Archives for August 2012

Webinar on enhanced features of iVend Retail 5.6

August 28, 2012 by Manish Chaturvedi Leave a Comment

iVend Retail version 5.6 is indeed by far the most path breaking release of iVend Retail. This version incorporates a substantial number of feature enhancements, which include:

Training mode: to help retailers ramp-up their new staff on realistic LIVE data without integrating these training transactions in to the LIVE system.

Coupons: Retailers can define their own coupons or allow coupons extended by manufacturers to be redeemed in the retail chain

Enhanced Promotions Engine: This includes bonus buys by defining “buy conditions” and “get options”. There are over 20 different types of promotions, which can be configured.

Tax Condition Setup: There are approximately 9 different parameters based on which tax condition can be determined

Discount Groups: The application can now categorize discounts into 4 types – Manual, System, Coupon, and Promotion Discount

Store Groups: To ease manageability of stores by categorizing them into different groups.

Not only this, the application is now capable to be implemented in a stand-alone mode – we call this iVend Unplugged – an ERP agnostic, complete retail management solution.

Join our webinar as per your convenience on the dates mentioned below to know more about iVend Retail

1.30pm – 3.30pm AEDT – Sydney Time
September 11th 2012

7.30am – 9.30am EDT – New York Time
September 13th 2012

CitiXsys Newsletter August 2012

August 27, 2012 by CitiXsys Communication Leave a Comment

ABOUT CITIXSYS
With over 4000+ customers in 45+ countries using CitiXsys products and solutions, CitiXsys is one of the largest Software Solution Partner to the SAP community. CitiXsys is a leading provider of software products in the Retail and Wholesale Distribution Supply Chain domain with its corporate headquarters inNew York City, USA, an R&Dcenter in New Delhi, India and offices in Chicago, Toronto, London, Panama, Singapore, Sydney, Melbourne, Mexico and Perth.With a strong focus on Retail vertical and operations spread across the globe, CitiXsys is predominantly a channel driven organization taking its products & solutions to its customers through an effective and efficient network of channel partners. Hundreds of channel partners across the world have created successful practices around CitiXsys line of Integrated Solutions. Read MorePlease Visit
www.citixsys.com
www.partners.citixsys.com

Updated Brochures

	iVend Unplugged
	iVend Retail
	Item Matrix
	Inventory Pro
	iPlan
	iView
	iCharge

CitiXsys elearning Portal

CitiXsys e-learning portal is used by Partners and Customers alike. Partners can learn to implement solutions faster to give better support to customers. While Customers can take the E-learning courses to engage in ‘do-it-yourself’ implementation.Know more please visithttp://learning.citixsys.com

CitiXsys Global Support

If you are a CitiXsys partner or customer, please contact the Program Office atpmo[at]citixsys.com for your login details.Also visithttp://support.citixsys.com

Latest Blog Updates

Customer Loyalty – Reward & Engage Mobile POS as a Customer service opportunity Cross Channel Rewards to boost Customer loyaltyFor more click here

Upcoming Events

	New Delhi
20th – 22nd September
Retail & Convenience Expo

	Sydney
24th – 26th September
Exhibition and Conference

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CitiXsys completes 10 years

CitiXsys celebrates its 10th anniversary. It has been an eventful journey for us and We take this opportunity to convey our sincere gratitude to all Customers, Partners, Team members & Well–wishers for their continuous support without which we wouldn’t have travelled this far.

CitiXsys completes 10 years with launch of iVend Unplugged

August 22, 2012 by Kamal Karmakar 1 Comment

Today CitiXsys celebrates its 10^th anniversary. It has been an eventful journey for us and I take this exciting moment to convey our sincere thanks to all Customers, Partners, Team members & Well-wishers for their continuous support without which we wouldn’t have travelled this far.

Through these years, we worked with thousands of stores in over 45 countries to help them run their retailing business more profitably and efficiently with iVend Retail. In last 10 years, CitiXsys emerged as a leading innovator on Retail, Warehouse, and Inventory management domain with a large network of Partners and Customers globally.

