Setup

Setting up Vend is very straightforward. Simply create an account on their website then sign in via the custom web address issued to you. Since Vend is web-based, you don’t need to download an installer and can access your Point Of Sale from any computer or tablet in the world using this web address. This is ideal for avoiding in-store downtime and also means you don’t need to invest in special hardware or worry about making backups of your important data.

However, Vend only fully supports the Google Chrome web browser on PC and Chrome or Safari on Mac, which means you might not be able to use your usual browser of choice. iPad users can download the Vend app from the App Store, while Android/Windows tablet users must use Chrome.

Once you’ve signed into Vend, setting up your store, products, tax rates and so on is easy. Menu screens are laid out clearly and easily accessed, even on a touchscreen device. Receipts, staff names, and various other settings can be configured quickly, even by users with little technical knowledge.

On a PC, Vend can print receipts to any receipt printer connected to the system in the same way as any document would normally print. As long as the receipt printer is correctly installed, Vend will be able to print to it. iPad users are limited to using only certain Star or Epson receipt printer models, while receipt printing is currently unavailable to Android users.

Selling

Vend’s main Sell screen is simple and intuitive to use. Products are laid out on the right of the screen for quick, one-touch access, while the left of the screen shows items added to the sale so far. As well as a Pay button, there are options to Void the sale, Park it for later retrieval, add a Note on it or Discount a price. Multiple items can be added to the sale either by repeatedly tapping the product key or by changing the quantity after pressing the product key. Designed to be touch-friendly, pop-up keypads are displayed when needed.

Once Pay is clicked, a keypad pops up to allow the amount tendered to be entered. Tender options are Cash, Credit Card, On Account or Layby. Once a payment button is selected, Vend then offers the option to e-mail a receipt. Afterwards, the Print screen appears, allowing you to print a receipt to any printer connected to your computer.

In general, Vend performs quickly and intuitively during the sale process. Mistakes are easily corrected, the important buttons are easily pressed, and the sale proceeds in an easy to follow manner. However, the receipt printing process could perhaps be more streamlined, with the query regarding e-mailing a receipt being a little intrusive. Certain versions of the Chrome browser can also cause issues with receipt print quality. This is a Chrome issue rather than a Vend issue and there are workarounds available to solve it, but it’s still less than ideal.

Reports

Vend stores a record of every transaction in its Sales History and can generate a wide variety of reports, including Stock and Product reports. These can be filtered in a variety of ways to provide exactly the details required. They can also be exported to a CSV file for use in a spreadsheet programme. Like the rest of Vend’s features, reports are easy to access and configure.

Cost

Vend is available in a variety of packages ranging from a basic Free version to an “Extra Large” package costing $169 (approximately €125) per month (billed annually). Pay monthly versions of all packages are also available, although these are slightly more expensive overall.

The most popular package is the Medium for $59 (approximately €45) per month. This allows up to 1,000 products and 1,000 customer records, as well as 10 users. E-mail support is also included. This package would suit the vast majority of businesses. In comparison, the Free and Small packages offer just 10 and 100 products respectively, which will probably only suffice for very small businesses. Users can change plan any time they want.

Support

Vend’s paid plans come with e-mail support as standard. Premium Support is also available for an extra charge and offers a more personal level of service, including phone support. Users on both the paid and free plans can benefit from the large online Knowledge Base, which includes detailed How To’s for common tasks. There are also instructions on how to solve common issues, and community forums where users and Vend support staff solve particular issues. The Vend community seem always eager to help, whether it be by e-mail or online forum.

Expandability

While the basic Vend Point of Sale package will probably be enough for most businesses, there are also a wide range of add-ons available to expand the capabilities the software offers. These range from web shop integration to appointment management. Using these add-ons means Vend can be used in businesses ranging from e-commerce to gyms to salons, and can also be used for credit card payment processing and other advanced transactions. Other features such as loyalty scheme management are also available. These add-ons naturally come at a price, but are designed specifically to work with Vend which provides much peace of mind.

Conclusion

For larger companies and businesses committed to using a cloud/web-based Point Of Sale system, Vend has much to offer. It’s versatile, quick, intuitive, powerful and fully featured. Designed to be touch-friendly, it’s particularly well suited to systems such as the Digipos A100. It will run on almost any computer, even older machines and will also run on iPad/tablet (with some limitations), ideal for queue-busting when needed. It also offers a wide range of optional add-ons that help you tailor your Vend experience to suit your needs.

