For the comprehensive automation of a building materials store, considering the specifics of the goods (measured goods, bulky cargo, warranty power tools, sales by kits), you will need the following set of software and equipment.
1. Torgsoft Licenses
The choice of license depends on the scale of your business and the need for remote access.
Torgsoft-Ultra: the most recommended version for a single building materials store. Unlike the basic "Start" version, it allows you to work with invoicing (important for working with contractors and legal entities), generate orders to suppliers, and work with the assembly of goods (for example, prefabricated shower cabins or door blocks).
Torgsoft-Terminal: necessary if you plan a retail network of several stores or warehouses that work in a single database via the Internet. It allows you to work remotely and see stock balances across the entire network in real-time.
Torgsoft-Start: the basic version for a small store. It supports the connection of main options (such as metric characteristics), but it lacks functions for moving goods between warehouses, working with VIP clients (discounts for regular builders), and trading with invoicing.
2. Key Options for a Building Materials Store
The construction business has specific needs that are covered by additional modules:
Metric characteristics of goods (Tile Calculator): a critically important option for selling tiles, laminate, linoleum, and roofing materials. It allows you to keep records in square or linear meters but automatically recalculate them into pieces or packages upon sale to avoid grading errors.
Storage place of goods: allows you to assign a specific place in the warehouse (row, rack, shelf) to a product. This significantly saves time searching for goods, especially in large warehouses of building materials.
Shipment from the warehouse: a function that allows you to separate the process of payment and receipt of goods. The client pays for the goods at the checkout in the trading hall, receives a check and an invoice, and picks up the goods from the storekeeper at the warehouse or in the issue zone.
Kitting and disassembly: allows you to sell goods in sets (for example, toilet + tank + seat = "Toilet" kit) or vice versa, sell kit components separately.
Accounting for warranty goods by serial numbers: necessary for selling power tools, boilers, pumps, etc. It allows you to record the unique serial number of the product upon sale to ensure the warranty.
Trade with invoicing: (Included in the Ultra/Terminal license, but unavailable in Start). It allows you to issue invoices and expenditure waybills, which is standard when working with construction crews and organizations.
Software PRO (PRRO): for fiscalization of checks in accordance with the legislation. It integrates directly into the program.
Connecting a bank terminal: allows you to automatically transfer the amount to be paid to the POS terminal, eliminating cashier errors during manual entry.
3. Trading Equipment
For a building materials store, reliable equipment resistant to loads is recommended:
Barcode scanner: preferably wireless, since in building stores there are many bulky and heavy goods (sacks of cement, drywall) that are difficult to bring to the checkout. A wireless scanner allows you to move freely around the goods.
Label printer: necessary for marking goods that do not have a factory barcode (weighed nails, screws, small fittings, cut materials).
Receipt printer: for printing fiscal (via PRRO) and non-fiscal checks, as well as checks for issuing goods at the warehouse.
Computer or POS monoblock: the main workplace of the cashier/manager. A monoblock with a touch screen saves space on the counter.
Data collection terminal (DCT): recommended for large warehouses for inventory and receiving goods without being tied to a computer.
4. Main Program Capabilities for Your Niche
Warehouse accounting: full control of balances, arrivals, write-offs, inventory without stopping trading, control of grading errors.
Work with measured goods: sale of materials that have a fractional quantity (for example, 1.5 meters of cable or 3.2 sq.m of tiles) with correct write-off from the warehouse.
Loyalty system for contractors: ability to set up special price types (wholesale, small wholesale) or individual discounts for regular customers (masters, crews).
Control of mutual settlements: maintaining a balance with suppliers (how much you owe for goods under realization) and clients (if you give goods on credit to regular crews).
Analytics: reports on which product is "stale", which brings the most profit, profitability analysis, and ABC analysis of the assortment.
This complex will allow you to fully control the movement of materials from the moment of ordering to the supplier to issuance to the client, minimize personnel errors, and speed up service.
