Littlefield, Glidewell update inventory control system

Management at the Fort Smith-based companies of Littlefield Oil Convenience Stores and Glidewell Distributing have added mobile computers to their operations to better control product ordering and inventory.

CipherLab, based in Taipei, Taiwan, announced Monday that the companies had purchased their 8000 series mobile computers to improve logistics systems. The statement also noted that Littlefield’s Jam Mart Convenience Store and Short Stop Truck Stop locations “are utilizing the pocket-size CipherLab 8000 mobile computers to automate inventory management processes, and eliminate the costs associated with manual data entry, stock overage and empty shelf space.”

Financial details of the purchase were not disclosed.

Littlefield Oil, founded in 1946 in Booneville, employs more than 100 and has more than 6,000 customers in its operations in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.

Ronnie Threet, a Littlefield employee who manages the Jam Mart and Short Stop stores, said products bought and sold required time-consuming manual data entry. The new devices now connect Littlefield and its inventory needs to Glidewell, a product supplier to Littlefield.

Nick Glidewell, director of sales at Glidewell, said the company “dramatically reduced” the time involved in the ordering process and is helping to save money during a time “where profits are razor thin.”