# Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) — StockMed

> Authoritative answers to common questions about StockMed's B2B supply chain, ERP bill parsing, regulatory verification, and daily counter workflows.

## General & Onboarding
- **What is StockMed?**: India's dedicated B2B pharmaceutical shortage fulfillment and pharmacy inventory platform connecting licensed retail chemists with authorized pharma stockists.
- **Drug License Verification**: Retail chemists must hold valid Form 20/21 licenses; wholesale stockists must hold valid Form 20B/21B wholesale licenses.
- **Geographic Coverage**: Available across all 36 Indian States and Union Territories.

## Shortage Notes & Order Fulfillment
- **1-Tap Shortage Dispatch**: Pharmacists log out-of-stock items with explicit packaging units (*Strips, Bottles, Boxes, Vials, Kits, Packs*) and dispatch grouped 5-digit passes.
- **WhatsApp Fallback**: Format and forward shortage notes to distributor WhatsApp chats in 1 tap.
- **Wholesaler Packing & Invoicing**: Distributors toggle items as `PACKED` 🟢 or `UNAVAILABLE` 🔴 and generate printable A4 GST tax invoices.

## AI Bill Scanner & ERP Compatibility
- **Supported Formats**: Marg ERP, Busy, Tally Prime, RetailStar, and custom distribution billing systems.
- **Batch & Named-Month Expiries**: Extracts batch numbers (e.g. `DL4920`) and expiries (e.g. `NOV-27`, `11/27`) with dictionary-based auto-correct.

## Privacy, DPDP Act 2023 & Offline Caching
- **DPDP Act 2023**: On-device PII detection and redaction (Aadhaar, PAN, OTPs), role-based access, and zero third-party telemetry.
- **Offline First**: Local SQLite/Hive caching ensures smooth counter operation during connectivity drops.