When it comes to digital signage, the times, to quote an old Bob Dylan song, are “a-changing.” The scope of digital signage is no longer limited to “way-finding” (directions to a certain department in a store, for example) and the flashing of simple messages (such as the ticket number of a customer currently being served in a deli).

Today’s forward-thinking retailers and foodservice operators have begun to experiment with more sophisticated versions of digital signage. For example, some retailers and restaurants are interfacing digital signage with point of sale solutions like pcAmerica’s Cash Register Express and Restaurant Pro Express, configuring their systems to present different messages to shoppers on customer display screens as they wait to pay for their purchases. In certain cases, digital signage is integrated not only with the point of sale system, but also with the inventory control system. Digital content then changes based on real-time transaction data. For instance, suppose you own a variety store, it’s the end of the summer, and you’re using digital signage to promote beach toys at a low price. When the last toy is sold, the digital piece is updated so that this message stops appearing and another one—perhaps reminding shoppers that it’s time to buy school supplies—takes its place.

Meanwhile, restaurateurs have begun to replace static menu boards with digital menu boards whose content changes to spotlight different bills of fare or menu items during individual dayparts—for example, egg sandwiches at breakfast time and special sandwich combos at lunchtime. Digital signage in the form of digital menu boards is also being used by foodservice operators to convey promotional messages, as well as to increase revenues by featuring advertisements for products (like branded beverages) that are served in their restaurants.

For more information on retail and restaurant point-of-sale systems, contact pcAmerica.

In our last blog entry, we set out the provisos of an amendment to the proposed Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010 and noted some related law-making occurring at the state level. And as we mentioned, if a bill with “minimum/maximum” transaction size allowances is indeed signed into law, and/or should your state government opt to follow Vermont’s lead, you’ll have a few decisions to make.

For starters, if you haven’t been imposing a minimum charge for credit and debit card transactions, you’ll need to decide whether to leave things “status quo” or to jump on the “minimum/maximum” bandwagon. In coming to a conclusion, consider that consumers have become accustomed to buying everything from a cup of coffee to a new car with their credit and debit cards. Many simply don’t carry cash anymore and may no longer patronize stores or dining establishments where the size of their transaction may dictate how they pay for their purchases.

Bear in mind, also, that as opponents of the amendment point out, you’ll need to spend time training employees to explain “minimum/maximum” policies at the point of sale. Moreover, confusion at the point of sale leads to more costly transactions for merchants. Any savings you may reap as a result of opting for minimums and maximums may be lost in time and efficiency.

Should you opt to forge ahead on the “minimum/maximum” front, think very carefully about the minimum amount customers must spend in your store in order to use a credit or debit card, as well as the maximum transaction amount they may settle using “plastic” rather than cash or even a check. Look at the levels set by your competitors, and keep your “numbers” in line with them.

For more information on this issue or to read the full article, www.paymentsource.com

Federal legislation that would permit merchants to set minimum and maximum limits on the dollar value of credit/debit card transactions they are willing to accept has yet to progress past the “pending” stage.  However, now is the time to consider the potential effect of such legislation on your business and to figure out how, if at all, you will change your operating policies in tandem with new rules.

Here’s the story in a nutshell: The limits specified within the legislation would be permitted under terms of a Senate amendment to the proposed Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010. The amendment also would authorize the Federal Reserve to dictate debit card interchange rates and would allow you and your fellow merchants to offer customers incentives to use cards tied to networks that impose lower rates than others. U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) originally introduced these changes this past May, in a series of three individual amendments to the Act that he later consolidated into one. A similar amendment to the Act introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives does not contain provisions for credit/debit transaction limits, and the two versions are presently being put through a conference negotiation process to reconcile their differences.

State governments are also getting in on the action. For example, under the umbrella of new legislation signed into law in Vermont, merchants in that state can now impose a $10 minimum on credit card transactions. Other state legislators are said to be mulling similar moves.

Stay tuned for the second part of this series to learn from pcAmerica what else you need to know about the amendment and similar legislation.

