EMV Adaption News in The US

EMV adoption rates in the US continue to be around 50/50 for retailers in the United States for various reasons but it appears that the EMV adoption rates in US retail stores of all sizes will increase to 90 percent in 2017.  Obviously this would be great for retailers and consumers alike.

The full article can be found here: https://pointofsale.com/2016041510657/Payment-Processing/Todays-EMV-Landscape-at-Retail-in-the-United-States.html

I've personally seen a lot of smaller retailers contacting me in Q4 about EMV solutions like Card Defender as there are starting to see fraud as well as requests from consumers to have customer facing payment terminals so the stores employee's never come in to contact with the consumers credit or debit card.

EMV Options for Microsoft Dynamics RMS (and HQ) Point of Sale Software Users

Update July 2016: Since many Microsoft RMS point of sale software would like to keep using RMS for another couple of years but still need to deal with the EMV Liability Shift Date, visit this post for more information on the Card Defender EMV add-on for Microsoft RMS versions 1.3 and higher (and HQ as well): http://retailpospondering.blogspot.com/2016/06/card-defender-emv-add-on-for-microsoft.html

Video explaining the different EMV Liability Shift Date options and offering advice for users of the Microsoft Dynamics RMS (and HQ) point of sale programs in the United States. Covers all the options from doing nothing, using separate credit card terminals, using a payment gateway, or switching to a different point of sale system.

Between EMV and the 'end of life' status with RMS and HQ, just about everyone using RMS (including HQ) has to take some course of action.

I have already been contacted by 1102 stores and organizations using RMS (with about 12 also using HQ) for free and unbiased advice and direction so this is real word advice and not sales fluff. If you are in need of free and unbiased advice - including trusted contacts at any of the solutions that I mention in the video of which many are offering significant discounts to RMS users - please contact me via email at kevinantosh@gmail.com or on my cell at 208-340-5632.  You can also visit my contact page for other ways to get in touch with me.

In Addition to EMV...

Since just about everyone is looking at hardware and software costs related to the upcoming EMV Liability Shift Date of October 1st, 2015 in the United States for card present transactions, this is a perfect time to look at other "housekeeping" items related to the point of sale system used by your business or organization.  In no specific order:

1. Make sure that you have the latest version of your point of sale software
2. Check to see if your annual maintenance contract is current for support and updates to your point of sale software
3. Look at a system "refresh" to see if any hardware, computers, or network equipment needs to be updated or replaced
4. Compare merchant services rates - never hurts to check and see what you could save by paying lower fees for credit and debit card processing service
5. Look at other point of sale systems before you commit to spending any money on your current point of sale system - a lot has changed recently and you may find that it is better to switch to a new point of sale system than continue to invest in your current point of sale system

Please visit my contact page for information on how to reach me.

Watch for EMV Scams

Good warning from a media company related to watching out for scams related to new EMV terminals. Don't ever feel pressured in to signing a contract for any equipment for your business or organization.  As pointed out in the article, this merchant checked for reviews and found a lot of negative feedback which is a huge warning sign not to buy anything from that person or company.

Plus, new credit and debit card terminals still need to be injected/encrypted which normally takes several business days so no one should be attempting to sell you something needed instantly (The EMV liability shift date is not until October 1st, 2015 for card present transactions in the US so we all have time to plan accordingly).

Here is a link to the full article from KTVB: http://www.ktvb.com/story/news/local/2015/06/09/shop-owners-are-being-targeted-during-credit-switch/28724615/

Are you  in the US and in need of no cost retail point of sale advice?  I'm happy to help and can be reached on my cell at 208-340-5632 (I am on Mountain Time) or via email at kevinantosh@gmail.com. There is also a contact form to the right that can be used to reach me.

The True Cost of Ignoring EMV

Update July 2016: Since many Microsoft RMS point of sale software would like to keep using RMS for another couple of years but still need to deal with the EMV Liability Shift Date, visit this post for more information on the Card Defender EMV add-on for Microsoft RMS versions 1.3 and higher (and HQ as well): http://retailpospondering.blogspot.com/2016/06/card-defender-emv-add-on-for-microsoft.html

I've had a few businesses and organizations mention to me that they plan to do nothing related to the EMV Liability Shift Date coming up on October 1st, 2015 in the US in relation on how to accept and authorize chip based credit and debit cards for payment.

Their mindset is that it is not worth investing money in new hardware and software to accept the new chip cards as the businesses average transaction is only around $30.00. Thus, it would be OK to lose $30.00 in sales revenue via a fraudulent transaction versus spending money on hardware and software upgrades.

