i-glad! Retail POS Apps!

Another great post from industry analyst, Michael Koply.  Being that I am a HUGE lover of all things Apple, it seems more than fitting to do a post on retail apps that bring POS sytems onto i-phones and i-pads!
 For years, retailers had been waiting for a great tablet computer, and they now have one in the Apple iPad. Only a few months after the iPad's announcement, a July 2010 mobile retail study by Forbes found that 73 percent of retailers had already begun some type of mobile initiative. A powerful, lightweight and easy-to-use tablet device would allow retailers to move point of sale (POS) solutions from behind the cash register and onto the sales floor. With Apple’s iPad and iOS, software vendors now have a device and platform to develop great retail applications. Retailers have three main options when they want to use point of sale software on their iPad:

• Point-of-sale iOS applications. Many of the biggest retail software vendors are beginning to offer iOS apps in addition to their other solutions.
• Web-based POS software. While not specifically developed for the iPad, these applications can be accessed via the iPad’s Safari web browser.
• iOS payment processing applications. Combined with a credit card reader attachment, these applications can process transactions from anywhere.

Point-of-Sale iOS AppsTo help users with their search, we’ve put together a list of our ten favorite retail iOS POS applications.

Point-of-Sale iOS AppsTo help users with their search, we’ve put together a list of our ten favorite retail iOS POS applications.

Celerant
Demo 
Software licenseWarehouse management, inventory lookup, CRM, and point-of-sale functionality can be found in Celerant’s M-Commerce application. The Command Retail M-Commerce module is compatible with the iPod Touch/iPhone and iPad.

Epicor
Demo
Software licenseJust announced a month ago, the Retail Mobile Store application from Epicor is a full-featured solution, compatible with all Retail Store 6 versions. Runs on iPod/iPhone, iPad and Windows/PC mobile devices. Users can use the App Builder to customize the menu layout.

JDS Solutions
Demo
Software licenseGreat solution for liquidations, festivals and sidewalk sales. WinGo is a combination of WinRetail and Micros’s Xstore. Compatible with iPod Touches/iPhones and iPads, the app combines sales processing with back office management, including inventory lookup and analytics.

LightSpeed
Demo
Software licenseCan perform price lookups, accept on-screen signatures and email receipts directly to customers. Integrates with Linea Pro barcode scanner and magnetic stripe reader. Designed for the iPod Touch or iPhone 4, an updated version will likely be deployed soon for increased iPad customization.POSLavuMonthly subscriptionIdeal for restaurants. PCI compliant, native-iOS application that runs on iPhone 4, iPod Touch, and iPad. Integrates with cash drawer hardware and server-based printers.Revel SystemsMonthly subscriptionDesigned for both restaurants and small retail operations. Offers fifteen custom reports, including a PLU and employee checkout report. Features include ordering and management modules.

Radiant CounterPoint
Demo
Monthly subscriptionCPMobile is useful for retailers that want software to perform line-busting when checkout lines get backed-up. Runs on iPod Touch or iPhone 4 only. Integrates with both server-based and Bluetooth printers. Radiant offers compatible third-party infrared scanner and credit card reader cases.

SalesVu
Monthly subcriptionIdeal for all types of retailers. Single-device license is free, while additional devices are $9.95 per device each month. Offers a free magnetic stripe reader if retailer enrolls in payment processing with Mercury Payment Services.

SWIM
Demo
Monthly subscriptioniPad application specifically for jewelers. Includes order customization, customer history, jewelry ranges for browsing customers, quoting and stock counting - in addition to core point of sale transaction processing.

ShopKeep
Monthly subscriptionGreat for food service, gift shop, and other specialties. Offered as both a native iPad and web-based application. Solution is compatible with cash drawer and wireless printer hardware.Web-based POS SoftwareWeb-based POS solutions can be accessed via the iPad’s Safari browser, but these solutions weren’t initially developed with the tablet in mind. As such, the user interface can be awkward to navigate without a mouse, and the iPad’s on-screen keyboard cannibalizes some of the screen space. That being said, using web-based applications is great for retailers looking to use an iPad for certain occasions, while still primarily relying on a desktop computer. 

Solutions from ECR Software:

• NetSuite
  
• MerchantOS
  
• RICS Enterprise
  
• RunIt 
  

iOS Payment Processing ApplicationsSome retailers only need a device to process credit card transactions and keep purchases in a centralized location. The iPad is a great device to help retailers in this regard, and software developers have put together some great application and hardware combinations over the last couple of years. Most applications also come with a free card reader if retailers enroll in a merchant services account. Popular applications include Square, Intuit GoPayment, and Swipe by AppNinjas.

Have you used any of the retail applications above? Do you use a point of sale application on your iPad that we missed? Please leave a comment below and share your experiences.