How Penndel Hardware Benefits from True Value Remote POS Assistance
True Value Remote POS Assistance has helped Penndel Hardware, a True Value dealer in Penndel, Pennsylvania, maintain a dependable Microsoft Dynamics POS environment with responsive assistance from System Solutions LLC. A Microsoft Dynamics customer since 2008, Penndel Hardware has worked with Microsoft's retail system and System Solutions LLC support team for 18 years, using remote assistance to resolve store-system, item, peripheral, and workstation issues without losing the continuity of a familiar Microsoft retail system.
Customer Profile
Penndel Hardware serves local shoppers from a traditional neighborhood hardware-store setting with a broad assortment of repair, maintenance, tool, paint, key, rental, and seasonal merchandise. The store’s Microsoft Dynamics POS supports the transaction and item activity behind that customer-facing operation.
Challenges Before Microsoft Dynamics
Penndel Hardware needed a retail system that could remain practical at the counter while supporting the specialized item and device requirements of a hardware store. Over years of daily use, the store has utilized common operational workflows involving barcode item entry, item aliases, a workstation migration, receipt printing, a cash drawer, card tender configuration, remote connection, and signature capture.
Penndel has always been impressed with their support relationship which has always been able to diagnose the immediate problem, work remotely when appropriate, and keep the established Microsoft Dynamics POS environment operating.
Why Penndel Hardware Chose System Solutions LLC
Penndel Hardware relies on System Solutions LLC for assistance that reaches beyond a single software question. The support relationship has included remote POS access, configuration help, item-data corrections, workstation setup guidance, database movement planning, and troubleshooting for connected peripherals.
“No problems that weren’t taken care of by the System Solutions LLC crew.”Bob Wipplinger, Penndel Hardware & Hobbies Inc.
That comment captures the practical value of the relationship: Penndel Hardware can continue using its Microsoft Dynamics True Value POS while turning to a team familiar with the store’s environment when a difficult issue appears.
Implementation Experience
Over the years support work has included moving Microsoft Dynamics to a replacement computer. The process required the new computer to be connected to the store network and internet, establishing remote access, installing and configuring the POS environment, backing up the database, and moving the database to the replacement workstation at an appropriate time.
Peripheral compatibility was also part of the transition. When an older serial receipt printer was not compatible with the new computer, Penndel Hardware temporarily returned to the previous workstation until a USB thermal receipt printer could be obtained and configured. Cash-drawer operation was tested separately, and card tender settings were adjusted for the store’s payment workflow.
True Value Remote POS Assistance Results
The Microsoft Dynamics True Value POS remains in use after an 18-year customer relationship.
Remote assistance has addressed item, device, workstation, and POS configuration issues.
Support work has helped the store proceed after barcode, alias, printer, drawer, tender, and signature-device problems.
“Our Microsoft Dynamics True Value POS is still going strong.”Bob Wipplinger, Penndel Hardware & Hobbies Inc.
How Penndel Hardware Uses Microsoft Dynamics Today
Penndel Hardware continues to use Microsoft Dynamics as its True Value point-of-sale environment. Staff use the system for customer transactions and item entry, including barcode items and item aliases from different suppliers or distributors, for same items. The POS works with store hardware such as receipt printing, a cash drawer, payment tender configuration, and signature capture.
How True Value Remote POS Assistance Supports Daily Operations
When a store issue cannot be handled locally, System Solutions LLC can connect remotely to investigate the Microsoft Dynamics environment. This approach has supported troubleshooting without requiring the store to abandon its established POS workflow, and it has allowed support personnel in another state to work directly on the store computer.
“Still freaks me out seeing someone working in my computer from another state!”Bob Wipplinger, Penndel Hardware & Hobbies Inc.
Functions, Workflows, and Devices Used by Penndel Hardware
Point-of-Sale Functions
- Microsoft Dynamics POS for store transactions.
- Barcode-supported item entry at the store.
- Item aliases used to associate alternate identifiers with items.
- Credit-card tender configuration, including support for a standalone terminal workflow.
Customer Service and Account Workflows
Walk-in customers can bring items directly to the checkout counter, where staff scan or enter each product and collect payment to complete the sale. For charge-account transactions, staff select the customer’s approved account and record the purchase against that account instead of requiring immediate payment.
Supplier Purchasing and Receiving
Penndel Hardware is a True Value dealer. Historically the True Value EDI connection, has included Afaria and FTP. Purchasing and receiving workflows save labor.
Inventory Management
Penndel Hardware uses item records, barcode entry, and item aliases as part of item maintenance. Support corrected an obsolete alias condition so the identifier could be reused for a new item.
Pricing and Item Maintenance
Item maintenance includes barcode, alias and pricing management, with labels provided by the distributor.
Statements, Receivables, and Connected Accounting
Customer balances, invoices, payment and statements are managed by Microsoft Dynamics with connected accounting.
Payment Processing and Daily Closeout
The POS has integrated credit-card configurations and also accommodates a third-party standalone card terminal. Over the years, Penndel has had a choice of credit card processors, because Microsoft Dynamics is compatible with any credit card processor.
Reporting and Administrative Workflows
Microsoft Dynamics has robust reporting, easily user customizable, and compatible with all Microsoft ecosystem reporting and data tools.
Integrations and Connected Services
The store’s True Value updater connection has been maintained, and remote support access has been used to diagnose and solve any customer needs.
POS Terminals and Other Hardware
- POS computers management workstations.
- Barcode scanners.
- USB thermal receipt printers.
- OPOS Cash drawer.
- Third-party standalone card terminal workflow.
- Charge account Signature pad.
Customer Success Story
Penndel Hardware’s experience is a story of continuity rather than constant disruption. The store has continued operating Microsoft Dynamics since 2008 while its support requirements evolved from workstation and printer replacement to remote troubleshooting, item-data corrections, and signature-device diagnostics.
“I am considering updating our Hatboro location with System Solutions help in the future.”Bob Wipplinger, Penndel Hardware & Hobbies Inc.
Conclusion
Penndel Hardware’s True Value Remote POS Assistance experience demonstrates the value of combining a stable Microsoft Dynamics POS environment with support that can address practical store issues as they arise. Since 2008, the relationship has covered remote access, POS configuration, barcode and alias work, workstation migration, database transfer planning, printers, cash-drawer testing, payment tenders, and signature-device troubleshooting.
Discuss Your Hardware Store POS Environment
True Value dealers and other independent hardware stores looking for responsive assistance with Microsoft Dynamics or planning a future platform update can contact System Solutions LLC to discuss their current workflows.