Contactless technology is relatively recent and allows for consumers to simply hold their card near the reader for the transaction to be finalized. It utilizes the smart chips that are embedded in the cards themselves. This allows for the transactions to be fast and efficient, and streamlining the entire payment process. No more signing receipts or entering PIN’s.

Skyzer have also recently announced plans to use some of the latest in payment technologies with the NFC functionality. NFC, or Near Field Communications is a frequency based operation allowing devices such as smartphones to be used in place of a credit card. As we have mentioned in a previous article, this technology is very recent and is slowly making its way into businesses around the world.

It goes without saying that as technology increases and demand for these technologies is created, it will be the consumer who wins. Idealpos is able to be used in conjunction with these systems in many ways and will continue to do so.

Further Reading:

SkyPay-300 Contactless Reader

Skyzer NFC in New Zealand

QR Codes are a 2D or matrix style barcode that has the ability to store a lot of data.

What do they look like?

You would have noticed them in newspapers, magazines, posters and other places already. They are generally square with combinations of dots within the square.

How do you use them?

First used in the automotive industry, they have gained popularity due to the ability for smartphones to scan the code and be taken to a URL, send a text or email, or even save contact details. Not only that, it is possible to create your own.

QR Codes & Idealpos

QR Codes can be used within Idealpos as part of your branding to get more queries and results from advertisements you place in the view of the public. Anyone with a smartphone now has the ability to essentially have a barcode scanner in their pocket.

Within Idealpos you can use your QR Code for multiple advertising opportunities. Have it print on the bottom of the receipt, display on the Customer Display and use it on all your advertising. As smartphones are still relatively new technology, and many people are still experimenting with QR Codes and their use, now is the time to seize the opportunity for your advantage. You have nothing to lose in any case so scan the code below to see where it leads.

Additional Information

QR Codes can be read with a smartphone and therefore you can find many different apps that do the job. Search for QR Codes in iTunes or Google Play for more information. Our staff recommend QRReader for iPhones and Barcode Scanner for Android.

Want to create your own QR Codes?

Simple and easy to use – Here

Lot of choice and information – Here

As you may or may not have heard, PayPal has announced the release of ‘PayPal Here’, a way for merchants to accept payments of credit card and debit card with a smartphone. This will allow businesses who don’t already have a mobile solution, or are looking for a new way to process payments to do so at very little cost. Currently over in the US there is a company called Square who is doing the same sort of thing, but is currently not available here.

On the other side of the coin (pardon the pun), you have companies who are lining up to create apps that enable customers to use add-on solutions to make payments. ANZ has the GoMoney, CBA has Kaching and the NAB is looking at investing.

All this technology may seem daunting at first, but if you look closer you can see why it is heading that way. Google’s flagship phone has the new NFC enabled chip which is basically the same as the chip in your new credit cards. Then you have another company in the US creating what is called ISIS, which is basically the same thing but uses a different frequency.

The good news is that Idealpos is able to support all of these facilities to the best of our knowledge. It is easy to create a tender that is used in Idealpos for any of these functions. As more technology is released and the demand for integration and use with Idealpos increases, we will help where we can.

You may be thinking that this is not going to affect you or will never come to fruition, but it’s happening now and fast. With the speedy uptake of smartphones the technology is growing at an amazing pace. If you would like some more reading we have compiled a list of links below that will give you more information.

PayPal Here Launches

PayPal Here Homepage

Square

NFC

ISIS

NAB Flags App

CBA Kaching

ANZ goMoney

The Fine Food Queensland show is the place to find out about the products you sell and use within any retail, food or hospitality business. It allows us to have our feet on the ground and find out what our customers need from a Point of Sale system. This show is always where we find we get the best response and ideas for new features in our products.

Idealpos Solutions have a large stand where we will be exhibiting the latest additions to Idealpos and Ideal Kitchen Monitor, with the latter using multiple Kitchen Monitors and Customer Displays. We will also have our new Idealpos i15 touchscreen terminals where you can see, touch and measure them for your business.

Come along and find David or Mark and say hi. Ask for a demo on anything you want to see and dont be shy. We look forward to seeing you there. The show is on from the 11th – 13th March.

If you would like to find us at the show, please click here for the map with our location highlighted. You can read more about our stand by clicking here for the Fine Food Exhibitor Information.

Frequent Development

We have own team of programmers who are constantly adding new, and enhancing existing features to the program. Not only that, but additional add-on modules, links to third-party software for better integration and a regular release cycle are also included. As we are an Australian company that supplies to several countries worldwide, we are constantly innovating and improving our product, generally based on the feedback we gather from our clients and resellers. We are constantly reviewing and utilizing new technologies to ensure that our product is never out of date. Big advances in SQL database management and .NET 4.0 improves on our multi-database peer to peer design.

