Trade Show Ordering App for Order Taking
showPRO™ is a trade show ordering app for iOS, Android and the web that lets reps and buyers take wholesale orders at the booth, even when show Wi-Fi drops. One example is the Save A Lot Trade Show app on Google Play, published by JT Smith & Associates.
Say goodbye to outdated paper forms, slow order entry, and expensive hardware rentals. Welcome to Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) efficiency.
Order taking app for sales reps at the booth
showPRO™ is an order taking app that sales reps use at the booth to write wholesale orders with buyers. Reps scan or pick items in the app, and contract pricing and show deals apply as the order is built. It runs in web browsers and as iOS and Android apps.
At the show, JT Smith's onsite Red Vest team helps buyers and vendors order. Order taking is one part of showPRO™: the same trade show software lets organizers run registration, booth services, floor plans and billing.
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Scan or pick items
Reps and buyers scan or pick items in the app or web portal.
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Pricing applied
Contract pricing and show deals are applied as the order is built.
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Saved when Wi-Fi drops
Orders save on the device when show-floor Wi-Fi drops and sync when the connection returns.
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Sent to the ERP
Orders sync to the distributor's ERP, and the host and vendors see real-time reports.
Show apps built on showPRO™
These are real, branded show apps. JT Smith & Associates publishes each one on the App Store and Google Play, and each distributor or show runs it under its own name on showPRO™.
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD): The Future of Exhibitor Ordering
Historically, B2B wholesale trade shows forced exhibitors to rent expensive proprietary scanning hardware. Not only did this create bottlenecks on set-up day, but sales reps also struggled to navigate unfamiliar interfaces.
The showPRO™ trade show order taking app completely eliminates hardware logistics. By leveraging native web performance optimizations, our app runs beautifully on standard smartphones, iPads, tablets, and laptops.
This modern BYOD methodology means exhibitors can onboard their entire sales team within seconds. Reps walk onto the showroom floor with their own familiar devices, instantly ready to browse catalogs, take orders, and qualify leads.
- Zero hardware delivery, deposit, or return logistics.
- Exhibitors use familiar operating systems (iOS, Android, Windows).
- No app store downloads required; runs securely via modern browsers.
- Unlimited sales rep logins per booth at no extra cost.
Why BYOD Elevates B2B Sales
By letting exhibitors use their own tablets or phones, they maintain absolute data security and continuity. Your catalog is loaded directly into the device's web cache, allowing reps to prepare drafts, verify account balances, and run test orders long before the show floor doors open.
"Renting scanners used to cost our distributorship $4,500 per show, and we always ran out of units. Switching to showPRO's BYOD app let us put ordering tools in the hands of all 18 of our reps. Our order volume doubled overnight."
Under the Hood: Built for High-Volume Trade Shows
A crowded convention center is a worst-case scenario for network technology. Our mobile sales platform is engineered from the ground up to operate reliably under extreme conditions.
Sub-50ms Barcode Scanning Engine
Our app features an integrated, high-speed camera scanner that rivals physical hardware scanners. Operating with under 50ms of camera feed latency, it decodes barcodes instantly in low light or high glare.
Resilient Offline Sync Architecture
Wi-Fi failure should never stop a B2B transaction. showPRO's local queue logic uses secure client-side storage inside the browser. Orders are validated, calculated, and saved locally while offline.
- Automatic conflict-free data resolution
- Offline B2B contract pricing validation
- Visual sync progress indicators for sales reps
Sales Representative Enablement & On-Floor CRM
Trade show ordering is more than just logging quantities. It's a critical sales interaction. showPRO™ equips representatives with a full suite of CRM tools to drive higher orders.
Buyer Purchase Histories
Reps can view previous orders, top purchased categories, and custom credit terms prior to drafting an order.
Real-Time Performance Dashboards
Commission progress bars, booth sales targets, and active distributor goals are updated instantly as orders post.
On-the-Fly Deals & Upsells
The app prompts representatives with cross-selling suggestions, bundle offers, and discount thresholds.
Lead Retrieval & Instant Badge Scanning
Don't let valuable buyers slip through the cracks. In addition to order taking, the showPRO™ app features fully integrated badge retrieval.
