If you are interested in retail technology, then New York in January is the place to be. Everyone that’s anyone will be there showing their product line at the NRF Big Show. From POS Software to gift card solutions, there is something for everybody. If you need a free expo pass, give me a call or email and I’ll make sure you receive one. They are normally a $100. value and you want pay a dime, what a deal. The show is January 15th and 16th at the Jacob Javits Convention Center. bob.brown@prophetline.com or call 800-875-6592 x 310
POS Software and Technology at the NRF Show
November 27th, 2006 — Retail Ideas
Reward Your Good Customers
November 14th, 2006 — Retail Ideas
All customers are not created equal and data gathered with quality POS Software can provide you with valuable information on which customers are profitable and which ones only do business with you when there is no other choice or a sale. The bottom line is the need to understand your customers and the way you promote to the different customer groups.
The most valued companies have one thing in common over their lesser rivals: customer groups that create more business. Whatever your size company, it’s your customers and their willingness to purchase more through your targeted marketing efforts that contribute to a better bottom line. It’s by building and nurturing a base of loyal customers that the most profitable companies separate themselves from the pack.
The Losers in the Race to Vista
October 18th, 2006 — Retail Ideas
Backward compatibility is a key function that most users want and expect in today’s upgrade products. Is Microsoft listening to its users? Find out what you should expect in terms of backward compatibility if a Vista upgrade is on your 2007 agenda.
The Losers in the Race to Vista
by Michael Otey, mikeo@windowsitpro.comA scenario that seems to be repeating more often these days is that Microsoft isn’t providing backward compatibility as a function in some of its new products. Case in point: Windows Vista isn’t compatible with Microsoft SQL Server Desktop Engine
(MSDE) as well as some other Microsoft applications. MSDE incompatibility will certainly be a problem for customers, but evidently Microsoft didn’t consider it a big enough problem to assign resources to work on fixing the incompatibility. From a Microsoft-centric viewpoint, this incompatibility problem might even be a win-win situation. By cutting functionality from a product’s design, Microsoft can get that product out the door more quickly and “encourage” customers to upgrade all at the same time.
I think customers will take offense to this tactic because at the very least, it amounts to misrepresentation. Microsoft never fails to say that it has the tightest integration with its own products, and the company supposedly is interested in listening to its customers and its community. Clearly, this incompatibility strategy isn’t in the customer’s best interest because it really forces customers to upgrade to newer releases. Don’t get me wrong–I’m not a big fan of MSDE, and I would always recommend using SQL Server 2005 Express rather than MSDE for any situation.
ISV’s will probably be affected by this the most because many third-party applications use MSDE and will need to be changed before Vista is released. However they’re probably aware of the situation. The really unfortunate thing is the number of customers who aren’t aware that MSDE won’t run under Vista and will be caught by surprise when they upgrade to Vista.
MSDE isn’t the only loser in the move to Vista. Microsoft’s flagship development product, Visual Studio 2005, won’t be fully compatible with Vista until after the release of Vista Service Pack 1 (SP1), which is still in beta. Visual Studio 2005 runs under Vista, but you’ll discover a few problems with Vista’s User Account Control (UAC). Earlier Visual Studio versions, such as Visual Studio 2003 and Visual Studio.NET, won’t be supported by Vista at all. Although developers tend to move forward faster than most users, there are still a significant number of organizations that currently use Visual Studio 6, let alone Visual Studio 2003. Upgrading from these products is a bit tougher than the MSDE upgrade. Upgrading from MSDE to SQL Server
2005 Express will require time and effort, but at least this upgrade won’t require additional expense because you can download both products from the Microsoft Web site for free. Not so with Visual Studio 2005. Upgrading from Visual Studio 2003 to Visual Studio 2005 Professional will set you back $549. And that’s per seat. (Although you can get lower prices from online retailers.
For example, Amazon.com sells Visual Studio 2005 for $488.61.)
Even SQL Server 2005 Express, as new as it is, won’t be immune to Vista update problems. Before you attempt a Vista upgrade on any system running SQL Server 2005 Express, you’ll need to upgrade to SQL Server 2005 Express SP2 (which isn’t available yet).
Backward compatibility–at least with previous versions of Microsoft’s products–isn’t a nicety but a necessity. Omitting this type of compatibility is essentially a failure both in engineering and customer relations. If you’re considering the upgrade to Vista do your homework and make sure that the applications you’re using are going to work with Vista. In other words, look before you leap.
Click Here to read the article at SQL Server Magazine.
Does Anyone Have A Clue What SMB Is?
October 16th, 2006 — Retail Ideas
Every software company on the planet uses the acronym SMB (Small to Mid-Sized Business) to describe the new businesses they are going after. I am a small ISV for POS Software and SMB means 1 to 50 retail outlets. IBM and SAP probably use 500M and under as the break point. There needs to be a tighter scale for the description of the size of a business. Some software companies use tier 1, 2 and 3 to describe their target market and a few up to tier 4 and 5. Anyone have any suggestions on a better way?
Good Timing is Always the Winner
October 12th, 2006 — Retail Ideas
I keep a sign on my office wall that has never failed me in business as long as I have adhered to it. If you have your choice between timing, luck and brilliance, take timing first, luck second, brilliance third and don’t ever confuse the three! I have always done well when at the right place, at the right time. Failure usually only happened when I thought I was brilliant and tried to force an idea.
A Political Thought
October 11th, 2006 — Random Thoughts
What ever happened to the phrase “Loyal Opposition”? Politicians from both sides of the isle, at one time, could have differing views and still be friends and colleagues. Now the term is “Hated Opposition”, no compromise can be reached and they are my enemy. I would like to hear a politician run on the platform of bringing back civility to Washington D.C.
A Meeting Place for Small Business
October 11th, 2006 — Retail Ideas
My intention with this site is to give small retail business people a place to share thoughts and views on anything that pertains to the overall health and promotion of small business. Any posts submitted that are obscene or hurtful (politicians excluded) will not be posted for viewing. Have fun and be sure to use random thoughts for any posting outside of retail.
First blog @ ProphetLine
October 11th, 2006 — Retail Ideas
This is my first test blog entry at ProphetLine.
ProphetLine Rocks!