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Move Beyond Win/DSS Limitations With Omnichannel POS

POS
 

Win/DSS has been an indivisible part of retail point-of-sale systems for decades now. Although it enabled retail businesses to expand beyond the reach of manual operations, Win/DSS itself has started to lag in this age of fast retail market. From outdated technology to security vulnerabilities, retail businesses find themselves at a turning point where they must confront the limitations of their existing infrastructure and opt for an upgrade.

Let us dive deep into the challenges posed by the legacy Win/DSS platform and its solution. 

Common challenges faced with legacy Win/DSS platform

Using Win/DSS as a point-of-sale system in this day and age brings a myriad of challenges to a retail business. It includes hurdles with IT, operation flow, and personnel problems. The Win/DSS platform was initially introduced before the age of mobile POS and the digital commerce revolution. As a result, it is simply turned into an outdated system that cannot be tailored to match the growing requirements of retail business expansion. 

Outdated technology hinders operational efficiency

Legacy Win/DSS platforms often operate on dated technology stacks that struggle to keep pace with modern demands. These systems lack the agility required to meet the evolving needs of businesses. Outdated technology can source various problems such as slow processing times, limited functionality, and cumbersome user interfaces. These factors collectively affect operational efficiency and impede productivity in general. 

Compatibility issues with modern software

Compatibility issues are quite common with legacy Win/DSS platforms, especially when it comes to new-gen software. Newer software solutions are developed using updated frameworks and libraries that are not fully compatible with the outdated architecture of legacy platforms. This incompatibility leads to integration challenges, creating functionality gaps between legacy systems and modern software tools. The most common example of the same would be legacy Win/DSS struggling to integrate cloud-based solutions or other similar web-based services.

Security vulnerabilities and data integrity concerns

Outdated security protocols pose the biggest challenge for retail businesses. Legacy Win/DSS lack the robust security features that are crucial for protecting sensitive data. Moreover, the longer a system remains in operation, the greater the likelihood of unpatched vulnerabilities. Data integrity concerns also arise from data validation, integrity checks, and audit trails that are missing from legacy Win/DSS, making it difficult to ensure the accuracy & reliability of stored information.

Lack of scalability & flexibility for growing businesses

Legacy Win/DSS platform lacks the scalability required to accommodate the evolving needs of growing businesses. Such platforms are built upon rigid architectures that struggle to adapt to changing business needs such as increased transaction volumes or expanding user bases. Additionally, the lack of flexibility makes it challenging to introduce new features & workflow customisations. 

Win/DSS migration made easy with Veras CheckOut

While the challenges explained until now may feel overwhelming, the solution is relatively straightforward. With the aim of overcoming the limitations of legacy Win/DSS, Veras Retail acquired the tech in 2016. With access to the core components of the JDA stack, Veras Retail has managed to develop a more secure and robust alternative- Veras CheckOut. Veras CheckOut is a modern omnichannel POS that can single-handedly eliminate the challenges of the legacy Win/DSS platform, offering a future-proof resolution. We offer a clear migration path with Veras CheckOut so that you can easily modernise your retail businesses.

Modularize your systems 

Veras CheckOut brings a service-based architecture that allows retail businesses to modularize their systems effectively. By adopting this architecture, you can break down the platform into smaller, independent services, with each service handling a specific functionality such as strike payment processing, promotions, and clienteling. This modular approach significantly enhances flexibility & agility within the retail environment. It makes integration of new services, or removal of obsolete ones very easy, without disrupting the entire system. 

Real-time inventory management

With the real-time inventory management feature, retailers can monitor their inventory levels, movements, and availability at any time. It is a crucial requirement for optimising stock levels, primarily to prevent overstocking. By leveraging up-to-date inventory data, businesses can make informed decisions regarding purchasing and replenishment.

Simplified approach to successful promotions

Veras CheckOut simplifies the execution of complex promotional strategies through its range of features aimed at streamlined promotional activities. It allows retailers to manage a wide range of campaigns such as discounts, coupons, loyalty programs, and even targeted offers. With Veras CheckOut, you can segment your customer base, personalise promotions based on customer preferences, and track the effectiveness of each campaign in real-time. This comprehensive approach to promotional strategies enables retailers to drive customer engagement and exponential increase in sales.

Centralised control to monitor key metrics

With any modern solution, there are usually problems that revolve around the control of the system. To eliminate that, Veras CheckOut offers a centralised administration & control approach. It provides retailers with a unified dashboard through which they can monitor key metrics across their entire operation. Veras CheckOut’s central administration and control empower retailers to make data-driven decisions for continuous improvement across the organisation. 

Conclusion

The era of legacy Win/DSS platforms is long gone, considering the advancing needs of retail businesses. Right now, Win/DSS platforms struggle immensely while trying to keep up with advanced data collection policies and compatibility with modern technology. So, the time has come for you to consider ideal solutions such as Veras CheckOut to help you transform your POS. Our modern omnichannel POS is the perfect option for a variety of retail businesses looking forward to migrating from a rigid Win/DSS platform to a service-based POS. 

