Microsoft RMS Software Overview and FAQ

Manage your operations more efficiently with Microsoft Retail Management System
For small and medium-sized independent retailers, Microsoft Business Solutions Retail Management System is an easy-to-use, affordable way to automate your single or multiple store business.

How can Microsoft Retail Management System help you?
This powerful retail software program runs on personal computers and helps you manage a wide range of store operations and customer marketing tasks, including:

• Point-of-sale operations
• Inventory control and tracking
• Pricing, sales, and promotions
• Customer management and marketing
• Employee management
• Customized reports
• Information security

Who uses Microsoft Retail Management System?
Microsoft Retail Management System can be used by most general or specialty retailers with one to 25 store locations. It is also used by larger retailers that own 100 or more stores operating under a decentralized business model. Types of retailers using the system include:

• Clothing, apparel, accessories
• Wine, beer, liquor
• Gift, novelty, souvenir
• Sporting goods
• Radio, TV, electronics, appliances
• Hobby, toys, games
• Convenience food stores
• Nursery, garden centers
• Auto parts
• Drug, pharmacy

System requirements
Use any PC-compatible system running Microsoft Windows 98 SE, Windows ME, Windows 2000 Professional Edition, or Windows XP (all versions). It is recommended the system have a Pentium 500Mhz or faster processor, 8 GB of free hard drive space, and 256MB or more of RAM.

 Common questions about Microsoft Retail Management System

Q: I only have one retail store. I'd like to use a computer and software, but don't know if Microsoft Business Solutions Retail Management System is a good fit. Also, can I use my laptop computer?
A: Microsoft Retail Management System Store Operations can run at just one store or at multiple stores. There's no requirement to have multiple retail stores before purchasing Microsoft Retail Management System Store Operations. The software, however, is designed to scale should your retail operation begin to grow into multiple locations.
And, Microsoft Retail Management System can run on any Microsoft Windows-based computer- laptop or desktop- provided it meets the minimum requirements for installation and operation.

Q: I have a growing retail business with six stores, 20 employees, and about $10 million US in sales. Can I use Microsoft Retail Management System in more than one store?
A: Yes. Microsoft Retail Management System offers an application called Headquarters that allows retailers with a small chain of stores to centralize control of their Store Operations databases and reporting. For instance, if you had six stores and a head office, you would have six licenses for Store Operations (each store with its own database) and one license for Headquarters at the head office.

Q: I currently use a cash register to track my sales and store cash. Does Microsoft Retail Management System work with my cash register, or do I need to replace it?
A: Microsoft Retail Management System does not run on traditional cash registers. Instead, this easy-to-use software application is installed on a Windows-based computer with point-of-sale peripherals attached via the available ports on the computer. (It does not run on Apple computers.)
You'll need to replace your cash register with computers, which are easy to use and reliable. When used with our software, they allow you to do more than you could with a cash register. You can manage time-consuming tasks efficiently and help increase profits as a result.
Like an electronic cash register, Microsoft Retail Management System is used by cashiers or sales associates to ring up orders and tender sales, but it also provides more.

Q: Other than the software, what other equipment will I need to purchase?
A: At a very minimum, you'll need a computer with a standard keyboard, mouse, and monitor. (Remember, Microsoft Retail Management System runs on a Windows platform.) Most point-of-sale (POS) registers using Microsoft Retail Management System also have a standard 40-column receipt printer, a scanner to read barcodes, a cash drawer to store cash and various tenders, and a pole display to let the customers view and verify the item prices and transaction total.
Other hardware available for use with Microsoft Retail Management System includes full-page printers, scales, magnetic stripe readers, magnetic ink character recognition readers, signature capture device, PIN pads for accepting debit cards, touch screen monitors, and dual display monitors.

Q: I have a PC that runs Microsoft Office and my accounting software. Can I use this computer, and does Microsoft Retail Management System work with my other software?
A: Yes. Microsoft Retail Management System integrates with Microsoft Office and with various accounting applications at the summary general ledger level, including Microsoft Business Solutions accounting products (Microsoft Business Solutions - Great Plains, Microsoft Business Solutions Small Business Manager), QuickBooks, Peachtree, Blackbaud, and MYOB.
For example, you will have the ability to export working reports into Microsoft Excel for further data analysis, or use Microsoft Word to do a mail merge of customer information stored in your new Microsoft Retail Management System database for targeted marketing campaigns.

Q: Can I buy and install Microsoft Retail Management System myself?
A: No. Microsoft Retail Management System is not sold in retail stores, but is available from a wide network of Microsoft partners. Experienced Microsoft Certified Partners are retail and software experts who evaluate your business requirements, sell you the system, install it and provide training and support.