Enhancing modern retail industry experience & putting our customers at the heart of this business is what really motivates CitiXsys team. Progressing to make a mark ahead in Retail Industry besides our close association with SAP all these years, launch of iVend Retail Management Suite is a forward leap ahead to transform traditional retail to modern Integrated Retail in every corner of the world.

iVend Retail is a fully integrated, comprehensive Retail management solution to manage Head office and In-Store processes. iVend Loyalty, iVend eCommerce, iVend Mobile and iVend Analytics are a few integrated modules making iVend the right choice for modern retailers of any size.

iVend Retail is seamlessly integrated into SAP suite of Business Management Applications like SAP Business One and SAP Business All-in-One. Launch of iVend Unplugged is the latest release from CitiXsys. iVend Unplugged can be run as a stand alone retail suite or with integration to any standard Business Management Application/ ERP through its API’s without any ERP constraints. CitiXsys Solutions for Retail aim to optimize the entire retail process covering head office, store back office and in-store operations, to add value to customer’s shopping experience and maximizing returns to the retailer’s investment. iVend Retail Management Suite helps retailers improve efficiency and gain an unified view of their customer. With a history of innovation, industry expertise and desire for excellence, CitiXsys inspires customers to build lasting competitive advantage.

By focusing first and foremost on service we have achieved a significant improvement in customer satisfaction. Our partners & customers who have been major contributors in our success are much happier with the help and support that’s provided by CitiXsys Support Team.

We pledge to be more committed towards our clients to provide quality services & timely support as always and in the years to come.

Filed Under: iVend Retail, News @ CitiXsys

Customer Loyalty – Reward & Engage

August 20, 2012 by Paula Da Silva Leave a Comment

The times sure have changed. We live in a connected world. The future is now, so to speak. Technology allows us to have a video chat with a friend across the globe. Social media gives you a 24/7 news feeds focusing solely on the comings and goings of your friends and family. Technology has now even brought us beyond the Moon, to Mars, as of this past week. As breathtaking images pour in from the surface of the Red Planet, the wireless technology that makes it all possible is affecting daily life for you and yours in a far more practical manner.

What does this all have to do with retailers doing what they can to inspire customer loyalty? Good question. Simple answer: for a retailer, staying connected to your customers is just as important as friends and family staying connected to each other.

Technology continues to become a mainstay in people’s lives, retailers are elbowing their way towards you trying to reel in your business. However, earning a sale is only one part of a much larger picture. The goal of every retailer is to not just earn a sale, but to keep that customer coming back for life; the only way a business can truly achieve organic growth.

The first and most essential step in satisfying a customer’s needs is having a well-oiled machine of integrated retail systems. If a customer cannot find the product in-stock in your store, you should have several contingency plans in place to combat this. Most customers are aware that a store can only stock a specific amount of inventory on the premises. Having a system in place to order the product to your store specifically for your customer, or have the product delivered to the customers home, all with a guaranteed date of arrival, will satisfy your customers and avoid disappointment.

Customers have more choices than ever for where they take their business, whether it be for electronics, cars, or clothes. One way for your company to motivate a consumer to shop with you is by giving them an incentive. Let’s face it, incentives make the world-go-round. The economy itself is now built on incentives, more than anything else. Give a customer an incentive to shop with you, and you will have a decisive advantage over your competitors.

With a rewards program, such as Reward Zone at Best Buy, customers earn a small percentage of their purchase total back in Reward Certificates, which is essentially the same a gift card that can only be used at their store. For example, spend $1000 at Best Buy and you will earn $20 in Reward Certificates. It may not seem like a lot, but its free store money to come back and spend, and when you are already giving your customer the best price in town, rewards can leave the customer walking away happy, inspiring customer loyalty that will not only bring them back to your store, but inspire them to recommend your store to their friends and family. Growing from the customers you already have is essential.

