How TCS POS and NetSuite Transformed Operations for Home Central Stores

One of the most significant benefits of the implementation was the ability to create custom features that directly addressed day-to-day operational pain points.

Multi-barcode Scanning

Hardware products often have multiple barcodes depending on packaging, suppliers, and unit configurations. This created major inefficiencies in the previous system.

TCS POS introduced a custom multi-barcode functionality that allows staff to scan multiple UPCs for the same product record, removing manual lookup steps and improving transaction speed. This resulted in faster checkouts, fewer manual errors, and a simpler process for handling complex inventory across multiple suppliers and product variations. He says.

Gross Margin Visibility at POS

In the hardware sector, commodity prices can fluctuate significantly. Home Central Stores needed sales staff to instantly view gross margin percentages when quoting and discounting products for contractors.

Robinson noted, “TCS POS was customized to display gross margin data at the point of sale, enabling staff to make more informed decisions on pricing and discount approvals. This provided stronger margin protection, improved accuracy when quoting, and greater control over promotional pricing.”

Job Name and PO Reference Fields

Contractor customers often purchase materials for multiple active jobs. To support this, TCS POS added custom job name and purchase order fields linked to customer statements.

This functionality made it easier for contractors to allocate purchases to specific projects while streamlining Home Central Stores accounts receivable processes. The result was improved customer service, simplified account reconciliation, and more efficient contractor billing.

Credit Limit Controls

Because many B2B customers operate on account, Home Central Stores required real-time visibility into credit limits and overdue balances.

TCS POS introduced alerts and manager override controls, preventing unauthorized sales to customers exceeding credit terms. This significantly reduced financial risk while strengthening accounts receivable management and ensuring better compliance with internal policies.

The team also highlighted the intuitive user interface as a major operational advantage.

Compared with the previous system, TCS POS delivered a clean and modern design, product image verification, Google-style search functionality, clear category navigation, and a more intuitive sales process.

With over 50,000 SKUs, quick item identification is critical.

“The product categories are clear and easy to understand. It’s similar to a Google search, which makes it easy for staff to use.” He says.

This significantly reduced onboarding time for new sales and counter staff while improving transaction accuracy.

Since implementing TCS POS, Home Central Stores has launched its ecommerce channel, including online ordering, home delivery, and click & collect.

Because TCS POS operates natively with NetSuite, online and in-store inventory remain synchronized in real time, supporting a consistent omnichannel customer experience and reducing operational complexity across channels.

Nearly three years after go-live, Home Central Stores continues to see measurable benefits from its TCS POS investment.

The business now operates with real-time visibility across all three stores, significantly reduced transaction loss, stronger gross margin control, and improved contractor account management. Staff training has become faster and more efficient, customer service has improved, and the successful launch of ecommerce has created new revenue opportunities. Most importantly, the business now has a scalable retail platform capable of supporting future expansion without the operational limitations of a connector-based system.

Beyond the technical improvements, Home Central Stores valued TCS POS as a collaborative implementation partner.

Robinson said: “Great to work with. There’s a lot of pushiness in the marketplace — not at all with TCS POS. They kept their promises, met our requirements, and continue to support new customisations moving forward.”

For hardware retailers managing complex inventory, mixed B2B and B2C operations, and multi-location sales, a standard POS system often cannot keep up.

Home Central Stores implementation demonstrates how TCS POS, fully integrated with NetSuite, can be customized to solve industry-specific challenges, increase operational efficiency, protect margins, and create a future-ready retail environment.

By replacing an unreliable legacy connector with a tailored POS solution, Home Central transformed its operations from reactive to scalable — positioning the business for continued success in-store and online.