DB$ Retailer's Advantage Overview
Introduction
The DB$ Retailer's Advantage is a point of sale system for retailers that has tools for managing all sales functions, inventory control and receivables. It supports multiple stations and is ideal for organizations with more than one store. The database is maintained by a professional service organization at a remote location and is accessed over the internet using a high speed connection. Each computer (station) can access the entire database subject to access privileges set up by store management.
RALite is also available. It is a single user version that uses the same software with the database on the same computer running the software.
Overview
This diagram shows some of the major files within the database. In a general way, it shows the scope of the system.
The large box represents each store`s database. Inside the box are various files with arrows that show general relationships between the files. Above the large box are files that are common to all stores. The corporate file has your company address, phone and Internet information. The pick lists have common lists used by other files as such states, countries, transaction types, payment types, etc. Each store has a location file which has address, phone, Internet, sales tax, and station settings for that location.
Menu Selections
The menu in the menu bar or at the top of the window is used to access data entry and viewing screens. Each menu is shown below followed by a brief description of screen content. More detail can be found in chapters that follow.
This is the standard application menu shown for each application using OS X.
Sales
This menu accesses screens most directly related to sales.
Transactions: This screen is used to enter sales and customer order transactions. The user selects or opens a cash drawer so that totals may be updated as sales are made. The items to be sold are scanned by a barcode reader or looked up using a chooser screen. Totals are updated as items are entered on the screen. After all items are entered, payment information is entered. When the amount paid is equal to or greater that the total due, the complete sale button is pressed and a receipt or invoice is printed. Stock records, stock history, cash drawer, and customer totals are automatically updated as sales are made.
View Transactions: All transactions may be listed in this screen. The screen defaults to today`s date and the location and station to which the user is logged on. Powerful search fields on the screen allow quick access to any transaction in the database. Any transaction may be selected and printed as a receipt or an invoice. Customer Orders are accessed for fulfillment.
Cash Drawer: This screen is for management use. All cash drawers, both open and closed, can be viewed. Search fields allow quick access to any cash drawer in the organization. Current cash balance for the drawer is maintained as sales are being made. Cash may be added or removed from the drawer using fields provided. A new drawer may be opened and existing drawers may be closed. Open and close drawer functions are supported on the transaction screen as well, but no balances are visible to the clerk.
Customers: This screen is used for data entry and viewing on individual and business customers. Name address, phone, Internet, and financial information are shown for all customers. Business customers allow entry and viewing of contacts and sales tax Id information.
information
This menu accesses screens for corporate, vendor and employee information. All reports are accessed here.
Corporate: Organization name, address, phones, Internet and federal and state tax Ids are entered and viewed here. General preferences for the web application are accessed from this screen.
Vendors: Provides a list of all vendors. Vendors can be added or removed using this screen. Vendor name, address, phones, Internet, contacts, and items supplied by the selected vendor can be entered and viewed.
Employees: Use this screen for data entry and viewing of employee name, address, phones, and Internet information. User name and access privileges are set up here.
Reports: Reports are grouped by inventory reports, sales reports, and other reports.
Inventory
This menu accesses screens needed for inventory management.
Categories: Use this screen to enter and maintain category titles for you catalog items. Each catalog item will be assigned a category that is used to group catalog items under various categories. For example, several catalog items may be assigned a category of mountain bicycle. Others may be assigned a category of accessories. This allows searching and reporting catalog items by categories.
Catalog: This menu accesses the catalog screen. Each catalog item has item Id, description, category, margin, price, vendor costs, barcode, and sales tax information. Powerful search capability allows quick access to specific items.
Purchase Orders: Use this menu to access purchase order screens. You may enter data and print purchase orders to your vendors. Powerful search capability provides quick access to specific purchase orders. A selected purchase order can be received into stock.
Stock/History: Stock is the actual catalog items that you have on hand. The stock screen has four tabs each of which displays a different screen. Stock records can be adjusted, added, and moved. The History tab presents a list of all transactions that effect stock records.
Setup
Store Locations: Enter and view store location records here. Each location has name, address, phone, and Internet information. Use this screen to enter sales tax information. The sales tax group set up in this screen is entered into the catalog item records. Stations and station settings are entered on this screen.
Color Preferences: Color settings for components on screens are set here.
On Sale/Disc: Store sales and discounts on individual items or groups of items are set here.
DBS Authenticate: Used by DB:Solutions, Inc. to configure the system.
Current Screen Options
This menu option accesses common actions for the currently displayed screen.