An Official Welcome to RTE's Microsoft RMS Client Base!

An official welcome to Retail Technology Experts (RTE - Mirimar, FL)) Microsoft RMS client base which has been acquired by Retail Information Technology Enterprises (RITE - Sartell, MN, Dallas, TX and Boise, ID)!

As you know, RITE recently acquired RTE's Microsoft RMS software client base due to RTE divesting their client base of over 1000 retailers. Many of you are already working with RITE. If not, a team member from RITE will be reaching out over the coming days to have a conversation with you related to the following:

• Whether you are still using the Microsoft RMS software in your business?
• Whether you are still a Retail Technology Experts (RTE) customer?
• Learning more about you and your business - and the technology equipment that you have in place.
• What, if any, issues or outstanding commitments that RTE has made that RITE needs to address?
• What personal concerns or questions that you may have related to the acquisition?
• If you have already addressed the October 2015 EMV liability shift?
• Short and long term plans for your business related to the technology used - always good to have a short term (0-90 day) and long term (5-7 year) plan.
• Anything that the RITE team needs to be aware of?
• What are the next steps that we should take?

Our goal at RITE is to make sure that any current and future needs are taken care of related to the RMS point of sale system that you have in your store. We are also working with RTE to honor any past commitments that have been made or any work that is currently in process.

If you have any pressing needs or questions, please contact us at 866-267-7483. As part of the acquisition, RTE's website will be directing to RITE's website and RTE's phone system will forward to RITE's phone system.

RITE Expands Again!

RITE Acquires RTE’s Microsoft RMS Client Base

Sartell, MN October 4th, 2016 - Retail Information Technology Enterprises (RITE -Sartell, MN) announces the acquisition of Retail Technology Experts (RTE - Miramar, FL) Microsoft Dynamics RMS point of sale software client base of over 200 retailers in the United States.

“This is part of our ongoing strategy to help usher as many small and medium retailers as we can into the next evolution of retail technology. The need for these merchants to leverage technology as part of their competitive strategy has never been greater” states RITE CEO Rick Feuling.

In an email sent to RTE’s Microsoft RMS clients, company president Mahendran Ramanathan stated “I have known Rick Feuling, the President and CEO of RITE for almost 10 years. We had other offers but we chose RITE because of my confidence in their ability to service your needs to your satisfaction”.

RITE’s focus on customer service means that former RTE customers will enjoy the level of service that has contributed to RITE being the winner of the Microsoft / Retail Realm Circle of Excellence Award for Growth for 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2016.

The acquisition is effective immediately and a smooth transition can be expected due to RITE’s past experience with the merger and acquisition of other retail point of sale sales and service companies.

As part of the acquisition, RITE has also acquired some of RTE’s intellectual property.

About RITE: With offices in Sartell, MN, Dallas, TX and Boise, ID, RITE has provided sales and 365/24/7 support to retailers using the Microsoft RMS point of sale software since 2002. In addition to the Microsoft Dynamics RMS point of sale software, RITE provides complete retail point of sale hardware and software solutions to over 1000 stores in 50 states and 13 countries. RITE can be reached at 1-866-267-7483 and their website address is www.rite.us.

About RTE: Established in 1991 as Business Automation Consultants, RTE has grown to provide service to over 1000 clients via a main office in Miramar, FL. On September 30th, 2016, RTE made the decision to divest their customer base to other point of sale businesses. 

Vertical Specialties for Various Retail Point of Sale Systems

As July is not a big month for point of sale news and information, I thought that I would pass along some information related to what vertical markets various point of sale programs focus on. This is not meant to say that the program will not work in a different vertical - just that the program has an established presence in the verticals listed below.

If you recall, my point of sale workshops stress that you should focus on point of sale programs that are designed for your type of business.

