TSYS, Heartland and Wells Fargo Ending Support for Native Payment Processing in Microsoft Dynamics POS 2.0, 2007, 2009 and RMS / TLS Deadline

If you happen to be hanging on to old credit card swipes and are using TSYS, First Data or Heartland to process payments made via credit card or debit card in the Microsoft Dynamics POS 2.0, 2007, 2009 and RMS point of sale software programs, you will be in for a surprise when your processing is turned off starting June 1st, June 30th, or July 1st 2018. This also somewhat aligns with the TLS deadline for non-secure ways of processing credit cards.

It is simply just not secure or safe to use USB or Keyboard Wedge credit card swipes anymore.  You could be fined and/or lose the ability to accept payment via credit or debit card if caught.

There are multiple options available to you:

1. Look at Card Defender which takes the security risk out of RMS, uses integrated payment terminals to interface with RMS, and you even pick up cool stuff like signature capture and NFC for Apple Pay and Google Wallet.
2. Switch to using stand alone payment terminals. Quickest and least expensive option but leaves you open to entry errors that can cost you over $2080 annually in lost revenue.
3. Look at updating RMS to one of the low cost direct replacement programs like Cloud Retailer or Retail Management Hero 

Those are the main options - you should make a decision no late than the end of May.

***I've also been contact by users of Microsoft Dynamics POS 2007, 2009 and 2.0 stating that they are also losing the ability to process credit cards effective June 1st, 2018. In these cases, you have fewer options since Dynamics POS 2007, 2009 and 2.0 do not have any 3rd party processing interfaces and do not qualify for a low cost replacement program. Contact me as needed***

***New Heartland Deadline: June 1st, 2018. You will need to change hardware/software as need or your processing will be tuned off***

****Wells Fargo and Heartland have also communicated with retailers that they will no longer allow them to use RMS and native processing with USB/Keyboard Wedge credit card swipes****

*****If you are using Windows XP then you can not use any web-based or integrated processing solution as Windows XP does not meet security standards*****

Please contact me at 208-340-5632 or kevinantosh@gmail.com for more information. You should also contact your merchant services company to see which deadline applies to you.

TSYS, Heartland and Wells Fargo Ending Support for Native Payment Processing in Microsoft Dynamics POS 2.0, 2007, 2009 and RMS / TLS Deadline

***New Heartland Deadline: June 1st, 2018. You will need to change hardware/software as need or your processing will be tuned off***

If you happen to be hanging on to old credit card swipes and are using TSYS, First Data or Heartland to process payments made via credit card or debit card in the Microsoft Dynamics POS 2.0, 2007, 2009 and RMS point of sale software programs, you will be in for a surprise when your processing is turned off starting June 1st, June 30th, or July 1st 2018. This also somewhat aligns with the TLS deadline for non-secure ways of processing credit cards.

It is simply just not secure or safe to use USB or Keyboard Wedge credit card swipes anymore.  You could be fined and/or lose the ability to accept payment via credit or debit card if caught.

There are multiple options available to you:

1. Look at Card Defender which takes the security risk out of RMS, uses integrated payment terminals to interface with RMS, and you even pick up cool stuff like signature capture and NFC for Apple Pay and Google Wallet.
2. Switch to using stand alone payment terminals. Quickest and least expensive option but leaves you open to entry errors that can cost you over $2080 annually in lost revenue.
3. Look at updating RMS to one of the low cost direct replacement programs like Cloud Retailer or Retail Management Hero 

Those are the main options - you should make a decision no late than the end of May.

***I've also been contact by users of Microsoft Dynamics POS 2007, 2009 and 2.0 stating that they are also losing the ability to process credit cards effective June 1st, 2018. In these cases, you have fewer options since Dynamics POS 2007, 2009 and 2.0 do not have any 3rd party processing interfaces and do not qualify for a low cost replacement program. Contact me as needed***

****Wells Fargo and Heartland have also communicated with retailers that they will no longer allow them to use RMS and native processing with USB/Keyboard Wedge credit card swipes****

*****If you are using Windows XP then you can not use any web-based or integrated processing solution as Windows XP does not meet security standards*****

Please contact me at 208-340-5632 or kevinantosh@gmail.com for more information. You should also contact your merchant services company to see which deadline applies to you.

