If you’ve worked with NCR Counterpoint for any length of time, you’ve probably heard someone say, “Counterpoint can’t do that.”
At Mainspring, we hear it all the time. Sometimes the answer really is no. But more often than not, the answer is, “Actually, it can.” The challenge isn’t that the functionality doesn’t exist; it’s knowing where to find it and how to take advantage of it.
Over the years, we’ve helped retailers uncover features, reports, and tools already sitting in their systems, waiting to be used. Here are a few of the most common assumptions we hear.
“I Have to Use Excel for That.”
Excel is an incredibly useful tool, but many retailers automatically export data before checking what Counterpoint can already provide.
Need to identify your top-selling items? Analyze sales by department? Review customer purchase history? Evaluate vendor performance? Track inventory movement?
Counterpoint includes a wide range of reports and inquiry screens designed to answer these questions quickly. In many cases, the information you’re looking for is already available without creating another spreadsheet.
“There’s No Way to See Who Bought This Item.”
This one surprises people.
Counterpoint maintains detailed transaction history that can help retailers identify who purchased a specific item, when it was purchased, and other related transaction details. Whether you’re researching a return, following up on a special order, or trying to identify customers who may be interested in a similar product, the information is often already available within the system.
“I Have to Count the Entire Store Again.”
Inventory discrepancies happen. Receiving errors, missed transfers, damaged merchandise, and simple mistakes can all impact inventory accuracy.
When they do, many retailers assume the only solution is a completed recount. Before taking that step, it’s often worth reviewing the inventory activity history available in Counterpoint. Understanding when an item’s quantity changes and why can help identify the source of the issue and reduce the time spent searching for answers.
“There’s No Report for That.”
One of the most common requests our support team receives is for a report that a retailer assumes doesn’t exist.
The reality is that Counterpoint includes hundreds of standard reports, and most businesses use only a small percentage of them regularly.
We’ve helped retailers discover reports that provide valuable insight into sales trends, inventory performance, purchasing activity, customer behavior, and more. All without requiring custom development. Sometimes the right report is already there. It just hasn’t been explored yet.
“I Have to Enter Everything Manually.”
Many retailers develop processes over time that simply become part of the daily routine. The problem is that some of those routines may no longer be necessary.
From purchase orders and customer management to integrations, imports, loyalty programs, and automated workflows, Counterpoint offers tools to eliminate repetitive tasks and reduce manual data entry. Just because something has always been done a certain way doesn’t mean it’s the most efficient way to do it today.
The Biggest Missed Opportunity? Not Asking.
One of our favorite conversations with clients starts with the phrase: “I didn’t know Counterpoint could do that.”
Counterpoint is a powerful retail management system, and many businesses are only scratching the surface of what it can do. Features that could save time, improve accuracy, or provide better visibility into the business often go unused simply because users don’t realize they are available.
The next time you find yourself thinking, “Counterpoint can’t do that,” take a second look. You might be surprised by what’s already built into the system. And if you’re not sure where to start, the team at Mainspring is always happy to help you uncover new ways to get more from the tools you already have.