NCR Silver

• Small general retail stores and food service businesses like food trucks, counter serve restaurants/cafeterias/coffee shops, and concession stands.
• Temporary or seasonal retail businesses
• Mobile retail or service only businesses
• Kiosk businesses
• Thrift and second hand stores
• Clothing and Apparel Stores
• E-Cig Stores

First Data Clover

• Same as NCR Silver 

Bindo Point of Sale

• Wine, Beer and Liquor Stores
• Pet Stores
• Health and Beauty 
• Clothing and Apparel Stores
• Sporting Goods Stores
• Museums
• Gift Shops
• Candy Stores
• Salons and Spas
• Thrift and second hand stores
• Pro Shops

NCR CounterPoint

• Museums
• Thrift and second hand stores
• Garden Centers
• Pet Stores
• Sporting Goods Stores
• Clothing and Apparel Stores
• Liquor Stores
• Sporting Goods Stores
• Gift Shops
• Tobacco and E-Cig Stores 
• Pro Shops

Retail Pro

• Same as NCR CounterPoint

Microsoft RMS

• Same as NCR CounterPoint and Retail Pro
• A lot of government entities (since it is a Microsoft product) as well as government run businesses like golf courses and pro shops.

I realize this is not a complete list but I used information from the companies websites, what trade shows these companies attend, and my own 15 years of personal experience.

Can I help by offering some free point of sale advice or answering your retail or museum point of sale related questions?  If you are in the United States then please use the contact form to the right, email me at kevinantosh@gmail.com or call me on my cell at 208-340-5632. I've worked with thousands of businesses over the years to help them find the best point of sale solution and have also negotiated some pretty cool discounts as well.

Point of Sale Specials, Discounts, and Promo's - Oh My!

As we head in to mid-July 2014, just a quick note that I have been able to secure some point of sale hardware and software discounts from various point of sale solution providers that I trust.  At this point, just about anyone with a retail store or a museum that is searching for a new point of sale system or thinking about upgrading a point of sale system should get in touch with me.

So now you not only get free help selecting a point of sale system or answering your point of sale related questions, but you can save a lot towards the cost of a new or upgraded point of sale solution for your business or organization.


Now that is very cool!  Keep in mind that these discounts and promotions will end - I just don't know when at this point. Your business or organization must be located in the United States.

If I can help please contact me via the contact form on this blog site, via email at kevinantosh@gmail.com or on my cell at 208-340-5632. I've been helping folks find the right point of sale system for over 15 years and do not charge for my services (unless you want to pay me - I'm OK with that!).

NCR Silver Point of Sale Review and Demo

Since I already provided a basic video review of demo of the backoffice part of NCR Silver, it was time to post a brief video showing how the point of sale side of NCR Silver looks and works.

The highlights are:

• Very simple to setup, learn, and use
• Flexible for both retail and food service businesses
• Can be turned off and on for seasonal businesses
• Monthly price includes support and updates
• Some limited loyalty and email marketing functions

Summary: 
Affordable mobile solution for retail, museum and food service businesses who want more than what a cash register can do.

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.

New Updates for NCR Silver

Thanks to a new iPad Air, I was able to catch up on what has been happening with the NCR Silver mobile point of sale solution for iOS devices.

There have been some significant changes in terms of an enhanced version of NCR Silver for food service businesses but the core retail version of NCR Silver remains the same.  The functionality lies between a cash register and a true point of sale system.  With newer mobile solutions like Bindo POS offering more functionality for the same price, I'm sure the development team at NCR is working to add more advanced functions and features to NCR Silver.

Here are the update highlights:

• Restaurant Pro Edition price starts at $129.00/month
• A Silver 'Guru' can assist with the setup of your system for $299.00 (looks to be combination of phone and onsite service)
• For around $30.00/month you can have integration between NCR Silver and QuickBooks Accounting

Those are the major changes - I am working on a video demo of the sales side of NCR Silver as well.

Can I help?  If you are in need of some free point of sale advice, you can reach me at kevinantosh@gmail.com or 208-340-5632. I have over 15 years experience helping retail stores and museums select the best point of sale solution for their business or organization.

BBQ With Bindo Point of Sale

So this is pretty cool (I've done these sorts of events myself several times via an open house or even setting up a community event with a bus and food).

Bindo Point of Sale is hosting a BBQ in the New York City Area.  Here are the details:

Bindo Summer Bash

Come meet fellow merchants and enjoy a free BBQ on us!

