Security

The Right POS Solution For The Latest Concept Store

IGA opened another strategic site in the heart of Brisbane last week with the opening of Fortitude Valley IGA. Owners Gaurav and Vishal Bansal were very excited to open their second store in less than 8 months. The concept store is uniquely designed for a space in a revamped development office block, and is supported by a range of cafes, small restaurants and fast food outlets.

The checkout system comprises 5 lanes of the latest DigiPos checkout hardware, running Profit Track POS modules connected to a full Profit Track Back Office suite. Having chosen Profit Track for their first shop the Bansal brothers were certain about what they wanted, having found Profit Track to be much more useful than products in other business that they own.

Having discovered the capacity of Profit Track to enhance business process in the store, Fortitude Valley is running inventory control, electronic invoicing, and automatic ordering from the outset.  These features ensure optimum control over stock and cash flow management as well as creating operational efficiency within the store.

The store is also running SSA’s advanced Guardian security software. This software  runs integrated to the checkouts providing visibility at multiple locations throughout the store, including the checkouts. Checkout staff can monitor suspicious activity anywhere in the store, and often they will be the first staff to notice customers behaving oddly. The site can also me monitored remotely providing owner the ability to keep tabs on in-store activities.

This store is an example of a smart retail structure, and the site is well worth a visit. When you visit take some time to observe the checkout arrangement and the magnificent POS technology in operation.

Ask us anytime about the technology that has been set up at Fortitude Valley.

IGA retailers treated to more advanced POS software

The SSA stall at the TIR Expo in Hobart over the weekend of 21-22 May was a sensation attracting interest from both Profit Track customers and users of other POS systems. As one of the brighter technology stalls, State Manager Sandy Wallis and Sales Manager Stuart Harris, were at times swamped with visitors. The overflow attracted attention including a quick run-up by the Retail World correspondent.

Of interest to many was the integrated DVR security that now bundles with Profit Track POS. The ability to run live camera feeds through the POS lanes as well as back office servers has got everybody excited. Orders were through the roof. “This is a new dimension to retailing” Stuart Harris comments, “now it is possible for activity to be monitored in key locations throughout the shop, including at the checkouts.  Not only is it possible to view live footage, but footage from any instance can be recalled in seconds.”

The application at the POS lane is significant. For customer service this provides the operator the ability to relate to any transaction and replay for the customer. This naturally dispels issues and arguments very quickly, while reducing the stress that may arise from a customer confrontation. Having visibility of the shop from the POS lanes also assists significantly with security, and more importantly staff safety.

Inventory Control and Automatic Ordering were also targeted, with Profit Track now being a well designed and effective inventory management software. Sandy Wallis demonstrated the capacity of Profit Track to release capital from redundant or non performing stock items, as well as just simply maintaining an appropriate stock level for average sales. Intelligent ordering aids the process by ordering only what is required for the next periods sales.

“We can see this visibly improving bottom-line performance in stores that have implemented both options” says Sandy, “and when you are identifying with improvements of 1-2% to GP then return on investment is not a difficult justification.”

Visitors were quick to comment on how simple the system was to use. Watching Sandy step through ordering and stock management procedures provided store owners full view of the way that Profit Track connects with the physical process.

Another extremely successful presentation from Scanning Systems Australia.

CONTACT SSA for more information…

Scanning Systems Australia has released Profit Track: Guardian Extreme a complete theft management solution integrating industry-standard digital security surveillance with Point of Sale for retailers. Stores can now efficiently and easily track employee and customer related company theft.

A key feature of the system is the daily highlights package. This brings all suspect activity and questionable behaviour together in a ten minute vision of the business for owners and managers to review as part of End of Day procedures.
The Profit Track: Guardian Extreme integrated solution provides irrefutable evidence for police in identifying persons and tracking theft within the business. Employee-related theft is acknowledged as the cause of up to 67% of all theft experienced by commercial retailers.

Request a complimentary 19-point checklist to reduce and manage employee theft

Most retailers in the small business sector work strenuously in their business and put in many extra hours in an endeavor to get the return they deserve on their investment. They take pride in their achievements and yet they are often disappointed at the end of the year when they assess the bottom line.

It is a fact of business that there are others who also take an interest in the business and plan many devious ways to get their hands on a share of the action. A share which they certainly do not deserve.

Some customers indulge in taking an ‘additional discount’ and unfortunately there are also employees believe in ‘topping-up’ their weekly pay packet.

In both cases it is the business proprietor who is funding the illicit activities of these individuals. People who seem to take great delight in taking a share of the profitability of the business.

Recent innovations in Electronic Surveillance Systems now provide opportunity for astute Retailers to discover just how wide spread these activities really are within their business, and to identify the perpetrators and to put a stop to their “profit sharing” activities.

According to Martin Coughlan, Security Division Manager at Scanning Systems Australia, it is not just a matter of installing a quality security system, but rather the combination of a number of technologies that will provide the power to enable management to trap the offenders. Internal theft represents up to 80% of losses sustained by Independent Retailers, and this is largely due to inadequate investment in systems and procedures that are necessary as control measures in a self-service retail store.

A smart POS system, fully integrated into the latest digital video technology will enable the Retailer to establish the linkage between what is going on, and who the individuals are & whether they be customers or staff.

Martin Coughlan explained that the new PosGuard Extreme Security system marketed by SSA has been fully integrated into the Profit Track point of sale system developed by SSA. The end of day management reports from the Profit Track POS identifies suspicious transactions and enables the Manager to recall the video evidence by simply clicking the mouse on any event of interest.

These new concepts being introduced by SSA, provide functionality for the checkout operators to touch a security icon on the POS register screen and view live images straight from any of the security cameras in the store. In effect each checkout operator becomes a security officer assisting Management to achieve the reward that is rightfully theirs.