Just as a designer builds a dress from the pattern up with thoughts of form, fit and function so goes the construction of Hewlett Packard’s POS systems and retail support initiatives. As a leading technology company that operates in over 170 countries globally, Hewlett Packard or “HP” is in the business of researching new ideas and applying it to real life scenarios to improve how customers run their businesses on a daily basis. It is because of those practices that HP is a leader for not only major corporations, but for the growing brand as well. After chatting with Jack Van Horn, Product Manager, Point of Sale Solutions, HP Personal Systems Group, Americas and Alan Lipson,Industry Executive, Consumer, Industries & Retail, EDS, an HP Company, Nolcha's Lynn Furge delved into the benefits a young retailer will gain by using HP’s dependable and “fashion forward” products.
Lynn Furge: For a small start up fashion company what do you feel their technology essentials are?
Alan Lipson: They need to know who their customers are, they need to know their merchandise, how can they provide wants needs and services to their customers. These things can be implemented via HP’s small business retail products. Point of Saleis the bread and butter of retail environment. Who bought? What did they buy? A business owner needs a certain amount of business analytics going on in the back end of the store so you can predict what items will need to be brought in for the future.
Also, know what is in your store, Out of Stocks can have a huge impact on customer satisfaction. A business can use RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) which well tell them where the product is in the supply chain to get it on the sales floor.
In terms of the web presence. HP has a system to help people design the web side and help take the payments. We have a service of Managing the inventory. (This is mostly for larger retailers.) HP gets the message out to the consumers. 3 divisions: Technology Solutions Group, Personal Systems Group, Imaging and Printing Group Through group 3 we have a storefront that can print your signs (pro-active to get messaging out to your consumers)
Alan Lipson: Their needs are going to be pretty much the same as a retailer of any size. They need to know their customers, their merchandise and be able to know where products are in their supply chain. What they do with this information will differentiate themselves from their competition and allow them to succeed in the marketplace. So as we take a look at the technology involved, POS is the base platform for most retailers. It collects information about what was purchased, who purchased it, what else was purchased at the same time, how the customer paid for their merchandise etc. Some form of analytics will be needed to delve deeper into purchasing patterns to help the store owner, manager and salesperson provider better service to their customers to that the retailer can increase the size of the transactions and help influence what the consumer will purchase in the future.
The retailer also needs visibility into their supply chain. Where is the product that the consumer is wanting to purchase. Is it in the back-room?, when will it be deliverd? All of this type of information is needed to provide qualtity service to the consumter. Supply Chain visibility solutions (I,e, RFID or other technology based solutions) working together with manufacturers will help the retailer reduce Out-of-Stocks and their related costs associated with lost customers and lost transactions.
Lastly a retailer needs a way to communicate with their consumers and potential consumers. This can be done through websites as well as with traditional print media. A retailer needs solutions that will allow them to quickly design and print signage for the store including banners, large display items as well as shelf tags. The ability to do this in a quality and timely fashion provide the tools needed to compete and attract consumers to your store and brand.
LF: Why does HP have more to offer for a business that makes changes in everything from production, shipping, client accounts and much more every season?
AL: HP gets the message out to the consumers. As stated in detail above. We have a storefront that can print your signs (pro-active to get messaging out to your consumers). This is one way that we can help a business reach a larger demographic. The above products and services also are built to adapt to a growing or changing business.
LF: What makes HP’s point of sale systems different from the rest?
Jack Van Horn: Our POS Systems have been recognized in RIS News (Retail Information News) as #1 (the ranking was taken in July 08). HP is making a clear statement that they provide affordable, retail specific systems for retailers. HP POS Systems are designed from the ground up specifically for retail from the materials they are made of (more durable steel, enhanced thermal designs) all the way to the warranty.
rp5700 5 Year rp3000 3 year product lifecycle. You wouldn’t have to change out the system every year, therefore will not disrupt your every day business. HP has a dedicated support line for Retail POS Systems, as well as for touch screens and POS peripherals, a customer can call one number and get resolution to their post-sales support inquiries. The 3 Year warranty for the POS System also includes on-sight service. We have advanced exchange on our peripherals and touchscreens shipped over-night if something needs to be exchanged. On-line there is also an ISV (Independent Software Vendor) page to show the software companies that have verified their POS application to confirm that they work with our POS system and peripherals, therefore maximum compatibility. Basically this POS system is made to work in a variety of scenarios to fit any active business.
Lynn Furge: Fashion designers and even retailers are known for their creative vision, are their mix and match options with products at HP that as the business grows a client could add on without having to change their entire configuration?
JVH: The long life system that I discussed above aids in this. If they just had a regular desktop PC they would have to change it out, where in terms of growth, the long life warranty allows a store with HP POS to build their retail space, inventory and customer-base without having to worry about changing their entire POS system yearly to up-date to new technology.
A key advantage of HP POS systems is their flexibility and enhanced connectivity options to expand your POS system as your business grows. HP systems are built upon industry standard architecture so a customer can easily add features and functionality, as well as add additional HP POS peripherals or nonHP Peripherals if they need to. Larger harddrive, more memory, all of these things can be added. We also have Extended Warranty. Accidental Damage Protection for a little bit more which covers any damage to your POS solution during your moves, drink spills etc.
AL: When we mentioned the rp5700 I want to make a note that it is the same system that the tier 1 people use. It is not just an entry level system for the beginners so what could start up as a single store boutique that grows into an empire also has the expansion capabilities in their POS system. That makes it available for expansion. The product is available world-wide, the rp5700 can have the same solution no matter where they go. If it is a global product the standard warranty is covered no matter where it is at.
LF: Mac is famous for their classes and programs for people that are more creatively inclined, what programs do you have for them to better understand their HP products (technical support, classes etc.)?
AL: A great place for people to get help with their HP Products is from the HP Partner the sells our products. These partners, especially those that also provide the software solutions that build on-top of our hardware are great resources for help you with questions. Also, HP itself has set up a number of community forums where you can go to see what others are saying and how they are taking advantage of their products, or how they have worked their way through and issue. Links to these communities can be found on the HP website.
LF: What about for retailers that are currently growing their business and already have a POS system… what type of initiatives is HP taking to help a current business grow technologically as their business itself grows?
JVH: It depends on where they want to go. We just introduced Digital Signage, which a customer can implement in their store environment. Kiosk is a new initiative as well. There is a variety of applications they can use. From information to ordering their products. This all goes beyond their normal POS system.
AL: With a company like HP we also have our own Financial Services department, and therefore given today’s credit situation we might be a good way to go 0% financing, lease to own, we basically can help with the technology of the products and the financing as well to help them get through their cash flow.
LF: Is there anything new in the works for HP?
AL: There is always new stuff in the works. By staying connected with HP you will be able to find out about our new products and solutions as they enter the marketplace. You can visit our HP Labs website to learn about signification projects being worked on and how technology may change the way we do things in the future.
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