Posted by Lacey Clifton on Wed, Apr 18, 2012 @ 05:00 PM
SuiteWorld is NetSuite’s annual conference for customers, partners, and designers, established to make NetSuite users even more successful by filling the days with workshops, networking opportunities, 100+ breakout sessions focused on 8 tracks ranging from Order Management and Supply Chain, to CRM and Ecommerce, and an expo floor to visit for even more exploration.
We want to share this event with you because retailers can gain valuable insights at SuiteWorld and learn about Best Practices directly from the NetSuite Experts. SuiteWorld offers in-depth learning to NetSuite users at basic, intermediate and advanced levels. Attendees can join product roundtable sessions to provide feedback to product managers, and ask detailed questions during 30-minute Ask-the-Expert sessions with SuiteGurus who have deep product expertise.
SuiteWorld attendees will hear from NetSuite executives, thought leaders and leading cloud implementers on the evolution of cloud-based ERP and trends that are reshaping business management - all by NetSuite innovations. The conference features a host of keynotes that will explore the future of cloud computing, including mobile and social implications, and showcases complementary solutions from software vendors and partners, such as Retail Anywhere, at the SuiteWorld Expo.
Several Retail Anywhere representatives will be at SuiteWorld this year, meeting with partners, customers, retailers, and the NetSuite Team. We're excited about the event and will be available to answer questions about NetSuite for retailers and why Retail Anywhere POS is the #1
POS for NetSuite.
Retail Anywhere will also be announcing a new SuiteApp during the event - stay tuned for the details.
SuiteWorld 2012 will be held at the Marriott Marquis in downtown San Francisco, May 14-17.
Find Retail Anywhere in the Expo Hall, booth 152.For more information or to register,
http://www.netsuite.com/portal/press/events/nsw/main.shtml Be sure to
let us know if you're attending so we can connect at the event.
Posted by Lacey Clifton on Tue, Apr 03, 2012 @ 10:44 AM
As modern consumers turn to digital channels to meet their shopping requirements, retailers must develop an omni-channel strategy, or risk being left behind. Major retailers are already aligning their operational data across channels, sharing consumer information such as profile information and transaction history between all channels. The following strategies, as suggested by the Aberdeen Group in conjunction with Integrated Solutions for Retailers in their special report, Cross-Channel Retailing, will help midsized retailers reinvent or develop an omni-channel strategy to keep up with today’s consumer.
1. Put customers in the driver’s seat with clear guidelines for using coupons, buying sale items, and exchanging or returning items from any channel.
Customers expect a seamless experience across all channels. By clearly defining policies, consumers can take ownership of their channel experience.
2. Collect customer data from all channels into a single data repository.
To obtain a true 360° view of a customer, and to properly analyze their shopping trends, data is needed from all departments and channels. Using a single data repository across all channels gives every department the data that is relevant to them without any missing pieces.
3. Provide formal training to employees for all shopping channels and all stages of the customer lifecycle.
Although many customers prefer to take the driver’s seat for themselves, some will still need the assistance of an employee, which means employees must be knowledgeable about every channel available to a customer, and how best to leverage it.
4. Ensure loyalty programs accrue points universally and can be redeemed in any channel.
Rewarding customers builds loyalty, while limiting the customer’s rewards will likely limit their loyalty to your brand. Loyalty programs that function equally in all channels will not only build loyalty in the customer’s preferred channels, but may also encourage them to shop in channels they have never used before.
An integrated approach to data sharing is a key component to the omni-channel success of midsized retailers. By integrating operations and applying these four keys to your retail business, you can develop an omni-channel strategy that is sure to meet the demands of today’s savvy consumer.
Download a copy of the full report, Cross-Channel Retailing, by the Aberdeen Group in conjunction with Integrated Solutions for Retailers co-sponsored by Retail Anywhere here: Omni-Channel Defined, Cross Channel Retailing - A Special Report.
Posted by Lacey Clifton on Tue, Mar 13, 2012 @ 10:53 AM
Without integration among retail cloud applications, retailers may still be forced to navigate multiple applications and repositories of data for their everyday retail ERP activities—slowing down processes and reducing the agility the company needs to grow.
Consider the following implications of siloed cloud applications:
- If multiple retail cloud applications are implemented, data fragmentation still exists. Overlapping databases must be consolidated and reconciled to create a comprehensive and consistent view. In effect, the on-premise software hairball has simply been transferred to the cloud.
