iPads Put Retail POS in the Palm of Your Hand

ipad2 white hand Successful retailers and restaurant owners understand the importance of creating a strong and positive experience from the moment a customer enters the establishment. While it may seem ironic, many are turning to technology to create a personal bond.

iPads are one way to maximize the one-on-one environment, by creating a point of sale (POS) relationship from the time the customer enters the shop or restaurant. Three companies that offer this solution are ShopKeep, Kronos and Revel Systems.

iPad POS vendor ShopKeep offers a new iPad mini register to help retailers reduce waiting times and enhance efficiency. Utilizing the MagTek uDynamo credit card reader, ShopKeep’s system allows merchants to take orders from customers as they enter the store, shop the aisles and then push receipts to the printer or to email directly to the customer.

One company using ShopKeep’s system is Laughing Man Coffee & Tea in New York. Some of the benefits noted by the store’s CEO, David Steingard, include the personal service customers feel throughout their dining experience. Customers are greeted warmly, without feeling rushed, and orders can be taken throughout the line inside or outside the store. Said Steingard, “The iPad POS system helps move the line, but more importantly it sends a great message to our customers that we are continually working to make their coffee experience better.”

Kronos offers an iPad solution that gives what they term “meaningful business intelligence” to retailers. The company touts its Workforce Task Management™ as the only solution built on an existing, proven workforce management platform. Retailers can keep stores accountable through real-time access to sales data, and increase sales and customer satisfaction by ensuring tasks are completed on time and consistently across locations, either through their on-site data centers or through the Kronos cloud. The company’s Workforce Tablet Analytics gives retailers a single view into forecasting, scheduling, time and attendance, POS, traffic counters, warehouse management systems, and more. Paul de Freitas, systems and business development director at The Container Store, said Kronos is able to handle a great deal of complexity, and “being on the iPad helps to make it an easy and familiar experience.” 

Revel Systems is an iPad POS provider that offers EMV (Europay, MasterCard and Visa, a global standard for inter-operation of integrated circuit cards) for security and card processing. The technology incorporates “chip and pin” cards which have been widely adopted in Europe and are now being introduced to the US.

Revel’s mobile POS software provides real-time reporting to track the sales at small to large scale retail and food-service operations. The San Francisco-based company requires no mandatory contracts, hidden fees or charges. Features include secure logins for employees, monitoring check-in and check-out as well as activities within the system; simple order taking; order details, such as item voids, deletions, special requests, discounts and holds; payment processing through major credit cards and gift cards; and printed or emailed receipts.

Outstanding customer service has always been the hallmark of successful retail and hospitality companies. Through creative application of the iPad and mobile POS, technology can enhance the shopping experience.

Written by Suzi Harkola

ShopKeep is located at 55 Broad Street, 9th Floor, NYC. Call 800-820-9814 for more information or link to their website.

The international headquarters of Kronos is 297 Billerica Road, Chelmsford, MA 01824

Phone 978-250-9800.

Revel Systems received the RetailNOW 2012 “Innovative Solutions Award” and is opening retail shops across America. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , call 855-738-3555 or link to their website.

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