Coupons and sales can only do so much. Retailers will now react to the sales of their competitors and lower their prices accordingly. Even when prices aren’t officially lowered, consumers have a great grasp on utilizing the now very liberal price-matching policies. Having a customer loyalty program that gives the customers something back for choosing your business, on top of coupons, sales and price-matching, shows the customer how much you value them and may result in a customer for life.

Filed Under: Customer Loyalty, Retail Trends

Customer loyalty programs in industries other than Retail

August 16, 2012 by Jeff Nauman Leave a Comment

In this day in age, it is not at all uncommon for most service chains to be filled with customer loyalty program tags by various retailers. At nearly every turn, we are prompted to scan our rewards tag or enter our phone number in order to earn “points” or “cash back” for our spending. Though these programs are everywhere throughout the retail marketplace, the importance of customer loyalty programs is spreading to other arenas. Here we will explore how customer rewards systems can benefit and work within non-retail businesses.

Customer Loyalty Programs for Hotels
When consumers make travel arrangements, they are met with countless options for their sleeping accommodations. Because much of the country is still struggling with the economic downturn less people are traveling, and those who are want to get the best value for their dollar. It is for these reasons that customer loyalty programs are essential for attracting and retaining hotel guests. Many hotel chains have set up rewards services with member-recognition which allows guests to earn points for each night, or stay at one of their locations. After a certain amount of points, consumers can earn a free night. This is very attractive to consumers and adds the needed incentive to keep guests returning. In addition, some hotel loyalty programs also offer special promotions and discounts for loyalty members, such as reduced rates on special holidays or birthdays.

Customer Loyalty Programs for Airlines
The cost of an airline ticket can be staggering, which is why rewards programs for airlines are crucial to retaining flyers. For those who must fly frequently for work, or who simply enjoy travel, a customer loyalty service for flying is the best way to get the most bang for their buck. Because of this, many flyers will only travel with those airlines who offer these services. As with the case of hotel programs, customer rewards services for airlines enable flyers to accumulate points, or “miles” for their purchase of a plane ticket. Some airlines allow customers to strictly put these miles toward future flights, while others will also allow their flyers to use their points to upgrade to first class, receive cash back.

Customer Loyalty Programs for Credit Cards
Customer rewards services for credit card companies is another trend that has gained in popularity. These programs are extremely beneficial to both the spender and the agency, as customer loyalty plans for credit cards encourage higher levels of spending while offering great rewards options to consumers. Such programs will typically include some type of cash back rewards or the option to earn points for every “x” amount of dollars spent. Points can be saved and used to purchase a number of items from exercise to iPads and even travel accommodations.

Customer Loyalty Programs for Movie Theaters
As the popularity of customer rewards programs increases, it becomes more important for movie theaters to get on the bandwagon. Especially now, while consumers are not spending as much on entertainment, movie-going has become the top pick for some fun and escape from reality, and rewards programs will keep them coming back. Some theaters offer points for each movie ticket purchased, while others rack up points for every dollar spent, including at the snack bar. Points eventually entitle a movie-goer to a free night at the movies or free popcorn and drinks. You may even consider extending a free movie for the member’s birthday.

Regardless of whether a business is retail-based or not, it is important that all companies strive to reward their customers for loyalty. Establishing a rewards program with member-recognition is the most effective way to satisfy your consumers and keep them coming back.

Filed Under: Customer Loyalty, Retail Trends

iVend Retail 5.6 released

August 14, 2012 by Abinesh Agarwal 6 Comments

iVend Retail 5.6 brings host of retail functionalities making iVend a much stronger retail management suite of application.

iVend Unplugged

iVend Unplugged is an Unplugged version of iVend Retail – unplugged from a core financial application. iVend Unplugged encompasses all that is offered by core iVend Retail. It retains the original features of iVend Retail and offers more. Unplugging the application from a core financial solution lets the Retailer run his retail operations the way he wants to run them, and not be constrained by the investment & processes of a financial solution. iVend Unplugged can be integrated with any third party financial system/ ERP using iVend APIs.