- Each application has its own style of configuration. User efforts to adapt the software to their needs can be hampered as they try to keep track of multiple methods of configuration.
- Getting a comprehensive picture of how people are using the software is difficult because multiple applications must be monitored.
- End-to-end processes are difficult to manage because they must be integrated across multiple applications and databases.
Take, for example, analysis and reporting. To achieve a reliable view of business performance, a retailer with six cloud providers would face a labor-intensive business intelligence task. It must pull the information from various sources, dump it into spreadsheets, and spend considerable time extracting, consolidating and ensuring integrity of data from multiple applications.
To avoid these limitations, it is essential to have a collection of retail cloud applications that are integrated around a single codebase and database, and which contain an integrated business process perspective.
An integrated retail cloud business suite also improves IT productivity compared to siloed cloud solutions, providing:
- Expanded awareness: Ease of information access means that everyone can get the information they need without continually making IT requests.
- Process efficiency: Process automation flows from department to department across applications built to work together, eliminating the need for expensive and error-prone application integration work.
Download the free NetSuite whitepaper on “The Benefits of Running Your Business Software in the Cloud: Strategies for Success” here:
Posted by Lacey Clifton on Thu, Mar 08, 2012 @ 06:32 PM
Cloud computing is a compelling option for many small and mid-sized retail businesses (SMBs), as well as larger enterprises, as it offers low cost of entry and ownership and faster time to market compared to traditional on-premise business software and servers.
Organizations that opt for a retail cloud strategy face an additional consideration—whether to use individual cloud systems for key processes such as finance, CRM, and ecommerce, or use an integrated suite that covers those functions and more. It’s important to recognize that while the cloud model resolves many problems of on-premise software, cloud applications as standalone silos can introduce inefficiencies, integration challenges and IT and administrative overhead of their own.
The Advantages of Integrated Retail Cloud Applications
It is essential to have a collection of cloud applications that are integrated around a single codebase and database, and which contain an integrated business process perspective. Characteristics of such a system include:
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Retail ERP, CRM, ecommerce, warehouse management, inventory management and customer service applications function atop a shared application stack and database.
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Business processes easily flow from one application and department to another—from ecommerce orders to fulfillment, or from procurement to final vendor payment.
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A single repository for real-time reporting enables everyone to see a shared view of the business, with no need for an expensive data warehouse.
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The underlying platform can be easily customized to the needs of the retail business and enables the application to evolve as the business changes.
To gain the maximum benefits of cloud business management, retailers in the SMB space need a single retail cloud system that integrates retail ERP functionality with CRM, financials, and ecommerce. Such a system should support business user customization and promote process efficiencies and the alignment of IT with business needs. It should also supply real-time reporting and analytics for expanded awareness, and a world-class data center featuring strong disaster recovery and data security capabilities. Let’s examine each of these areas.
Download the free NetSuite whitepaper on “The Benefits of Running Your Business Software in the Cloud: Strategies for Success” here:
Posted by Lacey Clifton on Thu, Mar 01, 2012 @ 04:25 PM
In the world of retail POS software, the User Interface (or UI) is the screen that a cashier works in. A good User Interface provides cashiers with an intuitive, easy-to-use interface that reduces key strokes by taking the cashier exactly where they need to go next in the workflow. As no two retailers are the same, no two retail POS software interfaces should be the same; at least, that’s what we think. Our User Interface has the flexibility to meet a variety retail needs and is modified to meet those needs during the scoping and implementation process with every customer. When needs change, the UI can easily be modified by an Administrative user to refine the POS User Interface to accommodate the retailer.
Retail Anywhere POS uses a tree method to organize User Interface functions in the form of buttons, which means one button can open a page with additional buttons. The POS User Interface supports buttons in the bottom menu and sidebar in 1, 2, or 3 rows/columns, depending on retailer requirements. Our interface was developed from years of experience in the retail industry, but if a button’s category, placement, order, label, size, color, font color, image, rounded corners, or other characteristic doesn’t benefit you – change it. If you don’t use a button – remove it. And if you’re worried about fraud or theft at the POS, buttons can be hidden or locked to require a manager’s authorization.
