Wayne N. Kawamoto
Managing Editor, www.smallbusinesscomputing.com
Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) announced that it will deliver an integrated retail management solution for small to medium-sized retail businesses (SMBs) via the acquisition of Sales Management Systems Inc. (SMS), a provider of retail point-of-sale (POS) technology. Microsoft plans to offer a comprehensive solution that integrates SMS’ QuickSell series of POS and retail management applications with its Microsoft Great Plains financial series of applications.
According to Microsoft, SMS offers retail-proven Windows-based POS solutions through its QuickSell series. The QuickSell series includes the following:
– QuickSell Commerce (QSC). QSC is a Web-enabled, scalable POS solution that enables brick-and-mortar retailers to maximize in-store capabilities and expand into chains and the Web for increased sales and marketing opportunities.
– QuickSell Commerce HeadQuarters (HQ). HQ is designed to let multistore retailers manage the retail enterprise from the head office. HQ pulls and integrates POS and back-office information from multiple, store-level QSC installations.
– QuickSell 2000. Designed to serve single-location SMB stores, QuickSell 2000 is designed to manage nearly every type of inventory, including specialty hard goods; soft goods; grocery; services; and high-volume, fast-paced convenience stores.
Microsoft says that SMS’s QuickSell will extend Microsoft Great Plains’ investment in providing small and midmarket companies with cost-effective, collaborative supply chain management solutions, which will bring SMB retailers an affordable, connected package that provides easy customer tracking, efficient inventory management, comprehensive reporting tools and a host of other benefits historically available only to larger enterprises.
Availability and Pricing
SMS QuickSell applications continue to be available as stand-alone solutions. POS pricing starts at $990 (U.S.) for QuickSell 2000 and $1,290 (U.S.) for a single store, single register with QuickSell Commerce. The integration with Microsoft Great Plains Dynamics and Small Business Manager will be available in the third quarter of 2002. Pricing will start at $2,285 (U.S.). SMS’s QuickSell line of products is currently available in 55 countries and several languages. The integrated Microsoft solution initially will be available in North America, with worldwide rollout expected within the following year.