User Training Mode

User Training Mode has been introduced in iVend to make iVend more users friendly. A new user can work in the training environment and learn to use the functionalities of iVend Retail better. The production environment however, remains unaffected by user activities in the training environment.

Coupons

iVend Coupons are vouchers entitling the holder to a discount off a particular product(s). It is a promotional tool that can be used to get discounts while purchasing goods or services. Generally coupons are classified into Manufacturer and Store issued coupons, however in iVend treatment for both of these coupon types remains same and depends on the coupon setup.

Promotion – Bonus Buys

iVend Promotion engine are used to handle complex promotion scenarios using Buy and Get conditions as means to define the prerequisites set by the customer. Some of the promotions that can be setup are

Buy X and get X free
Buy X and get Y free
Buy X and get discount on any item from Product Group Y
Buy N quantity from Product Group X and get discount on any item of Product Group Y
Buy N quantity from Product Group X of worth R and get discount on any item of Product Group Y
Buy any 5 Quantity and get X percent discounts.
Get X discount percent on the entire sale if Bill values exceeds N amount.
Get Gift Certificate /Coupon/Loyalty points if you buy item/item group X worth R.

Tax Condition Setup

Using Tax Condition setup, a user can setup different Tax Conditions based on different parameters like Customer/Customer Group, Product/Product Group/Product Class, Warehouse/Store Group, Item Price range and Shipping Conditions etc.

Discount Group Setup

Earlier in iVend, Discount was defined for a single Discount field. With iVend 5.6, Discount Group setup has been introduced where Discount field has been categorized into four types of Discount Group.

Manual Discount Group
System Discount Group
Coupon Discount Group
Promotion Discount Group

Depending on the grouping done, the user can determine the relationship of a particular group with the next Discount Group.

Sale Order Cancellation

Cancellation of Sale Order at Point Of Sale can be done using Cancel option introduced in iVend 5.6. Previously Sale Order was cancelled using Sale Edit option.

Heartland Payment Processor

Heartland payment processor integration for US has been incorporated in this release. The integration also supports the debit card sales with the PIN entry.

Signature Capture

iVend 5.6 supports capturing of customer signatures on transactions. The captured signatures can then be printed on the thermal receipt. iVend 5.6 recommends that you use the Id Tech Sign & Pay (IDFA-3153) for this (http://www.idtechproducts.com/products/pos-peripherals/116.html).

SAP Business One Israel Localization Support

Support for Israel localization is extended in iVend 5.6. Along with this iVend supports the Arabic language and also has support for RTL.

Extended Language Support

Apart from English, iVend application is now also available in the following languages:

French
German
Greek
Italian
Latin American Spanish
Simplified Chinese
Vietnamese
Arabic

What’s new in iVend Retail 5.6 from CitiXsys Technologies

Enhancements

Custom Transaction Information Grid

Custom Transaction information can now be set individually for different store(s) using Custom Transaction Info Grid option in management console. This would enable users to setup the different button panel for individual stores.

Store Group

Store group provides the flexibility of grouping the multiple stores based on their pricing, taxation and inventory needs.

Pricing Store Group: Price list can be attached to a pricing store group and therefore all the stores falling under this group would have a same price list applicable.
Taxation Store Group: Stores can be group based on their Taxation and then this store group can be used to setup different Tax Condition within iVend.
Inventory Store Group: Different warehouses can be clubbed together using an Inventory store group. Store would only be able to see the inventory or do inventory transactions with the stores/warehouses which are in his inventory store group or the stores/warehouses which are not part of any inventory store group.

Import/Export Data

Import /Export of Data templates can be done in iVend using Import/Export data option. Forty two templates are available for import/export in iVend. The default location for these templates is iVend Retail Installation folderManagement ConsoleImport Templates.

Print Profile Enhancements

The user can specify report printing option(s) (xml report, crystal report, printer selection on runtime) using Print Profile option. All the reports like Z-Tape, X-Tape, Labor session chit and others can now be printed on document printer also.