Want to know more about Veras CheckOut? Contact us now or visit our website verasretail.com.

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Your Win/DSS Upgrade is Long Overdue

Win/DSS Migration

Your Win/DSS Upgrade is Long Overdue

February 22, 2022

If you’re a retailer and Win/DSS is your point-of-sale system, your IT, operations, and customer-facing associates are struggling with a rigid, outdated system that has some serious limitations.  

Designed before the age of mobile and digital commerce, Win/DSS falls incredibly short when it comes to empowering today’s retailers to deliver omnichannel experiences. We understand that getting your enterprise on a new platform may seem challenging. However, when you consider the time and resources wasted to stay afloat on a legacy platform – while falling further behind on modern retail experiences – it makes sense to upgrade.

We know the limitations you face when it comes to the many obstacles and workarounds in Win/DSS. They can include daily corrupt files and lost transactions, serious disruptions to sales and customer experience, and the most convoluted manual processes to complete transactions and keep the system running. The following infographic underscores some of the of the top Win/DSS burdens alongside the immediate benefits that could be gained with an upgrade to Veras CheckOut.

Win/DSS Infographic

Immediate Benefits Upgrading to Veras CheckOut

(click image below to expand)

BIG Omnichannel Platform Gains

Let’s face it, most of the elements called out in the Win/DSS infographic are table stakes. With all that retailers need to achieve to deliver on customer demands, a modern omnichannel platform should offer far more. Through Veras CheckOut’s future-proof platform architecture, omnichannel capabilities, flexible modes of selling, and AI-driven customer experiences – CheckOut provides a path forward for retailers to execute on their omnichannel vision.

Using real-time enterprise inventory data and centralized order visibility and alerting, Veras CheckOut creates the ultimate omnichannel experience on a single, unified platform through:

  • Enterprise-grade technology
  • Services-based architecture
  • Hardware-agnostic integrations
  • Real-time data and inventory management
  • Frictionless omnichannel and cross-store selling
  • Integrated modules for mPOS, clienteling, remote selling, and more
Retail Experiences Built Around the Customer

Whether it’s in-store or digitally, the Veras Extend Customer Experience platform supports modern mobile and cross-channel capabilities on iOS, Android and Windows platforms. Extend offers a lightweight native client that integrates to Veras CheckOut transparently to power a variety of associate- and customer-facing experience on mobile and fixed devices, including the capabilities below.
 

Additionally, with real-time connectivity and enterprise-wide inventory availability, the Veras platform delivers a comprehensive inventory solution to optimally locate, pick, ship and restock merchandise to meet the needs of the cross-channel shopper so you never lose a sale.

  • Ship from Store or Warehouse
  • Endless Aisle / Save-the-Sale
  • Cross-Store Pickup
  • Ship-to-Store
  • Bulk Item Pickup
  • Buy Online Pickup in Store

Cater to Your Customer’s Shopping Styles

Consumer behavior and shopping preferences can vary greatly, which impacts how a customer may want to shop in the store. There are many variables at play. Does the customer already know the item they want? Perhaps the customer has a question but can’t seem to find a store associate to help. Or maybe your customer is in a rush and needs to get checked out quickly.

Whatever the scenario, Veras’ in-store solutions including Product Kiosk, mPOS, and Self-Checkout allow shoppers to get what they need and in the way they like to shop.

Product Kiosk. In addition to obtaining pricing details, Veras Product Kiosk’s interactive touchscreens empower shoppers to explore on their own. Shoppers gain a full 360-product view through rich product descriptions, images, and customer reviews.

Mobile Point-of-Sale. With Veras Mobile Point-of-Sale, perform full point-of-sale transactions with secure payments or suspend the transaction and complete it on a standard register. And operate mPOS at any offsite event or easily add an in-store register by docking the tablet as a fixed POS terminal.

Self-Checkout. In addition to giving happy customers choice and speed with Veras Self-Checkout, retailers can experience big benefits as well. Maximize personnel productivity with labor costs during off-peak hours and seasonal surges. And never lose a sale to long wait times by making the most of your floor space to drive more transactions.

Personalized Shopping & New Digital Channels

The shift and appetite for digital commerce has made it possible for retailers to reach and personalize shopping experiences like never before. Omnichannel and new digital capabilities like Veras Remote Selling are putting customers entirely in control to shop as they desire. And smart and connected technologies such as Veras Affinity Clienteling create opportunities for store associates to reach more customers and in more meaningful ways.

Affinity In-Store Clienteling. Veras Affinity Clienteling mobilizes frontline workers with next-level customer insights and personalization the moment shoppers walk into the store. The ultra-responsive, intelligent engine helps anticipate and deliver on the customer’s wants, allowing store associates to provide the high-touch, consultative service many shoppers desire. And customer interest can be quickly converted into purchases with checkout in-aisle.

