How J A Fulmer & Son Hardware Uses Orgill Mobile Business Management
J A Fulmer & Son Hardware, an independent Orgill dealer in Memphis, uses Orgill Mobile Business Management with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central and System Solutions LLC to reduce duplicate entry, improve item tracking and customer history, and answer customer questions from nearly anywhere. A Microsoft Dynamics customer since 2009, the business has worked with the platform for 17 years.
The store serves commercial, industrial, and residential customers with hardware for household, construction, and trade needs. Business Central gives J A Fulmer & Son Hardware one operating environment for the store's customer-facing and back-office work, while mobile access keeps information available beyond a fixed workstation.
Customer Profile
J A Fulmer & Son Hardware supplies screws, nuts, bolts, tools, construction hardware, and other products for commercial, industrial, and residential needs. The broad assortment and the store's emphasis on helping customers find the right item make accurate product information and accessible customer history important parts of daily service.
Challenges Before Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
Moving Beyond the Earlier System
Before Business Central, J A Fulmer & Son Hardware used Microsoft Dynamics RMS. Management wanted a more rounded operating system with full accounting that could reduce double data entry and support future growth.
Information at the Point of Customer Service
The business needed easier item tracking and customer history so staff could answer questions without piecing together information from separate processes.
Work That Was Not Tied to a Desk
Management wanted mobile access rather than depending on a fixed back-office workstation for routine questions and operational follow-through.
Room for Additional Capabilities
Add-ons and other functions were important because J A Fulmer & Son Hardware wanted a platform that could continue to support changing requirements.
Why J A Fulmer & Son Hardware Chose System Solutions LLC
J A Fulmer & Son Hardware selected System Solutions LLC to move from its earlier Microsoft Dynamics RMS environment to 365 Business Central while keeping hardware-store operations and long-term flexibility in view. The relationship combines Business Central, embedded point-of-sale operations, Orgill connectivity, mobile inventory work, and ongoing support for the store's operating environment.
“I wanted a fully rounded system to get away from double data entry. The add-ons and other extensions were appealing for future growth.”Rob Fulmer, President, J A Fulmer & Son Hardware
Implementation Experience
The move brought store procedures, item activity, customer history, inventory work, and business administration into Business Central. J A Fulmer & Son Hardware operates two documented POS stations and uses Business Central user licensing for back-office access. System Solutions LLC also supports connected store hardware, including cash-drawer and slip-printer workflows.
Mobile inventory management was added to extend item-journal work to a handheld device with an integrated barcode scanner. That implementation supports inventory stock takes and item maintenance from the sales floor rather than requiring every task to begin at a desktop.
Orgill Mobile Business Management Results
More Mobile Work
Management can access Business Central from a phone and handle a wide range of work away from a fixed PC.
Clearer Item Tracking
J A Fulmer & Son Hardware reports easier item tracking for day-to-day operational questions.
Accessible Customer History
Customer history is easier to use when staff need to respond to customer questions.
Streamlined Procedures
The business reports more streamlined procedures after implementing Business Central.
Less Duplicate Entry
A more connected operating environment addresses the original goal of moving away from double data entry.
Growth Flexibility
The platform and its additional functions give the store room to expand how it manages work over time.
“Streamlining procedures, easier item tracking and customer history, much more mobile and easier to answer questions from customers.”Rob Fulmer, President, J A Fulmer & Son Hardware
How J A Fulmer & Son Hardware Uses Business Central Today
How Orgill Mobile Business Management Supports Daily Operations
J A Fulmer & Son Hardware uses Business Central as a connected business platform for store operations, embedded point of sale, customer and item information, purchasing and Orgill-related workflows, inventory control, and accounting. Phone access is the standout benefit for management because the system's information and routine tasks are available without returning to a workstation.
“Mobility on phones by far. I can pretty much do everything from my phone.”Rob Fulmer, President, J A Fulmer & Son Hardware
Functions, Workflows, and Devices Used by J A Fulmer & Son Hardware
Point-of-Sale Functions
- Two documented POS stations support counter transactions in the Business Central environment.
- Cash-drawer and slip-printer workflows are supported as part of register operations.
- Customer-account activity and walk-in sales are managed within store procedures.
Customer Service and Account Workflows
- Staff use customer history to answer questions and review prior activity.
- Management uses mobile access to respond to customer questions away from a fixed workstation.
- User access and active licensing are administered as the store's staffing and system needs change.
Supplier Purchasing and Receiving
- J A Fulmer & Son Hardware is an Orgill dealer and uses an Orgill EDI connection with Business Central.
- The connected operating environment keeps supplier-related work aligned with items, purchasing, and store operations.
Inventory Management
- Business Central item tracking helps staff find and review product information.
- Mobile inventory management extends inventory-journal work to a handheld device.
- Barcode scanning supports stock takes and item maintenance on the sales floor.
Pricing and Item Maintenance
- Item adds and updates can be performed through the documented mobile inventory workflow.
- Orgill connectivity provides a foundation for maintaining supplier-related item information inside the business system.
Statements, Receivables, and Accounting
- Business Central provides the store's connected accounting environment rather than requiring a separate accounting database.
- General-ledger and tax configuration are reviewed when sales-tax handling changes.
Payment Processing and Daily Closeout
- POS sales, cash-drawer use, and register printing are part of documented daily store operations.
- Register-related support includes cash-drawer and slip-printer troubleshooting.
Reporting and Administrative Workflows
- Customer history and item information support operational questions.
- Named-user access, licensing, and inactive-user cleanup are managed within ongoing administration.
- Phone access gives management another way to review information and complete work.
Integrations and Connected Services
- Orgill EDI connects supplier-related activity with Business Central.
- Mobile inventory management extends item-journal processes to barcode-enabled handheld work.
- PrintNode is used in documented printing support for store hardware.
POS Terminals and Store Hardware
- Two POS stations.
- Cash drawer and slip printer.
- Handheld PDA with integrated barcode scanner for mobile inventory work.
- Phones used for mobile Business Central access.
Networking, Printing, and Continuity
- PrintNode supports documented store-printing workflows.
- System Solutions LLC provides ongoing support for register, printing, licensing, and configuration issues.
Customer Experience
For J A Fulmer & Son Hardware, the strongest result is not a single screen or report. It is the ability to reach store information and complete work from more places, supported by better access to item and customer history.
“As far as operating systems go, this one exceeds all others in functionality and price.”Rob Fulmer, President, J A Fulmer & Son Hardware
The store also recognizes that continued training can unlock more of the platform. That practical perspective keeps the focus on using the system well rather than treating implementation as a one-time event.
Conclusion: Orgill Mobile Business Management for an Independent Hardware Store
Orgill Mobile Business Management gives J A Fulmer & Son Hardware a connected way to serve customers, review item and customer information, handle inventory work, and manage the business from a phone or workstation. The experience reflects the store's original goals: reduce double entry, streamline procedures, improve access to history, and create room for future growth without separating everyday work across disconnected systems.
Discuss a Connected Hardware Store System
Orgill dealers and independent hardware stores looking to connect mobile access, inventory work, point of sale, customer history, purchasing, and accounting can contact System Solutions LLC to discuss their current workflows.