When rapidly growing retailer Cartridge World engaged POS VAR (value-added reseller) Duncan & Associates to consult on the selection of its new POS system, ease of training was near the top of the retailer�s list of criteria. Ralph Duncan, principal at Duncan & Associates, knew that a touch screen terminal would lend to that goal. He recommended, and Cartridge World selected, the NCR RealPOS 70, the transaction hardware provider�s flagship touch screen terminal. Cartridge World chose RetailPro as the software engine to drive its POS, and POS VAR Big Hairy Dog Information Systems installed and configured that system. The combination has proven sound, as the retailer has grown aggressively.

�We train our franchisees in an intensive two-week session at our corporate headquarters� training facility,� says Shawn Lynam, VP of franchise operations at Cartridge World. �We have a 20-station POS lab there, but the POS training is one of the easiest aspects of the class. The graphic, interactive nature of the NCR/RetailPro system interface is intuitive and self-explanatory, which greatly reduces our training overhead.� This is important for Lynam, who says that many of the franchisees his company trains are making their foray into the retail industry with Cartridge World and have never worked with a POS system before. Following the two-week course, franchisees get a brief refresher course for store-level management and staff, on location, just prior to a store�s opening.

The RealPOS 70 is available in both capacitive and resistive touch screen models and in multiple display sizes. Dual displays serve both cashier and customer. Additionally, multimedia capabilities enable the system to serve a POS terminal, kiosk, or interactive training device. NCR has also made emerging technologies like biometrics and wireless available on this unit.


Fast Growth Necessitates Rapid IT Scalability
Deployment of technology for new franchises is handled by Duncan & Associates and Big Hairy Dog Information Systems (BHD). The systems are virtually plug and play � the integrators can have a new location up and running in a day.

The scalability of this standard platform provides Cartridge World corporate some important benefits. For one, it has a better, more consistent view of KPIs (key performance indicators) by store and region. This knowledge not only helps the retailer�s sales and inventory forecasting, it empowers Lynam, who oversees franchise operations, with market data to monitor store performance analytics. Lynam also says forward-looking plans lent to the decision to choose its new platform. �We�re planning to add new lines of products to bolster consumer choice, and we�re also looking to add some BI (business intelligence) functionality in terms of data warehousing to enable more granular analysis of our business. The platform we chose to standardize our store systems on will support both of these initiatives.�

Once again Consumer Reports has done their testing of Anti-Virus/Spam softwares and once again Trend Micro has taken the top spot across all categories.

They were Number One in
Total Software Suite
Anti Virus
Anti Spyware
Anti Spamm

Mcafee came in:
Total Software Suite 4th
Anti Virus 3rd
Anti Spyware 4th
Anti Spamm 7th

Symantec/Norton came in:
Total Software Suite 9th
Anti Virus 6th
Anti Spyware 11th
Anti Spamm 6th


Trend Micro was also the least expensive option.

TRAINING:

Phone appts starting week of 9/10
(new users starting the last week in sept for several consistant appts in a row. Single appts start week of 9/10)

Onsites starting 9/24



TECH:

Phone appts starting 8/31

Onsites starting 9/5