Point of Sale Solution

The WinPOSt Point of Sale Application combines Personal Computer technology and Australian designed application software to deliver a fully functional Point of Sale system, which will grow with your organisation.

The WinPOSt Point of Sale Application is designed to run on the latest retail hardware from Toshiba and IBM using the most widely used retail platform OPOS (Open Point of Sale). Using the latest tested combinations of Microsoft Operating Systems with locally developed software and high performance Touchscreen Point of Sale Systems, the Worldsmart Retail WinPOSt Point of Sale Application provides quality, performance and upgradeability not available in a conventional Cash Register system.

System Architecture

The WinPOSt Point of Sale Application incorporates in its system architecture the most important factors required by a Retail operation.

• Redundancy of Operation
• Reliability
• Speed of Operation

The WinPOSt Point of Sale Application incorporates in each Point of Sale Terminal all of the information required to process the sale including Price Lookups, Retail Debtors, Frequent Customer and Electronic Journals. Many other scanning systems are dependent on a ‘Master’ Register to provide this information to ‘Slave’ cash registers, which can result in loss of operation of all terminals in the event of failure. Each individual WinPOSt Point of Sale Terminal is autonomous in its operation and in the unlikely event of failure only a single terminal will cease to function leaving all other terminals in a fully operational state. The POSt System architecture provides for all Point of Sale Terminals to be linked via an industry standard communications network. This provides file maintenance, consolidated reporting, data sharing and data capture. Communications to all Point of Sale Terminals can be completed at any time, including during trading. By providing all of the information required for the sale in each individual terminal ensures the WinPOSt Point of Sale Application of superb response time for scanning, scale and keyboard operations.

Operator Display

The WinPOSt Point of Sale Application Operator Console incorporates the Operator Display and Keyboard. The Operator Display allows for significantly more details regarding the sale to be displayed to the cashier than normally associated with a conventional cash register system. The WinPOSt Point of Sale Application provides operator instructions in clear concise English. Unlike conventional cash registers with a mix of tri-marks and abbreviated mnemonics to convey operator instructions and to advise of error conditions, the WinPOSt Point of Sale Application displays a full description and the functions required to operate Point of Sale Terminal in English. In addition, keys can be activated and moved to provide speedy and correct response for operations. Each detail of the sale is displayed as it occurs, including the full record of all items sold complete with a full 32-character product description. Large transactions with many lines can still be reviewed on screen via a scroll bar. The WinPOSt Point of Sale Application Operator Display promotes confidence in your cashiers and enables cashiers to be trained in less than ten minutes.

Sales Menu

The sales touch screen menu displays various department keys which lead the operator to speed screens with 72 Preset keys per screen. Numeric and function keys are also provided whenever necessary for maximum efficiency.

Sales Functions

The WinPOSt Point of Sale Application provides full function scanning system complete with all sales functions associated with a scanning system.

Item Sales

Item sales can be entered in a number of methods:

• Scanned Items
• Integrated
• Scale
• Keyboard Entry
• Preset Items

Scanned Items

Simply passing the APN, EAN, UPC or JAN Barcode across the face of the scanner can ring items up. The ‘MULTIPLY’ key can be used in conjunction with the scanner for multiple item sales. In addition to scanning regular barcodes, the WinPOSt Point of Sale Application supports all Variable Weight Barcode formats from In-department barcode scale including EAN-2 and UPC 2. Leading Scanning Systems suppliers have adopted a standard for interfacing POS systems with scanners and scales. This standard is called OPOS and gives the retailer maximum flexibility and future choice. All major POS, Scanner and Scale manufacturers conform to this standard. The WinPOSt Point of Sale Application provides interfaces to a number of NCR scanners through the OPOS system. The WinPOSt Point of Sale Application provides you with the widest choice of scanning technology. Scanning will considerably improve the productivity of your Front End, and the WinPOSt Point of Sale Application has demonstrated increased productivity in Front End applications, even in stores which have replaced their existing scanning equipment.

Integrated Scale

The WinPOSt Point of Sale Application provides sale operations using an integrated scale for weighed items. Simply depressing the department key on the Touch Screen e.g. ‘Fruit and Vegetables’ will display the complete range of items for that department. The operator displays items in colours chosen by the Retailer to enable fast product identification. Placing the item on the scale and depressing the appropriate key automatically invokes the reading of the weight from the scale and ringing up the item. Scale operation on the WinPOSt Point of Sale Application significantly reduces the complexity of the sale by not requiring the cashier to memorise endless Price Lookup (PLU) numbers and significantly increases throughout by reducing the number of keystrokes for this function.

