While all retailers have the same goal of providing a satisfying customer experience and running a streamlined business, the needs of individual merchants may vary wildly. A small apparel store has different needs from a larger, general retail chain, as do similar shops that run in multiple countries. But while their inventories and sales models may not be the same, they still need capable retail management software that can help efficiently manage their operations.

Retail Pro 9 provides a flexible solution for general and specialty retailers alike with its inventory management, reporting and security tools. Interested retail industry professionals can learn more about the platform tomorrow during a webinar hosted from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. PDT. Registration information can be found at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/385309354. 

Presenting the webinar will be Ket Venethongkham, Director of Retail Pro University, and James McGibbon, a Trainer at Retail Pro University. They will inform participants about Retail Pro 9's versatility and ability to meet merchants' business needs. Topics will include the solution's near-real time reporting features, its user-friendly point of sale interface and how these will improve retail operations. 

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Wednesday, September 18th, 2013 at 12:13 pm .

Certain things about the retail industry may never change, such as the strength of a brand. Building a quality product and establishing a sterling reputation among customers are just as important now as they ever were. However, omnichannel commerce, the advent of mobile devices and improvements in point of sale technology have created a new shopping environment, and merchants will be able to learn more about these topics at the Retail Pro Global Conference held in Barcelona next month. 

To address the different needs of and questions about the industry, Retail Pro will hold its Business Partner Summit on October 18 – 20, and the Customer Summit on October 20 – 22. Presenters will discuss the future of the market and how merchants can improve the customer experience while integrating new trends into their ongoing operations. 

Customers will be able to hear from Keith Conner, Director of Product Management, and Ket Venethongkham, Director of Retail Pro University, during their "Ways to Grow Your Business Using Mobile POS" presentation. The speakers will address how technology is changing the retail environment and what merchants can do to stay current with these trends as well as shopper expectations. 

Registration information for the Retail Pro Global Conference can be found at https://www.retailpro.com/Community/2013Conference/Registration.php.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Tuesday, September 17th, 2013 at 11:37 am .

Simply because retail management software is powerful doesn't mean that it's also complex. Widespread functionality across multiple facets of store operations should be easy to use, and Retail Pro 9 provides just that by combining an intuitive, user-friendly interface with comprehensive features to handle everything from inventory control to point of sale  procedures. Merchants can create a seamless shopping experience by improving their behind-the-scenes activities and streamlining all in-store processes. 

Retail industry professionals interested in Retail Pro 9's multifaceted capabilities and benefits can sign up for this week's webinar scheduled for Thursday, September 19. It will run from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. PDT. Registration information can be found at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/385309354. 

Ket Venethongkham, Director of Retail Pro University, and James McGibbon, a Trainer at Retail Pro University, will be leading the webinar. They will explain how Retail Pro 9 can benefit merchants thanks to its numerous and robust management tools, as well as the enhanced efficiency the software can add to their operations. The presenters will detail the software's ability to match a flexible, easy-to-use design with adaptable technology capable of meeting different retailers' needs. 

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Monday, September 16th, 2013 at 11:48 am .

Arguably the greatest impediment to customers using mobile wallets has been the technology's relative inconvenience. At the point of sale, both retailers and shoppers alike want a fast, streamlined experience that lets the consumer swiftly slip out the door and for the register clerk to move onto the next person. For years, this has meant using a credit card, as it can quickly be swiped to complete a transaction. 

While PayPal already moved toward its app becoming a mobile wallet earlier this month, it has recently enhanced its features by creating the PayPal Beacon, according to USA Today. Previously, mobile wallets often used NFC technology that was not always reliable or easy to use. Meanwhile, the Beacon uses a phone's Bluetooth technology to process payments. 

The three-inch high device plugs into a wall socket and can authenticate PayPal app users automatically while they are in a store, USA Today reported. Rather than needing a complicated technology dedicated to processing payments, merchants using Beacon can run a mobile wallet payment through their retail POS software. The technology will also be open to third-party developers so that they can create shopping apps. 

"This is the one thing I'm most excited to launch since joining PayPal," said PayPal President David Marcus, according to the source. "This is the first thing I think that is better than swiping a credit card."

Initially, only a select few brands will be able to use the devices, while a major roll-out is expected for 2014, USA Today noted. 

