--- title: "Best Hardware and Building Materials Store POS Software - 2026 Reviews & Pricing" description: "Find the best Hardware and Building Materials Store POS Software for your organization. Compare top Hardware and Building Materials Store POS Software systems with customer reviews, pricing, and free demos." source_url: "https://www.softwareadvice.com/retail/hardware-pos-software-comparison/" page_type: "subcategory" language: "en" --- [Home](https://www.softwareadvice.com/) / Hardware and Building Materials Store POS Software Software Advice offers objective insights based on verified user reviews and independent product and market research. When our advisors match you to a software provider, we may earn a referral fee. # Best Hardware and Building Materials Store POS Software of 2026 Updated November 11, 2026 On this page 1. Popular Comparisons 2. Buyers Guide Filter products 90 results ### Compare Products Showing 1 - 25 of 90 products #### Company Size - Self-Employed - 2-10 - 11-50 - 51-200 - 201-500 - 501-1000 - 1000+ #### Pricing Options - $$$$$ - $$$$$ - $$$$$ - $$$$$ - $$$$$ ### Compare Products Sort by **Recommendations**: Sorts listings by the number of recommendations our advisors have made over the past 30 days. Our advisors assess buyers’ needs for free and only recommend products that meet buyers’ needs. Vendors pay Software Advice for these referrals. **Reviews**: Sorts listings by the number of user reviews we have published, greatest to least. **Average Rating**: Sorts listings by overall star rating based on user reviews, highest to lowest. **Alphabetically (A-Z)**: Sorts listings by product name from A to Z. ### [Rain POS](/retail/rainpos-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.1/5 - Reviews: 134 - Free trial: Not available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview Rain is an all-in-one point-of-sale, website, and marketing system for small to midsized retailers. Music, dive, sporting goods, paddle, craft, sewing, quilting, and clothing [Read more](/retail/rainpos-profile/) #### Features ##### Best rated features - Promotions Management: 5/5 - Retail Inventory Management: 5/5 - Product Identification: 5/5 - Multi-Channel Marketing: 5/5 ##### Worst rated features - Multi-Location: 1/5 [See all features](/retail/rainpos-profile/#key-features) --- ### [Clover](/retail/clover-profile/) - Overall rating: 3.8/5 - Reviews: 617 - Best for: Popular - Free trial: Available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview Clover is a POS system designed to help small businesses streamline their operations. The system offers a range of features, including payment processing, inventory management, [Read more](/retail/clover-profile/) ##### What users love - Versatile payment acceptance options - Customizable and modern interface - Simple learning and daily operation ##### To take in mind - Slow and unhelpful support experiences - Expensive hardware and add-ons - Sales tracking and limitations issues #### Features ##### Best rated features - API: 5/5 - Access Controls/Permissions: 5/5 - Sales Tax Management: 5/5 - Real-Time Reporting: 5/5 ##### Worst rated features - Retail POS: 1/5 - Retail Management: 1.2/5 - Returns Tracking: 1.3/5 - For Salons and Spas: 1.5/5 [See all features](/retail/clover-profile/#key-features) #### Pricing ##### Basic - Price: Custom - Pricing available upon request [See full pricing details](/retail/clover-profile/#pricing-and-plans) --- ### [POS Nation for Retail](/retail/pos-nation-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.6/5 - Reviews: 134 - Starting price: $59.00/month - Best for: Customer support - Free trial: Not available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview POS Nation is built to support retailers, including specialty businesses such as convenience stores, liquor, wine and beer stores, tobacco and vape shops, lawn and garden centers, [Read more](/retail/pos-nation-profile/) #### Features ##### Best rated features - Item Management: 5/5 - Electronic Signature: 5/5 - Supplier Management: 5/5 - Ordering Automation: 5/5 ##### Worst rated features - Customizable Reports: 3/5 - Retail Inventory Management: 3.5/5 - eCommerce Management: 3.7/5 [See all features](/retail/pos-nation-profile/#key-features) --- ### [Epicor Propello](/retail/epicor-retail-cloud-profile/) - Overall rating: 4/5 - Reviews: 5 - Starting price: $349.00 - Free trial: Not available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview Epicor retail POS and business management solutions are designed to help independent retailers work smarter, not harder. With more than 50 years of experience built-in, Epicor [Read more](/retail/epicor-retail-cloud-profile/) #### Features ##### Best rated features - Reporting/Analytics: 5/5 - Mobile Access: 4.5/5 [See all features](/retail/epicor-retail-cloud-profile/#key-features) --- ### [AmberPOS](/retail/pacific-amber-technologies-amberpos-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.1/5 - Reviews: 51 - Starting price: CA$995.00one time - Free trial: Not available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview Pacific Amber’s AmberPOS offers a point of sale software solutions to a variety of retail specialties, ranging from small to midsized, in the United States and Canada. In [Read more](/retail/pacific-amber-technologies-amberpos-profile/) #### Features ##### Best rated features - Reporting/Analytics: 4/5 - Sales Reports: 4/5 - Customer Accounts: 4/5 - Point of Sale (POS): 4/5 ##### Worst rated features - Order Management: 3/5 - Inventory Management: 3/5 - Point of Sale (POS): 4/5 - Customer Accounts: 4/5 [See all features](/retail/pacific-amber-technologies-amberpos-profile/#key-features) --- ### [LS Retail](/hotel-management/ls-central-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.3/5 - Reviews: 125 - Best for: Features - Free trial: Not available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview LS Central is point of sale (POS) and retail management software developed by LS Retail for mid-sized to large retailers. It is built for businesses running multiple stores, brands [Read more](/hotel-management/ls-central-profile/) #### Features ##### Best rated features - Payment Processing: 5/5 - Gift Card Management: 5/5 - Discount Management: 5/5 - Retail Management: 5/5 ##### Worst rated features - Commission Management: 3/5 - Pricing Management: 3.5/5 - Sales Reports: 3.7/5 - Purchase Order Management: 4/5 [See all features](/hotel-management/ls-central-profile/#key-features) --- ### [MyPOS Connect](/retail/mypos-connect-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.5/5 - Reviews: 41 - Starting price: $99.95/month - Free trial: Not available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview Designed for independent and enterprise retailers, MyPOS Connect is a SOC2 compliant, cloud-hybrid POS solution that allows businesses to create a POS experience for any retail [Read more](/retail/mypos-connect-profile/) #### Features ##### Best rated features - Discount Management: 5/5 - Touch Screen: 5/5 - Retail Management: 5/5 - Barcode/Ticket Scanning: 4.7/5 ##### Worst rated features - Returns Tracking: 4/5 - Customer Accounts: 4/5 [See all features](/retail/mypos-connect-profile/#key-features) --- ### [RockSolid MAX](/inventory-management/rocksolid-max-profile/) - Overall rating: 3.9/5 - Reviews: 40 - Starting price: $3,000.00 - Free trial: Not available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview RockSolid MAX is a cutting-edge software platform designed to revolutionize the way hardware store and home center businesses operate. With its comprehensive suite of features, [Read more](/inventory-management/rocksolid-max-profile/) #### Features ##### Best rated features - Inventory Control: 5/5 - Point of Sale (POS): 5/5 - Customer Accounts: 5/5 - Discount Management: 5/5 [See all features](/inventory-management/rocksolid-max-profile/#key-features) --- ### [NetSuite](/accounting/netsuite-financials-accounting-software-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.2/5 - Reviews: 2,086 - Best for: Enterprise businesses - Free trial: Not available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview NetSuite is an AI-powered cloud-based business management suite that incorporates ERP, financial management, CRM and eCommerce functionalities into a unified platform, helping [Read more](/accounting/netsuite-financials-accounting-software-profile/) ##### What users love - Deep system tailoring options - Comprehensive and scalable functionality - Centralized financial operations platform ##### To take in mind - Steep learning curve and complexity - Complex and rigid reporting tools - Slow and inconsistent support experience #### Features ##### Best rated features - Aging Tracking: 5/5 - "What If" Scenarios: 5/5 - Knowledge Base Management: 5/5 - Vendor Master Data Management: 5/5 [See all features](/accounting/netsuite-financials-accounting-software-profile/#key-features) --- ### [Rapid Garden POS](/retail/rapid-garden-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.5/5 - Reviews: 11 - Free trial: Not available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview Rapid Garden POS is a point of sale (POS) solution designed to assist users with managing their greenhouse, garden centers, nurseries, and landscaping businesses. Key features [Read more](/retail/rapid-garden-profile/) #### Features ##### Best rated