PPT Slide
The original Wontner Smith system involved the stocktaker visiting the client to count the stock and gather information from purchase invoices. This information would be taken back to the office where it would be worked out and checked (usually using a ready reckoner). The result would then be hand-written in a custom made booklet and sent out to the client. Later the results were typewritten.
In 1982 the company turned to computerisation to enhance the service and make available more information in the reports. The software was developed around the original manual system in order to retain some of the human factor and keep many of the safeguards previously used to check accuracy. This way errors and anomalies could be found before the information was fed into the computer.
In 1986 mobile computers and printers made it possible to produce full on-site printed results before leaving the premises.