Retail Point of Sale Software Comparison Chart

One of the handouts that I use at my point of sale technology workshop presentations:

Retail Solution Comparison
Cash Registers – variety of models from $500 to $2000. Optional programming, training and installation services. Designed for retail stores of any gross sales volume.

NCR Silver – iOS Based (iPhone/iPad/iPod Touch). $29-$79/month plus hardware costs. Designed
for businesses that need minimal inventory tracking (ie. Kiosks, 2^nd hand stores, thrift stores).

Microsoft RMS Store Operations - $6000+ for a complete point of sale solution (includes software, hardware, computer, hardware, installation, training, and ongoing support). Designed for single to multi-location retailers with only basic technology needs (no built-in email marketing, no integrated online shopping cart, no smart phone/tablet needs). Designed for gross annual sales of $400,000+.

NCR CounterPoint - $9000+ for a complete point of sale solution (includes software, hardware, computer, training, installations, and on-going support). Designed for single to multi-location retail stores with high technology needs (integrated email marketing, integrated online shopping cart, use on a smart phone/tablet computer, automated email or texts on store activity). Best for retail stores generating $750,000+ annually per location.

Function	Cash Register	NCR Silver	MS RMS	CounterPoint
Track Item Sales	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Employee Login	Some Models	Limited	Yes	Yes
Levels of Departments or Categories	Some Models	1 Level	2 Levels	2 Levels
Process Credit Cards	Optional	Integrated	Integrated	Integrated
Process Gift Cards	Optional	Optional	Integrated	Integrated
Customer Loyalty	No	Yes	Optional	Integrated
Track Customer History	No	Basic name & address	Yes	Yes
Scan Barcode Labels	Some models	Yes	Yes	Yes
Print Barcode Labels	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Purchasing and Receiving	No	Limited	Yes	Yes
Choice of Merchant Services Processors	Yes – with optional credit card processing	Yes	Yes	Yes
Multi-location Capable	No	No	Yes – full data	Yes – full data
Designed for use on Touch Screen Monitor	Some models have touch screens	Yes (tablet computer)	Yes	Yes
Multiple Price Levels (retail, wholesale, etc.)	No	No	Yes	Yes
Interface to Quickbooks Accounting	Some models	No	Yes	Yes
Quotes	No	No	Yes	Yes
Lay-aways	No	No	Yes	Yes
Work Orders	No	No	Yes	No
Integrated Online Shopping Cart	No	No	Available	Available
Smart phone “app” version Available	No	n/a	No	Available
Integrated Email Marketing	No	Basic	Available	Available
Text/Email Alerts for Store Activities	No	No	No	Available

No – Not Available
Yes – Available and Included
Third Party – Available through third party and additional charges may apply
n/a – Not Applicable
Some Models – Only available in some models
Available – Available and additional charges may apply

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.

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.

Tuesday Tip: Discounts in Microsoft RMS and NCR CounterPoint

Both NCR CounterPoint SQL, and Microsoft RMS Store Operations have great flexibility when it comes to offering percentage or flat dollar amount discounts.  Very helpful if you are running a promotion or have a need to extend a discount (like for the sale of a display/demo item).

Generally, your NCR CounterPoint partner will program the point of sale screen to include the various buttons needed according to how you want to discount.  It is helpful to have a discount ‘menu’ with one main discount key and then the various other discount options and choices in a ‘menu’. That way, the point of sale screen doesn’t become too cluttered with too many buttons.

Here I have setup some various discount buttons to appear once a main discount button is pressed from the point of sale screen:

“Shift” + “F3” is the discount key in Microsoft RMS Store Operations. The trick is that when the cursor is over a specific item on the transaction then the discount is just applied to the specific item. If the cursor is not over a specific item, then “Shift” + “F3” will allow for a whole transaction discount.

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.