Understanding balancing

NCR balancing refers to the store accounting method developed by NCR for its retail terminals. It is composed of the following balancing levels:

• Till (cash drawer)
• Office (back office repository or safe)

NCR balancing tracks all media—cash, coupons, and so on —from the time it enters the store until it leaves the store.

The AS application limits the total transaction amount to seven digits and two decimal places. When the amount exceeds the limit, the application displays an error message.

Terminal settlement

Terminal settlement usually takes place when a POS terminal is finished for the day. For example, if the system is terminal accountable, then this function can run just before closing the store as part of the end-of-day balancing procedures. However, it is not necessary to perform terminal settlement before store close.

Balancing the office

Office settlement is typically performed as the last step before running the store close procedures. If this procedure is run after settling all POS terminals, then the office settlement is the final step necessary to bring the actual amount of money in the store in line with the amount that the system expects. This procedure becomes important when trying to balance the store at the end of the day.

The back office totals are affected by the money that moves between the POS and the back office repository—in the form of loans and pickups—and the tender that moves between the store and the bank (or the external sources and destinations)—in the form of receipts and deposits.