Q: How long will it take me to learn to use Microsoft Retail Management System and to teach my employees to use it?
A: Based on reports from customers and Microsoft partners, it generally takes anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes to train cashiers and employees. If they need to learn all the features of the POS, it could take a day or two of working with the system to get a good feel for it.
How quickly you and your employees learn Microsoft Retail Management System may also depend on what kind of POS system you previously had been using. For example, if you were using a manual cash register and paper ledgers, then it may take a little longer.
Microsoft Certified Partners can walk you through the training, make it easy to understand, and be available for follow-up questions. Overall, managers and store owners will want to take advantage of the many rich features Microsoft Retail Management System provides. Partners say that a store can be up and running in a day.

Q: Can I customize the application?
A: Yes. Microsoft Retail Management System has various integration options that allow third-party developers to enhance the provided features. It also allows for totally new, customized features to meet your unique needs. Many third-party applications exist that extend Microsoft Retail Management System to fit specific vertical markets.

Q: What types of reports are available within the application?
A: Microsoft Retail Management System offers customizable reports, called Active Reports, that give users insight into their sales, customers, taxes, orders, and more. Active Reports can be filtered, grouped, and sorted by any field in the report window. Also, columns can be hidden or displayed to let users see only the data that matters to them. Reports can be exported to Excel, email messages, HTML, XML, and other formats, too.

Q: What types of transactions can I perform at the POS?
A: The POS application supports the following types of transactions: layaways, quotes, work orders, back orders, returns/voids, and regular sales

Q: Can I use my current credit card processing system with Microsoft Retail Management System?
A: Potentially. Microsoft Retail Management System offers integrated credit card processing imbedded directly into the application through an arrangement with Citi Merchant Services. The system also offers integration with other third parties, including PC Charge, IC Verify, and more.

Q: Can the system automatically create purchase orders?
A: Microsoft Retail Management System can automatically create purchase orders at a user's request based on reorder information or sales history. Users can also build their own purchase orders for specific departments, categories, suppliers, and other purposes.

Q: Is there a limit to the number of items, customers, suppliers and other data that I can input?
A: Microsoft Retail Management System does not impose any limits on the number of items, customers, and other data entries. Provided there is enough disk space on the server, Microsoft Retail Management System can support an unlimited number of data entries.

Q: How is the software licensed?
A: Microsoft Retail Management System is licensed by active POS registers. The back office application, Manager, is used to enter items, purchase orders, and other data., as well as run reports and view inventory. Therefore, if a client has five computers in a store, with only three being used as active POS registers, only three licenses are required.

Q: What type of security is offered in Microsoft Retail Management System?
A: Microsoft Retail Management System offers extremely tight, flexible security within each product. Users have the ability to grant or deny access to any given menu option, window, button, or field within the applications. There are as many as 31 different levels of security that allow you to customize the security settings of your store. You have complete control over who has access to each kind of information.

Q: How soon will Microsoft Retail Management System pay for itself, and what is the ongoing value to my business?
A: Many people who incorporate Microsoft Retail Management System into their business report a quick return on their initial investment. To find out what your return on investment could be, contact a Microsoft partner in the United States. If you're located outside the United States, go to Microsoft's worldwide page for more information.

Q: What kind of inventory tracking does Microsoft Retail Management System feature?
A: Among many other powerful features, Microsoft Retail Management System uses automated inventory tracking.
You can simplify manual stock counts with automated inventory tracking across one or multiple locations, using any stock or sales method. You can support most compatible inventory types, including standard, serialized, kit, assembly, matrix, lot matrix, voucher, non-inventory, and weighed.
You can also quickly and accurately calculate how much inventory you need to replenish, and you can track storage of offline inventory, such as non-sellable or broken items

Q: Will my customers notice anything different at the register?
A: Yes. Your customers will be impressed with the level of detail you'll now be able to provide them through Microsoft Retail Management System. They'll get immediate access to detailed product information, personalized information about their previous purchases and payments, and account information.
With quick information about customers' buying histories at your fingertips, you'll be able to generate copies of old receipts and suggest relevant up-sells, sale items, and volume discounts. Plus, by providing all of your employees with standardized POS tools that offer the immediate access to detailed product information, you give your customers consistent and personalized information.

Q: I want to beef up our stores' marketing campaigns. Can Microsoft Retail Management System help?
A: Yes. You can use Microsoft Retail Management System to create special promotions such as "Buy one, get one free" or "Buy two at the regular price and the receive the next two at half off".
Also, schedule store sales in advance for entire departments, categories, or supplier catalogs for a specified date or time. At the point of sale, you can track each discount given to customers through reason codes to gain insight into which sales and promotions are most successful.
Use the data in the Microsoft Management System SQL database to build a mail merge in Word or Excel for customer mailings and advertisements. Track your customers' purchase histories to learn their buying habits and to deliver personalized service that will keep them coming back for more.

