Value-Added Services: Expect More than Just a Box of Software
Tri-City Retail Systems offers a wide scope of professional services including pre-sales and post-sales consultation, end-user training, system deployment and ongoing technical support to ensure our clients get the most out of their retail solution investment. When you purchase from Tri-City Retail Systems you receive more than just a box of software; we give you the tools and resources needed to support and grow your retail business far into the future. Listed below are the value-added services we offer.

CONSULTING SERVICES
Pre-Sales Consulting
Nobody who sells business solutions for a profit can really be viewed as a non-biased "consultant;" and we certainly would not claim to anything but biased towards our products However, when you buy your retail solution from Tri-City Retail Systems we do more than just demonstrate our software and answer your questions. We work with you to analyze the functional issues that pose the greatest challenges to your retail operation. Then we document those issues and present a detailed proposal that includes an investment breakdown with all the costs involved in providing a solution that will address your current and future needs. If you accept our proposal, we will create a detailed project implementation schedule that lists all the steps involved in your system implementation and we will manage the deployment process to ensure that your solution is installed on time and on budget.

Post-Implementation Consulting
Once your system is "live," you can choose to retain us on an hourly basis to perform a variety of consulting services that will help you get the most out of your system. We can provide custom reports and add-on programs that work seamlessly with your system's database. We can assist in the integration of your retail data to other third-party programs. Using the information you will gain from your new system, we can help in defining business policies and practices that will assist you in taking your retail business to the next level of success.

END-USER TRAINING PROGRAMS
Quick-Start Advantage
Tri-City Retail Systems has developed a unique approach to user training for our store-level solutions that we call "Quick-Start Advantage." During your management training sessions, you will configure your actual system and create all the necessary databases as you learn each aspect of the system. With the benefit of hundreds of system implementations, we have built a three-step methodology for user training that allows you to learn your new system at your own speed.

First we show you how to build and secure your database of items, customers and suppliers. Then we go in-depth into the configuration of your POS station(s) and the methods used to train your cashiers and sales clerks. Finally we help you build and modify sales and inventory reports and show you how to perform advanced-user customizations. Quick-Start Advantage is a hands-on train-the-trainer program that shortens your implementation cycle, allowing you to experience all the benefits of your new system sooner. It also ensures a successful system deployment free of headaches and worry.

Telephone-Based Training
For our long-distance clients with one store and those on a strict budget, Tri-City Retail Systems has developed a series of telephone-based training programs that address the key functional areas of our store-level solutions. There are three basic modules: "Get Started," "Get Ready" and "Get Better." Each module takes you through an abbreviated version of our "Quick-Start Advantage program and ensures that you perform the appropriate steps at the right time to avoid making any mistakes. If you are a Do-It-Yourselfer, our cost-effective telephone-based training programs will provide all the necessary instruction and practice sessions you will need to install and go live with your new store-level solution from Microsoft.

Head Office Training
Retail companies with multiple store locations require a different training strategy than single-store operators because they generally have significantly more administrative tasks. We address this by dividing our training into two separate programs: store-level training and headquarters training. While we are completely flexible in the timing of the provision of these two training programs, we have found that the best approach is as follows.

Firstly, we begin with the three-phased, single-store training program as described in the Quick-Start Advantage training section above. This first store is called the "Pilot" and it defines the structure of the database, as well as the business rules, that will be applied to the rest of the stores. Then we focus on the headquarters application and how you will use it to manage your chain. Intensive instruction and workshop sessions will teach you all the aspects of inventory replenishment, sale event management, customer relationship management and all the functionality you will need to master in order to utilize your new system to help move your retail operation to the next level. Included at this level of training is a methodology for transferring information into your financial accounting system, either manually or in an automated fashion (depending on your financial accounting system's capability to import data).

For clients with their own in-house IT staff, we also provide an additional level of training that includes instruction and documentation on how to manage store-level system installations independently. This enables you to realize significant savings and minimize the overall cost of your system implementation.

SYSTEM DEPLOYMENT SERVICES
Head Office Deployment Services
The head office portion of a chain-store system can be a complex and costly part of the implementation project if handled incorrectly. Even if you are not doing your first chain-wide system implementation, assistance from your software vendor is absolutely indispensable. No matter where your head office is located, Tri-City Retail Systems can provide on-site professionals that can manage your entire system deployment including user training, system configuration and installation and project management. Tri-City Retail Systems can also recommend appropriate hardware platforms and operating systems for your workstations and your database server.

Store Deployment & Rollout
While some retail companies have their own in-house IT staff, many of our clients still prefer to use our deployment services to manage and rollout their POS systems. With thousands of POS system implementations for hundreds of retail companies, Tri-City Retail Systems has the knowledge and expertise to pre-stage, test and deliver your point-of-sale system quickly, reliably and on budget.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES
Live-Day Support
Once your training is completed, your system is installed and your database is built, you will be ready to "turn the switch" to go into live mode. We provide live-day support for your new point-of-sale system either on-site or by telephone to ensure your that store opens smoothly and to provide that extra feeling of comfort and security during this critical phase of your system implementation.

24/7 Ongoing Support
Retail hours aren't 9 to 5, Monday to Friday; why would you buy your POS solution from a company who is? If you need technical support for a system issue that could affect the smooth operation of your store, you can't afford to wait until the next business day. While many of our competitors are closed at night and on weekends, we are always available 24/7 to provide technical assistance and to help you fix any problem - no matter how small. At Tri-City Retail Systems, we specialize in providing timely response and getting answers to your problems - fast!