Technical
support is important to any business that uses
computers, networks and software but doesn’t
necessarily have the internal talent to deal with
various small and not so small issues.
Even taking advantage of a new
software version may be challenging because
upgrading any software without proper consideration
of the effects and appropriate procedures sometimes
may lead to damaging of the data or even rendering
your computers useless. In addition, software
version upgrades may facilitate a chain-reaction of
upgrading other dependent software as well and so
on. So the task may be quite difficult. If you have
to upgrade the software all-at-once in numerous
locations in your organization, the task may seem
like a nightmare.
Not so with Retail Hero's
technical support. What may look like a nightmare to
a helpless business user is just a sleepless night
for one or more Retail Hero’s technicians. Because
of their skill and the advanced remote technology
tools they use, all impossible tasks seem quite
possible for Retail Heroes (By they way, hence the
name).
Here’s an example of how
cumbersome a software upgrade may be. Upgrading to
Dynamics RMS version 2.0 from a prior version
includes the following steps: installing .NET
Framework 2.0, upgrading SQL 2000 or MSDE to SQL
Express 2005, installing RMS 2.0 and HQ Client
(where necessary), installing RMS 2.0 SP1,
activating the software with Microsoft and upgrading
all related RMS add-ins. Error at any of these steps
may cause lose data or worse. Also,
consider this: a typical small retail location may
have on average three computers (2 POS lanes and one
back office computer).The software must be upgraded
on each of these stations. Now, perhaps you have 20
locations and headquarters. You end up with over 60
computers to be upgraded at once. Seems
unmanageable? Impossible? Too expensive? Na-ha,
Retail Hero is here to help.
Take this
real life example. Just about a couple of weeks ago,
on Sunday at 7pm (after all stores in the chain
z-out and closed for the night)
just two
of Retail Hero's technicians, remotely logged onto
the customer’s network and started the upgrade. Each
expert was handling four to five computers at a
time, according to a meticulously defined plan to
maximize efficiency and minimize errors. After going
through about 60 PCs and nine hours of work, all 20
stores and headquarters were successfully upgraded
and tested. The store managers and clerks, coming to
open the stores in the morning found a new version
of the software on their desktops – fully functional
and ready to be used. With the exception of a couple
of small glitches (which were immediately fixed
remotely), everything went really smooth. Thanks to
Retail Hero and its very efficient, inexpensive,
skilled and friendly technical support services, who
did it again!
About
Retail Hero technical support:
Retail Hero offers ongoing
technical support services to any Dynamics RMS user.
Our rate is low compared to the industry standard
and we bill in ¼ hour increments. We handle
absolutely any type of question or request related
to using Dynamics RMS: business procedures, data
conversion, scripting, report and receipt
customization, adding custom functionality etc. The
priority service is available 8am-5pm PST Mo-Fri and
also on weekend and after hours with special
arrangements.
Canadian Retailers Dropping to US Prices
With the Canadian dollar soaring to new
unprecedented heights every day, Canadian retailers
are finally getting the message that they need to do
something to prevent massive cross-border shopping
and keep the consumers buying power right here at
home.
The first to jump on the
bandwagon was Wal-Mart who announced recently that
all of their books, cards and stationary would now
be sold at US prices. Since then both Sears and the
Hudson Bay Company have also announced that they
will be slashing prices to match their US
counterparts. This is great news for the Canadian
consumer who, up to now, was outraged that Canada’s
retailers were doing nothing to reflect the ever
strengthening Canadian dollar in the marketplace.
But it’s not just
department stores that are feeling the pressure to
drop their prices; both Ford and Honda recently
announced that they would be cutting the costs for
consumers who are looking to buy a new car. And if
that wasn’t enough, even Microsoft has felt the need
to level the playing field by offering some of their
products at what they’re calling a “26% discount”
which basically works out to the equivalent of the
US prices.
An example of this was
their recent decision to lower the cost of Dynamics
RMS from $1,788*CAD to the US price of $1404*. A
substantial saving for retailers wishing to invest
in a new point of sale system from Microsoft.