features - Loyalty Program: 5/5 - Payment Processing: 5/5 - Returns Management: 5/5 - Sales Reports: 5/5 ##### Worst rated features - Customer Management: 2/5 - Activity Tracking: 3/5 - Order Management: 3/5 - Proposal Generation: 3/5 [See all features](/retail/rapid-garden-profile/#key-features) --- ### [Cin7 Omni](/retail/cin7-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.3/5 - Reviews: 602 - Starting price: $349.00/month - Best for: Small businesses - Free trial: Available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview Cin7 Omni is a highly configurable inventory management and order management solution with built-in EDI and integrations to all the popular eCommerce platforms, marketplaces, and [Read more](/retail/cin7-profile/) ##### What users love - Robust inventory control features - User-friendly and intuitive design - Guided onboarding and support ##### To take in mind - Inconsistent customer service quality - Frequent and steep price increases - Slow and limited email assistance #### Features ##### Best rated features - Recurring Orders: 5/5 - Alerts/Notifications: 5/5 - Status Tracking: 5/5 - Ordering Automation: 5/5 ##### Worst rated features - Promotions Management: 1/5 - Serial Number Tracking: 2/5 [See all features](/retail/cin7-profile/#key-features) #### Pricing ##### Standard - Price: $349.00/month - Up to 5 Users ##### Pro - Price: $599.00/month - Up to 10 Users ##### Advanced - Price: $999.00/month - Up to 15 Users [See full pricing details](/retail/cin7-profile/#pricing-and-plans) --- ### [Spruce](/product/384566-Spruce/) - Overall rating: 3.2/5 - Reviews: 34 - Starting price: $10,000.00/year - Free trial: Not available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview Spruce software provides advanced point-of-sale and business management solutions for lumberyards, hardware stores, and building materials suppliers. This industry-specific [Read more](/product/384566-Spruce/) #### Features ##### Best rated features - Document Storage: 5/5 - Secure Data Storage: 5/5 - Bank Reconciliation: 5/5 - Archiving & Retention: 4.5/5 ##### Worst rated features - Data Extraction: 1/5 - Approval Process Control: 1/5 - Purchase Order Management: 1/5 - Access Controls/Permissions: 4/5 [See all features](/product/384566-Spruce/#key-features) --- ### [PayPal Payments](/retail/paypal-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.6/5 - Reviews: 26,830 - Starting price: $0.09 - Best for: Real-time Alerts - Free trial: Not available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview PayPal is a digital payment platform that enables businesses and individuals to pay and accept payments through an online portal. The solution is suitable for businesses of all [Read more](/retail/paypal-profile/) ##### What users love - Trusted global payment platform - Value and payment flexibility - Simple and intuitive interface ##### To take in mind - Transfer delays and account holds - Slow and hard-to-reach support - High and unpredictable transaction fees #### Features ##### Best rated features - For Banking: 5/5 - Authentication: 5/5 - Payment Tracking: 5/5 - Accounting: 5/5 ##### Worst rated features - Search/Filter: 3.5/5 - Ad hoc Reporting: 3.6/5 - Expense Tracking: 3.9/5 - Financial Reporting: 3.9/5 [See all features](/retail/paypal-profile/#key-features) --- ### [RetailEdge](/retail/retailedge-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.8/5 - Reviews: 188 - Starting price: $495.00one time - Best for: Small businesses - Free trial: Available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview RetailEdge is an on-premise, retail POS solution designed for small and midsize businesses. It offers mobile POS, multi-location support, website integration, credit card [Read more](/retail/retailedge-profile/) #### Features ##### Best rated features - Customer Database: 5/5 - Receipt Management: 5/5 - Reporting & Statistics: 5/5 - Customer Accounts: 5/5 ##### Worst rated features - Electronic Signature: 1/5 [See all features](/retail/retailedge-profile/#key-features) #### Pricing ##### Standard - Price: $495.00one time - RetailEdge is designed for retailers looking for a fully functional POS software. Packed with [See full pricing details](/retail/retailedge-profile/#pricing-and-plans) --- ### [PayPal Point of Sale](/retail/paypal-here-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.6/5 - Reviews: 2,290 - Starting price: $0.01 - Best for: Mid-size businesses - Free trial: Not available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview PayPal Here is a mobile application that allows retailers and merchants to process transactions. The application uses a card reader device attached to a smartphone. This