Business Date Validation

On enabling this, the user would not be allowed to login in iVend POS if the system date and the business date are not same.

Force Clock Out while performing End of Day at Store

If a user does not clock out from Point Of Sale, on commencement of the End of Day process, the user is force clocked out.

Display Loyalty Details under Customer Information Panel

At Point of Sale, Loyalty details for the selected customer are available under Customer Information Panel. Loyalty details include Loyalty Points, Loyalty slab etc.

Changes in the serial scanning on GRPO

While doing a GRPO, instead of manually entering the serial number(s) for the products, the serial number(s) can be directly scanned by the user.

Fulfillment Address Integration with SAP B1 documents

The address captured on fulfillment in iVend will be populated in delivery address of corresponding document of SAP Business One. Since in iVend user can attach multiple fulfillment(s) on same document, therefore only first fulfillment address will be integrated with SAP Business One.

Customer Remarks Integration with SAP Business One

Customer remarks captured in SAP Business One would be integrated with Customer comments of iVend.

Returns on Credit Card

While doing a refund on a credit card, the original reference number will be auto populated by the system from the original sale transaction. This would ease the operation of cashier as currently cashier enters this number manually.

Z Report

Apart from Fiscal Z-Report, iVend 5.6 provides the functionality for printing the Z-Tape Report for other countries.

Support for Rounding in Payment

iVend 5.6 supports the following type of rounding of Payments

No Rounding
Round to Five Hundredth
Round to Ten Hundredth
Round to One
Round to Ten
Round to Fifty
Round to Hundred
Round to Thousand

If you are using SAP Business One as ERP system, then please ensure that you specify the over/under payment amount according to the Rounding selected in iVend. If this is not done correctly then your invoice may remain open in SAP Business One.

Issues Fixed

Issue Description: The GRPO fails to integrate if the purchase UOM is set on an item while creating the Purchase Order.

Issue Description: While creating a backup of Store from iVend Enterprise, if the numbers of records are large then creation of backup fails.

Issue Description: If warehouse is created later in SAP Business One after system is initialized then the inventory records for that warehouse were not generated which was resulting in error while doing the goods receipt at the store.

Filed Under: iVend Retail, News @ CitiXsys, Product update Tagged With: iVend Retail, Product Release

Mobile Queue Busting: For Better Customer Experience

August 10, 2012 by Zuhaib Shameem Leave a Comment

Even if you are confident that your latest marketing campaign has brought in a variety of new business, it will fail if your customers have a bad experience or simply Mobile POS cannot get the help that they desire. Because of this, it is imperative that you implement a system that is simple to set up and is easy for customers to use in order to improve their experience. This is the main reason why mobile queue busting is an excellent technique utilized to improve the satisfaction of the customers.

Let’s face it. Customers never enjoy standing in line and want to purchase their items and leave in a timely manner. By utilizing Mobile POS systems, you can easily cut down on queues without having to implement expensive new equipment. These systems use mobile computing to speed up the checkout process while keeping transactions secure.

What is Queue Busting?

Queue busting simply refers to the means necessary in order to cut down on how long a customer will have to wait for a certain service. By automating this process, a worker can utilize a Mobile POS system in order to handle certain parts of a transaction. In this manner, customers can save additional time before heading to the counter or may be able to avoid the counter entirely.

Business Sectors That Utilize Mobile Queue Busting

Although the travel and retail industry are two of the most common sectors currently utilizing Mobile POS for queue busting, any business that has queues can utilize these systems in order to help improve the overall customer experience. Suggested businesses include bars, restaurants, concert venues, and customer service offices.