However, Microsoft seems to think that the rising
Canadian Dollar will run out of steam shortly as
they are only advertising these prices until
December 21st 2007.
If the recent record
breaking trend is anything to go by, Microsoft may
need to re-think that decision come January 2008, as
there is no indication right now that the Canadian
dollar is going to go anywhere but up.
* Price includes
Microsoft Annual Service Plan
>Source - Staff Writer
Big Opportunity In Smaller Bar Codes
GS1 UK, the independent
global supply chain standards and solutions
organization are recommending suppliers and
retailers start planning for the 2010 adoption
date of the new smaller, GS1 DataBar bar code.
The date marks when the bar codes - previously
known as 'Reduced Space Symbology'- will start
to appear at retail checkouts to save time and
improve efficiency. Both Nestlé and Tesco are
backing the adoption in the UK.
"We are already
having to find more room for additional details
on packaging, such as nutritional labeling,
allergens, detailed product information, and, in
the future, the likelihood of having to record
carbon labeling, said Chris Tyas, supply chain
director at Nestlé and vice chairman of GS1 UK.
"Increasing the available space on products by
using smaller symbols such as the GS1 DataBar
will help us achieve this."
The GS1 DataBar will
enable the identification of small and difficult
to code products, such as cosmetics and loose
fresh fruits and vegetables, which will help
improve check-out speeds and provide more
accurate sales data on a greater range of
products. GS1 DataBar is also being developed
with the option of carrying serial numbers,
batch numbers, and expiry dates, all of which
will support product authentication and
traceability initiatives.
Most modern bar code
scanning equipment is able to read the GS1
DataBar, but retailers will need to check their
systems for compatibility. Older scanner models,
however, may need to be replaced to read the new
bar codes.
Q-Rewards 2.5 is
Out!
Retail Hero just released
a new version of its flagship customer loyalty
software: Q-Rewards. The new version is
number 2.5.The release includes a
number of new features and improvements. Such as:
- Improved graphical
user interface: better looks, tool tips, mnemonic
images, group operations, context menus etc.
- Enhanced reports
- Optimized HQ
Synchronization process
- New, faster
underlying framework code
- Fixed numerous
smaller bugs and glitches
...Just to mention a few. The new version is
available free of charge to the customers who are
currently on the software maintenance plan (please
check if you bought the software more than 1 year
ago – your maintenance plan may have expired).
Q-Rewards is a customer loyalty add-on for Dynamics
RMS which implements a purchased quantity-based
reward system. The program is popular in the pet
food industry (known there as “Frequent Buyer” or
“Buy X Bags Get 1 Bag Free”), coffee shops
(replacing stamp cards) and other retail industries
where the customer may be rewarded according to
quantity of certain items (or item groups) purchased
over a period of time. The software completely
eliminates paper-based records and allows the
customers to cross-shop between locations in a small
chain to achieve the final reward.
Retail Hero is having its
biggest sale yet! Right now you can
save up to 21% on a New
Dynamics RMS Point of Sale bundle (Hardware &
Software) which works out to about ...
Over $1,000
dollars in
savings!!! Call us
today
New
Dynamics RMS price for Canadian customers!
From now until December 21st you pay the same price
as the American customers, or a 21% savings compared
to the previous list price.
Now, until December 21
2007 both Canadian and American customers pay the
same price of $3,799 for a bundle
that includes a
state-of-art POS computer and
software:
- Pioneer Magnus BOXi
P4/3G/1G/80G
- 2x17" LCD (second
monitor - for
Customer Display)
- Star TSP100 receipt
printer
- Metrologic MS9540
barcode scanner
- Cherry keyboard w/ MSR &
touchpad
- UPS
- Cash Drawer
-
1 license Dynamics
RMS + 1 year Service Plan)
In addition,
they can receive 10%
discount on any Retail Hero Dynamics RMS Add-in (Hero
Points,
Q-rewards,
PIC-ME,
Visual Catalog,
Back
Order Presto and others). Hardware upgrades such
as touch-screen LCD, RAID-mirrored hard drives,
backup system are also available - please call
and ask!
