Radiant Systems — CounterPoint SQL

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From the Oct. 2008 Review of Point of Sale Systems

CounterPoint SQL from Radiant Systems is a fully integrated, customizable point-of-sale system. Available in two versions — CounterPoint SQL Express for smaller retailers and CounterPoint SQL Enterprise for larger retailers with multiple locations — the product provides retailers with the functionality they need.

EASE OF USE - 5 Stars
The CounterPoint SQL user interface provides a grid with function buttons at the top of the screen. Below are menu buttons that offer access to all system functions, including the Point of Sale module. The Quick Setup function allows a business to quickly set up its company information, including product and customer information. Users can also choose specifics like whether to offer gift certificates or require register passwords. In addition to the POS module, CounterPoint SQL offers modules for Inventory, Customers, Purchasing, Sales History, E-Commerce and Timecards.

Sales transactions can be entered using the standard ticket entry screen, which features a menu bar at the top that contains various functions such as processing orders, layaways, quotes and holds. Sales transactions can be processed as cash sales or customer data can be accessed to record a sale to a specific customer. Salesperson and department numbers can also be entered, if desired. A drop-down menu mid-screen allows users to choose the type of transaction being entered, along with standard information such as item type and quantity. Totals for each sales transaction are displayed in the lower right-hand side of the screen.

The Touch Screen register interface features a fully customizable button interface that allows categories to be assigned to each button. Clicking on that button will in turn display items that fall under that category. Using the Touch Screen interface, customers can still be accessed if desired; but ideally, this interface should be used for high-volume cash sales. Both screens offer customer and item lookup options as well as the ability to process a sale or return, void a sale, process a layaway, or void the entire ticket.

MODULES/SCALABILITY - 5 Stars
Along with the Point of Sale module, CounterPoint SQL also comes with Inventory, Purchasing, eCommerce, Timecards, Sales History, Data Interchange, System, and Setup modules. Add-on products are also available, including CP Gateway (provides credit card charge approval in seconds), CP Online (allows for the creation and management the business’ website). A number of third-party applications that integrate with CounterPoint SQL are also available.

CounterPoint SQL Express can be purchased by smaller retailers and easily upgraded as needed. While both editions contain similar features, the Enterprise edition is designed for retailers that desire a more robust feature set.

FEATURES/FUNCTIONALITY - 5 Stars
Version 8.3.8 features many system updates and enhancements including the addition of ticket number barcodes on both receipts and invoices. The new Drawer Management system lets users view all drawer sessions, reconcile cash drawers quickly, and produce a comprehensive drawer reading report. The Release Orders function allows for the processing of multiple orders simultaneously using the batching system. Payment processing has been streamlined in both the ticket entry and touchscreen ticket entry user interface screens. CounterPoint has also added seven additional pay code buttons that can be displayed in the payment entry window. Complete touchscreen customization allows for the set up of touch keys featuring frequently sold products, which allows faster ticket processing.