Apple also joins the mobile payment movement
Just as PayPal announced its Bluetooth-based mobile wallet, Apple has done the same. Internet Retailer reported that Apple will be releasing the iBeacon, which also uses Bluetooth technology to process mobile payments. Much like PayPal, Apple already has a robust database of payment information due to iTunes. This could enable the tech giant to break into the mobile payment market in a way that other companies have thus far had difficulty with.

Beyond just the convenience issue, Internet Retailer  added that energy use has been a barrier to mobile wallets. While Bluetooth technology traditionally required considerable battery power, Bluetooth Low Energy options, as can be found on later versions of the iPhone, minimize this matter. Regardless, retailers should remain aware of the way that mobile may transform POS in the near future. 

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Friday, September 13th, 2013 at 10:04 am .

Arguably the greatest impediment to customers using mobile wallets has been the technology's relative inconvenience. At the point of sale, both retailers and shoppers alike want a fast, streamlined experience that lets the consumer swiftly slip out the door and for the register clerk to move onto the next person. For years, this has meant using a credit card, as it can quickly be swiped to complete a transaction. 

While PayPal already moved toward its app becoming a mobile wallet earlier this month, it has recently enhanced its features by creating the PayPal Beacon, according to USA Today. Previously, mobile wallets often used NFC technology that was not always reliable or easy to use. Meanwhile, the Beacon uses a phone's Bluetooth technology to process payments. 

The three-inch high device plugs into a wall socket and can authenticate PayPal app users automatically while they are in a store, USA Today reported. Rather than needing a complicated technology dedicated to processing payments, merchants using Beacon can run a mobile wallet payment through their retail POS software. The technology will also be open to third-party developers so that they can create shopping apps. 

"This is the one thing I'm most excited to launch since joining PayPal," said PayPal President David Marcus, according to the source. "This is the first thing I think that is better than swiping a credit card."

Initially, only a select few brands will be able to use the devices, while a major roll-out is expected for 2014, USA Today noted. 

Apple also joins the mobile payment movement
Just as PayPal announced its Bluetooth-based mobile wallet, Apple has done the same. Internet Retailer reported that Apple will be releasing the iBeacon, which also uses Bluetooth technology to process mobile payments. Much like PayPal, Apple already has a robust database of payment information due to iTunes. This could enable the tech giant to break into the mobile payment market in a way that other companies have thus far had difficulty with.

Beyond just the convenience issue, Internet Retailer  added that energy use has been a barrier to mobile wallets. While Bluetooth technology traditionally required considerable battery power, Bluetooth Low Energy options, as can be found on later versions of the iPhone, minimize this matter. Regardless, retailers should remain aware of the way that mobile may transform POS in the near future. 

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Friday, September 13th, 2013 at 10:04 am .

Creating an all-encompassing shopping experience may be one of the most important elements for the retail industry, but not all merchants are aware of how to implement it. Speaking with other industry professionals who have already applied this strategy to their business, or who are in the midst of it, can provide just the push they need. In Barcelona this October, retailers will have the opportunity to speak with their peers and hear from speakers already familiar with an integrated shopping experience. 

Omnichannel retailing is but one of the many topics presenters will be discussing during the Retail Pro Global Conference. The Business Partner Summit is scheduled for October 18-20, while the Customer Summit will be held on October 20-22. Attendees can see the full scope of the event at https://www.retailpro.com/Community/2013Conference/Agenda.php.

Both Retail Pro Business Partners and Customers will be able to hear from Neil McKeown, Vice President of Product and Process Management , as he discusses the future of omnichannel retailing. Attendees will learn where the hype ends and reality begins for this potentially key business strategy, as well as how to avoid some of the common obstacles industry professionals face when instituting the policy. Registration information for the 2013 Global Conference can be found at https://www.retailpro.com/Community/2013Conference/Registration.php.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Thursday, September 12th, 2013 at 1:19 pm .

The point of sale no longer occurs at the register alone, and as time progresses, retailers may need to integrate all levels of their operation from the brick-and-mortar store to their e-commerce site. Consumers are coming to expect that merchants will offer a similar level of service regardless of whether they are buying an item online or in-person.

However, many businesses may still possess departmental silos that reduce their ability to integrate data and improve service through every part the organization. Eliminating these silos can create a seamless shopping experience that provides the same level of customer satisfaction regardless of how an item is purchased. Retail management software can help merchants attain consistent service across all aspects of the business.