Keyboard Entry

The WinPOSt Point of Sale Application also allows for two methods of entering items for sale.

• Department Entry
Items can be directly entered into a department e.g. Meat Delicatessen etc. using a dollar value. The cashier simply enters the value of the item and touches the appropriate Department key.


• Price Look Up (PLU) Entry
In the case of items without a barcode being stocked in the store, each of these items is allocated its own unique Price Look Up (PLU) number to allow for product identification. The cashier simply uses the keyboard to enter the PLU number and depresses the PLU key to ring up the item. In the case of multiple items the cashier can enter the quantity and depress the ‘QUANTITY’ key prior to entering the PLU code or value. In addition, retouching the PLU key will allow an item to be repeated.

Preset Menu

The WinPOSt Point of Sale Application can be configured with multiple preset keyboards (speed screens). Simply depressing the department key re-draws the keyboard to display a speed screen with 72 preset keys for individual products, additional speed screens can be displayed by pressing the ‘Next’ or ‘Previous’ keys or the up and down arrows. In addition items may be clustered into “Drill Down” groups allowing a specific group of like items to be selected with a single key. This provides for an unlimited number of preset PLU keys. Speed screens can be configured for all departments e.g. Fruit and Vegetable, Liquor, Bulk Foods etc. and incorporates the integrated scale operation. Speed screen use will improve your front end with increased accuracy and decreased complexity of operation.

Price Enquiry

Price Enquiry on the WinPOSt Point of Sale Application can be performed on scanned items, weighed items or Price Look Up (PLU’s). A touch of the ‘PRICE ENQUIRY’ key prior to the item entry will display the item complete with the full description (32 characters) and price. In the case of multiple or scale items the unit price is extended to the total sale value. The cashier is requested to accept or reject the item, and by touching the appropriate key the item can be cancelled or rung up.

Tendering Menu

The WinPOSt Point of Sale Application displays an item count and subtotal throughout the sale. At the end of the sale the cashier simply touches the ‘TOTAL’ key and the keyboard is re-drawn to display the keys required to finalise the sale.

Media of Tender

All Media of Tender are catered for by the WinPOSt Point of Sale Application, including:

• Cash
• Cheque
• Charge
• EFTPOS
• Voucher

Cash

The WinPOSt Point of Sale Application allows the operator a choice of three methods of tendering cash. Touching the cash key will quickly finalise the transaction when the exact amount is tendered. The tendered value of cash may be entered using the numeric keyboard or by using the pre-set cash denomination keys i.e. $2.00, $5.00, $10.00, $20.00, $50.00 and $100.00. If the value of the sales is exceeded, the WinPOSt Point of Sale Application will automatically calculate change. The WinPOSt Point of Sale Application is designed to finalise Cash Sales as quickly as possible.

Charge

The WinPOSt Point of Sale Application provides a number of facilities for Charge transactions. At the completion of the sale the cashier touches the ‘CHARGE’ key, the WinPOSt Point of Sale Application then requests the entry of a Customer Account Number prior to finalising the sale. A duplicate receipt is produced to provide a store copy of the transaction with an area to enable the customer to sign for approval of the transaction. The WinPOSt Retail Debtors module (Optional) will provide complete customer details including Name, Address and current balance. Further account details can be displayed by touching the detail keys on the Operator panel. Details include current transactions and last payment date, Frequent Customer score and Cheque Cashing availability.

Cheque

Cheque can be entered into the WinPOSt Point of Sale Application at the completion of the sale. As an option, a register of customers who can use a cheque in your store may be established to confirm the validity of the customer.

EFTPOS

EFTPOS can be used as a media of tender at the completion of the sale when the ‘EFTPOS’ key is touched. The WinPOSt Point of Sale Application requests the value of cash out, finalizes the sale and calculates the change.

Interfaced EFTPOS

The WinPOSt Point of Sale Application EFTPOS is an interfaced solution using EFTPOS hardware and software manufactured by Ingenico or Quest. At the completion of the sale the EFTPOS tender key is touched and the POSt Scanning System will lead the operator through additional steps including 'Cash Out'. At this point, control for the EFTPOS transaction is electronically passed to the PINpad for communications and authorisation with the bank. Upon authorisation of the transaction by the bank, control is passed back to the WinPOSt Point of Sale Application for printing of receipts and payment of 'Cash Out' values.

Multi Media Tendering

A customer may wish to tender a number of forms of media as payment for a sale. The WinPOSt Point of Sale Application will allow the cashier to enter each method of payment and calculate the change.

