Retailer 2026 Update Notes

Retailer 2026 Update Notes

Below are Update Notes with New Features and Other fixes in Retailer.
See our Installing Retailer Updates advice sheet or video.
Logging into the Tower Systems website will now prompt for Multi Factor Authentication. We recommend setting up multiple MFA Methods.
2608.3

New Features


Other Changes

  1. Accounting Link

    1. Fixed fatal error reopening the accounting export screen.
    2. Estimated GP is now calculated on zero cost items. ★  From our Software Ideas program — suggested by a Tower Systems customer
    3. Purchases can now be exported without first running End of Day. ★  From our Software Ideas program — suggested by a Tower Systems customer
    4. Export of Bills no longer fails when there is no sales data to export.
    5. Fixed export of a layby cancellation where no deposit had been taken.
    6. Stock returns now export with the correct form number.


    AI

    1. AI Invoice Import applied the Department markup instead of the retail price shown on the invoice when creating new stock items.
    2. AI Invoice Import EDI arrivals did not reserve stock against customer orders.
    3. Removed incorrect prompt to arrive other variants when arriving an AI invoice via EDI.
    4. Adjusted cost and retail prices were lost when adding a new item from AI Invoice Import.
    5. Updated Retail and Trade prices did not carry through to the EDI arrival for newly added items.
    6. Average Cost Price did not update for Ex GST suppliers arriving via Instant Arrival.
    7. Edited freight amounts were not saved against the invoice in AI Invoice Import.
    8. Invoice total was incorrect for Ex GST suppliers arriving via EDI.
    9. Cost prices were incorrect for Ex GST suppliers arriving via Instant Arrival.
    10. Starting a new AI EDI arrival continued a previously started, incomplete arrival.
    11. Fixed error uploading Stock Item Blog Posts.

    Audit Log

    1. Renamed the 'Stock Description Change' audit type to 'Pack Stock Description Change'.

    Dashboards

    1. Layby Liability did not reduce when a layby with no payments was cancelled. Affected the Daily Sales summary and the Insights Dashboard.
    2. Debtors Dashboard: 'Average Days to Pay' now calculates from paid invoices using the payment date.
    3. Debtors Dashboard: customers with a zero balance no longer appear in At-Risk Accounts.

    Invoice Arrivals

    1. Fixed freight calculation when arriving decimal quantities.
    2. Fixed error editing an arrived item when the Arrival Date is in the future.
    3. Manually entered Sell and Trade prices are now retained after calculating freight.
    4. 'Print Shelf Label (on Price Change)' did not queue a label when arriving from an EDI file.
    5. Item details now load before the prompt to update the preferred supplier appears.
    6. Could not edit an arrival when the input field was Supplier Stock Code and the item had no Supplier Stock Code.
    7. EDI invoice list did not appear if a supplier was selected before clicking EDI.

    Kits

    1. $0 component items can no longer be deleted from a Kit in the POS screen.
    2. $0 components were removed from the sale when editing a Kit in the POS screen.
    3. Customer discount profiles no longer discount Kits or Kit components.
    4. Customer details were not carried across when a Kit sale was suspended from POS to Quote and Invoice Management.

    Mail Queue

    1. Alert emails now use the correct subject for each alert type.
    2. Microsoft sign in did not save account details for @outlook.com addresses using a passkey.

    Manufactured Goods

    1. Fixed errors using the 'Recalculate Sell' button after changing component quantities.
    2. Adding a component with a Quantity on Hand of 1 no longer reduces the component Quantity on Hand without confirmation.

    Point of Sale

    1. Restored the ability to hold Ctrl to swap buttons when editing the POS screen.
    2. 'Restrict the ability to sell stock into negative' now prompts when Quantity on Hand is zero.

    Quote and Invoice Management

    1. Tax displayed incorrectly on printed invoices where the tax rate is not 10%.

    Receipts

    1. Tax Included Invoice: fixed alignment of the Order Number field.

    Retailer Backup

    1. Automatic backup scheduled task did not update when the day or time was changed.
    2. Backup failed when the Weblink service did not respond to the stop request.

    Returns Authorisations

    1. Added a 'Last Sold Date' column to the Returns Authorisation grids.

    Statements

    1. Customer Statements did not print the ABN, phone number prefix or contact email address.

    Stock

    1. Changing a barcode no longer breaks the Classification Template set on the item.
    2. Fixed fatal error deleting images from an item with more than six images.
    3. Add Stock Wizard: 'Copy to Webstore Description' did not copy the Extended Description.
    4. Fixed fatal error in the Stock Screen after editing the description of a custom Tax Group.

