Retail POS Questions and Answers by Our Management Team
We have just emerged from the 2011 Retail Holiday Season, which was by all accounts a smashing success compared to the previous two years. Where do we go from here in the retail point of sale solutions industry? A recent survey by VSR found that retailers are still very interested in "getting the most bang for the buck" from their POS systems, but many are wondering how to accomplish that goal. We have taken the most commonly asked questions and asked two members of our Senior Management Team, John Deery (Founder and Director of Enterprise Sales) and Don Capman (President) to address them. Please feel free to add your comments and questions below.
Why choose a solutions provider for my retail POS systems and software?
Don Capman (President, J. D. Associates) - Retailers are most successful when they focus on their core competency, retail. Very few have an information technology (IT) background or fulltime staff to handle the challenges of managing the large amounts of data that flow through a retail store every day. That's what we do. We are experts in retail point of sale technology solutions that manage your data and enable you to improve sales, marketing and accounting efficiency. We don't just install these systems, however. We train you and your staff on how to get the utmost out of your retail hardware and software, and we provide outstanding customer support to ensure that your investment is protected. Our services are a very cost effective alternative to hiring your own experts in IT and retail point of sale technology.
How are you different from the other retail POS solutions providers?
John Deery (Founder and Director of Enterprise Sales) - Unlike most retail point of sale solutions providers, we have a background in retail. We know your challenges and understand the difficulties you face in managing your retail business. Our knowledge of the retail industry translates into providing you with the best possible retail technology fit and providing the ideal training and support for you to get started quickly and start reaping the benefits of your retail POS systems. We've been in business since 1989, and we have grown to become one of the largest and best known retail solution providers in North America. All of our support people are certified in the retail systems that we sell, install and support. If you compare these facts with any other retail point of sale solutions provider, you'll find that we come out on top.
I’m not happy with my current retail point of sale solution. How can you solve my problem?
Don Capman (President, J. D. Associates) - That's an interesting question. Many of our clients come to us asking that same question, even after buying the highest rated retail POS technology. The problem is that their solutions providers failed to understand their business and follow-through with appropriate training and support. Our approach is to add value to the POS sale by understanding your processes and workflow and tailoring a complete support program that fits your needs. Because we come from retail, it's not a stretch for us to create an ideal program that maximizes your return on investment.
I’ve tried other solutions providers. I’m frustrated. Why should I trust you?
John Deery (Founder and Director of Enterprise Sales) - We know that our customers are the most important reason to choose J. D. Associates as your retail POS solutions provider. We will be happy to provide references so that you can talk to some of our customers and find out why they went with us at the outset and continue to work with us to guarantee the success of their retail businesses. We only sell proven technologies backed by the best hardware and software companies in the industry. We prove ourselves through our installation and support services, and you are free to discontinue them at any time if you aren't 100% satisfied. We never lock our customers into long-term services contracts because we know that they will trust us and want to continue.
The recession has hit my business hard and I can’t afford expensive solutions. What can you do for me?
Don Capman (President, J. D. Associates) - We understand the pain and frustration that retailers have felt during the recent recession, but we believe that our economy will bounce back during the next few months and years. We're already seeing signs of life during this Holiday Season! More to the point, with today's competitive environment for retailers and the rapid changes in retail technology, you can't afford not to have a great working solution at the point of sale. Retail POS systems allow you to maximize sales through analyzing customer data and save money by making sales processes and accounting processes more integrated and more efficient. As you grow your retail business, the right POS solution makes it easier to scale and expand without missing a beat. Your POS system also takes care of many of the time-consuming tasks that take your managers away from doing what they do best, managing the business - your store, staff and customers. If you have concerns about the value of your retail POS solution, contact us and we'll show you how you can see positive return on investment (ROI) in a surprisingly short amount of time.
What special skills and knowledge do you have that I can’t get elsewhere?
John Deery (Founder and Director of Enterprise Sales) - Our strength has always been our background and understanding of retail. Most retail POS providers focus on the technology and have little experience in retail. Often, they can't offer you a complete solution that truly fits your business and retail niche. We know the technology and are certified in all of the major POS solutions, but it doesn't stop there. We know the entire retail process and can help you to optimize yours. We are happy to discuss your retail operation with you and recommend a total solution that fits your needs.
I’ve read about using tablets, mobile apps and the Cloud for my retail store. What’s your recommendation?
Don Capman (President, J. D. Associates) - That's certainly one of the hot trends this year, and we're currently working on a retail POS "app" that we're planning on launching this year. The question is, how will retailers use apps and software-as-a-service (SaaS) via the Cloud? How will they tie in to retail point of sale systems and backend sales and accounting systems. It's one thing to have the convenience of a mobile solution, but if it doesn't integrate well with existing systems and software, what have you gained other than something trendy? Our strategy is to look at the big picture and provide sensible solutions that work with existing systems while providing value-added benefit from mobile devices and the Cloud. Look for some great new capabilities within the next 1-2 years.
What about online shopping? Isn't the brick and mortar store dead?
Don Capman (President, J. D. Associates) - I don't think so. In fact mobile marketing technologies, such as Groupon and Foursquare are actually driving people back to the brick and mortar stores for daily deals and special offers. I think what you're seeing is a convergence between conventional retail and e-commerce. A growing number of stores are providing both an online and offline shopping experience to capture more of their market and remain competitive. Some of the best known retail POS systems provide both online and offline presence integrated into a common backend. Retailers who address both sources of business are likely to have a substantial advantage in the coming years. Contact us to discuss your online and offline retail needs.
Where can I learn more about your solutions and services?
John Deery (Founder and Director of Enterprise Sales) - Well, you're in the right place. We've put the vast majority of our information online here in our website, but let me point you to a few specific places to learn more about us. Our About Us pages give you an overview of who we are and what we do, along with several ways to contact us for more information. Our POS Solutions pages describe in detail the retail point of sale solutions we provide, while our POS Services pages focus on training and support for our POS Solutions. If you're interested in specific retail industry verticals, visit our Markets pages. For up-to-date information on the retail industry, technology and strategy, try our Blog. We're active bloggers, and we hope you'll share your comments and questions with us there. Finally, we have an extensive Resources section with in-depth white papers, our Newsletter, retail industry links and more.
This article has been brought to you by IBM POS Hardware solutions. J. D. Associates is an IBM Business Partner. Click here to read more about IBM hardware solutions for retail businesses like yours.
