What should I look for?
Not all retail software is created equal. Most retail systems cover either the point of sale, or the head office functionality, or just some parts of it - for example: CRM. However, even those vendors who offer full retail functionality have usually acquired one or the other component and bolted it on to their original creation. As a result they have put in place interfaces but not integration. There are many such hybrid systems.
Retail Directions software is different. It is a completely integrated and unified retail application, developed from ground up as a single system. This is why with a Retail Directions system there is no need for file transfers, data reconciliations or data re-keying. This saves time and effort. This also prevents errors.
Industry experience indicates that without such a unified system the running costs of retail IT are much higher than necessary and business interruptions are frequent. The retailer needs to continually run, reconcile and adjust interfaces between multiple systems.
Obviously, sometimes retailers have no choice and they are forced to use third party systems. To cater for such situations, the Retail Directions solution is equipped with a range of interfaces to support third party applications such as POS or warehousing. But if you can avoid such fragmentation, Retail Directions can handle all retail functionality for you.
Another important element of our system that you need to check is the technology. By relying on the widely-used Microsoft software platforms and cost-effective PCs, Retail Directions has eliminated major compatibility issues inherent in proprietary systems, further reducing IT costs.
Finally, great systems need highly professional people behind them. Retail Directions' implementation and ongoing support teams ensure the systems work in your business each day, 24 hours a day. This is where Retail Directions offers yet another significant advantage. We know retail and we implement our own systems. Once you choose the system from Retail Directions, our specialist team will use a proven approach to ensure that the Retail Directions solution fits with your business. From planning, implementation, testing, training to ongoing support, you can be comfortable knowing that the entire project is managed by a team that has years of retail experience and will not put your business at risk.