    Stock Manager

    1. Removing a column filter no longer changes the Selected Records count.
    2. Stock Manager now opens correctly where orphaned or blank records exist in the list.

    Stock Returns

    1. Returns form number is now saved for non EDI return forms. ★  From our Software Ideas program — suggested by a Tower Systems customer

    Third Party

    1. Google Maps address lookup now populates the House Number, Street Name and Street Type fields.

    Utilities

    1. Change/Merge Barcodes: Quantity on Hand now merges correctly in Multi-Store.

    Valuation Certificate

    1. Removed the 256 character limit on Extended Description.
    2. Corrected typos in the default Valuation Certificate template.

    Variants

    1. Invoice Arrivals now prompts to arrive other variants for new and unlinked variant items.
    2. Fixed cost price when applying a discount to an Ex GST cost in the Variant Stock Arrival screen.

    Web Serial

    1. Licence Manager service now waits for the database engine before starting.

    Weblink

    1. Roam sales no longer import with a FREIGHT stock item attached.
    2. Fixed error crediting an imported Roam invoice.
    3. Multi-Store: Roam stock now inherits the Department 'Use Global Pricing' setting when imported.
    4. Multi-Store: Roam stock now creates StockLoc records for all locations.
    5. Customer location is no longer reset when importing invoices, laybys and quotes.
    6. Sale Import now matches customers on email using a deterministic, filtered lookup.
    7. Sale Import writes an external customer mapping record when a customer is matched by email.
    8. Sale Import no longer overwrites the existing customer profile on matched orders.
2606.2
AlertImportant Tasks After Update
If you use the Google Address autocomplete integration, you may need to generate a new API Key.
See Google Address autocomplete

Other Changes

Customer Display
  1. Delay using POS with Customer Display.
Integrations
  1. Updated Google Address autocomplete to new Google Places API.
  2. TitlePage not using NZ pricing.
Other
  1. Fixed SFTP EDI System error.
Receipts
  1. Fixed error if Extended Description is blank.
Stock
  1. Add Stock Wizard — removed extra Next click on Description page.
  2. Add Stock Wizard — Fixed Extended Description not applying when using Find Similar Item.
  3. Add Stock Wizard — Extended Description saving without formatting.
  4. Add Stock Wizard — Skip External Feed page when no results are found.
Weblink
  1. Label Universal Importer sales correctly.
2605.1
Important Tasks After Update
A: Login to Retailer
On first open after updating Retailer, you will be prompted to login to our website. You will also need your MFA Code if you have set this up.
B: Accounting Link
To support the new Surcharges and Levies feature, we have added a new department 'Ancillary Charges' for levy stock items.
If you have the Accounting Link integration, you will need to add account codes for the new Ancillary Charges department before your next accounting data export after this update has been loaded.
  1. From the Main Screen of Retailer, open Tasks → Export Accounting Data.
  2. Click Setup Acc. Link.
  3. In the list of Departments, find 'Ancillary Charges'. Enter Account Codes for Income and Purchases.
    If     Export Cost of Sales is enabled, you will also need to enter Account Codes for Cost of Sales, Write Off and Stock on Hand.
  4. Click Close in the bottom right corner.
  5. Perform your Accounting Export as usual.

New Features

New Look – Refreshed Icons and Version Numbering

Retailer has a fresh new look. We've simplified your desktop — you'll now see just two icons: Retailer and Retailer Backup. The icons have been refreshed as part of a broader visual update across the Tower Systems product suite.

Alongside this, we've updated the way Retailer displays its version number to align with industry standard conventions. Versions will now follow the format 2605.x — where 2605 reflects the year and month of the release and .x is the release number for that year. This makes it straightforward to identify what release you're on and when it was made available.

Security Update – OAuth2 Authentication

Retailer's connections to all Tower Systems online services have been upgraded to OAuth2 authentication. This is a significant behind-the-scenes improvement that ensures all communications between Retailer and Tower's servers meet modern security standards end to end. No action is required from you — this upgrade happens automatically as part of the update.

Customer Purchase History

A powerful new Customer Purchase History screen is now available directly from the POS screen, Quote & Invoice Management (QIM), or the Customer Screen. At a glance you can see every item a customer has previously purchased, the price they paid, and who supplied it. From there you can: reorder items directly from POS or QIM with in-stock status shown, view serial numbers linked to the customer, search across their full history, reprint past receipts, and export the data. A great tool for delivering personalised service at the counter.
(Software Idea #564)

Debtors Dashboard

The Debtors Dashboard is a completely new way to manage your debtor accounts. You can now drill all the way down to individual invoice level, viewing transactions by either transaction date or due date — whichever suits how you manage your accounts. The dashboard includes:
  1. Aging and overdue summaries with flexible sort ordering
  2. Customer profitability and value tiers
  3. Credit limit utilisation reporting
  4. At-risk account alerts
  5. Payment reliability scoring
  6. Payment trends and forecasting
  7. Linked payment tracking
  8. Invoice reprinting
  9. Overdue reminder sending
  10. Deeper customer account drill-down than ever before
(Software Idea #649)

Surcharge & Levy Manager

In response to the ongoing supply chain challenges affecting retailers, you can now apply surcharges and levies at the point of sale. The Surcharge & Levy Manager supports multiple levy types — including Fuel Levy, Environmental, and Public Holiday surcharges — and is designed to keep you compliant across both Australia and New Zealand. Rate sources are tracked and clearly displayed to both operators and customers, so you can apply levies with confidence and transparency.
(Software Idea #1209)

Other Changes

AI
  1. Product Images can now be added from AI Invoice Import (Software Idea #1136)
  2. Resolved AI Import adding incorrect descriptions to Barcode Manager
  3. Fixed issue where GST could be added twice during AI Import via EDI Arrival
  4. Products created via AI Import will now follow system logic for 'Print Barcode On Arrival' setting
  5. Changed AI Import existing invoice check to be case insensitive
  6. Fixed error when using OpenAI for Price Suggestions
  7. Improved End of Shift Weather where Gemini would sometimes not return weather data.
Archiver
  1. Customer Archiver previously ignored Customers that had never had a transaction
Customers
  1. Right click Transactions in Customer Screen to Preview (Software Idea #1066)
  2. Fixed Multi-Store delay adding Customer in Customer Screen
Email
  1. Editing Email Template will no longer add Â character
Invoice Arrivals
  1. Removed incorrect Variant Arrival prompt when adding Freight to an Invoice Arrival
Loyalty
  1. Remove 'Print Receipts for all Loyalty Sales' option
  2. Manual Loyalty Point adjustments were previously not expired during Loyalty Point recalculation.
Stock
  1. Departments and Categories can now be set to always tick 'Print Barcode on Arrival' for new stock items created
  2. Stopped Manufactured Goods screen triggering Save button when opened without making changes.
  3. Fixed display of Extended Description on Stock Enquiry Alt+T screen
Stock Manager
  1. Added column for Reserved Stock (Software Idea #925)
  2. Added column for Entered (Date Item Added) (Software Idea #933)
Order By Sales
  1. New option to report sales of Manufactured Goods as sales of the MFG Component items.
Orders Maintenance
  1. Update statuses to be clearer: Pending, Sent, Arrived, Pending Backorder, Sent Backorder.
Point of Sale
  1. Suspended Sales will now remember Customer Details and Sale Notes (Software Ideas #840 #917)
  2. Suspended Sales will now autofill previous Reminder Note if same sale is Suspended again (Software Idea #485)
  3. Retrieving a Suspended Sale will now recheck the Customers Credit Limit
  4. Receipt showed Refund reason against Payout item if sale contained both a Refund and Payout
Reports
  1. Invoice Arrivals Report: Choose between Arrival Date, Invoice Date and Due Date filters when running report. Allow selecting multiple Suppliers.
  2. Fixed Sales By Month not following Multi-Store rules for Interstore Transfers.
  3. Sales Transaction Log: Payment Type Totals are now correct when 'Only Show Negative Sales' option ticked.
  4. Customer Transaction Log: 'Show Delivery Address' option no longer requires 'Show Order Number & Delivery Notes'
  5. Customer Address Labels: Fixed issue scrolling Label Type list.
  6. Subagent Blank Returns Form: Fixed issue scrolling Subagent list.
Retailer Backup
  1. Improved error handling when Backup Destination unavailable or cancelled.
Second Hand Goods
  1. Customer ID screen radio buttons displayed as compacted
Utilities
  1. Certain Areas used the wrong security password causing confusion when trying to enable passwords
  2. Audit Log Summary Report did not include Refunds in Negative Sale count
Valuation Certificate
  1. Images did not appear on Valuation Certificates reprinted from Previous Sales in some cases
Write Off
  1. Write Off saves with previous Reason selection when using Keyboard shortcut from Reason field.