A Point-Of-Sale Solution From Microsoft

Redmond, Washington-headquartered Microsoft Corporation has announced the launch of a software application targeted towards the retail stores.

Microsoft Dynamics POS 2009, as the software is called, provides touchscreen interface for POS employees to quickly complete sales transactions for the waiting customer. The product deploys smart searching algorithms to bring up relevant information on the screen faster than what was hitherto possible, according to the company release. Latest technologies pertaining to Payment Card Industry (PCI) security standards have been incorporated into POS 2009. The front-end is connected with the back-office seamlessly through real-time inventory and reporting tools that make use of Microsoft’s SQL databases, so stock-in-hand is updated instantly the moment the customer’s card is swiped successfully for merchandise bought.

A nifty feature that according to the release enhances customer experience is to bring out a customer’s purchase history, which can help the customer recall what products they had purchased last, and use this information to decide on their current purchases.

Microsoft has also brought out a SDK for the product, enabling partners to develop add-on third-party solutions that retail stores might find useful.

Read more about the latest solution in retail computerization from Microsoft, here.

HP’s rp3000 Point-of-Sale Device For Retailers

Whether to continue with the traditional cash register our mom and pop used to operate, or to switch over to a swanky new – but mighty expensive, and in these tough economic times! – Point of Sale machine, is a tough decision for any small business retailer. Hewlett-Packard’s new rp3000 attempts to goad just such a retailer into buying the PoS, with its great features and decent price (starting at USD 699).

The rp3000 has an Intel Atom 230 processor (1.60Ghz, 512Kb L2 cache, 533Mhz FSB), with a choice between 160Gb  or 250Gb – 7,200rpm SATA HDD spinning at 3Gb/s, an Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950, any of 512Mb/1Gb/2Gb RAM, and a 10/100/1,000 NIC installed. The machine runs on any of Windows OS editions. You can customize the product with a touchscreen display, receipt printer, cash drawer, barcode scanner or magnetic stripe reader and POS keyboard, besides choosing from an array of software applications (offered by HP in conjunction with independent software vendors).

The nifty approx 15″ (w) by 10″ (d) by 3.35″ (h) box weighing about 8kg takes less space in checkout areas where space is a premium. The touchscreen monitor, keyboard and the scanner are the only tangibles that show over the counter, and everything else can be kept hidden out of sight. A security lock kit (sold separately) takes care of security.

Read more about the rp3000 models here.