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.

What Microsoft RMS/HQ Point of Sale Users are Doing - Part Two

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(RMS version 3.X) demo and overview: http://retailpospondering.blogspot.com/2016/07/new-version-of-rmsretail-management.html

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

Update July 27th, 2015: I have now talked to over 730 stores using RMS, HQ, and Dynamics POS. The NCR CounterPoint offer have proven to be very attractive with several stores taking advantage of the offer mentioned below. Bindo POS also continues to be popular as well.

Update April 21st, 2015: 2 more stores have let me know that they are switching to Bindo Point of Sale (www.bindopos.com) from RMS.

Update March 24th, 2015: getting multiple calls from stores who were about to invest in RMS as a new or replacement POS system and the business/dealers/partners selling RMS made no mention of EMV or the end of life sale and support dates for RMS. Needless to say these stores will not be investing in RMS or recommending businesses/dealers/partners that are selling RMS without full disclosure.

Update March 9th, 2015: still talking to an average of one business per day using RMS. Trends are still about the same especially related to Bindo POS and Retail Pro but a few more RMS users have been asking about Retail Realm Essentials - especially government entities that prefer to stick with Microsoft branded point of sale software.  As always - contact me if you have questions or if you are completely confused.

Update February 3rd, 2015: I've been talking to an average of 5-7 stores using RMS each week so I will keep this information updated so everyone can compare options and plan what to do with RMS over the next few months.

A quick update on conversations that I have had over the last several weeks with multiple businesses of all sizes that currently use the Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System (RMS) point of sale software (some are using HQ as well).

As there are tens of thousands of retail stores in the US using RMS (I know about 700 of you personally!), I wanted to pass along what RMS users are doing or planning related to the RMS and HQ end of life announcement from Microsoft as well as the upcoming EMV liability shift date for users in the US.

So far, many of you have already switched to different point of sale systems:

• 1 business went from RMS to  LightSpeed as they needed both a food service and retail POS system
• 5 businesses went from RMS to NCR CounterPoint
• 7 businesses went from RMS to Bindo Point of Sale
• 5 are considering using separate EMV terminals (should run around $400-$800 but this opens the door for costly employee errors and means reconciling 2 reports at the end of each day)
• 2 are looking at the 3rd party gateway options but are concerned about the costs of using a third party payment gateway as well as what sort of new requirement will come around in 2016 that requires another investment to keep using RMS

Of the remaining stores that I talked too (well over 30 at this point with new ones contacting me each week), all but one are planning on switching away from RMS in the next few months. A few are waiting for more details related to the new Retail Realm Essentials (powered by Microsoft Dynamics) point of sale system that should be released before the end of Q3 2015.

Many of you have also told me that you are considering Retail Pro as an RMS replacement. Retail Pro offers a very similar feature/function set when compared to RMS but is more up to date when it comes to also using mobile devices as well as traditional computers.

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.

Things to Keep an Eye On

As we wind our way though July, here are some things to keep in mind for the next 12 months:

• Microsoft and their various point of sale solutions - at some point we really need to hear more about the replacements for Microsoft Dynamics RMS Store Operations and Dynamics POS 2009.  
• EMV - this is still over a year a way (Oct 2015) but will effect everyone anyone who takes credit and debits cards. Start talking now to your point of sale provider or the company that handles your merchant services now to see what the plan is and how much EMV compliance is going to cost you.
• Keep an eye on the mobile solutions like Bindo Point of Sale (www.bindopos.com) as this latest generation of point of sale solutions are looking more and more attractive given the modest monthly fee that covers support and system updates
• Watch out for the "fly by night" point of sale apps. I've seen a lot of point of sale companies come and go over the last 15 years.  Key warning signs that you may talking to someone who is not committed to a long term presence in the point of sale world:
• No toll free number
• Very basic website with limited information
• No user reviews
• Very small number of references
• The program or app was written by someones brother, nephew, etc
• They don't come across as understanding "retail"
• They are working out of someones garage or basement

Can I help?  If you are in need of some free point of sale advice, please use the contact form to the right, email me at kevinantosh@gmail.com or call me on my cell at 208.340.5632. In addition to working with thousands of folks over the last 15 years to help them find the best point of sale solution, I have also now secured various discounts with trusted point of sale solution providers in the United States.

More Information for Microsoft RMS Users

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).

Another great article related to the recent 2014 Retail Realm conference and the future of Microsoft RMS Store Operations point of sale software:

http://msdynamicsworld.com/story/microsoft-dynamics-retail-essentials-offering-smbs-met-optimism-questions-rms-phase-out-nears

Again, the advice that I am passing along to the folks that I have provided RMS to in the past is to consider these options:

1. If you are current with your annual maintenance agreement, then you can wait and see if switching to Microsoft Retail Essentials makes sense or if you want to look at other point of sale solutions.
2. Aside from support for RMS ending in 2016 or 2021 (depending on your agreement with your Microsoft Partner), there is nothing that would prevent you from continuing to use RMS unless RMS will not be EMV complaint (which would mean that you have until Oct 2015 to replace RMS).
3. If you are not current with your maintenance agreement, then now is a great time to start exploring other point of sale options. 

Note that I am in the process of negotiating some point of sale software and support discounts for all RMS users - whether you continue to use RMS or not. 

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.

Microsoft RMS Store Operations and RMS NextGen (or NexGen)

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.

Update 13.June.2015: A quick note that I have been receiving multiple calls and emails from Microsoft Dynamics RMS users looking to replace RMS due to the upcoming October 1st, 2015 EMV liability shift deadline as well as the "end of life" status for Dynamics RMS and HQ. I have personal experience with RMS users upgrading to NCR CounterPoint and would be happy to share - just visit my contact page for information on how to reach me. I can also put you in touch with a trusted NCR CounterPoint SQL partner.

More current advice for options available to Microsoft Dynamics RMS and HQ users can be found here and here.

As you know, I have worked heavily with the Microsoft RMS Store Operations and HQ program over the last decade (and with QuickSell 2000 & QuickSell Commerce before that).  I was hoping that Microsoft would be ready to share information about the future of RMS and the new version due out later this year currently known as RMS NextGen (or RMS NexGen) at RSPA last week.

Unfortunately, no new information was made available. Given that the current version of RMS doesn't support the upcoming EMV and MasterCard unique terminal ID requirements, this is a bit concerning.  I have been advising my client base to start thinking about the following options:

1. If they are not current on the annual software maintenance to look at renewing and becoming current on software maintenance OR looking at switching to a different point of sale system with a clearer future (we can transfer the data from one system to another in most cases).  
2. If they are current on software maintenance, to hold tight until October of this year when (hopefully) Microsoft will release a "Statement of Direction" related to RMS.  At that point we can then see if it makes sense to continue using RMS or look at other options.

I will continue to pass along information on RMS and RMS HQ as soon as Microsoft makes the information available to their Dynamics Partners.

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 (mountain time) or via email at kevinantosh@gmail.com.