In addition to the benefits in workflow, ease-of-use, and security, the POS User Interface can also be modified to reflect the retail brand. A logo can be displayed on the UI while the screen is idle and buttons and bars can further reflect the brand through color theme and graphics, delivering brand exposure to customers during checkout. The purpose of a custom User Interface is to make it suit your needs and to enhance your business.
Watch a short demo of the Retail Anywhere POS User Interface:
Posted by Lacey Clifton on Thu, Feb 16, 2012 @ 04:14 PM
With Microsoft POSReady embedded on your hardware, you can have confidence in the reliability, security, familiarity, manageability, and value expected from a Windows platform.
Thanks to IBM and Microsoft, Retail Anywhere can easily deliver its retail POS software on Windows Embedded POSReady point of sale hardware. The IBM SurePOS 300 and IBM SurePOS 500 (the most popular hardware choices with our customers) are available pre-loaded with Windows Embedded POSReady 2009, an operating system optimized for retail.
POSReady is a flexible operating system designed specifically for point-of-service devices, resulting in an overall better implementation and operational experience, bringing relief to your IT department. With POSReady embedded units many of the necessary components such as SQL Express, .NET Framework, IIS Lockdown Tools, and required Service Packs are already pre-installed. Not only does this benefit the implementation process but it helps reduce costs and increase security by having a customized and locked down OS using only the components required for the POS system. POSReady also delivers the benefit of seamless plug and play making the addition of retail peripherals a snap - easily add a scale, barcode scanner, receipt printer, and other popular peripherals.
Recently, one of Retail Anywhere’s customers expressed a great deal of satisfaction in moving to Retail Anywhere POS using IBM hardware embedded with POSReady 2009. Nakajima USA, best known for the sales and distribution of Sanrio Hello Kitty® products, participated in a case study with Microsoft to discuss their retail POS solution.
“Retail Anywhere provided a fully integrated solution that met our business needs with low upfront costs,” said Jennifer Pearce, Director of Company Stores for Nakajima USA. She added that, “Windows Embedded POSReady 2009 gives us a secure, locked down OS optimized for retail.”
Nakajima USA’s customers now enjoy faster service due to the new POS. “The register system is much easier to use, and touch–enabled in most locations which has increased overall transaction speed by 30 seconds,” stated Pearce. “Retail Anywhere provided a fully integrated solution that met our business needs with low upfront costs.”
Posted by Lacey Clifton on Tue, Feb 07, 2012 @ 04:28 PM
NetSuite is a cloud-based business management suite that enables businesses to take full advantage of cloud computing with eCommerce, CRM, Accounting, and other tools for enterprise management. But apart from normal business operations, retailers place very unique demands on a business management suite, including the need for point of sale. With the release version 2012.1 in January, NetSuite has brought a host of new enhancements and features that will specifically benefit retailers.
This is great news for retailers everywhere!
Some of the new features like Dashboard KPI Scorecard Highlights and Headlines along with iPhone iOS5 support provide critical sales, customer, and product information to retailers. The new Bulk Receiving of Multiple Receipts Against Multiple Purchase Orders feature will help retailers increase operational efficiency, and for the multi-channel retailers there have been improvements to eCommerce features with Ignite Site & Ignite WebApps , including a one-page checkout which will help capture and increase sales. Another new enhancement brings preprinted FedEx return labels with each order to eCommerce fulfillment to streamline returns management while improving customer service.
As a NetSuite retail SuiteCloud Developer Partner, Retail Anywhere not only developed its best-in-class POS as a NetSuite SuiteApp, but also extended the NetSuite platform to incorporate additional retail functionality to further support the needs of multi-channel and multi-location retailers. We are very excited about this new release with even more to offer to retailers!
Read more about NetSuite version 2012.1
Posted by Lacey Clifton on Tue, Jan 31, 2012 @ 11:34 AM
Meeting the Needs of the Smarter Consumer through Insight and Action
Today’s consumers are demanding a consistent shopping experience across multiple channels, changing the retail model to one that is customer-centric. To keep up with the ever increasing demands of consumers, many retailers are transforming their IT infrastructures and moving towards Smarter Computing.
Smarter Computing is an IT infrastructure that is designed to provide real-time data and 360 degree views of a retail business. Smarter Computing leverages cloud-based servers to unlock data across an entire enterprise, in a flexible and dynamic environment that enables faster, smarter decisions for retail executives.
