Cloud Retailer Quick Tip: Quotes and Work Orders

A quick overview of how you can set up quotes and work orders in the Cloud Retailer point of sale software:

Have a question or suggestion for a Quick Tip? You can reach me at 208-340-5632 or kevinantosh@gmail.com

Hurricane Harvey

To the many retailers that I work with in Texas and are in the path of Hurricane Harvey: My thoughts and prayers are with you!

As for your POS system - be sure to make a complete backup and ensure that the backup is stored at a safe and secure location. You should also power down all the POS equipment and move to a safe location if time allows.

-Kevin Antosh

Retail Realm Conference, RMH Central Launch, & Dynamics 365 for Retail

So much packed in to just 3 days with the upcoming Retail Realm Partner and User Conference! Besides the usual conference activities, there are 2 big things happening that I'm really excited about:

1. Launch of Retail Management Hero Central
2. More details on Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Retail

This is going to be a great conference - especially for Microsoft Dynamics RMS HQ users who are looking at low cost direct migration options for RMS HQ.

More information and registration details can be found at http://www.rrdisti.com/news/retail-realm-announces-2017-global-retail-technology-conference

You can reach me at 208-340-5632 or kevinantosh@gmail.com with questions.

Microsoft Dynamics RMS Users Wanting to go Back to RMS

Yup - you read that correctly!  Over the last couple of months, I've had around 6 retailers contact me about wanting to move back to Microsoft Dynamics RMS after trying a different point of sale software programs like Lightspeed, Shopkeep, and NCR Silver.

Here is the advice that I have been offering in these situations along with the particulars that can effect the final decision:

• Do you still have the dongle or licenses keys for RMS?
• Are you current on your annual software maintenance or still have an RMS Partner?
• Are your computers and peripherals still compatible with RMS?
• Do you still have an RMS database with your PLU's/SKU's and customer information?
• What payment processing hardware do you have?
• Who provides your merchant services?
• Are you under any contracts or early termination fee's for your current software program?

In some cases, you may be able to simply go back to using RMS with little effort if you still have all the required hardware and stand alone payment processing terminals.

Otherwise, it may actually be smarter and less expensive to jump right in to one of the low cost direct replacement programs for RMS like Retail Management Hero or Cloud Retailer which allow you to take advantage of RMS user discounts, keep of your RMS data, and move to a POS system that is designed for 2017 and beyond.

Each situation is different so please contact me at kevinantosh@gmail.com or 208-340-5632 for advice as I have worked extensively with RMS back to the QuickSell 2000 days and also have access to full sales and support capabilities for RMS, HQ, Cloud Retailer, Card Defender, and Retail Management Hero (RMH).

Microsoft Dynamics Users - Check CustomerSource ASAP

Are you a Microsoft Dynamics customer? Are you paying an annual amount for software maintenance? Then you need to be logging in to CustomerSource at least annually to ensure that your annual software maintenance agreement (sometimes referred to as "BRAP") is being renewed with Microsoft.

This is to ensure that your payment is being processed correctly and also keeps your Dynamics Partner in check. I'm not going to comment further other than to say that errors can happen but I'm also a former retailer myself and intentional miss-use of funds paid by a retailer to a Dynamics Partner specifically for software maintenance renewals is not cool or ethical (or legal).

If you require assistance, please contact Microsoft at 888-477-7877.

If you are a Dynamics RMS/HQ, POS 2007, POS 2009, or POS 2.0 user, I may be able to assist you as well - I can be reached at 208-340-5632 or kevinantosh@gmail.com.

Point of Sale System for Airport Retail Stores

As a GA pilot, and frequent flyer, I really enjoy working with aviation related retailers. One great solution for retailers located in airports has been the Cloud Retailer point of sale software. Cloud Retailer offers the following when it comes to retailers whose stores are located in airports:

• Speed of a Windows software program with the "access anywhere" functionality of a cloud system
• Latest in payment processing hardware (while still being payment processor agnostic)
• Multi-location solution
• Runs on retail hardened tablets along with normal computers running Windows
• Low bandwidth requirements 
• Custom reports to comply with airport lease agreements
• Basic food service for mixed environments that include retail and basic food/beverage service
• Proven ability to handle high transaction volume situations without "bogging down"
• No need to invest in servers or similar equipment

I would really enjoy the opportunity to speak with more airport retailers (or leasing agents for airport retail space) to see what other processed needed to be included in Cloud Retailer. Please contact me at 208-340-5632 or kevinantosh@gmail.com. I can arrange for you to have full access to Cloud Retailer at no charge for up to 60 days so you can take Cloud Retailer for a "test drive/test flight".

New Look for NCR CounterPoint SQL

As many of you know, I worked heavily with the NCR CounterPoint retail point of sale software for several years. The good folks at Retail Control Systems have uploaded a video showing what the new user interface looks like in NCR CounterPoint which can be found here.

Having personally worked on around 30 CounterPoint deployments, along with my interactions with NCR CounterPoint users, the CounterPoint team in Georgia and CounterPoint Partners/Dealers/VAR's, I've found that NCR CounterPoint is a great POS system for retailers with chains of 3+ locations who are high volume and have high technology needs or have special requirements like the Goodwill thrift store version of NCR CounterPoint.

Questions? I can be reached at 208-340-5632 or kevinantosh@gmail.com.

Welcome to Some New Customers!

I like to give monthly "shout outs" to some of the retailers that recently signed on with me for point of sale related equipment. Here are July's:

• Mind Games: Card Defender for Microsoft Dynamics RMS (multiple stores)
• MonogramIT - Card Defender for Microsoft Dynamics RMS 
• NWA College Store: Upgrade from Microsoft Dynamics RMS to Retail Management Hero

Thank-you for entrusting me to provide point of sale equipment for your retail operation!