When: Sunday, July 20 2-5pm
Where: East River Park grills on 10th Street
 East River Promenade, New York, NY 10019
RSVP: events@bindo.com by July 14

We will have a brief presentation on
Taking Back Main Street: Easy Hacks for Mom & Pop Shops

Be sure to stick around - at 4pm we will be giving out
free 60 day trails of Bindo!

Feel free to bring along fellow merchants!

More information: http://us7.campaign-archive2.com/?u=6c178b6ca0cdfc56036d5786c&id=e00241eace

This is a great way to check out Bindo Point of Sale in a casual environment and meet some of the folks involved with Bindo Point of Sale.   Maybe they can setup a livestream for those of us not in the NYC area!

Have point of sale questions and want some free advice or help?  Over the last 15 years I have worked with thousands of retail stores and museums to help direct them to the correct point of sale solution. You can reach me at kevinantosh@gmail.com, via the contact form to the right, or on my cell at 208-340-5632.

New Review of Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management Systems Store Operations (RMS)

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

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).

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

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.

One of the things that I try to stay on top of are user reviews of different point of sale solutions.  The reviews have been the most popular posts on this site and have also generated the most phone calls and emails from folks searching for free point of sale help and advice.

While it is easy to link to a review, I prefer to paraphrase the review for the following reasons:

1. Over the years I have figured out how to 'read between the lines' to find the key points of each review
2. I'm also able to easily spot reviews that may have been written from someone attempting to increase or decrease a products reputation (not truly a fake review but a review written with an intent that goes beyond just sharing personal experiences)
3. The biggest reason is that a popular point of sale software review website exists only to sell your information to multiple point of sale companies - that's right, they make money by selling your information

The most recent review came from a pet store. I honestly question the truthfulness in the review because the review was very negative and I know of multiple pet stores in the US using RMS and they are very happy with it. A careful reading of the review indicates two possible things that happened:

1. The person thought that they could buy and setup the system without any help
2. The person bought the system from a Microsoft Partner who either over promised and/or got in
   "over their heads".

Again, I have personally worked with multiple pet stores who use RMS and it is a great fit. Hopefully, this particular pet store will find a new Microsoft RMS Partner to help fix things or the existing partner that the system was purchased from will step up and makes things right.

If the pet store thought that they could do everything themselves then they need to pay to have a partner come in and help get them up to speed.

Can I help?  Over the last 15 years I have worked with thousands of retail stores, museums, and government entities to help them find the best point of sale solution. You can reach me at kevinantosh@gmail.com or on my cell at 208-340-5632 for free point of sale help and advice.

New Bindo Point of Sale Reviews

One of the things that I try to stay on top of are user reviews of different point of sale solutions.  The reviews have been the most popular posts on this site and have also generated the most phone calls and emails from folks searching for free point of sale help and advice.

While it is easy to link to a review, I prefer to paraphrase the review for the following reasons:

1. Over the years I have figured out how to 'read between the lines' to find the key points of each review
2. I'm also able to easily spot reviews that may have been written from someone attempting to increase or decrease a products reputation (not truly a fake review but a review written with an intent that goes beyond just sharing personal experiences)
3. The biggest reason is that a popular point of sale software review website exists only to sell your information to multiple point of sale companies - that's right, they make money by selling your information

Bindo Point Of Sale has seen some new reviews recently, here are the key points from the reviews:

• The functionality of Bindo is good
• There have been some glitches but these appear to be quickly addressed
• Some comments have been made related to adding more accounting functions to the software (believe that the users mean A/R and having an interface to QuickBooks accounting which I know Bindo is working on both items)
• It appears that Bindo is doing a good job of keeping the software app updated
• A couple of reviewers mentioned problems related to Bindo locking up (tough to know if this is related to Bindo, the hardware, or even an ISP issue)
• Many reviewers had high praise for the support that they receive from Bindo

For a "newish" point of sale solution, it looks like Bindo is growing a happy customer base. More reviews on Bindo POS can be found here: https://bindopos.com/reviews

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.

