Integrated POS Bundle Deal Signed by Microsoft, HP, Casio, and DigiPoS

Published: January 18, 2006

by Alex Woodie

Three hardware manufacturers--Hewlett-Packard, Casio, and DigiPoS Systems--have signed up with Microsoft to sell point-of-sale (POS) terminals that are pre-loaded and pre-integrated with Microsoft's entry-level POS offering, called Microsoft Point of Sale, which Microsoft introduced last May. Point of Sale, when combined with appropriate hardware, is basically a cash register-replacement solution for small retailers, and brings with it several perks that non-computerized retail establishments may benefit from, such as the capability to generate barcodes or run monthly tax reports.

Slightly larger stores or retail chains may be interested in Retail Management System version 1.3, a more feature-rich retail offering designed for small and medium-sized organizations that offers integrated POS, inventory control, pricing and sales promotion, and customer- and employee-management capabilities. Last month Microsoft shipped Retail Management System version 1.3, which brought greater integration with Microsoft Dynamics GP (formerly Great Plains). Microsoft says this integration provides better multi-site capabilities, which translates into improved tracking of inventory, improved visibility into sales transactions at the individual store level, and deeper insights into general ledger activities. Pricing for Retail Management System starts at $1,190.