Online purchase, in-store pickup
One trend that some retailers have recently been instituting is the in-store pickup of items purchased online. Internet Retailer noted that Target will be providing this service throughout its nearly 1,800 stores as well as its e-commerce site. While it will begin in Minneapolis, the company plans on implementing the policy throughout its chain locations around the holidays. 

Target follows in this trend with other major retailers such as Staples, Wal-Mart and Gap, all of which provide their customers an interconnected e-commerce and brick-and-mortar shopping experience. 

This is but Target's latest effort to link its sales among multiple channels, with Internet Retailer reporting that it also began testing Cartwell, its Facebook-based discount service.

Simply because a retailer's relationship begins online does not mean it will remain there, and customers may come to expect greater integration among all branches of a merchant's business. Brands that move toward this sales structure may experience an increase in customer loyalty as well as a greater number of sales stemming from shoppers who know that a chain will meet them on their own terms, and at nearly any time. 

The impulse buy
Integrated Solutions for Retailers levied one criticism against Target's move, noting that the brand partially relies on impulse buys. Regardless of whether this is true, merchants should remember that this aspect of shopping will remain a critical part of why brick-and-mortar stores are still an important aspect of the shopping experience. While e-commerce has become more integral than ever, it will never be able to sate a customer's need for something right now. 

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Thursday, September 12th, 2013 at 7:32 am .

Making the best decisions stems from having the best information, which is why more merchants are relying on big data to drive their strategies. Retail business intelligence systems can draw insight from the considerable amount of information possessed by most retailers, and then help them institute it to enhance their everyday practices as well as long-term planning. 

Retailers can achieve this by implementing Retail Pro Business Intelligence into their store operations. The solution provides an all-encompassing view of an enterprise by analyzing individual data points as parts of a larger process. Merchants interested in Retail Pro Business Intelligence can participate in a webinar being held tomorrow, September 9, from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., PDT. Registration information can be found at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/500333434.

Neil McKeown, Product Manager for Retail Pro E-Commerce and Retail Pro Business Intelligence, will guide participants through the solution. Participants will see the importance of monitoring key retail statistics, how it can help improve mobile merchandising performance and other related topics. McKeown will cover how these can enhance customer satisfaction and lead to comprehensively better enterprise practices in an easy-to-use, accessible format. 

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Thursday, September 12th, 2013 at 5:10 am .

Back-to-school sales are tapering off as September rolls on, while the holiday sales season won't kick off until November – so October is the perfect time for retail industry professionals to sharpen their skills and prepare for the year to come. Retail Pro's Customer and Business Partners will have the opportunity to explore, discuss and ready themselves for the changing retail landscape in Barcelona, Spain next month. 

As mobile devices continue to play a more prominent role in the industry, Retail Pro Customers will have the chance to hear the CEO of Merchant Warehouse, Henry Helgeson, talk about how this is impacting the sector in Opportunities in Mobile Commerce: Why Retailers Hold the Power. Helgeson will be discussing how retailers can plan for mobile payments at the point of sale and enable a streamlined customer buying experience. 

In turn, Kevin Connor, Director of Product Management, and Ket Venethongkham, Director of Retail Pro University, will address mobile POS questions with Business Partners during their POS For The Mobile-Centric Consumer presentation.

These are but a few of the topics planned for the two events, which will cover some of the most pressing topics and innovations within the industry right now. 

Retail Pro's Business Partner Summit will run from October 18 to 20, while the Customer Summit will be held between October 20 and 22. Both parties can register for the event by visiting https://www.retailpro.com/Community/2013Conference/Registration.php.

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Tuesday, September 10th, 2013 at 9:41 am .

For now, merchants that do not integrate retail apps into their store operations will continue to provide adequate service to the majority of their customers. According to the CFI Group, only 21 percent of shoppers use apps while shopping. This audience skews toward smartphone-owning millennials, and while they are an important demographic, Generation X and baby boomers both remain critical parts of the retail landscape. 

However, the current idea that many smartphone-savvy individuals are millennials may soon become an unsupported perception. The same study also found that only 26 percent of surveyed individuals have been using mobile apps for a year or more. Sixty-three percent were new to smartphone and tablet applications, having only used them for less than a year. 

As app users become more knowledgeable about the technology, retailers may need to shift how they approach mobile device owners. NFC equipment capable of handling mobile wallets at the point of sale may be one way to meet customer expectations. Convenience and a more integrated shopping experience can help retailers adapt to the changing market environment. 

This entry was posted by Retail Pro on Tuesday, September 10th, 2013 at 6:03 am .