Wireless App Aims To Shorten Checkout Lines
By Mike Mayor
Wireless NewsFactor
January 11, 2001
A new application designed for handheld devices promises to end the frustration of waiting in long lines to pay for items at stores.
Integrated Software Solutions, Inc. (ISS) has introduced PalmPOS, which the company categorizes as a point-of-service (POS) technology that will help customers complete their shopping experience more quickly than before. The PalmPOS has been designed to run on any Web-enabled PDA (personal digital assistant).
Array of Uses
ISS said the software helps sales associates by expediting credit card-related customer checkout, price lookup and coupon scanning, among other functions. In addition, the application can be connected to a store credit network to validate credit card transactions and the printing of customer receipts. All of these functions can be performed on a wireless handheld device from any location within a store.
According to ISS, the PalmPOS application was developed using Microsoft's PocketPC platform because of its ability to share information with an array of non-PC devices as well as with Windows-based PCs.
Bypassing the Checkout Counter
Barry Henderson, vice president for strategic application development at ISS, said the PalmPOS should benefit customers who have only a few items, "big ticket" items like large appliances or home entertainment equipment, or transactions that require special assistance.
"Instead of waiting in line, shoppers can bypass the checkout counter and get in and out of the store quickly, making the wait time shorter for everyone," said Henderson. "For cash-related transactions, customers may choose to have the transaction suspended and then completed at the store's full-service terminal."
Benefits for Store Managers
ISS noted that store managers and supervisors will benefit from the PalmPOS, allowing them to perform office functions such as accessing store reports, monitoring transactions and electronic journal reporting on a wireless handheld device from any location at any time.
The PalmPOS is part of ISS's Enterprise Retail Server (ERS) XML/XSL architecture, which allows the same retail enterprise applications to be deployed on any browser-based device, such as traditional POS terminals, kiosks, workstations and wireless handhelds.
Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, Integrated Software Solutions, Inc. develops retail information software systems and Web-enhanced applications for retail enterprises.
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