Core of The Store

By Christina Zarrello
The POS terminal remains the most important of several technologies residing at the core of store systems and also the most expensive system in the retailer's tool kit. Executives need clean POS data in a real-time fashion to manage stores, promotions and supply chains. The POS has transformed from a purely transactional device to its current position as the single most important point of customer interaction.

Failure to frequently upgrade POS can stymie a retailer's ability to add new functionalities and innovation, thereby having a significant impact on efforts to increase sales, growth and customer satisfaction. Equally important, the Association for Retail Technology Standards (ARTS) has identified 35 retail applications that touch POS applications.

Retailers that are looking to make POS software purchases within the next 12 months indicated in the RIS 2010 Store Systems Study the following functions stood out as high priorities: CRM, Coupon and Loyalty Management (63%), Returns/Refunds Management (56%), Training (44%), Inventory Visibility/Stock Inquiry (38%), Authorization/Security Control (31%), Gift Card/Phone-card Activation (31%), Employee Portal 31%, and Save the Sale (31%).

As retailers add more functionalities to the POS and more systems touch it in the enterprise, the concept of a POS platform or a broad-based suite of logically linked applications is taking hold. In this vendor landscape, RIS distinguishes the major players in the POS platform arena and provides insight into how retailers are prioritizing POS functionality. The POS vendor landscape also looks at several retailers that have undergone recent POS upgrades.

iPhone POS Hits the Store

One of the newest POS innovations comes from Cornell-Mayo Associates (CMA) which introduced Omniexpress, a solution that combines the Omnistore POS application with the Apple iPod touch. Stage Stores recently implemented the Omnistore POS platform at more than 755 stores. Omnistore's ability to offer up-do-date functionality on legacy hardware was a key factor in Stage Store's selection of Omnistore. Development on the project began in December 2008 and the entire chain rolled out the solution by November 2009.

Enterprise Control helps global expansion

Danish retailer Bestseller chose Retail-1 from GSI to support its expanding global footprint in North America. Bestseller uses Retail-1 Store to capture customer information, easily scan merchandise sold and eliminate redundant tender errors with integrated debit and credit card features. "Retail-1 gives us the tight controls at both the head office and store level so we can pursue our expansion program with confidence," said Benoit Bouchard, retail operations director, Bestseller Canada.

Targeted Promotions

Retail Anywhere POS provides customer, inventory, and marketing information in an easy-to-use interface. The solution facilitates quick and accurate check-out, biometric integration, e-commerce fulfillment and item return authorization. Retail Anywhere POS captures and delivers customer and transaction information that assists with targeted promotions and facilitates future cross-sell and up-sell opportunities for cross-channel retailing. Through a secondary display, retailers can deliver multimedia messaging for advertising products, promotions, cross-selling, as well as personalized messaging during live transactions

Powering Up

Interstate All Battery Center (IABC) powers up its enterprise by deploying MICROS-Retail Xstore POS system in all franchise locations. The retailer fully deployed the Xstore to facilitate IABC's continued growth and maintain its commitment to dependability and customer service. "This is more than just a POS system upgrade " we are putting a foundation in place that will support and accelerate our rapid growth going forward," says Matt DiBona, director of business intelligence and technology, Interstate All Battery Center. "IABC retail locations are performing better than ever, and the results demand a new system with functionality that will elevate every aspect of the business, from customer relationship management and quicker payment authorization to improved reporting and analytics."

Increases Throughput

Bealls Department Stores implemented SAP POS and replaced a 20-year-old legacy system. Since implementing the POS solution it has increased throughput speed by 20 percent. The retailer also gained support for new promotional strategies, improved Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) processes and credit card processes. Additionally, the retailer has enhanced loss prevention reporting and customer analytics.

Promotion Engine

StoreLine from Retalix is an open technology platform that delivers components that extend the system's capabilities, such as an integrated loyalty and promotion engine as well as the company's new Dynamic Receipt offering. Additional features such as Retalix's Online Services help retailers connect to a variety of hosts and allows them to sell virtual items and services at the POS all without updating the POS terminal code.

Customizable POS

Island Pacific Store offers a unique feature set including built-in gift card, enhanced fraud detection, remote store open and closing capabilities, and the ability to accept specialized deal and promotion instructions. Island Pacific Store is customizable, scalable, multi-currency, multi-tax capable and PCI compliant. Key functional areas include polling between stores and head office, monitoring store and terminal status from a central location, administration functions, and centralized reporting.

Optimized Touch Screens

Microsoft Dynamics POS 2009 focuses on core POS activities such as orders and payments, inventory management and reporting. It also provides an intuitive interface that is customizable and optimized for touch screens. A role-based user interface gives employees from the storefront to the back office access to task and role-centric information such as inventory, purchase history, and cost. Innovative features such as smart search and context sensitive menus bring information to the desktop quickly improving speed of service

Better Purchase Orders

The Coleman Company improved its purchase order processes by working with JDS Solutions on enhancing its POS software. The import file is imported into WinRetail via a PO Import function that generates a complete purchase order, which includes all PO header information, item selections and quantities. This function helps reduce the time needed for a PO to be created not only by the elimination of item selection, but also by populating the order quantities for all line items.

Promotions and Pricing

Active Retail from Argility guides the user through additional fields, such as customer delivery information and even serial number tracking. The POS solution incorporates promotions and pricing. Tech Global Partners has been helping Argility enter the U.S. market with nationalization and payment as well as the development of the channel ecosystem.

Rapid Deployment POS

Telaid works with retailers including Walmart and Kroger by playing a major role in the deployment and installation of POS systems. The company supports rollout efforts of POS systems by helping merchants select solutions that meet their current and future growth needs. The company helps merchants select a partner that can assist in the deployment and installation of the POS system. Telaid provides retailers with speedy deployment capabilities and helps merchants find partners that can meet time constraints so everyday business is not affected.