User-Friendly Features

Although Point of Sale software needs to be detailed and can sometimes be cumbersome, Idealpos has managed to facilitate the use of many features as simple check-box options. This allows you to scan through quickly and decide on each feature individually, while also creating a detailed system unique to your business. Idealpos also includes as default some of the most used features in a point of sale systems like Stock Control, Gift Vouchers, Credit Notes, Accounts, Bar Tabs and Promotions.

Stock Control

Idealpos gives you the ability to control all aspects of your business from an inventory perspective. You can easily create and manage direct and indirect items, and use recipes to further break down items. Add suppliers and create purchase orders, receive invoices and request credits. Full stock take capabilities with transfer between locations, stock write-offs and stock take reports including variance and value calculations. There is no limit to the amount of items that you can have in your database, so no matter how large your business is, Idealpos can comfortably handle it. A lot of other POS Companies will include Stock Control as a paid add-on module. With Idealpos one of the most powerful features of Point of Sale software is included as standard.

Gift Vouchers & Credit Notes

Many businesses offer their customers Gift Vouchers. Idealpos takes this one step further by ensuring all Gift Vouchers are tracked through the system, and can be linked to Customers in your database for better marketing. You can also edit the expiry date and choose from 20 different Gift Voucher types. Credit Notes allow you to offer customers a value for returned items within your store to use at a later date. They are similar to Gift Vouchers, however they are issued when a customer wants a refund for an item as an exchange.

Reports

It is no good having all of these features if you can’t access the data you need. With the ability to create over 50 reports with multiple combinations, you will be able to see all the details of your business in a flash. The majority of reports are logical in nature and will contain all the relevant information you are looking for. The reports can be generated on preset dates, or you can customize a specific date and time to really narrow down your interests. The reports will be displayed on screen and can be printed, emailed or saved as a pdf file. An additional module also allows for the scheduling of reports that can be printed or emailed at pre-programmed intervals, perfect for the owner who is not on-site every day.

Promotions

Promotions give your customers a point of difference for purchasing from you, and allow you to move stock that needs to sell, or to gain more profit. There are many different types of promotions that can be used, from “Buy 2 for 1” deals to “Buy 10 coffees get 1 free” customer promotions. Happy hours, Reward Incentives, coupons and raffles are also all available to be used in conjunction with any other promotion.

Large Dealer Network

Idealpos relies on and supports dealers in many varying degrees. You can find dealers who sell, use and recommend Idealpos in all states of Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Canada and Saudi Arabia. We truly are a global company that prides ourselves on being able to meet the demands of many different business types and requirements the world over. Idealpos is committed to providing our dealers with the latest information and support to help them support their clients for a better Point of Sale experience for you. If you can’t find a dealer in your area, contact our head office where we can put you in touch with someone who will help.

On-going Customer Support

Idealpos has committed a great amount of time and effort to ensuring all the information that we can provide for our customers at all levels, is easily accessible. We have a constantly online User Guide, which is updated frequently with new features and changes. We are also a member of Facebook, Google+ and Twitter where we post information relating to the release of new versions, product launches and industry relevant articles. We also provide a monthly newsletter containing relevant information, expanded articles and new features.

Accounts and Customer Database

Keeping existing customers is easier and cheaper than advertising and trying to attract new customers. Although you would ideally like to target both, Idealpos offers you the ability to easily track, maintain and market to existing customers within your database. Customers can be used for Laybys, Accounts, Bar Tabs, Loyalty and more. Once their details have been recorded, they remain in your database where their details can be linked to any sale they make. As with the Stock Control system, full customer functionality is included in the base version.

Add-on’s and Integration

As a stand-alone Point of Sale product Idealpos is powerful, functional and can handle most tasks. But for those businesses that require more from their product, we have a large range of solutions to make Idealpos even better. Whether it is Restaurant or Reservations, Integrated EFTPOS, Room/Property Integration, Accounting, Gaming Integration or Franchise Management, Idealpos can integrate or facilitate the use of these and many more additional functions. Each module is separate and can be purchased for one or more terminals, depending on the requirements. Before adding any modules, we recommend you contact and Authorized Idealpos Reseller who will be able to help you.

The rules for rounding in Australia have been in effect for more than 20 years with no changes. There are 2 different scenarios that can be applied to Rounding depending on the Tender used.

As Australia no longer has 1 and 2 cent coins, all Cash sales must be rounded up or down to the nearest 5 or 10 cent denomination. New Zealand no longer has 1, 2 and 5 cent denominations, and therefore all Cash sales must be rounded to the nearest 10 cent denomination.