According to a recent White Paper by Frost & Sullivan, Smarter Computing for Retailers: Meeting the Needs of the Smarter Consumer through Insight and Action, there are three vital imperatives for the transformation of retailing in the 21st century’s economy.
- Deliver a smarter shopping experience
- Develop smarter merchandising and supply networks
- Build smarter retail operations
These imperatives can be met through a Smarter Computing infrastructure. Additionally, Smarter Computing offers retailers the opportunity to scale their business up or down quickly, while maintaining reliable, fast performance while reducing IT costs.
Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, a retailer/franchisor with 242 US locations, leveraged Smarter Computing and found that they were able to run their business much more effectively with better insight, thanks to their Smarter Computing POS and retail management system provided by Retail Anywhere.
Read more about the Smarter Computing infrastructure, its requirements, opportunities, and more in the full Smarter Computing for Retailers White Paper from Frost & Sullivan here:
Posted by Lacey Clifton on Wed, Jan 11, 2012 @ 03:57 PM
Are you traveling to New York for the 101st NRF Annual Convention & Expo January 16th and 17th at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City? If so, be sure to visit Retail Anywhere at booth #2059! We'd love to talk with you! We'll be showcasing our Multi-Channel Retail Management Suite at the 2012 NRF Convention & Expo, Retail’s BIG Show. We’ll show you how our solutions provide the tools and insights retailers need to optimize operations and improve profitability while delivering an enhanced customer experience across all channels.
Click here to schedule a time to meet with us
Click here to see the Expo floor plan (we’ll be in Booth 2059, behind the ARTS Pavilion)
If you’ve never been to one of Retail’s Big Shows, here is a brief overview of what it is:
“The NRF 101st Annual Convention & EXPO is Retail’s BIG Show – a convention and EXPO of more than 22,000 engaged retail professionals from 82 countries. Retail’s BIG Show features educational sessions covering the industry’s most relevant and forward looking topics as well as networking for every retail professional. The 150,000 sq. ft. EXPO is filled with more than 500 solution providers offering state of the art technologies and services.”
Follow us on Twitter for more NRF Updates: @RetailAnywhere
Posted by Lacey Clifton on Wed, Dec 28, 2011 @ 10:27 AM
Many retailers depend on their IT staff to introduce them to new concepts in retail technology. Unfortunately, the result has been a lack of knowledge in the retail market about cloud computing. According to the 2011 Annual IDC Vertical Insights Survey, 26% of retailers polled reported not being familiar with cloud computing at all, let alone what it can do to reduce upfront retail management solution costs and ongoing IT expenses.
But the trend in retail technology standards is rapidly moving towards cloud computing. Savvy retailers who are looking to keep up with today’s fast-paced retail technology have already made the switch, and an increasing number of SMB retailers are joining in. According to the 2011 survey results published in ISR’s 2011 Small to Midsize Retail Research Supplement, of those surveyed, 44% of SMB retailers are currently using, researching, or planning to implement cloud computing technology into their retail enterprise.
Retail functionality opportunities with cloud computing are huge. The most obvious applications involve on-demand access to data storage and server capacity. Collaborative applications, such as email and calendaring are also moving to the cloud first, but many non-retail businesses are enjoying this functionality. For SMB retailers, cloud computing opens up real-time access to data across the entire enterprise, putting every channel and every location of a multi-channel, multi-location retail business within easy reach. Cloud computing is flexible, an no industry needs a flexible, fast growing solution more than SMB retail.
Retail Anywhere integrated its best-in-class POS with NetSuite’s cloud computing ERP platform, unlocking a multi-channel retail management suite that is the most comprehensive solution for retailers. While ERP solutions are hosted in an on-demand cloud environment, Retail Anywhere POS remains an on-premise application, installed on POS hardware. Bi-directional data replication between Retail Anywhere POS and the NetSuite makes POS and in-store data available in real-time, on-demand. Retail Anywhere POS leverages Microsoft’s .NET and SQL technologies and is certified by the Association for Retail Technology Standards as ARTS Data Model Conformant. If you are looking for a new retail management solution and would like to learn more about leveraging cloud computing for your retail business, call Retail Anywhere at 1-800-257-2734, or send us a request for more information here.