solution [Read more](/retail/paypal-here-profile/) ##### What users love - Versatile payment processing options - Flexible card acceptance features - Intuitive and simple interface ##### To take in mind - Bank linking and fund transfer issues - High and confusing transaction fees - Inconsistent customer service experience #### Features ##### Best rated features - Compliance Management: 5/5 - Real-Time Reporting: 5/5 - Reporting & Statistics: 5/5 - Transaction Monitoring: 5/5 ##### Worst rated features - Mobile App: 4/5 - Retail POS: 4/5 - Data Synchronization: 4/5 [See all features](/retail/paypal-here-profile/#key-features) --- ### [Mi9 Retail Analytics](/retail/mi9-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.7/5 - Reviews: 21 - Starting price: $150.00 - Free trial: Not available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview Mi9 Retail is a retail management solution suitable for businesses in a variety of industries. Key features include point of sale (POS), inventory management, analytics, e-commerce [Read more](/retail/mi9-profile/) --- ### [MCS Rental Software](/retail/mcs-rm-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.5/5 - Reviews: 22 - Free trial: Not available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview Giving businesses full control of their rental operations, MCS-rm rental software maximizes asset utilization and minimizes operating costs, while increasing workforce [Read more](/retail/mcs-rm-profile/) #### Features ##### Best rated features - Customizable Reports: 5/5 - Work Order Management: 5/5 - Data Import/Export: 5/5 - Customizable Forms: 5/5 ##### Worst rated features - Activity Dashboard: 4/5 - Reporting & Statistics: 4/5 - Quotes/Estimates: 4/5 - Equipment Tracking: 4/5 [See all features](/retail/mcs-rm-profile/#key-features) --- ### [Route4Me](/fleet-management/route4me-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.5/5 - Reviews: 416 - Best for: Value for money - Free trial: Not available - Free demo: Available #### Overview Route4Me is a cloud-based fleet management solution designed for small, midsize and large businesses. Primary features include route planning and routing guides. It allows users to [Read more](/fleet-management/route4me-profile/) ##### What users love - Efficient and flexible route planning - Responsive and helpful support team - Intuitive and user-friendly interface ##### To take in mind - Cumbersome address input and editing #### Features ##### Best rated features - Customer Database: 5/5 - API: 5/5 - Customer Management: 5/5 - Technician Management: 5/5 ##### Worst rated features - Online Ordering: 2/5 - Electronic Signature: 2.3/5 - CRM: 2.3/5 - Purchase Order Management: 3.5/5 [See all features](/fleet-management/route4me-profile/#key-features) #### Pricing ##### Route Optimization - Price: Custom - Pricing available upon request ##### Business Optimization - Price: Custom - Pricing available upon request ##### Enterprise Optimization - Price: Custom - Pricing available upon request [See full pricing details](/fleet-management/route4me-profile/#pricing-and-plans) --- ### [Pronto Xi](/manufacturing/pronto-xi-profile/) - Overall rating: 4/5 - Reviews: 9 - Free trial: Not available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview Pronto Xi is an integrated enterprise resource planning (ERP) suite that provides core applications, such as financial accounting and business intelligence, alongside sales and [Read more](/manufacturing/pronto-xi-profile/) #### Features ##### Best rated features - Accounting: 5/5 - Order Management: 5/5 - Financial Management: 5/5 - Enterprise Asset Management: 5/5 ##### Worst rated features - Project Management: 3/5 - HR Management: 3/5 - Customizable Reports: 3/5 [See all features](/manufacturing/pronto-xi-profile/#key-features) --- ### [PHP Point of Sale](/retail/php-point-of-sale-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.7/5 - Reviews: 341 - Starting price: $59.00/month - Best for: Value for money - Free trial: Available - Free demo: Available #### Overview PHP Point Of Sale is a web-based point of sale for independent retailers, specialty shops, repair businesses, and counters that need real inventory depth without per-register [Read more](/retail/php-point-of-sale-profile/) #### Features ##### Best rated features - Merchandise Management: 5/5 - Returns Tracking: 5/5 - Loyalty Program: 5/5 - Receipt Management: 5/5 ##### Worst rated features - Electronic Signature: 4/5 [See all features](/retail/php-point-of-sale-profile/#key-features) #### Pricing ##### Cloud - Price: $59.00/month - Software hosted in the cloud on our servers. We take care of backups, upgrades and maintenance. [See full pricing