The Retail IndustryRetailers can utilize mobile POS to their advantage to help cut down on long queues while increasing sales. Along with this, workers will end up becoming much more productive, as they can process more customers within a given hour. In this way, potential one-time customers may end up returning because of the excellent checkout experience they received and staff members can handle each customer fairly easily.Retailers can also use these systems if they have smaller store space that may become crowded on a daily basis. During the Holiday season, these queues can even reach out the door as shoppers are eager to score deals. By using these Mobile POSsystems, those with small stores can cut down on how long a customer will be waiting in line which can help to free up additional store space.Even retailers that do not have long queues can benefit significantly. With the implementation of these systems, staff members become much more productive and additional store space is made so that processes such as returns and the purchase of large items can be handled quite easily without having to make any changes to the staff or layout of the store.

Improving the Customer Experience

When your customers end up saving time on their queuing experience, they’ll end up walking out in much better mood and may become loyal customers. This is why mobile queue busting is such a powerful technique that you should be using with your business. No matter what industry you’re in, any customer who has to wait in line for longer that they would have expected will not enjoy the experience. Mobile POS systems provide convenience, security, and efficiency to both customers and staff members involved and will improve everyone’s experience.

For more details Contact us or write to us on [email protected].

Filed Under: Mobile POS, Retail Trends

TOPGOLF – Integrated Store functions for efficient & effective Retail management

August 6, 2012 by Bhawna Mehan 1 Comment

COMPANY : PT Topindo Lucky Sport ( TOPGOLF)

Country : Jakarta, Indonesia

Industry : Speciality Retail – Sports

PT Topindo Lucky Sport is a leading retail company dealing in GOLF equipment, accessories & apparel under the brand name TOPGOLF. The store is one of the biggest golf equipment store in Indonesia & they not only sell golf club but also offers club fitting.

TOPGOLF was established in 2007 where they opened their first store in Bellezza Shopping Arcade, PermataHijau, South Jakarta. Expansion soon followed by topening a chain of stores across Jakarta. They also have stores outside Jakarta such as in Bandung, Balikpapan and Banjarmasin. The TOPGOLF Chain has already grown to 16 stores& very soon they will open another store in Bali. Currently TOPGOLF chain of stores is present in Jakarta, Java, Kalimantan & Sumatra.

The company has aggressive plans of expansion this year with the launch of its new business unit “BIKE” which too will run on iVend retail.

TopGolf

Challenge

Non-integrated data management
Inefficient stock monitoring & movement
Inadequate Customer Information
Complex & inaccurate data retrieval process

TOPGOLF – As a leading provider of Golf accessories & a wide range of products is a chain that has been continually growing. The company was previously using a home grown legacy system that failed to cater the requirement of uninterrupted inter store connection.

As the number of stores grew they failed to consolidate & update data on a single location that led to constant discrepancy at store level & delays in processing of orders. Company wanted to take advantage of the latest retail technology in order to offer its customers the most efficient and streamlined purchasing experience, with a focus on fast, effective, and efficient service to each customer. In addition, the company needed an Integrated solution that facilitates control on their stores & showrooms across geographical locations.

Solution: iVend Retail Management Suite with SAP Business One

Benefits :

Increased employees’ overall efficiency by eliminating work duplication on disintegrated processes
Synchronized data transfers between Stores & enterprise ensured accuracy across Retail chain
Considerable reduction in stock errors and replenishment planning errors
Achieved faster order processing

iVend Retail has considerably helped TOPGOLF in smoothly upgrade to a Retail system that gave accurate, reliable & integrated Data in a very short time span.

Customer now is fully functional on a unified solution that leverages every customer touch point and connects the entire retail operation—with a goal of knowing, engaging with, and serving their customers better. All of company’s 16 stores are connected to the same backend server & iVend’s failsafe integration with SAP keeps the Head Office always connected with the store operations across the complete Retail chain.

“iVend Retail has been able to facilitate the integration of the transactions of starting a store, iVend Enterprise Server to SAP Business One. It has integrated & Synchronized data between the SAP system with iVend Enterprise, Enterprise iVend with Store / shop and store / shop with a store / shop. We have been able to Reduce Errors in Coding & re-entry of data.”
Erna, Finance Head – TOPGOLF, Indonesia

Filed Under: Customer reference Tagged With: iVend Retail, SAP Business One Addon