- Custom qualification tags (Hot, Warm, Cold lead rating)
- Voice-to-text note capture for rapid rep dictation
- Direct catalog attachment (Link specific items to the lead)
- Immediate post-show follow-up email queues
The showPRO Difference: Trade Show Mobile Software Comparison
How does showPRO outclass standard B2C storefronts, retail apps, and paper-based ordering processes?
| Ordering Metric | Paper Order Forms | Standard Retail eCom | showPRO™ Mobile App |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scanning Speed (UPC) | N/A (Manual Entry) | Slow (1.5 - 3.0 seconds) | Sub-50ms Ultra-Fast |
| Offline Resilience | 100% (High transcription error) | None (Fails to load) | Automatic Offline sync queue |
| B2B Deal Tier Support | Manual math (Highly inaccurate) | Very Basic (Static coupons) | Custom Rebates & Group Pools |
| Hardware Overhead | None (Clipboard cost) | High (Needs dedicated terminal) | BYOD (Mobile / Tablet) |
| Logistics & GSC Sync | Days post-show (manual entry) | Unintegrated API queue | Instant ERP / CRM Push |
Virtual Bar & Live Digital Signage Integration
B2B purchasing on the show floor shouldn't feel flat. The showPRO™ ordering platform integrates with large-screen digital signage and a virtual ordering bar to gamify the buying process.
Organizers can project live product leaderboards, hot deals, and distributor order milestones onto projection screens.
As buyers scan codes and place orders on their phone, the digital signs update in real-time, encouraging nearby retailers to join group-buy pools to unlock deep wholesale discount tiers.
Signage Engagement Modules:
Shows how close a product group is to reaching the next wholesale pricing tier, creating collaborative buying urgency.
Highlights active dealer ordering activity, sparking friendly competition and showcasing hot trends.
Rotate advertisements in-app and on-signage, opening profitable sponsorship revenue streams for organizers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about setting up and running our trade show ordering app.
What is showPRO?
showPRO™ is B2B trade show ordering and event management software from JT Smith & Associates. Sales reps and buyers capture wholesale orders on the show floor — offline, with contract pricing and instant ERP sync — while organizers run registration, booth services, floor plans, and billing in the same system. Backed by 30 years and onsite crews who work the show with you.
Can reps take orders offline?
Yes. In showPRO™, orders save on the device when show-floor Wi-Fi drops and sync when the connection returns.
How does the offline mode work on the trade show ordering app?
Our trade show ordering app utilizes an advanced offline synchronization architecture. When internet access is disconnected or weak on the trade show floor, orders, lead details, and scans are safely stored in a secure local database. Once a stable internet connection is established, the app initiates automatic synchronization to update the queue with the main showPRO server.
Can exhibitors use their own devices, or do they have to rent hardware?
The showPRO app is fully built for Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) compatibility. Exhibitors and buyers can install our native-performance web application on their iOS, iPadOS, Android, or Windows devices. This eliminates high hardware rental costs and logistics delays, allowing sales representatives to use familiar equipment.
What barcode formats does the scanning engine support?
The high-performance camera scanner engine supports standard 1D and 2D barcode configurations, including UPC-A, UPC-E, EAN-8, EAN-13, Code 128, Code 39, QR Codes, and PDF417. It operates with a sub-50ms scanning latency, making bulk ordering and catalog browsing incredibly fast.
Is there support for B2B wholesale pricing structures and custom dealer rebates?
Yes. Our trade show ordering app includes native support for B2B contract pricing, tiered quantity discounts, group buy pools, and custom dealer rebates. These discount rules are pre-loaded in the offline cache, guaranteeing that sales reps see accurate pricing even without Wi-Fi.
How are customer leads captured and processed?
Sales representatives can use the integrated badge scanner to capture buyer credentials instantly. The app allows reps to tag leads with custom qualification fields (hot, warm, cold), append text or voice-to-text notes, and record product interests. This lead data syncs directly to the exhibitor portal for instant CRM export.
Transform Your Next Trade Show Ordering Experience
Ready to empower your exhibitors, decrease data entry mistakes, and maximize wholesale sales with our B2B order taking app?
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