These folks are forgetting the following:

• Cost of a chargeback (read your merchant services agreement but just about all merchant services companies charge you a chargeback fee for fraudulent transactions).
• Cost of bad press - any sort of fraud will likely be picked up by the local media or even shared via social media and review sites like Yelp.  Bad press + bad reputation = more lost revenue.
• Easy target. If word gets out that your business or organization is not using EMV/Chip Card hardware, then you could become a target for future fraudulent transactions.
• Loss of ability to accept any debit and credit cards as payment. I have seen this happen - too much fraud and no one will offer you merchant services. You will become a cash only business or have to use Square or similar more expensive options.

The EMV Liability Shift Date is not something to be ignored. We still have several months to plan and budget for any equipment upgrades or replacements as well as any software upgrade costs.

Are you  in the US and in need of no cost retail point of sale advice?  I'm happy to help and can be reached on my cell at 208-340-5632 (I am on Mountain Time) or via email at kevinantosh@gmail.com. There is also a contact form to the right that can be used to reach me.

More Advice for Microsoft Dynamics RMS Users - the 7 year rule

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.

Updated information on the upcoming Retail Management Hero Software (or what I am coining "RMS 3.0 for 2015 and beyond") can be found here: http://retailpospondering.blogspot.com/2015/06/new-option-for-rmshq-users-retail.html

As I continue talking to businesses using the Microsoft Dynamics RMS point of sale software as well as talking to businesses considering purchasing RMS, I wanted to pass along reasons why investing in RMS as a new point of sale system for your business or organization is a poor decision (those of you already using RMS have different options available which are covered in this blog post).

1. EMV Liability Shift date. This is coming up in October of this year (2015) in the United States and related to who is liable for fraudulent transactions when a chip credit or debit card is used for payment. Based on information from Microsoft, if you purchase RMS now, you will need to also purchase additional software and hardware to meet the EMV liability shift date. I am extremely disappointed that Microsoft Dynamics RMS Partners in the US are selling RMS to businesses without explaining how to handle the EMV Liability Shift Date (as well as the costs involved).
2. RMS and HQ End of Life. Back in May 2014, Microsoft released information related to the future of RMS and HQ with mainstream support and sales ending in July of 2016 and all support ending in July of 2021.
3. What else will come around? Once EMV is past us, what sort of new standard or requirement will come up in 2016 or beyond that will require further investments?
4. 7 Year Rule. Typically, I have found that a good point of sale system should last about 7 years. If full support for RMS ends in 2021 then, if you purchase RMS today, you will only have 6 years before you need to look at replacing or upgrading RMS.

Point being, buying RMS now as a point of sale system for your business is not a wise choice. 

Comments and questions are always welcomed!

Are you  in the US and in need of no cost retail point of sale advice?  I'm happy to help and can be reached on my cell at 208-340-5632 (I am on Mountain Time) or via email at kevinantosh@gmail.com. There is also a contact form to the right that can be used to reach me.

EMV Affects Everyone

I was talking to a restaurant using a MICROS point of sale system and the owner mentioned to me that upgrading his MICROS software and hardware to meet the EMV liability shift deadline (October 1st, 2015 in the United States) was not going to be cheap!

With so much focus on legacy point of sale systems like Microsoft Dynamics RMS, it is easy to forget that everyone who accepts card present transactions needs to be doing something related to the upcoming EMV liability shift deadline or be prepared to absorb the full cost of a fraudulent transaction.

I can't stress enough how important it is to be sure that your cash register, credit card terminal, point of sale software, and/or point of sale hardware is upgraded and ready for the October 1st, 2015 deadline.

Are you  in the US and in need of no cost retail point of sale advice?  I'm happy to help and can be reached on my cell at 208-340-5632 (I am on Mountain Time) or via email at kevinantosh@gmail.com. There is also a contact form to the right that can be used to reach me.

EMV Advice and Discount Options for Former DirectPOS/RVP Business Systems Customers

Update July 2016: Since many Microsoft RMS point of sale software would like to keep using RMS for another couple of years but still need to deal with the EMV Liability Shift Date, visit this post for more information on the Card Defender EMV add-on for Microsoft RMS versions 1.3 and higher (and HQ as well): http://retailpospondering.blogspot.com/2016/06/card-defender-emv-add-on-for-microsoft.html

Update July 2016, Retail Management Hero demo and overview: http://retailpospondering.blogspot.com/2016/07/new-version-of-rmsretail-management.html

With the EMV (chip based credit and debit cards) Liability Shift Date coming up quickly (October 1st, 2015 in the United States), I wanted to pass along some important information for former customers of DirectPOS (RVP Business Systems) who formally sold and serviced cash registers and point of sale systems out of offices in Boise, Idaho, Salt Lake City, Utah and Spokane, Washington.

