Beverage Dynamics is the largest national business magazine devoted exclusively to the needs of off-premise beverage alcohol retailers, from single liquor stores to big box chains, through coverage of the latest trends in wine, beer and spirits.
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/379477
www.beveragedynamics.com September/October 2014 • Beverage Dynamics 35 O ne thing all retailers can count on regarding point-of-sale (POS) systems is that there is no shortage of options from available. More vendors continue to introduce new POS products to the marketplace, ranging from small cloud-based systems to sophisticated programs that incorporate multiple business tools. Beverage Dynamics reviewed the current POS landscape to give readers an overview of some of the different options currently available. Keep in mind we're only showcasing a small portion of what's available (see the accompanying buyer's guide for details on even more vendors). When selecting a POS, there's no one-size-fi ts-all for every beverage retailer. Multiple factors must be considered, including cost, functionality, and technical support, among others. Take the time to research various providers to determine which POS is the best match for your business. INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC SOLUTIONS One complaint many beverage retailers share about their existing POS systems is that it often contains a variety of features and tools that are irrelevant to their business. That's one of the things that makes Innovative Computer Solutions distinct. The company has been in business since 1980, fi rst offering the now discontinued Control Plus POS, then featuring the Vision system, which originally launched in 2000. "Our system was written from the ground up with retailers in the liquor industry," says company co-founder and president Tony Pitale. "You won't fi nd unnecessary fi elds in Vision that are related to shoe stores or auto stores, or any other business. We do our own in-house development and have a unique understanding of what people in this industry need." Vision is currently in use across 34 states in more than 1,000 stores. Unique features include a built-in time clock system to help retailers keep track of employees coming and going from work or taking breaks. A label-printing process allows businesses to easily design and print their own labels. The POS also offers a variety of features designed to let retailers discount products in different ways. Mobile solutions include a wireless tablet function that Determining the right system for your business doesn't need to be a hassle. O PAINLESS POINT OF SALE BY MELISSA NIKSIC offers a subset of features from the main system, including the ability to pre-sell to customers from anywhere in the store. Pitale says that one of the best features of Vision is that it is already Payment Card Industry (PCI) 3.0 compliant. The new PCI mandates will require all retailers to adopt chip and PIN credit card technology, which is already the standard throughout Europe and is widely considered to be more secure than traditional magnetic-strip credit cards. Although the new standards for retailers aren't required until October 2015, Vision customers benefi t from knowing that the POS hardware and software they are using in their stores is already PCI 3.0 compliant, and therefore they won't be in danger of receiving any compliance failure fees come next fall. Brian Gauthier has been using the Vision system since he opened the Oakton Wine Shop in Oakton, Virginia, in June 2011. Initially, Gauthier was wowed by Vision's intuitive user interface, which he thought would make it easy to train his staff. Pitale's company sent a representative down to Gauthier's shop for several days, setting up the POS and helping to train staff. Accord- ing to Gauthier, it's been a seamless process ever since. Vision's special attention to PCI standards is an added perk. "Anyone who is a small business owner knows that when there's something that someone else can take care of that you don't have to worry about, it makes such a huge difference," Gauthier says. Vision is a license-based system that is available to retailers for a minimum cost of $5,000. Along with the system itself, cus- tomers receive access to 24-hour technical support and also benefi t from automatic downloads of updated versions of the sys- tem, which are pushed out every four to six weeks. mPower Beverage, after being sought out by multiple beverage retailers, shifted its focus to the beverage industry. In addition to researching POS systems that have all the features you're looking for, make sure you also look into the kind of customer support and security measures that each vendor has to offer.