Wireless Network Guide:

The Dawn of the Wireless Renaissance It's Time to Go Wireless! Although we're constantly hearing about the miracle of wireless technology, we're merely at the dawn of the Wireless Renaissance. From Auckland New Zealand to Mt. Everest, Internet cafes and other wireless hot spots dot our increasingly interconnected globe (yes, there really is an Internet Café at a Mt. Everest base camp), but the best and most ingenious use of this breakthrough innovation is yet to come. For now, the wireless gold standard is 802.11g - - the newest, fastest and most powerful 802.11 radio technology that broadens bandwidths to 54 Mbps within the 2.4 GHz band. Because of backward compatibility, older and slower 802.11b radio cards can interface directly with an 802.11g access point and vice versa at 11Mbps or lower, depending upon range. We've come a long way, baby - just in the past couple of months. That's how rapidly the wireless net that will someday encompass the entire globe is morphing. Much quicker than we write these words, technicians are gleaning new ideas that will revolutionize the way we communicate. From Marconi (the inventor of wireless communication back in the late 19th Century) to 802.11g - the sky is not the limit for how far we will take the wireless renaissance - it was merely a suggestion that we rejected long ago. Rating the 802.11 Wireless Standards In 1997, when the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) created the first WLAN standard they called it 802.11. Because it could only support a maximum bandwidth of 2Mbps - far too slow for most of today's applications - ordinary 802.11 wireless products are no longer being manufactured. The next wireless incarnation was 802.11b, which supports bandwidths of up to 11Mbps, followed by the creation of 802.11g, which supports bandwidth up to 54 Mbps and signals in a regulated 5 GHz range. While 802.11g is the fastest wireless technology, is it the best for your home or business? Here is a brief synopsis of the three primary 802.11 standards:   1. 802.11b - This technology supports bandwidth up to 11MBps, which is comparable to the speeds of traditional Ethernets. 802.11b uses the same 2.4GHz radio signaling as the original 802.11 standard. Because it is an unregulated frequency, 802.11b devices run the risk of incurring interference from appliances that use the same 2.4 GHz range, such as microwaves and cordless phones. However, if you install 802.11b devices out of range of other appliances, you can avoid the interference. Some manufacturers prefer using unregulated frequencies, such as 802.11b to lower their production costs. On the negative side, 802.11b is relatively slow and supports fewer simultaneous users. 802.11a - IEEE created 802.11a at the same time it made 802.11b. 802.11a supports bandwidth up to 54 Mbps and signals in a regulated 5 GHz range. This higher frequency limits the range of 802.11a in comparison to 802.11b, and due to its higher cost it's used primarily in the business sector rather than in homes. 802.11a's higher frequency also causes its signals to have difficulty penetrating walls and other obstructions. Because they utilize different frequencies, 802.11a and 802.11b devices are incompatible with each other. 802.11g - This technology supports of up to 54 Mbps, uses the 2.4 GHz frequency and is backwards compatible with 802.11b devices. 802.11g supports more simultaneous users, offers the best signal range and is not easily obstructed. The disadvantages of 802.11g is higher cost and possible interference with appliances on the unregulated signal frequency. The Evolution of 802.11 Wireless Technology 1997 - 802.11 - 2 MBps 1999 - 802.11a - 54 Mbps in regulated 5 GHz range. Pro: Fast access. Con: Limited range 1999- 802.11b - 11Mbps in 2.4 GHz range 2002 - 802.11g - 54 Mbps in 2.4Ghz range and is backwards compatible with 802.11b, meaning that 802.11g access points will work with 802.11b wireless network adapters and vice versa. Pro: Faster access and backwards compatibility. Con: Higher cost than 802.11b. Why Connect? According to International Data Corp. (IDC), about half of all U.S. households have a computer, and a much higher percentage of businesses use PCs. Tens of millions of these homes and businesses have more than one computer one. In fact, market research shows that current PC owners buy most of the new computers. This means that multi-computer households are becoming increasingly more common. If you are one these multiple-PC owners, you have probably thought about how great it would be if your computers could talk to each other. With your computers connected, you could:   Share a single printer between computers Share a single Internet connection Share files such as images, spreadsheets and documents Play games that allow multiple users at different computers Here are the advantages of wireless networking: It's fast (11 - 108Mbps). It's reliable. It has a long range (5,000 feet in open areas, 250 to 400 ft / 76 to 122 m in closed areas) It's easily integrated into existing wired-Ethernet networks. Virtually all 802.11g wireless networking products work with each other no matter what brand or model. Wireless offers Ethernet speeds without the wires. Access points vary greatly in cost, from about $59.99 to $1,400. Access points have an integrated Ethernet connection to connect to an existing wired-Ethernet network or routers provide connectivity to a high-speed data connection (DSL or cable modem). It also has an omni-directional antenna to receive the data transmitted by the wireless transceivers. Integrating PCs and Apple systems on the same network is also possible with the 802.11g standard. The majority of wireless network adapters used are in PCMCIA card form. But some manufacturers do offer USB adapters or PCI format cards. The cost per card ranges from $39 to more than $300. They are not typically sold in "do-it-yourself" kits. Instead, everything is a la carte, allowing customers to build a system that exactly meets their needs. For businesses, the benefits of wireless technology are dramatic