“Support” and “maintenance” are nebulous terms, but when it comes to these two elements, retailers need to be very clear about what they’re getting from their POS systems vendor.

On the support side, it’s essential to ensure not only that you have access to help 24/7 and 365 days a year, but also to make certain that there is more than one way to get that help. A telephone number to call no matter what the hour is a start. However, it’s not enough. A reputable vendor also provides its retailer customers with an email address. Additional downloadable material should also be available—for instance, software patches, drivers and demos, along with manuals and any ancillary programs.

As for the POS maintenance contract, be certain to find out exactly what your money gets you—there should be no hidden fees or “extras” to pay for after the contract has been signed. For best results, ascertain that the fee is “per seat”. Ask what that fee covers and for what duration. When in doubt, consult a salesperson prior to signing on the dotted line to obtain expert advice as to which maintenance plan best suits your needs.

pcAmerica offers comprehensive POS maintenance agreements, and its staff stand ready to help you pick the one that will fulfill your requirements. Contact pcAmerica for more information.

Sure, every retailer is trying to save money these days. However, purchasing POS system components from an ISV or full-service VAR may be preferable to obtaining them elsewhere, even if the cost is slightly higher.

ISVs like pcAmerica, as well as full-service VARs, offer value to their customers in the form of additional support.  Problems can be resolved quickly and effectively, without playing a “waiting-for-service” game or losing money because malfunctioning POS equipment must be taken off-line for an extended period of time.

Unlike sources whose roster of services does not include support, ISVs and full-service VARs also employ teams of experts whose experience allows them to get to the heart of customers’ problems immediately. Their pool of human resources is such that support staff members can firmly establish and consistently maintain a high level of contact—and technical support—with and for clients.

In short, spending more money at the start of a POS system implementation to obtain the support you need later on is the smart solution.

Pencils down! Put those notebooks away! While retailers have for years used paper-based methods to track inventory, it’s time to consider replacing paper-based methods with a much more functional handheld system.
Unlike manual methods for inventory-counting and receiving, automated handheld systems allow data to be captured by and accessed from retailers’ systems in real time. The information needed to formulate smarter business decisions—and in turn, to ensure that the right amount of the right merchandise is on the shelves when customers want it – is always available.

What’s more, the features of these automated systems, such as the “count” option on pcAmerica’s Pocket Inventory product—make for a faster, more accurate process than writing down counts and hand-entering them into a database later on. Staff can scan each product and enter the number in stock, and that’s it. Counts are synchronized with the POS, and discrepancy reports can be generated to indicate overstocks and shortages.
Processing deliveries away from the storefront, as is possible with a handheld system, also promotes an organized, clutter-free store environment.  Purchase orders and direct store deliveries need not be brought to the checkout counter for “processing”, but rather can be scanned in where they are received. New orders can be efficiently generated by scanning shelf labels and entering the quantity to purchase, with order information synched directly to the POS.

To discover more about the benefits of handheld inventory control systems, contact your pcAmerica representative or visit www.pcamerica.com

pcAmerica, a leading developer of retail and restaurant point of sale software, announced that they have joined the Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA).  As a new member of the association, pcAmerica plans to exhibit at RSPA’s upcoming Retail Now conference scheduled for July 25th-28th at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas.  pcAmerica will exhibit their award winning point of sale software, Restaurant Pro Express and Cash Register Express, at the Retail Now show.

“The decision to join the RSPA and attend their annual convention is an important part of our growth strategy as our company actively looks to recruit new reseller partners,” stated David Gosman, CEO of pcAmerica.  “The RSPA membership is well known and respected as leaders in the point of sale industry.”

The Retail Solutions Providers Association (RSPA) is the only association dedicated to the retail technology industry. RSPA members include resellers, hardware manufacturers, software developers, consultants, finance companies, and distributors bringing retail technology products and/or services to the marketplace. The RSPA provides education, certification, industry advocacy, benefits and information that assists members with becoming and remaining successful.

