From Pen and Paper to POS

However, transitioning to a POS system can be challenging for businesses with a legacy of success using traditional methods like hand-written orders, receipts, and accounting. Despite the digital shift in retail, many small businesses still operate manually. Those who have adopted POS systems often wonder how they managed without them. 

Tri-County Hardware and Farm Supply 

Dennis Gamble readily admits he is not very tech-savvy. So, when he went looking for a point-of-sale system for Tri-County Hardware and Farm Supply, he wanted something that was easy to operate, intuitive, and would help him in every aspect of his store. He was also looking for friendly, responsive support. After extensive research, he chose Paladin Data Corporation. 

For the first decade, Dennis and his wife Mary Alice ran the store with a cash register and paper records. Dennis called it “working out of the shoebox.” When they made the shift to modern technology it felt like starting anew. Using suppliers Orgill and Florida Hardware, and leveraging Paladin’s EDI connections, Dennis optimized inventory and boosted revenue.  

Dennis also purchased all his hardware from Paladin to have a single point of contact for support. The typical POS system includes:  

The typical POS system is comprised of:  

Dennis uses his barcode scanners, Paladin’s Market Driven Inventory Management, and his experience with his customers to place orders and control his inventory. The success of his new system is evident in how much his fasteners section has grown. When he bought the business, it was about 4 feet long. It’s now over 31 feet of aisle space and draws a lot of business. 

The business now grosses close to $1 million annually, a considerable improvement from the struggling store he purchased.  Paladin’s features and integrations streamline operations, saving Dennis considerable time.  

Military Hardware

Robert Benton had never done anything in retail before he and wife, Mary Ann, bought Military Hardware in Columbus, Mississippi. Luckily, he says, the previous owner equipped the store with a point-of-sale system from Paladin Data Corporation a few years before he bought it. 

While customer service is Robert’s strength, managing a retail store wasn’t when he started. So, he leans heavily on Paladin’s easy-to-operate point of sale system. It is simple to learn, use and teach, making it the perfect retail platform in these times of a tight labor market. 

Modern point-of-sale software does much more than process sales. It can help manage all aspects of a business. 

Paladin’s electronic data interchange (EDI) makes it easy for Robert to process orders with his suppliers. It can handle multiple suppliers, which lets him buy from any company he chooses and makes it simple to keep his store optimally stocked.  

Paladin’s Market Driven Inventory Management™ also helps Robert keep track of his inventory, which makes year-end reporting a breeze.  

What a POS can do for your business

Properly utilizing a point-of-sale system can elevate the performance of a business for both staff and customers. 

Increases efficiency and accuracy. Ordering, inventory management, and price changes are three of the most time-consuming aspects of running a retail store. Point-of-sale systems and their tools can make those chores easier and less time-consuming, which frees staff to focus on customer service. These tools range from RF units, used to scan inventory, to mobile devices that can help locate items, complete sales away from the checkout counter, and make deliveries. 

Improves customer service. Employees needing less time to compile orders, locate items, and change prices can focus more on helping customers. POS systems provide fast, efficient and accurate customer checkout. They also collect customer sales information which allows stores to provide personalized rewards and offers, which further enhances customer service. 

Provides data stores can use to run better.  Only the biggest data geeks like to talk about reports, but getting actionable information about how a store is performing is invaluable. It can tell you when your store is optimally stocked, what’s selling and what isn’t, and helps you stay current with shopping trends. The PaladinNsight™ dashboard puts that information on display, giving you a real-time look at your store’s performance without printing reports.  

Helps manage all aspects of business. Facilitating sales, ordering and inventory management are the wheelhouse of all point-of-sale systems. But sophisticated systems integrate with other software to facilitate bookkeeping, workforce management by creating schedules, managing rental equipment, selling firearms, managing online sales, running customer incentive programs, and more. 

Not all systems are the same – Do some research

The bottom line in choosing any POS system is asking yourself does this system help my store run better and give me a better chance to succeed. Even for stores already operating with a point-of-sale system, finding the system that works best for them can save them time and money.

Jeremy and Denise Page of Lands End Marine Supply in Provincetown, Massachusetts, were operating with a POS that was didn’t fit their needs. They switched to Paladin for its fit and cost-effectiveness. 

“We paid for a lot of stuff we didn’t use. There was little tech support, and you had to pay to escalate (requests for help),” Jeremy explains. “We checked around and Paladin just seemed to be the best fit for doing what we need without paying for all this other stuff.” 

“We were a little nervous. When you switch to something that is less expensive, you think it’s great, but it might seem almost too good to be true,” Denise adds. “Paladin’s been great. We’ve saved a ton of money, it works great, and the customer support is by far the best that I’ve ever had. It’s been consistently good. We’ve been very impressed.” 

brian bullock 

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