New NCR CounterPoint Reviews

April 3rd, 2016, new video review/overview of the NCR CounterPoint SQL point of sale software: http://retailpospondering.blogspot.com/2016/04/updated-review-of-ncr-counterpoint-sql.html

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.

In addition to the above, I also know which trusted NCR CounterPoint Partners are offering significant discounts and incentives to RMS and HQ users as well as hosted versions of NCR CounterPoint (helps reduce some of your IT costs) and special versions of NCR CounterPoint for thrift stores like Goodwill.

One of the things that I try to stay on top of are user reviews of different point of sale solutions.  The reviews have been the most popular posts on this site and have also generated the most phone calls and emails from folks searching for free and unbiased point of sale help and advice.

While it is easy to link to a review, I prefer to paraphrase the review for the following reasons:

1. Over the years I have figured out how to 'read between the lines' to find the key points of each review
2. I'm also able to easily spot reviews that may have been written from someone attempting to increase or decrease a products reputation (not truly a fake review but a review written with an intent that goes beyond just sharing personal experiences)
3. The biggest reason is that a popular point of sale software review website exists only to sell your information to multiple point of sale companies - that's right, they make money by selling your information

So, there has been a new review of the NCR CounterPoint point of sale software posted recently. The review was very negative but it appears that the user had a restaurant or similar food service business. While I have seen food service business use NCR CounterPoint, we had to modify the software and it was only put in because the food service was part of a larger business like a deli which CounterPoint is well suited for.

Point being that NCR CounterPoint is designed for retail stores and museums but has been modified in some cases to work at food service businesses like concession stands and counter-service businesses. If you have a business that has both a retail and food service aspect, the CounterPoint may work but you really need to have a heart to heart talk with your NCR CounterPoint partner to make sure they have made the correct modifications and done this before (I've only done twice myself with NCR CounterPoint).

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.

Retail Pro Reviews

One of the things that I try to stay on top of are user reviews of different point of sale solutions.  The reviews have been the most popular posts on this site and have also generated the most phone calls and emails from folks searching for free point of sale help and advice.

While it is easy to link to a review, I prefer to paraphrase the review for the following reasons:

1. Over the years I have figured out how to 'read between the lines' to find the key points of each review
2. I'm also able to easily spot reviews that may have been written from someone attempting to increase or decrease a products reputation (not truly a fake review but a review written with an intent that goes beyond just sharing personal experiences)
3. The biggest reason is that a popular point of sale software review website exists only to sell your information to multiple point of sale companies - that's right, they make money by selling your information

Over the last couple of months there have been a large number of Retail Pro reviews posted online. Here are the key points gleaned from all the reviews which appeared to come from retailers of all sizes within the US:

• Users really like the support and service that they receive from their Retail Pro Partner - especially Big Hairy Dog (BHD) 
• Overall, Retail Pro received high marks for functionality and reliability
• Both short and long term users mentioned that the software was very reliable
• About the only minor issues noted are that the ease of use could be better and that the latest version of Retail Pro seemed to operate slower than the previous versions

Overall, some great reviews of Retail Pro which is what would be expected since Retail Pro is the type of point of sale solution that includes installation, training, and ongoing support as part of the price when purchased from a Retail Pro partner like BHD.

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 Dynamics Retail Management Systems Store Operations (RMS) Review and Demo

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

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).

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.

The license swap options mentioned below refer to Retail Realm Essentials and Retail Management Hero point of sale software programs.

My thoughts on the Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management Systems Store Operations (RMS) point of sale software and a quick look at the manager/back office part of the software.

RMS has been one of my favorite point of sale solutions over the years and currently is in use at over 40,000 stores, museums, and government entities. Even though sales to new users for RMS will end July 2016, there will be license swap/migration options for RMS users who stay current on their annual maintenance agreement.

