Jun 16, 2021 | Retail Pro Prism
Item Lookup
There are basically two ways to search for items on a transaction - use an item lookup mode or perform an advanced search.
Item Lookup Modes
When ringing up a sale, the cashier is typically scanning a barcode on the price tag. But what exactly is being scanned? Most likely it's the UPC or Universal Product Code. That UPC is considered a formal "Item Lookup Mode" in Retail Pro and is simply a piece of information that can be used to look up and list an item on a transaction.
Another formal item lookup mode is the ALU or Alternate Lookup Mode. This is typically an in-house identifier of some sort that is used in lieu of, or in addition, to the UPC. Like a UPC, the ALU can be converted to a barcode for scanning purposes.
Description 1 and Description 2 fields are also item lookup modes, and they are typically used to store the product name or some generic product description. This gives the cashier the ability and flexibility to search for items by entering a product name or description. This is especially useful when the price tag is missing.
Other item lookup modes include Serial Numbers and Lot Numbers, as well as the Item Number (a popular item identifier used in older versions of Retail Pro).
Advanced Item Search
Alternatively, cashiers can use the Advanced Item Lookup function to search for and select items to be listed on a transaction. They can search using a single search field or multiple search fields at the same time. And you decide what search fields are available for use.
To learn more, check out these training videos on RPTV: