Best POS Software for Restaurant, Accounting Billing Software, Restaurant Management Software, Inventory Management Software, Restaurant Point of Sale Software

Point of Sale Software, POS Management Software, POS Accounting Software, POS Inventory Software, POS System Software Solutions

webmaster@billit.in (Anonymous) — Sat, 22 May 2010 03:27:00 -0700

Point of Sale Software, POS Management Software, POS Accounting Software, POS Inventory Software, POS System Software Solutions

Windows 7 to be embedded on a range of devices

webmaster@billit.in (Anonymous) — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 04:26:00 -0700

Microsoft has confirmed it is ready to take its Windows 7 operating system away from PCs and notebooks so it can be used on HDTVs, set-top boxes, and other consumer gadgets.

The Redmond-based company’s Windows Embedded Standard 7 is designed to run on products using an x86 processors, excluding PCs, smartphones and tablet computers. Ideally, the Windows Embedded Standard 7 could be used by HDTVs, set-top boxes, digital signs, and retail Point of Sale (PoS) systems.

Microsoft says its Windows Embedded Standard 7 is a version of Windows 7 that is capable of supporting regular Windows 7 features available in a much smaller form factor.

Windows Embedded first launched last September, and became popular because it has built-in connectivity to PCs and servers running Windows.

PC manufacturers are interested in offering software to HDTV viewers, as set-top boxes, Blu-ray players, and video game consoles add streaming services, widgets, internet apps and other new features. Microsoft must prepare to battle the Google Android open source OS in the living room, with at least one European company working on an Android-powered HDTV.

Intel, Gigabyte, Yahoo, and other companies also have streaming products for HDTVs.

Microsoft faces increasing competition in its key business units, so its constant evolution is the proper long-term plan as the alternatives expand further. For example, Microsoft has a strong working relationship with car maker Ford, which has put its Synch automotive software in newer generations of Ford vehicles.

I’m still unsure if Windows 7 Media Center being implemented on embedded devices is the game changer Microsoft hopes for — there are too many competitors in the market, although Microsoft is doing a great job with its Xbox 360 game console. The company will be able to use both its hardware and software to help keep it relevant in the growing streaming device and embedded device markets.

Could this mean that we’ll see a Blu-ray player running Windows in the future? It’s definitely possible.

Source : Windows 7 to be embedded on a range of devices

International Point of Sale: Getting you paid

webmaster@billit.in (Anonymous) — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 04:22:00 -0700

For the past seven years, Ed Levin has owned a point of sale software and hardware business, International Point of Sale, at 555 Cedar Lane. He provides all point of sale systems for mom and pop small businesses, markets and restaurants at affordable prices.

"Our prices are a lot lower than other companies and we take good care of our customers," Levin says.

He sells everything business owners need to process purchases, such as cash registers, computers, touch screen monitors, cash drawers, receipt printers, credit card readers and cash register express software.

Prices for software set-up and installation are between $2,000 - $3,000 per register.

The software he sells is meant for small supermarkets, like "quick-marts," liquor stores, convenience stores and fine dining/counter service restaurants.

Levin’s business is worldwide and though 99 percent of his customers find him on his Web site, www.internationalpointof sale.com, he also supplies software and products to local businesses, like Fish of the C’s and Smokey Joe’s Kosher BBQ.

"It’s important to me to have a local customer base."

Levin recently created his own desktop point of sale software, Corner Store POS, so he can now sell his software and continue to distribute others. He also created mobile software called Handy Register, which works on mobile computers.

"All of the software sold here is easy to set up, none of it is meant for computer geeks, it’s all meant for store owners," Levin says.

For locals who wish to visit his showroom, hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday.

News Source : International Point of Sale: Getting you paid

Choosing Restaurant Point of Sale Software

webmaster@billit.in (Abhay) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 23:55:00 -0700

Restaurant owners would do well to use a good restaurant point of sale system, but between the confusion of hardware and software, monthly contracts, programming setup, leasing equipment and peripherals, that simple old cash register look like a breath of fresh air.

Not so fast; that breath of fresh air can be costing a restaurant owner thousands more than the cost of a POS system every month. Imagine having one central computer system that tracks staff schedules and kitchen inventory, keeps track of orders and wait times, maintains reservations systems and can even accept orders from the restaurant's website.

Restaurant POS hardware and Point of Sale Software

The software, whether it's Aldelo, Aloha, FuturePOS or Micros, consists of the program you're running and not your touch-screen monitor, hand held PDA devices, keyboards, mouse and printers. As with any other high end purchase, never say "yes" on the spot. Some vendors pitch the very low price of their software, while neglecting to inform the client that it only works with their very expensive computers, or their credit card processor.

A company that works hard to provide a high quality program doesn't need to make a business of selling computer components. Or worse, leasing them at extremely high rates. Before signing anything, figure out exactly what each component will be costing. Sure, that computer might only be $50 a month but after a year, it's likely paid off at $600 and the client will still be paying for that lease after another year, so while technology changes the outdated equipment is still being charged as if it were new.

Online Restaurant Management

Being able to access the system from another computer is a nice feature. Imagine- lying on the beach in Hawaii, flipping open the laptop and seeing the security camera. Click a few keys and check that labor percentage, pop off an email to the bar manager to remind him about the big party tonight.

Check the logs and see that the new server is online, too. She's at home studying for her training exam. Imagine that, they're training during their off-hours. What a relief. Close that laptop and get back to relaxing.

Programming a Restaurant POS System

Some point of sales systems are designed to be programmed by the end user, which can be intimidating. See if their company has a list of consultants or other help for programming if that's a frightening prospect. Many POS Software companies work with the restaurant owner to make sure each menu item is entered carefully, tax rates are imported and that the staff is trained to use the system.

It's wise to look specifically for companies who are willing to provide these services for free while getting started. Charging for a refresher course a year later really isn't out of line but charging for initial training isn't standard practice with every company.

The Best POS System for Restaurants

Every restaurant has different needs. A hot dog drive through will need less options than a steak house or pizzeria. A fine dining establishment will require different features compared to a donut shop. Every restaurant has unique needs and requirements. It's best to send away for every information packet. Is there a warranty or guarantee? Is there a trial period? Will the POS system work with your current credit card processor, or will you be required to switch? Can you export sales data to your Quickbooks or other accounting software?

Weighing all of the hardware and software options before making a decision can save a restaurant owner from the stress and headache of ending up with a point of sale system that doesn't fit the bill. Listen to every salesman's 15 minute pitch and review all of the literature carefully. Finally, consider the perspectives of other restaurateurs before deciding which one to go with.

Source : Choosing Restaurant Point of Sale Software

What factors should be taken into account when choosing a Point of Sale (POS) system? by Carol Prince

webmaster@billit.in (Abhay) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 02:25:00 -0700

Carol Prince: Deciding on which is the best-suited POS system for your business can have a huge impact on how your company continues to function. Purchase the correct one and the system will be enhanced, choose badly and the opposite may occur.

A POS software solution is not a simple add-on to your existing accountancy or employment management systems — a good POS package will allow your business to run more efficiently and will be streamlined effectively in all aspects of company management including: employment management, record keeping, F&B management, ordering and receiving, accountancy, man-management, entertainment, leisure facilities and traffic flow management.

For example, NFS Hospitality POS solutions offer in effect a turnkey POS solution from consultancy, wireless networks, hardware, cabling, a hosted ASP central data management and a 24/7 Help Desk offering support and extensive systems and integration expertise.

What are the newest technological trends in POS systems?

CP: As with all technology, across the board changes happen almost weekly — systems are being enhanced, they run faster or more efficiently, and offer upgrades bells, whistles and exciting new interfaces. It is of course important to keep up with the newest trends but equally it is important to decide to work with POS software or Property Management Systems (PMS) that have the ability to grow with your company needs and also one that offers customer support services.

What trends should hoteliers in the process of upgrading their POS software consider?

CP: Hotels which are considering upgrading their systems should not only look at the obvious areas for using POS but consider using it across all departments. Maybe the NFS scheduling software, which is based on browser technology, would be of benefit. It provides a complete toolkit of room booking software and is a powerful scheduling tool for audio/visual, catering and visitor management. Other packages to be considered are spa software, loyalty card facilities, RM 2000 central reservation system (CRS) web bookings and internet reservation systems (IRS), plus our new Workspace solution which offers Outlook scheduling and advanced hotel functionality.

Hotels should be always thinking ‘how can I get the best out of my POS system’ and ‘how is it going to help make us more proficient’.

There may be some business owners or managers who will baulk at the costs of installing a POS solution but there is no getting away from the fact that by being able to run a more accurate outlet will mean less mistakes, less shrinkage and reducing these mistakes which are in reality losses.

Why is it important for your POS system to integrate with other software systems in the hotel?