Here is the video:

The Highlights:

• Great solution for retail stores, museums, and government entities of all sizes
• Lots of third part add-ons for special functions like online shopping carts and loyalty programs
• Very popular solution for government entities
• User interface is outdated looking
• Takes some training to get a handle on the correct way to run reports
• Sales of RMS will end in July 2016 but their will be a migration path to other point of sale solutions from Microsoft

Bottom Line:

A great solution but sales of RMS and HQ to new users ends July 2016 and the options for complying with the October 1st, 2015 EMV Liability Shift Date are somewhat cumbersome. Flat out, it just doesn't make sense to look at RMS or HQ as a potential point of sale system.

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.

Review and Demo Of Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management Systems Store Operations (RMS)

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

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).

In this video I share my personal experience working with the Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management Store Operations (RMS) point of sale solution. I also very quickly show the main parts of the RMS point of sale module.

The key highlights are:

• Very flexible - can be user in nearly any retail store or museum
• Quick when it comes to running transactions
• Sized to work with nearly any sized retail business or museum
• Popular with government entities as well
• Lots of add-ons via third parties
• Big cost advantage over other PC-based point of sale solutions
• Dated interface 
• Sales will end in July 2016 
• There are license swap options that will be available to other point of sale solutions offered by Microsoft
• Must be current on your annual maintenance agreement to qualify for the license swap options

Summary:
 Great solution but getting dated and we need more details from Microsoft related to what Dynamics Retail Essentials will offer compared to RMS plus sales of RMS and HQ to new users will end on July, 2016.

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.

Video Review and Demo of Bindo Point of Sale

As Bindo Point of Sale has quickly become the most popular retail and museum point of sale solution on my blog site, I figured that it was time to make a quick video showing what Bindo looks like. My AirPlay software was running unusually slow so any slowness in screen changes is not related to Bindo but to my AirPlay software linking my iPad Air to my Win 7 laptop.

The feedback that I have been getting about Bindo is very positive. What one retailer mentioned kind of sums it all up: if Bindo can do more than what other mobile point of sale solutions can do for the same or a lower price, why wouldn't I choose Bindo over NCR Silver or Clover?

I do have a fully functioning copy of Bindo if you want to take a more in depth look. More reviews on Bindo POS can be found here: https://bindopos.com/reviews

Visit my contact page for information on how to reach me.

NCR Silver Review and Back Office Demo

I've worked a bit over the last couple of years with the NCR Silver mobile point of sale solution. The video below covers what I like and don't like about NCR Silver as well as a brief overview of teh back office part of NCR Silver.

The highlights are:

• Very simple to setup, learn, and use
• Flexible for both retail and food service businesses
• Can be turned off and on for seasonal businesses
• Monthly price includes support and updates
• Some limited loyalty and email marketing functions
• Must buy the hardware and peripherals while other solutions like Bindo offer free hardware and peripherals
• Not a true point of sale system
• If solutions like Bindo can offer more of a true point of sale solution for the same monthly price then why choose NCR Silver?

Summary:
Affordable mobile solution for retail, museum and food service businesses who want more than what a cash register can do but more advanced solutions like Bindo POS are making the original mobile solutions like Clover and NCR Silver look a bit too basic.

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.

New NCR Silver Review

One of the things that I try to stay on top of are user reviews of different point of sale solutions.  The reviews have been the most popular posts on this site and have also generated the most phone calls and emails from folks searching for free point of sale help and advice.

While it is easy to link to a review, I prefer to paraphrase the review for the following reasons:

1. Over the years I have figured out how to 'read between the lines' to find the key points of each review
2. I'm also able to easily spot reviews that may have been written from someone attempting to increase or decrease a products reputation (not truly a fake review but a review written with an intent that goes beyond just sharing personal experiences)
3. The biggest reason is that a popular point of sale software review website exists only to sell your information to multiple point of sale companies - that's right, they make money by selling your information

Overall the review of NCR Silver was very positive. The user has a specialty retail store and mentioned how easy NCR Silver is to learn and use and that the support has been very helpful.  Minor issues are mentioned related to some glitches that appear to be worked though via a call to support and some hardware issues related to the credit card swipes not having the right connection for the new iOS devices (this was a common issue since Apple switched to the new 'lightning' connectors but has mostly been resolved).

So, overall a positive review from an NCR Silver user.  Just keep in mind that NCR Silver falls between the functionality of a cash register and point of sale system but meets most of the basic needs of small retail stores, seasonal businesses, small museums, and basic food service businesses like food trucks and concession stands.

Can I help?  Over the last 15 years I have worked with thousands of retail stores, museums, and government entities to help them find the best point of sale solution. You can reach me at kevinantosh@gmail.com or on my cell at 208-340-5632 for free point of sale help and advice.

NCR CounterPoint Review and Demo

April 3rd, 2016, new video review/overview of the NCR CounterPoint SQL point of sale software: http://retailpospondering.blogspot.com/2016/04/updated-review-of-ncr-counterpoint-sql.html

One of the point of sale programs that I have worked with over the years is the NCR CounterPoint solution. This video covers some of the things that I like and don't like about NCR CounterPoint as well as a brief overview of the software itself.

The highlights are:

• A great solution for a larger single location retail store or for chains with up to 300 locations
• Very touch screen friendly for museums and similar organizations that have admissions
• Specialty hardware is available for tough environments like food service or nursery/garden centers
• Lots of high level functions related to email marketing behind the scenes, integrated online store,  text alerts, and selling via both a PC's and iOS devices like iPads
• If your business is not generating at least $800,000+ in annual gross sales, you will never get your purchase price back in terms of ROI via increased sales, reduces theft, better reporting, etc
• Complex - takes a good 15-20 hours of formalized training to learn how to use NCR CounterPoint - this is not a "do it yourself program". The end result is that you have a very robust point of sale system that can do just about anything you ask of it, no matter what type of retail store you have or how many locations you have
• Ticket entry mode for stores that need to quickly process transactions like liquor stores and convenience stores

Summary:
 Great solution for larger single and multi-location retail store and museums whole sales volume and technology needs justify the investment.

Visit my contact page for information on how to reach me for unbiased point of sale advice.

Korona POS from Combase Expands in to the US

German company COMBASE has announced that they are expanding their point of sale app into the US market under the name KORONA.pos.

The website information and pricing indicates that this solution appears to be similar to other mobile point of sale systems but with a few unique features:

• Age Verification
• Best Price (ensures that your customer is getting the lowest price possible)
• Rapid Cashier Change
• Bind and Split Items

I'm not able to find any customer reviews on this solution and there is only a long distance phone number so I am a little lost as to how active the US expansion actually is. Hopefully I will get a chance to take a look at KORONA POS from COMBASE USA and offer more in depth information.

In the meantime, you can visit https://www.combase-usa.com/products/cloud/terminal/ for more information.

Visit my contact page for information on how to reach me.

Demo Videos and Downloads

A quick reminder that several companies offer 30 day free trial periods and/or demo versions of the software.  If you are interested here are the various solutions that I have access to for demo purposes:

• NCR CounterPoint
• Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management Systems Store Operations (RMS)
• QuickBooks Point of Sale
• Aldelo 
• NCR Silver (back office only - POS pending)
• Bindo POS

I am also working on some demo videos that show some of the high level aspects of each point of sale solution. that should be ready yet this week. Since there isn't a lot of point of sale news (normally) during the summer, I figured that now would be a great time to upload some video demos of point of sale solutions.  Note that a video can only cover the general highlights unless you really want a 45 minute long video (have some popcorn ready).

Same goes for my workshop presentation videos - the actual workshop scales from 45 minutes to three hours depending on the audience. I doubt that any of you want to watch that long of a video!  Let me know if I am wrong tho!

Visit my contact page for information on how to reach me.

Point of Sale Buying Tip Video - Merchant Services

Over the last 15 years I have conducted point of sale workshop presentations at retail and museum conferences, expos, and trade shows as well as at small business development/success centers.  I thought that it would be helpful to create some point of sale buying tip videos related to excerpts from the point of sale workshop presentations.

This excerpt deals with merchant services (credit and debit card processing) and things to watch out for when choosing a merchant services company, I also touch on EMV as well as how merchant services and point of sale systems should interact.

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.