details](/retail/php-point-of-sale-profile/#pricing-and-plans) --- ### [ready2order](/retail/ready2order-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.3/5 - Reviews: 38 - Starting price: €13.90/month - Free trial: Available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview ready2order is the faster POS system with payment for small businesses. ready2order ensures faster ordering, checkout, and administration since 2015. The modern cloud POS solution [Read more](/retail/ready2order-profile/) #### Features ##### Best rated features - Reporting/Analytics: 5/5 - Point of Sale (POS): 5/5 - Restaurant POS: 5/5 - For Retail: 5/5 ##### Worst rated features - Accounting Integration: 3.5/5 - Inventory Management: 3.5/5 - Barcode/Ticket Scanning: 3.7/5 - Inventory Tracking: 3.9/5 [See all features](/retail/ready2order-profile/#key-features) #### Pricing ##### Kassensystem-Abo - Price: €35.90/month - Nutze die ready2order Kassensoftware auf Deinem Wunschgerät oder unserer Hardware. Damit Du einfach ##### Gastro-Paket - Price: €23.90/month - Mit unserem Kassensystem für die Gastronomie sorgst Du in Café, Bar oder Restaurant für kurze Wege ##### Kassenbuch - Price: €13.90/month - Heb Deine Kassenführung auf das nächste Level: Mit unserem digitalen Kassenbuch wird Buchführung so [See full pricing details](/retail/ready2order-profile/#pricing-and-plans) --- ### [Acumatica Cloud ERP](/manufacturing/acumatica-manufacturing-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.4/5 - Reviews: 243 - Best for: Ease of use - Free trial: Not available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview Acumatica Cloud ERP is a comprehensive business management system. It caters to a variety of industries, such as finance, manufacturing, construction, distribution, and retail, [Read more](/manufacturing/acumatica-manufacturing-profile/) ##### What users love - Flexible customization for workflows - Robust third-party integrations support - User-friendly and intuitive interface ##### To take in mind - Significant costs for small businesses #### Features ##### Best rated features - Inventory Auditing: 5/5 - HR Management: 5/5 - Multi-Company: 5/5 - Manufacturing Planning: 5/5 [See all features](/manufacturing/acumatica-manufacturing-profile/#key-features) --- ### [Agiliron](/retail/agiliron-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.5/5 - Reviews: 50 - Starting price: $99.00/month - Free trial: Available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview Agiliron is an all-in-one Retail Management System which allows you to manage all orders, inventory and CRM records, from all channels, in one place. Agiliron also integrates [Read more](/retail/agiliron-profile/) #### Features ##### Best rated features - Kitting: 5/5 - Point of Sale (POS): 5/5 - Backorder Management: 5/5 - Forecasting: 5/5 ##### Worst rated features - Billing & Invoicing: 3/5 - Third-Party Integrations: 3/5 - Alerts/Notifications: 3/5 [See all features](/retail/agiliron-profile/#key-features) #### Pricing ##### Premier - Price: $99.00/month - The plan becomes $85 /month when billed annually. Besides, there is a 30-day free trial available ##### Enterprise - Price: $199.00/month - The plan becomes $169/month when billed annually. Besides, there is a 30-day free trial available ##### Global enterprise - Price: $299.00/month - The plan becomes $255/month when billed annually. Besides, there is a 30-day free trial available [See full pricing details](/retail/agiliron-profile/#pricing-and-plans) --- ### [CashFootprint Point-of-Sale](/retail/cashfootprint-professional-profile/) - Overall rating: 4.8/5 - Reviews: 74 - Starting price: $99.00one time - Free trial: Available - Free demo: Not available #### Overview CashFootprint is a retail management solution that offers point of sale (POS), inventory management, customer management, loyalty programs and reporting. The solution helps small [Read more](/retail/cashfootprint-professional-profile/) #### Features ##### Best rated features - Sales Reports: 5/5 - Customer Accounts: 5/5 - Point of Sale (POS): 5/5 - Returns Tracking: 5/5 [See all features](/retail/cashfootprint-professional-profile/#key-features) #### Pricing ##### Download only - Price: $99.00one time - One-time purchase. No monthly fees, ever. Standard edition: $99 for core POS, inventory, and [See full pricing details](/retail/cashfootprint-professional-profile/#pricing-and-plans) --- 1 [2](https://www.softwareadvice.com/retail/hardware-pos-software-comparison/?__ai_markdown=true&page=2)[3](https://www.softwareadvice.com/retail/hardware-pos-software-comparison/?__ai_markdown=true&page=3)[4](https://www.softwareadvice.com/retail/hardware-pos-software-comparison/?