Cruise Software runs on networks of personal computers, using Microsoft Windows network and a Microsoft Windows NT as the server. This is the best technology available today and we use it because it maximizes what you can do with your computer investment.

Not just a Point-Of-Sale System

Many companies will try to convince you that the expensive hardware you must purchase from them can only be used to run their POS system. At Cruise we recognize that this is simply a waste of money. Since most new commercial software development is being done on PC’s this gives you a world of other products you can use on every computer in your store.

Here are some examples of the other things you can do with that same hardware that Cruise operates on.

Virtually every new product you read about in the trade journals runs on PC’s.

Cruise Knows PC Networks

We at Cruise Software understand the needs of a working operation like yours. We have developed a solution that helps you in the every-day problems and opportunities you face. We also understand that there are other things you would like your computer to do. By using personal computers we allow you the flexibility to have each computer doing specific jobs for you. Your book-keeper could be doing financial analysis using Excel while your estimator is using Monticello Software to run a take-off on a house. The kitchen department might be using 20/20 or Autograph to show a customer what their dream kitchen would like while another person is making crisp laser printed signs for your upcoming sale.

All of these things can happen on the hardware you use to run Cruise Software, and since we know your business we are happy to point out areas you could be using these kinds of technologies to help your store compete.

Laser Printing

Cruise supports only laser printing. This gives you the most flexibility and offers the lowest forms cost possible. You have no forms except for checks. All quotes, purchase orders, sales orders, and a host of other forms are printed on plain white paper. This allows you to print signs, purchase orders, price stickers, and estimates all from the same printer.

More than just E-Mail

Cruise goes beyond traditional E-Mail. You can set up the system to System Mail you when certain events happen. For instance, Cruise will automatically mail you when a sales person tries to sell a product below the margin you specify. This happens on estimates as well as sales helping you identify problems as they are happening not days or weeks later.

Here are some of the things that Cruise will System Mail you about:

Sell item at except margin	Negative inventory count
New sales account added	New inventory product added
Invalid product sold	Return over certain value
First time charge	Unapplied payment made
Cash Drawer Over/Short	Credit Limit Override
Special Orders Received

With Cruise you can also throw away your old-fashioned time clock. Every station on the Cruise network becomes a time clock where people can punch in and out. Beyond being able to figure the number of hours people have worked with the touch of a button you can also tell whether a person is in the store or not. When the phone rings and they asks if your outside sales person is in you can tell them that they are on a job site right now simply by looking at their status in Cruise. From there you can leave a message for them. It’s a real time-saver and just another way that Cruise is working for you to help solve the problems you face every day.

Customer mail

Helping your sales people

How many times in the last few months have you heard these questions?

• "How much do we give off of Larson storm doors?"
• "Who do we get steel doors from?"
• "What is the discount for Stanley doors again?"
• "Did the shutters for Dave Shepler come in yet?"
• "When are the shutters for Dave Shepler due in?"

This is information that a good computer system should be able to give your sales staff quickly and easily and Cruise does.

Availability and Pricing Information

Simply type in the product you are curious about in plain English, like steel doors, and you will see the screen below.

This shows the vendors you specify to buy steel doors from and the discount you give to customers from their prices. You could include information like catalogs and any other special information you wanted your sales force to have.

There is also another screen for your purchasing group that shows cost multipliers and other information about how you buy it.

Ordering Special Order Products and Tracking Them

The order can be set up through the main sales screen of Cruise. You can order products on the same special orders from different vendors, with different due dates and assign each a seperate purchase order number.

You can then lookup the sales order by the customer last name and see if it’s been received or not. If not, it shows you the date it is due. Once the merchandise has been received from the vendor it automatically switches the order to received. When it is received it also mails the sales person whos order it is that a special order came in for that customer.

Below the sales person (TSH, in this case) is being notified that the Panel Doors he ordered for Harvey and Son Construction have just arrived.

When the sales person reads his message it looks like this.  Notice that Cruise gives the sales person this customers phone number.  This makes it even easier for the sales person to contact the customer right away and let them know their order is in.

You can even print out special order tags to put on the merchandise to make it easier to find when the customer comes in.

Sales