When using EFTPOS, Credit Cards or Cheques, you are able to be charged the correct and total amount before rounding, as these payment methods support the use of any cents from 1 through to 9. Rounding of these tenders is not allowed and there are serious fines that can be imposed if you are found to be in breach of these rules.

More information on this can be found here.
If you are in New Zealand, your information can be found here.

To be able to use Tyro Tipping, the Pin Pad and Tyro software will need to be upgraded if they are not on the supported version. Tyro will upgrade the terminals overnight, but they need to be informed beforehand to ensure it is included in their schedule. Contact Tyro or your Idealpos reseller for more information on using and updating to this functionality. The Idealpos User Guide has been updated to reflect these changes.

Tyro Payments is the first new entrant in the EFTPOS business in over 15 years. As Australia’s first and only independent acquirer, Tyro processes credit, debit, EFTPOS, gift and loyalty card acquiring and Medicare claiming/rebating services. Tyro’s transparent Payment Solutions are uniquely merchant focused, enabling reduced fees, greater productivity, better cost management and a superior payment experience for consumers. Partnering with more than 40 POS providers Tyro serves the retailing, hospitality and health industries. Tyro Payments holds an authority to carry on a banking business as a Specialist Credit Card Institution (SCCI) operating under the supervision of the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA). Tyro does not take money on deposit.

Idealpos has been working closely with Tyro for more than 6 months and we use the Tyro facility within our own business. We recommend the use of Tyro based on our own requirements for the business, and we also recommend that you do your research before making a commitment of your own.

A kitchen monitor system is commonly for fast food businesses, but it can be used in multiple businesses of varying degrees and requirements. The single reason to use IKM over a kitchen printer is ease of use, but there are many more benefits which are:
• No paper dockets, so no orders will be lost or not printed.
• You can enlarge the orders as needed and view them in multiple stations throughout the kitchen.
• Multiple orders on screen, with Sale Type and Time Alerts for each order.
• Colour coding for priorities and order differentials.
• Recall orders that have previously been finalised to confirm details or ensure the customer gets their meal.
• Consumables become a thing of the past as all the data is stored on a PC.
• Ability to run reports on service times for orders to improve customer service standards.
• Customer Order Display to visually give customers a cue on when their food is ready.

One of the more recent and highly featured functions that has been added is the Customer Order Display. This function gives you the ability to fully customise the way that your guests know it is time to collect their meal. Using animations, displaying multiple order numbers at once and configuring custom colours and logos, this is certainly a new standard in customer service.

Ideal Kitchen Monitor is able to run direct from a POS Terminal, or a POS Embedded PC designed for this purpose. IKM can help to streamline any kitchen, and provide advanced tools to help manage orders in what is a hot and stressful environment.

Not to be limited just to the kitchen either, the ability for the system to be used in busy cafes and coffee shops is a bonus. A coffee machine is a fast paced multi-skilled environment where speed, clarity and efficiency are paramount. Being able to view all coffee orders in a summary and know that you have a total of 11 cappuccinos, 7 flat whites, with 1 soy and another skim, helps take the thinking from the barista and present it in an easy to manage format.

For more information on using this feature, please visit our on-line User Guide for information on both IKM and Customer Order Display.

An example of this in action is a restaurant that sells a bottled beer for $6. The cost of the beer is $4 so the Markup on the beer has been 50%. Many people wrongly assume then that the profit is also 50%, but this isn’t the case. To work out the Margin we need to apply the following formula:

(Total Sales – Cost )/Total Sales*100% = Profit Margin % .

(6-4)/4*100=33.333333 or 33%.

As you can see, our Markup is 50% and our Margin is only 33%.

If the business owner did not know these calculations, imagine the disaster when they try and add up their finances. They buy their beer for $4 and add a 50% Markup to sell at $6. Once the beer is sold, they take what they think is their Profit of 50% of $3.

Additional Information:

http://www.calculatenow.biz/business/markup.html

Lately there has been a sharp spike in the amount of our customers who are getting caught out when their security is lacking. The latest virus that is affecting a lot of our customers is the fake “System Restore” or “Windows Recovery” virus. These mask themselves as a genuine message that informs the user the PC is infected, and to click options that download more malicious software or stop the PC from working altogether.

Although relatively minor, they no doubt cause a massive amount of panic when inexperienced or ill-informed people believe them. In the case of these viruses, we can generally sort the issue out within an hour to get the terminal into a working state. We recommend however, that the terminal be returned to us to be re-imaged to ensure that all of the infection has been removed, as the tools we run are no guarantee.

All of this hassle can be prevented by simply having some security installed on any computer that connects to the internet in your workplace. Idealpos Solutions use and sell Kaspersky Internet Security to keep our computers protected. We would recommend that any POS terminal that has access to the internet is protected.

For more information or to purchase Kaspersky, please contact us at support@idealpos.com.au.