__ai_markdown=true&page=4) ## Popular Comparisons [ NetSuite vs PayPal Payments ](https://www.softwareadvice.com/accounting/netsuite-financials-accounting-software-profile/vs/paypal/)[ Odoo vs Shopify ](https://www.softwareadvice.com/crm/odoo-profile/vs/shopify/)[ WooPOS vs PayPal Point of Sale ](https://www.softwareadvice.com/retail/paypal-here-profile/vs/woo-pos/)[ Fishbowl vs Cin7 Omni ](https://www.softwareadvice.com/retail/cin7-profile/vs/fishbowl-inventory-manufacturing/)[ RetailEdge vs PHP Point of Sale ](https://www.softwareadvice.com/retail/php-point-of-sale-profile/vs/retailedge/)[ Clover vs AIM ](https://www.softwareadvice.com/retail/aimsi-profile/vs/clover/) ## Send me a copy of this list to my inbox ### Get a copy of this list with pricing info sent to your inbox so you can pick up where you left off when convenient to you. Hardware stores specialize in the retail of household goods and materials, including: - Tools - Lawn and garden equipment - Plumbing and electrical - Cleaning supplies Specialty hardware stores may also sell items such as farm or ranch equipment and even hunting supplies. POS software for hardware and building materials stores helps business owners automate nearly every aspect of their business, from managing inventory to customer checkout and balancing the books. These systems offer increased visibility into business operations, allowing owners to track trends and relationships that impact profitability. As such, these systems play an integral role in the success of retail stores of all size, from mom-and-pop hardware shops to enterprise-level home improvement retail chains. With the emergence of new digital technologies such as iPads, credit card processors and electronic barcoding solutions it’s easier than ever for hardware and building materials stores to maintain accurate shop records. We’ve created this guide to help business owners evaluate and compare the various solutions on the market and make a more informed purchase decision. Here’s what we’ll cover: [What is Hardware POS software?](#WhatisHardwarePOSsoftware) [Common Features and Capabilities of Hardware POS Software](#CommonFeaturesandCapabilitiesofHardwarePOSSoftware) [Expected Benefits of Using Hardware POS Software](#ExpectedBenefitsofUsingHardwarePOSSoftware) ## What is Hardware POS software? Hardware POS software supports the business processes unique to hardware stores, such as: - **Unified point of sale (POS) dashboard:** Track sales made in both brick-and-mortar and online stores - [Inventory management](https://www.softwareadvice.com/inventory-management/)**:** Know the status of every piece of merchandise, whether it’s in stock or on backorder, and be able to pull up the price and available discounts upon request - **Physical inventory counting process:** Some of the products sold by a hardware store must be accompanied by a material safety data sheet (MSDS) - **Reporting and trends analysis:** Create customized dashboards to track sales and profitability, customer trends and more or export data as a report to take a snapshot of current standing. _Point of sale dashboard in RetailSTAR_ Additional “back office” or administration requirements include: - [Accounts payable](https://www.softwareadvice.com/accounting/accounts-payable-comparison/) - [Accounts receivable](https://www.softwareadvice.com/accounting/accounts-receivable-comparison/) - General ledger - [Financial reporting](https://www.softwareadvice.com/accounting/financial-reporting-comparison/) - [Employee scheduling](https://www.softwareadvice.com/hr/employee-scheduling-comparison/) There are some peculiarities for the customer relationship management (CRM) and POS. These are primarily in the areas of job costing and estimating. They affect both contractors and do-it-yourselfers. ## Common Features and Capabilities of Hardware POS Software When evaluating POS software, hardware store owners should keep the following functions in mind to ensure the new system meets their unique business and industry requirements. **Common Hardware POS Features** | Feature | Description | | --- | --- | | Integrated parts database and UPC catalog | Because of the large number of hardware items, the system needs to provide a catalog of products and UPCs. The catalog must be updated frequently or better yet, available online. | | Sell by measure | Hardware stores sell many bulk items that are sold in cut portions. Examples include lumber, chain, rope and wire. The system should handle selling by measure for these items. The inventory should be accurately tracked, including accounting for all scrap. | | Shelf and bin location | The inventory and POS systems should support locating products by shelf and bin location. In addition