“RSPA is proud to welcome pcAmerica as a member of the industry association for Retail Technology.  As our membership continues to grow, the addition of pcAmerica provides greater industry reach and inclusive representation creating a stronger voice for the industry overall,” said J. Joseph Finizio, RSPA President & CEO.

It’s not your father’s cash register. POS solutions from companies like pcAmerica are becoming ever more functional. The following is just a peek into what’s going on in the retail POS systems arena:

1.    Enterprise integration is king (and queen). Merchants aren’t just integrating their POS systems with one other application, such as accounting. Rather, they are also integrating these systems into their e-commerce solutions, as well as with systems used by their suppliers and customers.

2.    Retailers are leveraging their POS systems to gather detailed information about which customers are buying which items. Such data is being applied to the creation of targeted marketing programs—for instance, those that follow up an individual’s purchase with a personalized offer or special coupons.

3.    Kiosks are gaining traction within the retail setting. The fact that more and more consumers want a “do-it-yourself” in-store experience is driving this trend.

4.    Self-service applications—for example, self-scanning–are morphing into self-service applications that appeal to customers because of the added flexibility and to retailers because of the inherent labor savings.

5.    Increasingly, payment processing is being handled directly through the POS system, rather than through separate credit card readers and associated software.

To find out more contact pcAmerica or visit www.pcamerica.com.

Just as the restaurant business is evolving, so, too, is restaurant POS software. Here are a few of the hottest restaurant POS applications trends currently heating up the market:

1.    Increasingly, POS software serves as the “central nervous system” or hub of the restaurant, tracking and controlling not just sales activity, but everything from inventory and ingredient usage to ordering from suppliers.

2.    POS software is becoming the “conduit” that’s used to handle customers’ interaction with restaurants, whether customers are on-site or not. In cases where customers are interacting remotely with restaurants’ POS systems, contact is occurring via mobile phone (for example, the exchange of text messages containing orders, marketing messages and the like) or the Internet (social networking and online ordering).

3.    Loyalty is being integrated into social networking applications as a growing number of customers gravitate away from traditional ways to track rewards, and as restaurateurs seek new means of attracting and retaining clientele.

4.    Restaurant operators are leveraging information from POS systems to “feed” social networking; for example, they are taking information about what customers ordered and sharing it via social networking sites to garner even more interest in their establishments. For example, “200 people tried our new sandwich last Thursday. Come in and give it a try, too.”

5.    Interfaces between the POS system and other technology components, such as digital signage, are being established to do a better job of promoting to customers.

To find out more about how to leverage these trends in your restaurant, contact pcAmerica or visit www.pcamerica.com.

You’ve no doubt heard that increasing numbers of retailers and restaurant operators are beginning to leverage social networking as a marketing tool, using sites like Facebook, Twitter, and FourSquare.  But is this worth doing?  The answer is a resounding “yes”.

Social networking is a marketing method that can and should be employed by restaurant chains and smaller, independent businesses alike. Increasingly, consumers are looking for a personal touch when it comes to communicating with the stores and restaurants they patronize. By contrast, their interest in blanket mailings and other marketing ploys is waning. Social networking adds the personal element—at a far lower price than you’d pay for other marketing vehicles.

What’s more, combining social networking with customer loyalty programs yields the hefty return on investment operators have sought since the popularity of social networking began to mushroom. Melding social networking and customer loyalty programs not only generates consumer awareness for the company involved; it also sparks sales. Even more importantly, it brings new customers into the fold. For example, several months ago, pcAmerica integrated a social networking component into the loyalty program of a frozen dessert chain that uses its Restaurant Express restaurant POS software. Customers participating in the program can connect their social networking accounts to their customer loyalty accounts. Whenever a dessert is purchased or a reward is earned, an automatic notification appears on the individual’s social networking page and/or in his or her Twitter feed.  Notifications about rewards pack a viral effect, as other potential customers wonder how they, too, can get in on the action.

For more information on how to integrate social marketing and point of sale technology, contact pcAmerica or visit www.pcamerica.com.