What are you? A POS dealer? A POS VAR? An integrator? Does it even matter what you call yourself or how the industry refers to itself? This past RSPA RetailNOW will forever remain in my mind as the time when I felt like the industry really understood and embraced that fact that the world of POS is changing, and that things will never be the same.
For you to survive as a POS VAR, you need to change as well. No longer is it good enough to offer customers POS systems only. The way to stay relevant — and in business — is to offer your customers retail IT solutions.
Check out the below video to learn more about the necessary paradigm shift you need to experience and what it means to be “retail IT”-focused.
August 27, 2012 at 12:18 pm
Bravo Mike!
I strongly believe that the “POS Reseller” community should think of themselves as “Retail IT Solutions Providers”.
More than just a change in name, a change in focus and potential capabilities and recognition by the end user.
Attitude and perception – A first step to following the advances in technology that are and will continue to have a positive impact on both suppliers and users of technology in the retail environment.
August 28, 2012 at 2:47 pm
Well done, Mike!
The new technologies entering the retail space are changing the landscape.
The astute ‘dealer’, rather they astute Retail IT Solution Provider sees this new world as one full of opportunity, not one wrought with risks and threats.
The convergence of retail business systems: retail transaction, payment processing, and security integration, coupled with capabilities offered by mobile and thin hardware platforms offer new ways to bring real value to retailers.
Implicit in your message too, is the death of the term: “POS”. That, I believe, is inevitable.
September 1, 2012 at 7:38 pm
Hello!
I came accross this post a couple of days ago and I’m actually in the market for a new POS system.
We are a single location footwear retailer that dabbles in accessories and also have a large Pedorthic operation making custom orthotics. I have had recent problems with our current POS system and I’m looking for a new one! The typical stuff out there is not targeted enough for what I”m looking for and ideally I would like a custom app built for my specifications… problem is (in my mind) a custom app would be too expensive (but you guys could prove me wrong).
The typical footwear retail applications do not go in depth enough. Aside from a managing merchandise, processing special orders, storing basic demographic info and purchase history, I would like a much more indepth futures (or open to buy) program, more indepth data integration (foot characteristics, social media profiles, employment, personal notes, much more).
** A big issue that we run into is the personal relationship we have with customers. I am a “sit and fit” operation (who knew these still existed) and in our interactions with customers, we develop relationship where lots of usable (and valuable) information gets disseminated. With this information, I would love a system where we could have an customer service employee spend 5 minutes after a sale and enter in a few things they learned. With that info, we could use that in our marketing for more targeted advertisements.
Another big issue I have is with most merchandise apps within the typical POS systems is the basicness of the design. Anyone ever play Madden 2008? I loved the player search system it had by allowing a categorical search system based on characteristes each player had (it’s a bit nerdy and wierd but it was awesome). Anyways, your typical merchandise applications will have general characteristics like “product name”, “size”, “width”, “color”, etc but in the size of our business had grown where we are stocking over 10,000 SKUs. When doing our future orders (another big issue that I would love worked out), there is not an app that really gives the BIG PICTURE of the merchandise that’s being ordered. To get the bigger picture, there needs to be more categorical input such as integrating a “style score” where a 0 equals “classic”, 5 equals “updated” and 10 equals “contemporary”. The big picture to me looks like a galaxy or matrix view of merchandise where each category of merchandise (women’s casual for instance) is it’s own solar system, and the individual solar system is view based on the style charateristics entered (amoung other things).
There’s a lot more I would like to go into but my main shtick with the typical POS systems out there is the design, what the hell happened to a good looking, functionally navigational, and highly integrated software?
If anyone knows of one, OR would like to work with me to design and develop a system to cater to my needs I’d in need like yesterday! I know building software is expensive (and ideas are cheap) but I think with my knowledge and ideas, an unbeatable POS system could be developed. On the other side, there are many other footwear opperations I personally know that would love a system like this. So there’s market out there.
Thanks!
Tony chips
September 5, 2012 at 9:52 am
Tony,
I work with Mike here at Business Solutions and I work with several ISV’s. I can get you some information as well as pricing if you would like. Below is my contact info. Can you send me your complete contact info?
Joe Mureo
814-897-9000 ext.338
Joe.Mureo@bsminfo.com
September 10, 2012 at 6:47 pm
Having recently been involved in some POS installation/upgrades I can tell you first hand that many of these POS solution providers don’t know their a** from a hole in the ground.
One in particular – a company local to us, referred by the POS developing company (Microsoft), tried to bill us to trouble shoot a problem that they were the “experts” in when they couldn’t come up with ANY solution other than saying “call Microsoft”. For about 15 minutes on the phone they tried to bill us $140. I told them that if they attempted to collect this or in any way gave this to any collection agency that we would sue them for FRAUD, breach of contract, and that we would file a formal complaint with Microsoft. Needless to say, they backed off.
What did we lose? The ability for someone “local” to come to our store(s) and fix problems in person, however, with the advent of software like “logmein”, a field trip just isn’t necessary. We ended up purchasing future “lanes” for our POS from a vendor who told us up front that he was NOT knowledgeable, but, we saved SIGNIFICANTLY on the cost. Plus, since we pay yearly fees to Microsoft ANYWAY, we have a number of incidents we can use.