to providing better customer support, having inventory location assists with the physical inventory process. | | Estimating | The POS and inventory system should allow estimates to be prepared. If the customer accepts the estimate, the system should be able to generate a customer order easily. It should generate orders for stock not on hand and special orders as necessary. | | Contractor sales | The system should support contractor sales. It should calculate discounts, track terms and provide billing. It should also track lines of credit and notify the customer and back office staff when credit thresholds are reached. | | Job costing | The system should be able to track multiple jobs, for both contractors and do-it-yourselfers. The job costing should be part of the POS. A single transaction should be able to be split over multiple jobs. The job should include the customer’s job number. Each customer should be able to have multiple jobs concurrently. | | Seasonal orders | The system should recommend or order seasonal merchandise; for example, salt and holiday decorations for the winter and barbecue grills in the summer. The system should also support inventory sell-versus-store decisions at the end of each season. | | Kit sales | Hardware stores often sell plans and materials as single kits; for example, to build a storage shed or a play set. The system should correctly decrease the individual parts inventory counts when a kit is sold. | | Special orders | The system should handle special orders. It should track deposits, integrate with order entry to place orders and notify the customer when the order is received. | | Work orders | Many hardware stores offer special services. Examples include rescreening and engraving. The system needs to track the work orders, post deposits and notify the customer when the work is complete. | | Material safety data sheet (MSDS) handling | OSHA requires that the required MSDS for a product to be delivered by the seller, but only for certain customers. The systems should have a repository of MSDS The POS and CRM systems should printout required data sheets at the time of sale. | --- **Common Hardware POS Capabilities** | Feature | Description | | --- | --- | | Gift registry | For a variety of reasons, hardware stores are starting to maintain gift registries. Customers should be able to register for desired merchandise by name and event. The system should track which items have been purchased and what is still on the list. | | Rental management | The system should have a rental management module. It should track costs, billing, maintenance and equipment lifecycle management. | | Lookup by description | Since many hardware items are similar, the POS needs a look up by description, which can narrow the range of items. The the clerk or customer then can select from a limited list. | | Inventory images | The system must show pictures of the items. The images should be available during ordering, receiving, selling and physical inventory. | | Case/unit breakdown | Many hardware parts are ordered in cases and sold in as cases, boxes or singles. The POS system should decrease the inventory properly how ever the items are sold. | | Physical inventory system | The system should support physical inventory. It should interface with handheld devices to record the count. It should create physical inventory sheets by location as well as item number. The count sheets should have the option to display the image. | --- ## Expected Benefits of Using Hardware POS Software Investing in POS software can benefit your business in several ways, including: **Improved workflows:** Prior to POS software, sales associates had to physically check the stockroom and sales floor to answer customer inquiries about pricing or inventory levels. Now, associates can respond to questions about product levels, cost and more simply by checking their POS dashboard. This not only creates a smoother customer experience, but employees can special order a part for a customer or check inventory levels at other store locations on the spot. **Better employee management:** Using your POS for scheduling can help ensure proper staffing levels so employees are neither over or under worked. Use historical staffing data to anticipate increased staffing needs around holidays to ensure you have enough people scheduled to work at that time. **Enhanced customer service:** Create a customer database to provide a more personalized shopping experience. Sales associates can use purchase history to help with current sales. For example, if the customer is looking for a lawn mower part, the associate can look up what model lawn mower they bought to help locate the part more easily.