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.

End of Year Advice - 2016

A few "ponderings" to share as we close in on the final few days of 2016 and look forward to 2017:

1. Please remember the true meaning of Christmas as you celebrate and reflect with family and friends - Jesus birth is the true "reason for the season".
2. Take some time to plan out any physical inventory counts and ensure that you have the correct training on how to use any physical inventory count features in your point of sale software.
3. Reflect back on how you use your point of sale system to spot any gaps or room for improvement (or a new system).
4. Keep an eye out for pesky new regulations and security requirements so you are not blind-sided with outdated equipment that is non-compliant.
5. Still using Microsoft Dynamics POS 2007/2009/2.0?  Full end of life for these programs is coming up on July 9th, 2019. While this is still a couple of years away, I'd recommend that you start thinking now about a migration plan. Keep in mind that you do qualify for a low cost upgrade to the new Retail Management Hero software.
6. Planning on using Microsoft Dynamics RMS for the next few years (end of life is not until July 2020/2021 - depending on which support contract you are on)? A few suggestions:
• Keep an eye on Retail Management Hero since the upgrades are fairly low cost and painless (but watch for differences in features, add-ons and functions).
• Make sure that you are on version 2.02 of RMS so all the latest service packs and hot fixes have been applied.
• Consider using Card Defender to ensure compliance with credit card security, EMV, SHA-2, etc.
• Avoid Windows 10 if possible for the time being.
• Make sure that you are aligned with an Dynamics Partner that is committed to supporting RMS, HQ and Retail Management Hero - we have actually acquired customers from around 3 different Dynamics Partners that are phasing out support for various point of sale software programs.
7. Watch this blog and my YouTube Channel for more information on Cloud Retailer which is a cool hybrid point of sale system that combines the best of what cloud based and on-premise point of sale systems offer.

Right now it looks like I will be headed to multiple states in the first half of 2017. Confirmed so far are Seattle, WA, just about all of Idaho, Salt Lake City, UT, and Minneapolis, MN. Pending are Portland, OR, Denver, CO, Phoenix, AZ, Tuscon, AZ, Dallas, TX, San Francisco, CA, and San Jose, CA.

Do contact me at 208-340-5632 or kevinantosh@gmail.com if I can of assistance. Thanks!

Microsoft Dynamics RMS, POS 2009, and HQ: License Swap and Discounts

As we approach next weeks official release of the new Retail Management Hero point of sale software, I expect that a lot of Microsoft Dynamics RMS, POS 2007, POS 2009, and HQ users will be looking at possible upgrade options.

Here is a reminder of the various license swap or discounted license options available to you (restrictions apply - contact me for details):

• Free 1 for 1 license swap for Retail Realm Essentials
• Free 1 for 1 license swap for Retail Management Hero
• $200/license upgrade to Retail Management Hero
• 20% Discount off NCR CounterPoint Licenses 
• Free data transfer for RMS to NCR CounterPoint migrations

Again, there are multiple restrictions that apply depending on your specific situation and not all point of sale partners/dealers/VAR's are participating so please contact for more information.

How to Reach Me:

1. Contact form to the right
2. Email: kevinantosh@gmail.com
3. Cell: 208-340-5632

A reminder that I am on mountain time.

Support End Dates for Microsoft Point of Sale Programs

A quick reminder that sales of Microsoft Dynamics RMS and HQ to new users 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 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

Microsoft has announced some dates related to the end of support timeframe for many of their point of sale software programs.  Here are the details for the most popular programs:

Dynamics POS 2009:
Mainstream support and sales to new users will end on July 8th, 2014.  If you stay current on an annual maintenance agreement, then support for POS 2009 is extended to July 8th, 2019.

Dynamics RMS Store Operations and HQ:
Mainstream support and sales to new users will end on July 10, 2016.  If you stay current on an annual maintenance agreement for RMS/HQ, the support will be available until July 13th, 2021.

I am still waiting on Microsoft for more news related any new or updated retail point of sale programs being released. This information will likely become available in late April 2014.

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.