, Fetch-enabled machines do not require stocking information to be entered manually and can be used for more accurate cash consolidation.
Forecasting using Fetch/BluDex
Upon servicing a Fetch-enabled machine, data provided to the VMS serves as a single reference point for the machine's predictive forecasting. The sales information will be used for the machine's product DCRs (Daily Consumption Rate), which is used to predict how many units of each product will be needed the next time the machine will be serviced.
On the Route Planning page, Fetch machines will automatically calculate the DFC (Days Forecasted) using the number of days since the last service date, seen below.