PLUS!!!
We still have some used systems in our inventory
that we're selling off at unbelievable prices!! +
- NAME:
Greg Bulmash
- DESIRED POSITION: Reclining.
Ha ha. But seriously, whatever's
available. If I was in a position to
be picky, I wouldn't be applying here in the
first place.
- DESIRED SALARY: $185,000
a year plus stock options and a Michael Ovitz
style severance package. If that's not
possible, make an offer and we can haggle.
- EDUCATION: Yes.
- LAST POSITION HELD: Target
for middle-management hostility.
- SALARY: Less than I'm
worth.
- MOST NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT: My incredible collection of stolen pens and
post-it notes.
- REASON FOR LEAVING: It
sucked.
- HOURS AVAILABLE TO WORK: Any.
- PREFERRED HOURS:
1:30-3:30 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.
- DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIAL SKILLS? Yes, but they're better suited to a more
intimate environment.
- MAY WE CONTACT YOUR CURRENT EMPLOYER? If I had one, would I be here?
- DO YOU HAVE ANY PHYSICAL CONDITIONS THAT
WOULD PROHIBIT YOU FROM LIFTING UP TO 50 LBS?
Of what?
- DO YOU HAVE A CAR? I think the more appropriate question here would
be "Do you have a car that runs?"
- HAVE YOU RECEIVED ANY SPECIAL AWARDS OR
RECOGNITION? I may already be a winner of the Publishers
Clearinghouse Sweepstakes.
- DO YOU SMOKE? Only when
set on fire.
- WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE DOING IN FIVE
YEARS? Living in Bimini with a fabulously wealthy super
model who thinks I'm the greatest thing since
sliced bread. Actually, I'd like to be
doing that now.
- DO YOU CERTIFY THAT THE ABOVE IS TRUE
AND COMPLETE TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE?
No, but I
dare you to prove otherwise.
- SIGN HERE: Scorpio with
Libra rising.
Three Technologies in your
Retail Future
Retailers globally are seeking to win back
market share by making the customer's shopping
'experience' more theatrical, with emphasis
placed on the sensuous elements of an in-store
shopping trip. According to a new report by
independent market analyst Datamonitor, the next
step in the battle to retain customers' is to
streamline the buying experience, bringing it
more in line with internet shopping in terms of
ease and speed of transaction.
Datamonitor analyst Alex Kwiatkowski says that
retailers will turn to the following
technologies (sprinkled with some added
commentary from Retail Hero)
Digital signage: Though expensive, it’s the fastest-growing
advertising medium. The ads can be tailored to
the audience, and proximity sensors can
determine when someone is nearby and boost the
sound level until the person leaves.
(A less
expensive alternative would be the built-in
customer display that comes with Dynamics RMS.
In addition a second display monitor can be
added to increase visibility of the ads and
special deals being offered).
Near field communication (NFC):
A form of RFID technology used for ‘contactless’
payments. It’s fast, and tends to increase
“average spend per transaction.” Kwiatkowski
says: “Major retailers who do not implement the
technology face being left behind as customers
demand ever-faster transactions, a trend
exacerbated by the ease and speed of online
retailing.” (Retail Hero recently developed a
similar system for a customer who conducts
tradeshows, whereby the attendees’ badges were
scanned by proximity to the RFID scanner and
automatically entered into the database).
Self-service checkout: It cuts costs, queue times and shrinkage, while
providing a solution to employee shortages. “The
technology is popular due to its ability to cut
checkout time with one attendant capable of
overseeing up to six checkout terminals”
(Retail
Hero’s Catalog View is a prototype for this kind
of system designed to work with Dynamics RMS).
If you haven’t already
implemented one of the three technologies
mentioned above, chances are you will sometime
down the road, or risk being left behind as
retail “road kill”.
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