Does a computer network keep records of items sold?

Answer 1

A computer network can keep records of items sold if it includes software that has that as its function but that's not automatic. To take an analogy - a cash register can ring up the price of items sold but unless you have some paper tape in it (or have it connected to some software that is storing that information), you won't have any permanent record of the items sold.

These systems are referred to as EPOS (Electronic Points of Sale). Employed by retails more and more now they are a database system which is programmed to keep inventory and financial data and reports on either. The system employees a Back office computer connected to one of more "cash registers" or "Terminals". The use of bar-codes is also employed to allow unique data for each product line to have price, description tax and a range of other required data attached to that code. The terminal will collate the items sold. Subtotal the cost and accept payment when totalled off by the operator. When totalled off the systems communicates the financial data back to the office system (financial reporting) This is collated by terminal and per trading day/week/month and even year. The items sold are removed from the Inventory system (the virtual warehouse) and this is again collated for real time sales, end of day, week, month and can even be used to ascertain seasonal changes in sales patterns. Further to this the data can be reported on and used ti create an order to replace the sold stock. Such reports can be undertaken at the site or passed to a "buying department" where multiple stores will have their orders for replenishment undertaken by a "buyer". This type of report is vital to multi-national retailers who can use this to inform their buying power with a supplier and ultimately push for a lower cost price to that retailer.