Remote Selling. Veras Remote Selling adds a powerful revenue channel for the store. Browser-based and purpose-built for retail, remote selling combines the ease of ecommerce with the high-level service and personal touch of a knowledgeable sales associate. The associate can share products live in the store and digitally through the platform where customers may browse, save to their wish list, and complete purchases.

Black Book Customer Outreach. With Veras Black Book, retail staff working in-store or remotely can provide personalized services to better track and engage with the customer on an on-going basis. Black Book drives proactive and personalized outreach using customer data, timely alerts and reminders, and convenient templates for store associates to always be in touch with your best customers.

All of this is enabled by Veras’ services-oriented, future-proof platform. Highly adaptable to support a variety of deployment models, the platform’s microservices API layer shares business logic across an array of endpoints. From traditional POS to mobile selling to clienteling, our proven enterprise architecture allows retailers to not only innovate faster, but at lower TCO.

Our Win/DSS Knowledge & Expertise

Lastly, the experts at Veras, several of whom once implemented, trained and supported Win/DSS, acquired the technology in 2016. The team has since shed the legacy software to deliver a leading omnichannel solution.

Additional Migration Benefits:

  • Thoughtful design transition across UI, terminology, and process flows
  • Veras CheckOut’s integration to JDA MMS
  • Transparency to finance, sales audit, and inventory control
  • Easy customizations
  • Upgrades without impacting the standard software

Now that we’ve taken you through the daily burdens of Win/DSS and big-picture gains of omnichannel POS through the Veras unified platform – isn’t it time to take the next step forward? 

There’s no better time to upgrade. Contact us to learn how you can make smart technology investments through a modern POS platform while leveling up your entire retail operations. 
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PRESS

Abenson Selects Veras CheckOut for Omnichannel POS

Abenson Global City

Veras CheckOut Provides Leading Philippine Electronics, Appliance, and Furniture Superstores with Modern Omnichannel Platform to Innovate Quickly at Lower TCO

Abenson

Abenson and its Affiliate Brands Select Veras Retail’s Enterprise-Class, Unified POS Platform

August 18, 2021 – PHOENIX – Veras Retail, a leading global provider of omnichannel technology to deliver enhanced retail experiences, today announced that Abenson will modernize its retail operations with Veras CheckOut omnichannel point-of-sale and Veras Activate for centralized promotions management. Additionally, its affiliate brands with varying retail formats—including Abenson Electroworld and Abenson Home—will also deploy Veras CheckOut in a single, cohesive environment.

The Veras BIR-accredited point-of-sale solution will automate compliance requirements, add omnichannel flexibility, and enable new digital and in-store strategies across more than 500 points of sale across these varied retail chains nationwide. Streamlining several special tax considerations and promotional calculations, Veras CheckOut will dramatically simplify and speed transactions to deliver a superior checkout experience.

“Through Abenson’s experiential flagship store, safe and secure access to carefully selected products, and a highly trained staff delivering the best customer service—our success stems from our vision to deliver a new level of retail experience,” said Mr. Winston Lim, Managing Director of Abenson. “With Veras’ platform, we’ll continue to expand on that with enhanced online and offline shopping experiences that are consistent, personalized, and customer-driven.”

From specialty retail to department stores to grocery, Veras CheckOut’s unmatched flexibility on a single, unified platform delivers:

•  Seamless omnichannel and cross-store selling

•  PCI out-of-scope payment integrations

•  Hardware agnostic and mobile-ready integrations

•  Flexible on-premise, cloud or hybrid deployments

•  Add-on modules for endless aisle, self-checkout, clienteling, remote selling, and more

Veras’ omnichannel platform will provide Abenson and the affiliate brands with a suite of cross-channel and cross-store selling capabilities, including Veras Activate. With endless discount options available out-of-the-box, Activate’s advanced promotional tools enable central office staff to manage complex promotions accurately and consistently across stores, mobile, and ecommerce. Furthermore, the built-in price simulator module replicates and monitors price events before go-live to avoid any unintended discounts, and ensures shoppers get the expected result at the point of sale, every time.

“Abenson is bringing a world-class retail experience to the emerging Philippine market where a great deal of transformation is taking place,” said Rohit Vir, CEO of Veras Retail. “We’re honored to be selected by the Abenson family of brands as their strategic partner. Clearly our dynamic platform is filling a market gap to provide a tailored enterprise solution that allows retailers to innovate quickly to meet the customer.”

About Veras Retail

Veras Retail builds innovative omnichannel solutions to connect with consumers at every point of decision. It starts at the store, providing fixed and mobile point-of-sale, retail CRM, omnichannel inventory, mobile selling tools, and seamless cross-channel execution. Headquartered in Phoenix, Ariz., Veras is focused on using technology to rapidly implement new solutions to foster positive, meaningful, and profitable omnichannel interactions between retailers and consumers. Veras powers more than 160,000 lanes in over 50 retailers around the world. Top clients include Office Depot, Kirkland’s, Floor & Decor, DKNY, Best & Less, LCC and MEC. To learn more, visit verasretail.com and follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter.