Case study: Scanning speeds purchase invoice handling for Patterson Ford. By John Stokdyk

Newcastle-based Patterson Ford is one of the biggest Ford main dealers in the North East, with six locations spread around the Tyneside area. The company has a turnover in excess of £160 million.

For a retail organisation handling 15,000 vehicles a year, the paper workload is significant. Each vehicle from Ford is delivered with an accompanying invoice which has to get matched to sales records. The company's own purchases, meanwhile, generate around 1,000 invoices a month.

Chief accountant Peter Roberts explains that Patterson uses a Darts accounting system developed by Kalamazoo.

Continued...