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Home > SELLmatix Help > Getting Started > Using Trainers & Dealers > Preparation

Preparation and Who Does What
Installation and configuration involves two different types of actions:-

  • Steps taken once that are unlikely to be repeated during the normal life of the installation.
  • Steps that need to be performed routinely in day to day operations.
Where trainers and dealers are employed to assist with installation, it make sense for them to take over the functions that need to be performed only once, and to train the Super User so that they can perform and train other staff on the routine operations. All the steps in the Getting Started Guide still need to be performed, but when employing the services of a trainer or dealer there is a natural division of responsibilities that makes sense. Normally the steps in the Getting Started guide would be modified as follows:-

Selecting and Sourcing Equipment
Dealers have a sound knowledge of the hardware components currently available, their relative advantages and disadvantages and both the purchase cost and operational cost.

There is a wide range of devices available all of which are suitable for some retail environments. Knowledgeable dealers will know what is likely to be suitable for your situation, and will ask questions to provide them with the information needed to make an informed decision.

Dealers will also be able to either source the equipment and supply it to you, or act in a consulting role to help you source the right equipment at the best possible price.

Store owners should take an interest in this area, but the knowledge and experience of the dealer is very valuable and needs to be noted carefully.

Hardware installation, cabling and Testing
This again is a one time task and where dealers are involved it pays to use their expertise. While anyone can acquire these skills there is little point if these skills will be used only once, particularly if there are others that already have these skills and their knowledge and experience can be used.

Competent dealers know how to get this right the first time, and can save a lot of money by avoiding mistakes that are typically made by those with less experience.

Store owners should once again take a key interest, and read the documentation in the Getting Started Guide so that they can judge if what they are told by the dealer is accurate, but it makes sense to have this work performed by the dealer or under their direction.

Software Installation
This is another one time step, and usually this would be performed by the dealer or trainer.

Learning Software Capabilities, and Determining the Type of Configuration
Dealers and trainers already know this. They have played with the samples, have seen the software on other sites and can quickly determine the basic type of configuration that will be most suitable. They will of course need to ask a number of questions, and while there is noting stopping the store managers from playing around with other configuration samples, there is no reason they need to do so.

Creating the Configuration
This is another one time task that is best left to the dealer or trainer. there is no reason why the retail managers should not know how to do this, but at the same time there is no reason why the need to bother.

Departments
This step does require the involvement of the retailer. The dealer/trainer needs to work through this step with management, and management does need to know how to maintain departments because these will change over time.

Data entry of Departments could be performed by either the dealer or the customer depending on the circumstance, however there is not normally very much work involved in the data entry for this step.

Tax Rates
Like Departments this step requires the knowledge and understanding of the retail managers.

Products
This step involves more work than any other in setting up an installation.

The retailer must understand and be able to perform this function.

Due to the amount of work involved, the dealer will often perform most of the initial data entry, leaving a significant part of this work to be performed by the retailer as a training exercise.

Where product records are imported once and then the product records are maintained in SELLmatix, the dealer/trainer would probably handle the initial data import.

Where product records are updated on a regular basis from an external source such as a wholesaler, the dealer/trainer would normally set up an automatic import procedure so that this can be handled easily by the retailer on a regular basis.

POS Screens
Like product maintenance, this step can involve a substantial amount of work in the beginning, however, the store management needs to be able to perform this function.

Often the dealer/trainer will perform most of this work, while leaving a substantial amount for a training exercise.

Adjustments
This is a fairly simple task, and the dealer/trainer should teach the retailer to perform this task.

Payment Methods
This is a fairly simple task, and the dealer/trainer should teach the retailer to perform this task.

Clerks
This is a fairly simple task, and the dealer/trainer should teach the retailer to perform this task.

Hardware Config
This can be difficult if advanced feature need to be set up on unusual devices.

In most cases, the dealer/trainer would perform this task, but it can be helpful if the management understands at least part of this topic.

Train Operators
This needs to be something that can be handled by the Super User without the involvement of the dealer/trainer.

Going Live
In most cases, the dealer/trainer would be on hand to clear transaction files and set everything to be clean so that training data was not mixed in with live data. This can be handled by the Super User where they are properly briefed on the procedures.

Cash Control
This depends on the accounting knowledge of the Super User. If the retailer has staff with an accounting qualification or experience, then no training should be necessary. If there is little in house accounting knowledge, then the dealer/trainer will need to teach this topic so that staff are able to track and find processing errors and can balance the books.

Stock Control
If there is a good level on accounting knowledge and experience by the retailer, this topic can be taught in a few minutes. If, on the other hand the retailer has little accounting knowledge and experience, this may involve a significant amount of work, particularly where sloppy habits have been practiced.

Import/Export
Many retail stores do not need to be able to integrate SELLmatix with other accounting applications and can simply post totals. In this case, nothing needs to be done in this area.

If there is a one time configuration that needs to be set up to performs standard import/export functions then it is best for the dealer/trainer to do this integration. If the retailer wants the flexibility to create custom data transfers, it is better for the dealer/trainer to teach the Super User how to do this themselves.

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