A new technology inflection point has arrived in commerce, caused by the maturity of cloud computing, mobile technologies and open access to transactional payment networks. This phenomenon will disrupt older technological approaches and will reshape commerce in a variety of forms. A major new market is unfolding with a vast array of opportunities.
Business software is rapidly shifting from premise-based software licenses to cloud-based software services. Cloud computing brings value by eliminating on-site IT infrastructure – this eliminates local IT management and related costs. RIA (Rich Internet Applications) technologies are improving the on line user experience to make them comparable to a desktop experience and this is accelerating the migration away from desktop to cloud.
Apple® changed the world with the release of the iPad® an ultra-sleek, tablet computer that connected people to the web and a mobile network that allows you to transact business in a new and convenient way.
Google® and Microsoft® have or are releasing comparable products. Tablet computing is a new standard for retail solutions and the technology is being rapidly embraced.
Often a pure web solution does not work because POS is mission critical – meaning it cannot go down or become slow when customers are standing in line. Therefore, a device with local data storage and processing capability is essential to providing uninterrupted service.
Today, retailers license software for POS and back office operations such as purchasing, inventory management and analysis. Typically the Windows platform and PCs are used. The cost of implementation and support is several thousand dollars for each system and the data replication processes between the locations (stores, warehouse and back office) is a frequent source of problems and frustration representing a significant cost.
