Retailers boost their profits by automating the flow of goods and data in every step of the supply chain, from manufacturing to shipping, to warehouse management and shop floor.
Inventory control and price management can be carried out automatically and without errors, thus improving customer service.
In route accounting and door-to-door sales Hand Held Computers (HHC) are used as a mobile inventory and point-of-sale system.

Delivery personnel use HHCs to scan product bar codes, accept credit card payments, and print customer receipts.

Purchased products are immediately delivered from the stock inside a van.
HHCs contain a full sales and inventory management application program, which is linked to a corporate database.

Similar procedures can be carried out on commercial airlines, for in-flight duty free sales.

In general merchandise retail, store workers can enter new orders, check inventory and prices automatically when they load the shelves, thus eliminating the time and cost of paper work. Store managers can get real time data on sales, labour scheduling and shelf space planning.
Warehouse workers use hand held computers (HHC) for inventory procedures. Warehouse management systems give instructions to anticipate replenishment and keep the warehouse running at maximum productivity.
In the distribution chain goods are kept in continuous motion.
Truck drivers' schedules and routes are automatically loaded into HHCs, which can also verify that the right goods are loaded on the right truck, and collect and send real-time data on driver performance.

Wireless networks transmit data between the warehouse management system and workers equipped with HHCs.

Trucks can also be equipped with GPS (geographical positioning systems)+GSM/GPRS systems to achieve E-sales delivered on the fly.