In an effort to better serve their customers with a faster, more accurate checkout system, JW’s Food Center has installed a new NCR checkout and inventory control system.

“The NCR system is faster and more accurate,” pointed out owner John Wollerich.

The new system features scanner/scales and a monitor so that the customer can see transactions as they are recorded.

The Microsoft Retail software system also displays discounts and other special prices on the monitor as well as the cash register receipt tape. Special messages and other details can be printed on the cash register tapes. This week each receipt encourages people to remember Kalona Days June 18 and 19.

JW’s has installed five of the new cash registers including one in the deli. The system also includes an office server and bookkeeping system.

A new hand held scanner can transmit to the computer system price changes, product information and other information using FM radio frequencies. A special receiver/transmitter is mounted in the ceiling above the grocery isles.

“The new system makes us Y2K compliant and also allows us to better serve our customers,” Wollerich stressed.

The new system can also write a customer’s check (except for signatures). A new debit/credit card unit will be added in the near future.

“The new system will help us better track our inventory and sales movement on a daily, weekly and monthly basis,” Wollerich said.

With the use of a digital camera, the cash register monitors can be used to display specials and photos of products in the store.