Dell Computers, which revolutionised the market by offering configurable PCs direct to consumers from its Web site, has entered the EPoS hardware arena with a range of peripherals and components that customers can also mix-and-match.
The company, which unveiled its offering at the National Retail Federation show in New York last month, has formed alliances with a number of software players in the US, including Retek, Autogas, Gers and MSS Global, in order to provide total solutions. The starting price for a Dell EPoS configuration is about US$1,764 (£1,073), with a Dell OptiPlex desktop PC, flat panel or CRT display with touchscreen, keyboard with programmable keys, barcode scanner, thermal receipt printer and cash drawer.
The first company to adopt a Dell EPoS system is The Wet Seal - a US fashion chain with 588 stores and 1,100 till points. The Wet Seal operations manager for MIS Ron Hunt said:'Dell worked with us to identify the best register and peripherals for our needs and pricing qualifications.Together we achieved a nearly flawless success rate on first-time installations.'
Retek will be providing its RPoS Java-based point-of-sale application for Dell's machines. This has now been successfully implemented running under Linux at Mark's Work Wearhouse, a Canadian 320-store clothing chain.
In this case, IBM SurePoS 500 terminals have been selected. Mark's runs the system in 64 stores and believes the Linux/Java solution has cut implementation costs by 30 per cent and maintenance costs by 50 per cent.
In the UK, Edinburgh Woollen Mill has opted for the same Retek Java/Linux solution.
Pilots were completed before Christmas and the system will be rolled out over the next six months.
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