Point of Sale Buying Tip Video

I've started recording some excerpts from the point of sale workshop presentations that I conduct at retail and museum trade shows, conferences, and expos as well at small business development/success centers across the US.

This excerpt covers some of the differences between computer and mobile point of sale systems, costs related to each system, and very new differences between mobile 1.0 and 2.0 point of sale solutions.

Can I help?  Over the last 15 years I have helped thousands of retail stores and museums find the perfect point of sale system. My advice is free!  You can reach me at 208-340-5632 or kevinantosh@gmail.com - there is also a contact form on the right hand side of my blog.

The Size of the Company Doesn't Matter

I had the opportunity to travel to the Upper Midwest recently to talk with some point of sale resellers and dealers to get a better idea of "whats happening" related to trends in the point of sale world as we come up on Q3 of 2014. Here are some thoughts and insights that I felt should be passed along:

• POS sales are up - some dealers are reporting sales increases of over 40% when compared to sales for the same period in 2013.
• For every one retail store that closes, two open (I can't verify that as fact but have seen a similar statistic reported in the media).
• Mobile POS solutions are hot right now but there are way too many mobile POS solutions currently on the market
• 90% of the mobile solutions on the market today will be gone in the next 1-2 years.
• Some stores still need the advanced functionality that a computer-based POS system offers like work orders, quotes, and layaways.
• Mobile 2.0 solutions will leave Mobile 1.0 solutions in the dust

I was having a conversation with one of the largest Microsoft Dynamics partners in the US about how  many POS solutions will disappear over the next 1-2 years and he made a good point: company size doesn't matter.

The point is, NCR could just as likely decide to drop CuunterPoint POS as a 2 person company with a basic mobile POS solution could decide to stop selling their solution.  While I would argue that a small business has a more likelyhood of going out of business, the truth is that any company could decide to pull out of the point of sale business.

What does this mean to you? The advice that I always pass along is to make sure that you always have full access to your data like your inventory and customer lists. Any contracts should clearly state what happens to the equipment if one party terminates the agreement.  Basically, just protect yourself, your data, and your business should something happen.  It may not be easy to have to switch point of sale solutions (I've helped many places in various situations accomplish it) but, having an "action plan" and being able to transfer all of your information from one system to the next will make life much easier.

Can I help?  Over the last 15 years I have worked with thousands of retail stores, museums, and government entities to help them find the best point of sale solution. You can reach me at kevinantosh@gmail.com or on my cell at 208-340-5632 for free point of sale help and advice.

More updates for users of Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management Systems Store Operations (RMS) Point of Sale Software

Updated information on Retail Management Hero as a direct replacement for RMS as of December 3rd, 2015: http://retailpospondering.blogspot.com/2015/12/updated-information-on-new-retail.html

New video discussing options for Dynamics RMS and HQ users as of December 5th, 2015: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evVWS7dj0Bs

A quick reminder that sales of Microsoft Dynamics RMS and HQ to new users as well as mainstream support ends next year (2016) so please keep that in mind if you are thinking of purchasing RMS or HQ as point of sale software for your business or organization (not a wise investment at this point).

Update 28.June.2015 - special discount and incentive from a national NCR CounterPoint Partner for RMS and HQ users: http://retailpospondering.blogspot.com/2015/06/big-discount-and-incentive-for.html

As I have been asked to assist multiple retail stores using RMS to help determine their best course of action (which I am doing for free, by the way), I took some time recently to travel to Minnesota to meet with one of the largest Microsoft Dynamics Partners in the United States.  Basically, here are the most recent updates related to Microsoft Dynamics RMS and HQ:

• Sales and mainstream support will continue to be available until July 2016
• Support for customers who maintain an annual software maintenance agreement will be available until July 2021
• RMS users who are current on their maintenance agreement will have a license swap option in the near future if Microsoft Dynamics AX POS or Dynamics Retail Essentials might be a better fit for your business
• Dynamics Retail Essentials was announced in May of 2014 but does not yet appear to be market ready for actual deployment (stay tuned)
• Microsoft is also working on a new point of sale solution designed for smaller single location retailers

The options basically boil down to what I have mentioned multiple times before:

1. If you are current on your annual software maintenance and RMS is doing what you want, then stay current on your annual maintenance. You will have multiple options available over the next 1-2 years.
2. If you are not current on your annual maintenance, you need to look at renewing your annual maintenance (contact your Microsoft Partner or myself for help) OR you need to start looking at other point of sale options (again, feel free to contact me for free advice)
3. If you are not happy with RMS for whatever reason then you are likely already searching for other options

At this point, everyone using RMS has time to chart the best course of action unless you are not current on your annual maintenance and/or feel RMS is no longer the best solution for your business.

Can I help?  Over the last 15 years I have worked with thousands of retail stores, museums, and government entities to help them find the best point of sale solution. You can reach me at kevinantosh@gmail.com or on my cell at 208-340-5632