| It seems that as soon as a piece of IT equipment or | | | | and loyalty rewards and integrating the physical store |
| software has been installed it's immediately | | | | with its online store customer activity, providing yet |
| superseded by a faster sexier version. So what was | | | | more new improved technology options to think about. |
| an ideal IT solution soon becomes out of date. | | | | No matter how big or small the retail operation; there |
| Built-in-Obsolescence is a fact of life and even affects | | | | are some basic considerations that should be |
| us at a basic level with our home computers. As new | | | | addressed when specifying a new IT system to help |
| power hungry versions of software are introduced we | | | | manage your IT investment effectively. |
| are encouraged (forced) to upgrade our existing | | | | Start by selecting a partner and not just a supplier - |
| hardware to enable us to work normally again. | | | | the system is a significant investment, and you need a |
| Specifying the right IT solution at the outset is a tricky | | | | partner who will work with you to ensure that you get |
| business. First you need to identify the requirement and | | | | the most out of your investment - and is going to be |
| then build a business case. Many large organisations | | | | around for the long term. |
| have such complicated and finicky tendering | | | | Plan for the future - think about technological |
| processes that can go on forever. This often makes a | | | | advancements, business needs you may have planned |
| timely solution become redundant by the time it's | | | | for in the future for example expansion. Are you |
| implemented. The other factor is the vendor and client | | | | planning to add interactive kiosks, or develop |
| do not always own up to the full cost of living with the | | | | e-commerce? |
| system. They don't take into account all its associated | | | | Branding - systems are available in all sorts of shapes, |
| costs during the natural lifecycle. The Total Cost of | | | | sizes and colours now. It's not like the old cash register |
| Ownership (TCO) is not focussed on only the capital | | | | on a counter; you can enhance your brand with the |
| cost, but in lots of cases it is all the Board is initially | | | | implementation of technology. |
| interested in. | | | | Reliability - you can't afford to implement a system |
| Built-in-obsolescence drives the need for an IT | | | | that proves itself unreliable. If your system is 'down' |
| system's replacement, because it is old, outmoded, | | | | then you can't make transactions which means you |
| falling into disuse - both functionally and technologically. | | | | can't run your business efficiently. Ask for references, |
| This becomes apparent particularly when the service it | | | | and check out the level of support from the |
| was designed to provide is no longer efficient or cost | | | | maintenance provider. |
| effective. For instance, when the scalability has | | | | Think about what your business needs - EPOS |
| reached its limits and the architecture is harder to | | | | software isn't just about the front end at the till, it is a |
| maintain. Also old systems may need significant | | | | powerful management tool providing reams of |
| updates to cope with new legislation changes and | | | | information relating to your business. Reporting, stock |
| compliance regulations. A big driver is of course when | | | | control, purchase orders, price look-ups, cashing up, |
| competitors have grabbed an edge by implementing | | | | e-commerce, bar-coding etc. The list is endless, but not |
| new technology features. However it's not all bad as a | | | | all systems offer everything so check them out and |
| depreciation of an asset looks good from an | | | | make sure you have a check-list when you have a |
| accounting perspective. | | | | demo. Does the software integrate with your |
| Keeping ahead of the competition is every businesses | | | | accounts package? Payment options, what does the |
| challenge and the retail sector is no exception. Since | | | | provider offer? |
| the introduction of POS systems in the mid-1980s, | | | | Speed and Ease of Use - there's nothing worse than |
| retailers and customers alike have benefited from the | | | | having queues at the checkout and the system is |
| technology. The POS system has improved retailing | | | | slow. Make sure the hardware is the right specification |
| beyond recognition. It has enabled faster transaction | | | | and the software is tested on the platform so that you |
| times and helped to improve the overall shopping | | | | know what you are getting and how it responds. Make |
| experience and increased customer satisfaction. Also | | | | it easy for the users to feel comfortable with the |
| the retailer has been able to better manage their | | | | system, and ensure that training is delivered in a |
| inventory and business processes. | | | | professional and comprehensive manner. |
| Now new developments are taking retail POS | | | | Rather than worry about the effects of obsolescence, |
| systems to a whole new level, helping to reduce labour | | | | businesses can benefit from pragmatic management |
| costs and increase impulse purchases, both in stores | | | | of their IT systems which will at least help them |
| and on-line. These include the introduction of in store | | | | prepare for the inevitable. |
| self-service kiosks, managing personalised advertising | | | | |