The store begin transforming its process in the 1980s when the founder's son took over. A series of process improvements began to be implemented, including software to help manage the challenges of inventory. The software helped catalog thousands of items across the supply chain. The store has about 45,000 items.
Handheld scanners have improved what would normally be an unmanageable process. The scanners allow for better evaluation and cycle counting. This helps the store keep counts accurate for inventory evaluation.
The investment has paid off towards improving the profitability of the small business. Cole Hardware spends about $50,000 - $100,000 per year in such technology. The latest investment includes focusing on Analytics to help monitor daily store performance.
