About Lonestar Tool And Fastener
Lonestar Tool and Fastener is a Texas based distributor specializing in construction tools, fasteners, jobsite supplies, and safety products. They operate a flagship retail location in Georgetown, Texas, serving both contractors and the general public. In addition to in-store sales, Lonestar has an active field sales operation, where several sales representatives visit job sites and contractor locations. Lonestar is also a member of Sphere 1, a nationwide cooperative buying group for independent tool and fastener distributors.
Lonestar was already leveraging NetSuite as their core ERP, but struggled to fully utilize its power due to limitations with their front-end sales system. Their existing setup could not bridge the gap between their complex B2B requirements, flexible contractor pricing, and the fast-paced retail and counter-service environment inside the store and in the field.
Executive Summary
Lonestar Tool and Fastener relied on NetSuite for back office operations but lacked a modern front end to support fast retail transactions and field sales. Zoku POS for NetSuite replaced manual processes and disconnected systems with a unified sales platform for both the store and the field. Associates now have real time visibility into pricing, margins, inventory, and customer accounts, which allows them to serve contractors and walk in customers with greater speed and accuracy. With Zoku, Lonestar gained a consistent and efficient sales experience across all channels, fully powered by NetSuite as the single source of truth.
Challenges Faced Before Implementing Zoku
Before implementing Zoku, Lonestar operated a dual B2B and retail business supported by NetSuite as their back-end ERP, but the absence of an integrated front-end sales system created friction across every step of the sales process. Selling directly through NetSuite was not practical for the fast-paced counter environment in their Georgetown store or for field sales representatives, as staff lacked a purpose-built interface optimized for quick item searches, real-time contractor pricing, and high-volume transactions.
Checkout workflows were slow and fragmented. Payment processing required multiple steps, including manual credit card entry, switching between several systems, and relying on multiple paper forms to complete a single sale. Mixed tenders, such as applying deposits, accepting cash, and taking credit card payments in the same transaction, were cumbersome and time consuming. With no integrated signature capture or digital audit trail, validating quotes, sales orders, or account charges required manual work, and the inability to securely store cards on file added further delays for recurring B2B transactions.
Operational visibility was limited. Staff could not easily access real-time inventory across stores or warehouses, and confirming stock availability required moving between systems. Customer-specific information such as contractor pricing, profit margins, account balances, payment history, average days to pay, and annual spend rate was not readily available at the point of sale, slowing down interactions during peak periods and increasing the risk of errors. Managing units of measure and complex pricing schemes added further inconsistency.
Field sales teams faced similar challenges. Without a connected mobile solution, they lacked immediate access to customer data, inventory levels, and the ability to generate or convert quotes into sales orders on the spot. Quote-to-order flows were dependent on jumping back into NetSuite, creating inconsistent workflows between in-store and in-field teams. Tax handling was also manual, requiring staff to apply or override jurisdiction-based taxes, which introduced delays and potential inaccuracies.
NetSuite In-Store and Field Sales POS Solution
Zoku POS for Physical Retail Locations and Field Sales Associates
To resolve these operational challenges, Lonestar deployed Zoku POS for NetSuite across both their Georgetown retail location and their field sales operation. Zoku provided a unified front end sales platform powered entirely by NetSuite. This gave associates a fast and modern interface while NetSuite continued to serve as the single source of truth for customers, pricing, inventory, and orders.
In Store Counter Efficiency
Inside the store, Zoku introduced a streamlined counter service POS with an intuitive layout and a tabular view created for rapid item searches and high volume transactions. Associates can see real time profit margins and customer specific pricing while adjusting discounts, which gives them full visibility into the financial impact of each sale. They can also access detailed customer information instantly, including pricing terms, account balances, purchase history, average days to pay, and annual spend. This allows both contractors and walk-in customers to receive faster and more accurate service at the counter.
Streamlined Payments and Compliance
Payment processing became a fully integrated workflow. Zoku supports mixed tenders, automated tax handling, signature capture for quotes and sales orders, and secure card on file transactions. These capabilities removed the manual credit card entry, paper forms, and system switching that had slowed down previous checkout processes. Associates can also charge purchases to customer accounts and apply payments to outstanding invoices directly at the point of sale.
Real Time Inventory and Data Visibility
Zoku provides real time visibility into inventory across all store and warehouse locations. Associates can confirm stock levels instantly without switching systems. The solution also supports multiple units of measure, which is essential for tools and fasteners that require flexible quantity and pricing structures.
Field Sales Mobility
For field sales associates, Zoku introduced a connected mobile POS that mirrors the in store experience. Field representatives can create quotes, convert them to sales orders on site, access live inventory, review customer account information, and process payments or account charges during customer visits. This ensures a consistent workflow across retail and field operations and eliminates reliance on manual or delayed processes.
Results and Key Improvements
With Zoku in place, Lonestar achieved immediate gains in speed, accuracy, and operational consistency across both retail and field sales. Associates now complete transactions significantly faster due to an intuitive interface, real-time data visibility, and a fully integrated payment workflow. The removal of manual steps, paper forms, and system switching created a smoother experience for both staff and customers.
Contractors benefit from accurate pricing, real-time margin visibility, and instant access to their account history, which allows the team to serve them more confidently during busy periods. Inventory accuracy improved as associates can check stock across all store and warehouse locations directly from the point of sale. This reduced delays and eliminated the need to jump between systems to confirm availability.
Field sales operations became more efficient with a mobile solution that mirrors the in-store workflow. Representatives can create and convert quotes on-site, review customer details, and process payments or account charges during customer visits. This unified process ensures that retail and field teams follow the same steps and rely on the same real-time information.
By connecting all front-end activity directly to NetSuite, Lonestar now operates with a single and cohesive sales platform. The result is faster service, improved data accuracy, and a consistent customer experience across every channel.
Call to Action
If your retail or wholesale business relies on NetSuite for back office operations and needs a stronger and more efficient front end for in store transactions, field sales, inventory visibility, and contractor account management, Zoku can help. Our unified commerce solutions extend the power of NetSuite to the sales floor and the field, giving associates the information and speed they need to deliver a better customer experience across every touchpoint.