CATAPULT Reviews

“All-in-one boost for our stores”

Pros

Running the software has been very easy and the all-in-one setup helped us take our family-owned natural grocery and nutrition stores to the next level.

Cons

We haven't run into any obstacles when it comes to getting the most out of it across our 4 locations.

“Reliable multi-store POS”

Pros

Among the POS systems available, this is one of the strongest I've used. It offers plenty of options for managing inventory, ordering and sales. Since we operate as a multi-store retail business, it's especially helpful that everything works with HQ using the same sales data and product entries. The registers are also simple which makes training new cashiers and managers much simpler. We've been using it for more than ten years and have run into very few problems.

Cons

Customer support feels a bit underwhelming in certain areas. Getting help when there's an issue can sometimes take more effort than it should although the team is always polite. Reporting can also get a little strange at times especially when too many filters are applied.

“Highly customizable”

Pros

One thing that really stands out with it is how flexible it is. It comes with a strong core set of features and then you can build on that with add-ons and software switches to tailor the system to what you need. There are also several ways to pull data out of Catapult or bring data into it which adds even more versatility.

Cons

The tradeoff with having a product this flexible is that you need to understand how to turn features on, configure them properly and actually use them effectively. That said, ECRS has made major progress with documentation, training and knowledge resources so it's definitely moving in a positive direction.

“clean interface”

Pros

The interface feels modern and the component ecosystem is extensive.

Cons

Data visualization tools could use an update.

“Great tool!”

Pros

Back before ECRS, a huge part of our day was spent fixing errors that had been entered at the store level. We didn't really have a efficient database that let us make broad edits efficiently so everything felt reactive and slow whenever changes were needed. With ECRS, we can manage things from the top down. We're able to make updates much more easily and those changes flow out to the stores quickly and consistently. Another thing I appreciate is that ECRS doesn't try to be everything to everyone. They actually take the time to review new ideas and processes, figure out what truly fits and vet things before rolling them out. That approach really shows in the software quality. Bugs are limited and they've been flexible when it comes to upgrades or code adjustments. That's not something you usually get from the big-budget competitors, where upgrades can take 18 months and even then your suggestion may never go anywhere. ECRS also gives users several ways to submit ideas that can help improve the software. Their use of Agile development has made them fast, collaborative with merchants and it's honestly impressive how many features they've introduced over the last few years to keep pace with a fast-moving industry.

Cons

It would help if pin pad upgrades were simplified so the pin pad utility wouldn't need to be run after upgrades. I'd also like better visibility into the messages showing on the pin pad or some kind of mirroring while remotely managing POS systems so we don't have to drive to the store just to see what message is being displayed.

“user-friendly software”

Pros

Installing and running has been very easy and the product is quite user-friendly. Their customer support is great and the team is always friendly to work with. A lot of the features are simple to configure because they provide a broad knowledge base that customers can access and they also offer online classes to help users learn the software. From an IT perspective, that is a huge advantage, since there are plenty of times when I can troubleshoot issues on my own and resolve most of them without having to contact support.

Cons

My biggest frustration is that updates tend to introduce a lot of bugs. At times, it can take weeks or even months for certain problems to be fully resolved which is very frustrating on our side. Some of the issues are only minor annoyances but they still disrupt things. That said, they usually provide a workaround or temporary fix to help until the next patch is released.

“gives control over promotions”

Pros

One thing I really appreciate is how much control it gives over promotions and coupons. There are also plenty of fields available in the item data which makes setup more flexible and the steady rollout of new features is a definite plus.

Cons

The platform runs into bugs pretty often. The instructions can also be inconsistent especially for the less commonly used parts of the system and support has been slower than expected.

“Helpful support”

Pros

Using the database management side has been very simple. ECRs was really helpful during setup and got us where we needed to be in a short amount of time.

Cons

One thing that was missing during setup was training on the day-to-day features. We ended up having to figure out a lot on our own and joined a few Catapult trainings just to make sure we were doing things correctly. It felt like there was quite a bit of trial and error for us during that period. An onsite training before launch would have made a big difference.

“outdated features”

Pros

Only thing that keeps this product worthwhile is the mix of features and added services especially tools like Loyalty Bot. Overall it delivers usefulness and brings real value to day-to-day operations.

Cons

Keeping up with the bigger national chains has been a challenge because new feature development moves too slowly. Some parts of the system still feel outdated in terms of design and the documentation in the OLM can be inconsistent or behind the current product.

“Cashier training made simple”

Pros

Working as a Front End manager, I'm responsible for training all of our cashiers. At first glance, a lot of new hires feel a little overwhelmed by the system but every single one of them has picked it up pretty fast. It really doesn't take long to get a new cashier fully up and running. I also love how much control we have over what each cashier can see and access. And honestly, whenever I catch myself thinking, "I wish Catapult would do this..." it usually shows up in a future update.

Cons

The only real thing that comes to mind is with the cashier reports. Sometimes I wish that when I click into a section, it would open up a list or take me somewhere I could dig deeper and better understand what that particular stat is showing.