If you happen to be a former customer of DirectPOS or RVP Business Systems, you likely have questions related to making sure that your cash register or point of sale hardware and software is ready for the EMV Liability Shift Date.  I have made arrangements with multiple trustworthy companies to help you determine what, if anything, you need to do related to your current equipment and EMV.

Even better, these companies will offer you a special discount related to any costs you may incur. Because this involves multiple different types of hardware and software, as well as over 3000 different businesses and organizations, you need to contact me for more information.

Here are the systems that qualify for the discounts:

• MICROS e7
• MICROS 3700
• Sam4S Cash Registers
• QuickBooks Point of Sale
• NCR Silver
• NCR CounterPoint SQL
• Microsoft RMS
• Microsoft HQ
• Microsoft POS 2007 or 2009

If your business is using one of the above systems, and resides in the states listed below, do contact me for free advice and direction on what to do.  I will also be reaching out to all of you as time permits.

• Idaho - ID
• Utah - UT
• Washington State - WA
• Oregon - OR
• Wyoming - WY
• Montana - MT
• Ohio - OH
• Minnesota - MN
• Iowa - IA
• Wisconsin - WI
• Louisiana - LA
• Texas - TX
• Florida - FL
• California - CA

The goal here is to make sure that the upcoming EMV Liability Shift Date catches no one by surprise.

Are you  in the US and in need of no cost retail point of sale advice?  I'm happy to help and can be reached on my cell at 208-340-5632 (I am on Mountain Time) or via email at kevinantosh@gmail.com. There is also a contact form to the right that can be used to reach me.

Urgent Point of Sale Buying Tip: Ask About EMV!!!

Over the last couple of weeks I have fielded calls and emails from some very upset business owners. Not upset with me but upset as they recently purchased point of sale systems for their businesses without asking about EMV or chip-based debit and credit card transactions. Remember the US EMV liability shift date for chip/contact-less credit and debit card transactions is October 1st, 2015 in the United States.

2 of these businesses invested in point of sale systems that can not be upgraded to work with EMV compatible hardware and the other businesses purchased point of sale systems will require new hardware and software upgrades totaling around $1100/location - this is on top of the money recently spent on a new point of sale system.

I can not stress enough that anything related to cash registers, credit and debit card terminals, point of sale systems designed for mobile devices, or point of sale systems designed for computers should now have a clear and no-cost plan to utilize EMV compatible hardware and be able to authorize chip based credit and debit card transactions when the card is present.

To be honest - the blame falls with both the business owner (for not asking about EMV and not performing 'due diligence' )as well as with the companies selling products that are not ready for EMV.

Are you  in the US and in need of no cost retail point of sale advice?  I'm happy to help and can be reached on my cell at 208-340-5632 (I am on Mountain Time) or via email at kevinantosh@gmail.com. There is also a contact form to the right that can be used to reach me.

Point of Sale/EMV Workshops & Speaking Schedule

So I am starting to line up some speaking events for 2015. I'll share details as everything is finalized but wanted to let folks know that I am including more about EMV in my workshop presentations as EMV is something that all of us will have to address before the EMV Liability Shift Date takes place in October of 2015 (in the United States).

The point of sale workshops that I conduct are completely vendor neutral and can be scaled to run anywhere from 45 to 90 minutes. Here are the main topics that I cover in the workshops:

1. Differences between mobile and computer-based point of sale systems
2. How to select the right point of sale system
3. Common "gotchas" to avoid
4. EMV and Merchant Services
5. How to determine your point of sale "budget"
6. How to use a weighted point spreadsheet to make a final purchase decision

Again, all of this is conducted in a vendor neutral environment (not a sales pitch at all) and folks leave the workshop with actual data and information they can use to find the best point of sale system for their business or organization.

Are you  in the US and in need of no cost retail point of sale advice?  I'm happy to help and can be reached on my cell at 208-340-5632 (I am on Mountain Time) or via email at kevinantosh@gmail.com. There is also a contact form to the right that can be used to reach me.

EMV and What it Means to Folks With Cash Registers and Point of Sale Systems

I've been fielding multiple calls and emails from businesses with cash registers or mobile/computer-based point of sale systems asking what to do related to the upcoming US EMV liability shift date. This video covers some of the questions and answers related to EMV and chip cards and contains information for businesses in the US that accept credit and debit cards as payment in person.

Are you  in the US and in need of no cost retail point of sale advice?  I'm happy to help and can be reached on my cell at 208-340-5632 (I am on Mountain Time) or via email at kevinantosh@gmail.com. There is also a contact form to the right that can be used to reach me.