The compelling business case for next-generation POS
An Epicor|CRS White Paper
Abstract
A store’s point-of-sale system is a company’s gateway to valuable information. When a store POS system isn’t able to share valuable information about customers, sales, and operations with other parts of the organization, it can impact the bottom line.
Table of Contents
Why upgrade your POS? The risks of legacy POS systems Lack of integration with other key operational areas Difficult or impossible to integrate POS hardware with other store systems Limitations of DOS Possible exposure to fines How the right POS system can enhance ROI Key benefits from upgrading POS Improved customer service More efficient operations Cost savings Advantages for multi-channel retailers Planning POS with the future in mind About Epicor|CRS 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 8
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Why upgrade your POS?
According to Forrester Research, half of European and North American retailers plan to migrate to a new point-of-sale (POS) solution by 20081. This echoes results from AMR Research, which reports that “retail clients are actively investigating new POS hardware and software technologies”2. There are a number of compelling reasons to do just that, most of which center on the advantages that come from improved connectivity between POS and the rest of the enterprise. For example, integrating point-of-sale applications with supply chain and customer loyalty data can enable a store to reduce stockouts and improve customer service.
The risks of legacy POS systems
By some estimates, more than 25 percent of the point-of-sale systems in use in U.S. stores run on DOS or proprietary platforms that seriously limit a retailer’s growth3. The problem: these types of legacy POS systems create islands of information— information that should be shared with other parts of the organization in real-time in order to serve customers and manage stores and operations cost