However, users with a small retail outlet may find that the free or lower priced packages don’t meet their needs, while the cost of other packages might prove a bit of a stretch. That said, the Medium price plan currently costs just $708 (around €515) per year and would seem a sound investment.

Pros

• Intuitive and easy to use
• Web/cloud-based so can be accessed from almost any device
• Powerful and fully-featured
• Expandable with a wide range of add-ons
• Great online/e-mail support

Cons

• Free/Basic packages might be too restrictive for small businesses
• No receipt printing from Android tablets
• Some print quality issues with Google Chrome

More Information

For more information on Vend — and to sign up for a free trial — visit www.vendhq.com.

The key to providing this is to treat all stock across all channels as a single pool, and to have the technology in place that allows the customer access this pool from any number of points. These access points could include your high street store and e-commerce website, as well as mobile apps and social media sites. Similarly, Customer Relations Management should also be equally seamless, meaning a preference expressed online will be reflected in store, and that special offers delivered by SMS can be easily redeemed via website.

This “cloud retail” – like cloud computing in general – relies on inter-communication and networkability. Unfortunately, many older EPOS hardware and software systems simply do not have the capabilities required to function as part of such a setup. Most electronic cash registers lack any sort of networking functions. It may not even be possible to connect them to a computer. While more advanced models may feature interconnectivity, this is usually quite limited and based on individual stores operating in a self-contained way.

Meanwhile, legacy EPOS systems may feature proprietary locked down software which simply cannot be made “talk” to the cloud. They might also lack a network port, making it impossible to connect them to any web-based stock/CRM software.

Businesses now face the task of upgrading their out of date technology to meet the new requirements of cloud retail. In the current economic climate, many are understandably hesitant to embark on such an investment. However, being left behind is arguably a far greater risk, and there are many long term benefits.

For instance, cloud retail allows staff to use tablet computers on the floor. Perfect as a sales tool to engage customers, tablets with POS software can also be used to queue bust and process transactions during busy periods. This greatly enhances a customer’s experience by eliminating long wait times. It also means more sales can be completed without the need to install new tills and counter space.

An organization’s stock control and CRM is also greatly simplified by having all information available at all points. Cloud retail will open up many new points of contact with potential customers, as well as new sales channels. Future IT and technology costs may also be reduced, as there is no longer a requirement for specialist hardware. Instead, a device with an Internet connection – be it a PC, tablet or even a smart phone – is all that is necessary. Furthermore, the image of your company is sure to benefit from being seen as modern, trend-setting and engaged with new technology.

Earlier this year, Casio introduced the V-T500 series of tablets, specifically targeting the retail and business sectors. These tablets, which use the Android operating system, include many features which arguably make them a more sensible purchase for retailers than the iPad.

Perhaps their most attractive feature is their ruggedness. Each tablet in the range features a shock-resistant design, and is also dust and splash-proof in accordance to the IP54 standard. This makes them ideal for a busy retail or hospitality environment where accidental bumps, drops and spillages are all too common. They are also light and easy to hold, with optional straps and stands available to provide greater versatility.

Unlike the iPad, the V-T500 range also features an integrated NFC reader/writer, ideal for scanning loyalty cards and for reading RFID tags. The large screen makes these tablets perfect for use as an electronic catalogue, providing an excellent tool for sales staff dealing with customers. Staff can also close a sale using the tablet’s Point Of Sale software, allowing for a speedier, more efficient and friendlier retail experience, as well as less queuing and waiting times. The tablets can also be integrated with Casio’s existing Android based EPOS terminals, as well as with other hardware such as receipt printers.

As you would expect, these tablets are easy to use, with intuitive touch-based software. Casio have released a series of retail-focused apps in what they are calling their Casio Business Portal, including offerings from AirPOS, AlfaRichi and Cervello Lite. These apps are aimed at a range of situations, from general retail to hospitality.

The V-T500 battery lasts approximately 12 hours on a single charge, more than enough to make it through a busy day. It is also removable, meaning it can easily be swapped out for a fully charged replacement. In addition to its retail-focused features, the V-T500 is also a very capable tablet in its own right, featuring 1GB of RAM, Wifi, Bluetooth and dual 5.0MP cameras. The GE version also features 3G cellular connectivity, meaning it can be used on the go over a mobile phone network.