Deferred Sales

If a customer is not ready or unable to finalise the sale, the operator can defer the sale and free the Point of Sale Terminal to process another sale. A receipt of items processed is printed with a ‘Defer Number’ on the bottom of the receipt. This should be put away with the items. A duplicate receipt is also printed with the defer number on it. This is given to the customer to enable them to reclaim their items. After a sale has been recalled, additional items can be added to the sale. Deferred sales can be recalled at any register on the network allowing for maximum flexibility. Deferring a sale adds a valuable tool to reduce delays at the Front End and maximise throughput.

Account Payments

Customers are able to make payments to their Charge Accounts directly into the WinPOSt Point of Sale Application. The cashier enters the customer account number into the WinPOSt Point of Sale terminal with the amount and payment type. A store and customer receipt is printed. Account payments are automatically transferred to the POSt Retail Debtors module (Optional).

Voids

In the case of an item being entered incorrectly as part of a sale, the WinPOSt Point of Sale Application will allow the cashier to 'Void' or subtract the item from the sale. Details of the correction are clearly displayed on the customer receipt. The WinPOSt Point of Sale Application will not allow an item that has not been entered in the sale to be voided. A count of the number and total of voided items is retained for each cashier and WinPOSt Point of Sale Terminal to allow control over this function.

Returns and Refunds

The WinPOSt Point of Sale Application allows you to differentiate between Returns and Refunds and retains the integrity of your Retail Manager or Grocery Manager inventory system. A return adds the item to stock for resale whereas an item, which is being refunded, is not added to stock. The WinPOSt Point of Sale Application asks the cashier "Is the item to be returned to stock?" and depending on the response a return or refund is performed. The WinPOSt Point of Sale Application will allow you to retain the integrity of your system without the complicated training of cashiers required by conventional scanning systems.

Paid Outs

Paid Outs may be recorded from the WinPOSt Point of Sale Application. The ‘Paid Out’ function is selected from the ‘Accounting Functions’ menu and the amount and the cashier enters payment type.

Receipt

The WinPOSt Point of Sale Application Customer Receipt provides a fully detailed record of the transaction. The Customer Receipt includes a full product description of 32 characters rather than the twelve- (12) character product descriptions normally provided in conventional cash register systems. The WinPOSt Point of Sale provides for re-printing receipts from the last five transactions ensuring that customers who have forgotten to request a Tax Invoice for GST even though subsequent transactions have been completed. Improving customer service at the front end is an important objective achieved from installing the WinPOSt Point of Sale system. Duplicate Customer Receipts are provided for Charge and Defer transactions to maintain control of these functions. The detailed Customer Receipt will raise your customer’s confidence in your scanning system by allowing them to reconcile their purchases easily and quickly. Post sale receipt printing provides for significant improvement to your current receipt printing formats by removing error corrects and consolidating multiple item purchases into a single line. This means faster printing times and using less receipt paper while improving the readability of the receipt for your customers. In addition, credit card transactions become faster by printing the authorisation slip for signing before the item receipt is printed. This delivers improved service to your customers and significantly reduces the amount of time at the checkout.

Offers

The ever-increasing intensity of competition in the retail sector means that retailers must differentiate their offer from that of their competition. Offers are a way of packaging separate items for sale in a more complex manner than simple discounts or special prices, including such packages as mixed-dozen wine discounts, “back-to-school” packs, and product mix-and-matches. There are nine types of Offers available in the system. The following is an example of three;

Discount Offer: This is where a discount is offered when a customer buys a certain quantity of particular products or from a particular range of departments or commodities. For example, adding the commodities for red, white and sparkling wines to the offer configures a discount on mixed-dozen wine. As long as the customer buys a dozen bottles from this range of commodities, he or she qualifies for the discount.

Multiple Offer: This is where a discount is offered when a customer buys a certain number of a particular product. For example, a can of Coke costs $0.90 but the customer may buy four cans of Coke for $3.00.

Set Offer: This is where a discount is offered on a set of products. For example, a “back-to-school” offer may include a pen, notepad and ruler. When bought as a set, the price is $2.00, whereas when bought separately, the total price for all items is greater. The customer must buy one of each item in the set to qualify for the discount.

Offers removes the need for Point of Sale operators to understand the complexity of offers or remember which products have offers by accurately delivering the savings to your customer automatically at the time of sale. Offers will allow you to deliver real savings to your customers whilst maintaining the highest degree of accuracy available at the Point of Sale. The recent introduction of offers to enhance sales has delivered considerable success at stores using this feature. A discounted price on two roast chickens increased sales by over fifty percent.