Barcodes not scanning? Inventory not found? Skip to this section of the article.
The Smart Search allows you to find any existing loan, buy, inventory item, transaction, or category. The Item look up feature references a database based on input updates from all companies and stores using Bravo.
Entering any Bravo-created number into the search field will open the corresponding transaction like a Loan, Buy, Inventory item, or transaction.
There are two Smart Search options:
- Used Goods Smart Search - Searches the Estimator for used goods to start a loan/buy transaction, best for pawn shops. This is the original Smart Search method.
- Retail Smart Search - Searches your retail inventory, best for stores selling new goods.
Changing the Smart Search Method
The default Smart Search method is set automatically based on whether your store is a Retail S1234tore or Pawn Shop.
To change the search method for an individual search:
- On the Dashboard select Used Goods Smart Search or Retail Smart Search by clicking the drop-down arrow.
The watermark in the search field will update to show the currently selected search method.
The Retail Smart Search allows you to quickly find items in your inventory. As you type, it will display manufacturers, categories and specific items as auto-fill suggestions:
- Manufacturers - Shows manufacturers with inventory in your store related to the search term. Selecting one searches your inventory for all items matching that brand.
- Categories - Shows the most relevant categories containing inventory related to the search term. Selecting one searches your entire inventory within that category.
- Items - Shows the most relevant specific items/SKUs in your inventory matching the search term. Selecting one adds that item to the Transactions screen.
Select a suggestion by clicking on it or using the arrow keys and Enter. If you don't select an auto-fill suggestion, pressing Enter or clicking the magnifying glass will search your entire inventory for matching items.
You can optionally narrow the search by selecting a category for your search. The search results will show the most relevant items.
Click on an item to see additional details.
To add an item to a transaction like a Layaway for example, click the Layaway button. For serialized SKU items, you'll be prompted to select a specific serial number after you select the SKU.
Tips
- Use category selections to narrow your search results when looking for a specific type of item.
- If you know the item number or barcode, you can enter it directly into the search box to add the item to a transaction.
- When searching for firearms, you'll need to select a customer first before you can add the item to the Transactions screen.
Data conversions
If your store’s data was converted, be sure to select the appropriate transaction type—such as Inventory number, Pawn Ticket number, or Layaway number—in Smart Search. This ensures Bravo accurately locates information that originated from your prior system.
The options for converted data search are: Inventory Number, Pawn Ticket Number, Consignment Ticket Number, Layaway Number
Barcode Not Scanning? Read This First
If you scan a barcode into Smart Search and Bravo doesn’t recognize it, it will try to match the number based on your current Smart Search type:
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Retail Smart Search tries to match the barcode to an item in your active inventory
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Used Goods Smart Search tries to match the barcode to a pawned item
To get accurate results, switch the Type of Search (just below the Smart Search bar) to match what you're scanning:
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Select Inventory Number when scanning inventory barcodes
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Select Pawn Ticket Number when scanning a pawn ticket
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Select Consignment Ticket Number when scanning a consignment ticket
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Select Layaway Number when scanning a layaway agreement
This helps Bravo search the right area and return the correct item or transaction.
Date Created: 5/25/2016
Date Updated: 1/28/2025