Sarah, store manager at IGA Beaumont Hills in NSW, has run EM Cloud™ and EM POS™ for about 18 months. Her honest, shop-floor verdict: automated ordering has given hours of labour back, live stocktakes have ended the 3am counts, and back-office tasks now happen right on the shop floor.
Owners often talk about return on investment. Store managers talk about late-night stocktakes, challenging ordering systems and walking back and forth between the shop floor and the office to complete everyday tasks. That is why we wanted to hear Sarah's side of the story.
Sarah has spent her career in independent retail and has used several competing systems while moving between stores, so she understands how much the right technology influences daily operations. Her experience is an honest look at how the system performs where it matters most — on the shop floor.
WHAT CHANGED ON THE SHOP FLOOR
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No 3am
Live stocktakes while trading — no more overnight counts
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Hours
Of labour saved each week through automated ordering
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Minutes
To build large campaigns that once took hours
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18 mths
On EM Cloud™ and EM POS™ at IGA Beaumont Hills
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Where the hours come back: auto ordering
One of the biggest operational benefits has been the time saved through automated ordering.
"It's saved me a lot of time in labour. I don't have to walk the store and check everything. I redirect that labour into stock control, because if the counts aren't right, auto order is never going to work for you."
Sarah, Store Manager, IGA Beaumont Hills
Rather than removing the need for good stock management, EM Cloud™ helps Sarah focus her team's time where it creates the most value: maintaining accurate inventory and improving stock control. The ordering screen also gives managers visibility into how recommendations are calculated, including sales history, previous performance and promotional demand.
"I've been very spot-on with all my specials as well, which makes my life less stressful. You can actually see why the computer thinks you need to order, because we all argue with the computer sometimes. It's good to have that information and know whether you're right."
Sarah, Store Manager, IGA Beaumont Hills
That transparency is one of the key differences Sarah has noticed compared with systems she has used previously.
"With others, I actually asked, 'Why is ordering wrong? Is it something I'm doing?' and I didn't get an answer. With GaP, I haven't had to ask that question."
Sarah, Store Manager, IGA Beaumont Hills
Live stocktakes while the store is trading
For retail managers, few tasks are as disruptive as completing a full stocktake outside normal trading hours. EM Cloud™ allows the team at IGA Beaumont Hills to conduct stocktakes while the store remains open, automatically accounting for sales made during the counting process.
"You can do a live stocktake while you're trading. We don't have to be there until three a.m., losing our minds counting a thousand Chupa Chups. It takes the sales into account while you count. That blew me away."
Sarah, Store Manager, IGA Beaumont Hills
The result is a more practical stocktake process, fewer late nights and less disruption for the team.
Small efficiencies that add up on the shop floor
For Sarah, some of the most valuable improvements come from reducing unnecessary movement between the shop floor and the back office. EM POS™ gives store teams access to a range of back-office functions directly from the point-of-sale system.
"You don't have to go back to the back office for a lot of things. You can print labels while you're on the shop floor instead of walking back. You don't have to switch back and forth between devices."
Sarah, Store Manager, IGA Beaumont Hills
Campaign creation has also become significantly easier.
"Creating campaigns is so much easier. With some competitors, a hundred-line campaign was the bane of my existence."
Sarah, Store Manager, IGA Beaumont Hills
Individually, these improvements may appear small. Across a busy trading week, however, they can save hours of administration and reduce frustration for store teams.
Adapting to Version 3
Sarah is also candid about her initial response to the new Version 3 interface. At first, she resisted the updated screens and temporarily switched back to the classic version. Once she had time to explore the new layout, her view changed.
"Once I had the time to actually stop and look at the screen, I found it really helpful. Click on a product and it shows any campaign it's on, your last thirteen weeks of sales, promotional sales and how many you sell each week. It's all right there."
Sarah, Store Manager, IGA Beaumont Hills
Her experience reflects the reality of introducing any new technology into a busy retail environment. Change can take time, but greater visibility and easier access to information can quickly make the adjustment worthwhile.
Training and support: "you come out more educated"
Sarah later became her group's key contact for store system changeovers. During each implementation, the GaP Solutions team spent a week in-store supporting the transition. Just as importantly, assistance remained available after the implementation team had left.
"You're not waiting for a call back for a week. When you call customer service, you're generally put through to someone who helps you then and there. And if it's user error, you actually come out more educated on the program itself."
Sarah, Store Manager, IGA Beaumont Hills
For Sarah, effective support is not simply about resolving an immediate issue. It is about helping store teams better understand the system so they can become more confident and self-sufficient.
Why Sarah recommends EM Cloud™ and EM POS™
- The ordering algorithm — "Just the best. It has made my life so much easier."
- Simplified campaign creation — large campaigns built in minutes rather than becoming an administrative burden.
- Back-office tools on the POS — store teams print labels and complete key tasks directly from the shop floor.
- Live stocktakes while trading — stock counts completed without keeping teams in-store until the early hours.
- Responsive, practical support — the team resolves issues while improving the user's understanding of the system.
No more 3am stocktakes.
"That blew me away."
Frequently asked questions
Can you do a stocktake without closing the store?
Yes. EM Cloud™ supports live stocktakes while the store is trading, automatically accounting for sales made during the counting process. At IGA Beaumont Hills this ended the need for overnight counts — as Sarah puts it, no more being there until three a.m.
How does EM Cloud™ automated ordering save time?
Auto ordering removes the need to walk the store checking every line by hand, letting managers redirect that labour into stock control. The ordering screen also shows why each recommendation is made — sales history, previous performance and promotional demand — so managers can trust the numbers instead of second-guessing them.
Can store staff do back-office tasks from the shop floor?
Yes. EM POS™ gives store teams access to back-office functions directly from the point of sale — for example printing labels on the shop floor instead of walking back to the office, without switching between devices.
How hard is it to create promotional campaigns?
Large campaigns that were previously an administrative burden can be built in minutes. Sarah found campaign creation much easier than on competing systems, where a hundred-line campaign used to be, in her words, the bane of her existence.
What kind of support does GaP Solutions provide?
GaP's team spends a week in-store during each implementation, with support continuing after go-live. Rather than waiting a week for a call back, users are generally put through to someone who helps then and there — and when it's user error, they come away better understanding the system.
Aug 26, 2026, 8:25:09 PM