What was the “local” company giving us – nothing other than A BIG BILL. Their hardware was overpriced (VERY OVERPRICED – $850 for an OLD CORE TWO computer) – their software was overpriced ($1150 for what we paid $850 for on the lanes), plus quite a bit larger difference for the Headquarters software. Yep – they are basically screwing the customer… because they can. No good reason.
It has taken me a little while to read and learn the system, however, at this point *I* know the software better than this local company EVER did. Sure, many people can’t learn that because they don’t have the background and that’s why they get taken in by companies like this.
bp
September 11, 2012 at 9:32 pm
To Bob and Tony-
Tony – Please give us a call. (800) 531-4767. We can work with you on creating a custom solution that will meet and exceed all of your expectations. MAC or PC or Cloud.
SunrisePOS has been a true integrator for over a decade.. Not just a local POS dealer, or some drop ship web company that sells you a pile of “goods” and tells you goodbye.. We work with you every step of the way..
I think we can definitely help.
_______________________________________________________
To Bob,
You nailed it on the head.. Many “POS dealers, Resellers VAR’s etc. do not know their a** from a hole in the ground.. You are right.. And here is why.
1) In today’s world – the market is rapidly shifting to the large credit card processors – hooking up with POS hardware, software and installation companies. All of which is supported by the credit card processor or an off-shore technical support company that will read you a users manual if you experience a technical issue or have questions or need more training etc…. That you could do yourself if you had that kind of time. But who has that kind of time when you are trying to run a business??? And the whole “FREE POS SYSTEM” offers that are all over the place.. Are they really FREE??? What do you think? When was the last time you got something for FREE that you didn’t throw in the trash a few days later??
The goal behind ALL of these credit card providers is to make residual income off of your account by selling you monthly technical support (that is horrible and completely worthless), POS hardware (that will be cheap and unreliable), and software (that is typically a watered down version of someone elses software). So.. That FREE POS system on a 4 year contract ends up costing you about $100.00 per month. $4800.00. For a single station pile of crap.. When you could purchase a QUALITY POS System for about $3K and and receive a 3 year warranty, LIVE US BASED technical support 24/7 and not get raked over the coals with high credit card rates to make up for the “FREE” POS systems that they gave you.
Gone are the days of a customer finding a company like SunrisePOS that actually cares about customers businesses as a whole. From the price of the systems today as well as the long term overall costs.. And true – live tech support from a technician that actually knows the software and hardware.
Is the POS market changing Yes.. Just like every business is changing.. But – Are there still true – professional – integrators out there that still actually care about the end-users needs.. Yes. SunrisePOS, Inc. is one of them . And yes. We change with the times as well. We are always continuing to test new products and solutions.
But don’t get stuck buying into the whole FREE POS SYSTEMS… They are not FREE..
2) Many POS dealers didn’t start out as POS dealer or integrators. They sold cash registers and saw their business going down fast because end-users became more reliant and proficient on computers. And the price for a decent POS systems is currently as low as $700.00. (Depending on your needs of course). Or they were a website building company that found a programmer to make them a POS system. And that programmer didn’t know the industry. So.. Although you can do a Google search for a POS System and you will get 5 million pages.. The top guys pay BIG money to get there and are usually the credit card processors that I spoke about above.
Unless you get very creative or find a GREAT SEO company – the “BIG GUYS” will just pay more to get the rankings.. This is good for the BIG players.. But leaves many local dealers on the back pages of Google – but they may be a much better fit for your business.
In regards to “The Death of POS VARS”s.. I think there are thousands of customers that still want that human interaction and this is why SunrisePOS has been so successful for the past 13 years..
Thanks for letting me share.
Bryan Harrington
President/CEO
SunrisePOS, Inc.
Huntington Beach, CA…
September 10, 2012 at 3:00 pm
Hello Mike,
I do agree that the industry and the market is changing… but I also think that there is too much focus on big companies for big companies. Not mentioning the financial investment one needs, to upgrade to all those new IT products. Individual businesses, or “Mom & Pop’s” are being forgotten in the process. I deal with business owners on a daily basis. I am still too small to go after those big corporate structured companies. Your comment applies perfectly to those. However the small business owners are also the “operators”. They work in their shop. They know their trade and most of them are not as computer litterate as we think. Let’s not forget about that. You will not impress them or even sell, by showing them all that wonderful new technology when they barely need a pos system. The affluence of product can be a big turn off. Now of course, one can say that those are perfect targets since they are the ones who would really need our support because they don’t have their own. Yes, but then the financial part comes into play and in many cases, it is very deterring to them. I do believe that there is a big Mom & Pop’s market (from 1 up to 5 or 6 locations, or small franchisees). I am focussing on better marketing, better margin calcultaion, better Internet exposure, better use of the new tehcnological tools available to us, expansion on the ground and better networking and referrals, but keep it simple nevertheless. As small VAR’s, we all would love to sign up a big fish… but it is very unlikely. However I see more and more of Pos end users moving away from the big corporate POS providers, often based on lack of human touch. The human element is and will always make the difference, no matter what the technonoly affluence and saturation is. This approach is what will help VAR’s with strong will stay around for a long time. Calling them different names doesn’t change anything. I don’t know about others but I am not quitting and am here to stay. Death of VAR’s not so fast.
November 27, 2012 at 10:00 pm
Residual income is key no matter what way you look at running a home based business. If you have customers who pay bills on a residual basis then you want to do everything in your power to retain those customers. If you need customers to return to your business, then you need to focus on customer satisfaction. Residual income and repeat customers are a main focus.