CP: If you are running a hospitality operation then there are obviously multiple technology components to deal with, from an F&B operation serving the customer at the point of sale, to managing your cash in the back office, to taking inventory of stock, to organising large parties, and reviewing sales figures in detailed reports at head office. The whole purpose of PMS and POS is to provide better management capabilities and facilities — to have better control of how departments are performing, where the up-sales are and of course where the pitfalls are.

If you have a number of standalone solutions which do not have the ability to integrate with other operating systems then the concept of good time management and reporting skills will be lost.

It is important to look also at what a POS solution can offer in the longer term; for example with RoomMaster, the guest data is ideal for understanding your guests and establishing a positive relationship so that in the future they return to your hotel. It does not matter if your guest checked out last week or last year, all the information is readily available.

With the RoomMaster guest history, you can securely modify past charges and reprint any folio with ease. As a marketing tool, the reports which we can reproduce from the right POS system are invaluable.

No matter what hospitality department you are in, we are all having to work harder and smarter during these challenging times and if by integrating our lines or reporting communication and business flow, we must surely be in a stronger position than those that don’t.

News Source : http://www.hoteliermiddleeast.com/7768-sizing-up-point-of-sale-software/

Point Of Sale Equipment And Why You Need It

webmaster@billit.in (Abhay) — Mon, 5 Apr 2010 09:46:00 -0700

All good business owners are aware of the vital important of having up-to-date and reliable point of sale equipment. It provides benefits on both ends of the spectrum, for your business and your customers. It keeps your check-out lines moving smoothly and saves time. No one wants to wait, because an old credit card machine is taking a long time to dial in to the network for authorization.

Whatever you are looking for in this type of equipment, it is easy to find. There are many companies that specialize in just this equipment category. You can purchase pieces separately, if you wish, to just replace certain items. On the obverse, you can purchase bundle packages that contain everything you may need for an upgrade.

There are even packages available for specific business types. You can find them designed for retail stores or the specific needs of a restaurant establishment. Purchasing these types of equipment groups are great, because each piece is specially made to work together. Every single machine will attach to and work properly with all of the others.

Whether you need more accurate bar code scanners or cash drawers with a better design, there are many on the market to choose from. You can even view ratings on scanners that lets you know how durable they are. Knowing this information is a perfect way to make sure you are investing your money in exactly what you need.

If you have ever shopped in a store, then there is no doubt that you have run into an occasion where there was a problem with your receipt. The issues can vary, perhaps it came out blurry or only partially printed. Other times, the paper may have jammed or it just did not print out. Most people do check their receipts for accuracy.

All good business owners know that time is money and vice versa. If you have to keep stopping to reprint your patrons receipts, you are having to waste them. If you invest in the most modern technology, then you no longer have to worry about this problem. Thermal printers also mean you no longer have to worry about running out of ink and buying cartridges. There are some that will let you choose from using a tear bar or an auto-cutter.

Good quality customer displays are also items that you really need. Your patrons want to be able to see the screen, what is being rung up and their final total. If, for some reason, you have a pricing error, this can help them catch it, before they leave your establishment. Such details can help avoid frequent customer complaints.

Check readers, kiosks, credit card readers and all of this other equipment are important elements in regards to running your business. You want to make sure that everything operates as quickly and easily as possible and the proper investments help make sure of this. It also helps you keep and maintain a very happy shopper base. Full Article Read Here : Point Of Sale Equipment And Why You Need It

iPod touch POS May See Adoption Beyond Apple’s Stores

webmaster@billit.in (Anonymous) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 02:27:00 -0700

Apple has recently made a few changes in its retail organizations, including new positions, and the addition of new equipment. The iPod touch-based point-of-sale system (POS) is one of them and, apparently, it has caught the eye of small businesses, larger chains and system integrators.

According to tipsters talking to ifoAppleStore, the source dealing exclusively with information about Apple’s retail establishments, "Since the debut of the iPod POS, inquiries have been coming from all directions, including from end-user small businesses, larger chains and system integrators.

Until now, Apple’s response has been that the iPod POS is a proprietary product, unavailable for sale." "But now, tipsters say, Apple retail executives have asked the retail store business specialists to collect contact information from anyone who inquires about the iPod touch system, apparently to create a database of potential customers if Apple decides to commercialize the product," the ifo report says.

Earlier this year, Apple revealed that it would allow software applications running under iPhone OS 3.0 to utilize external hardware that was previously incompatible with the device. Following the move, the company could begin plans to dump Windows-based portable computers in exchange for customized iPod touches to wirelessly process customer credit and debit cards. The method now allows all Apple-store employees to accept cash for purchases.

The EasyPay Touch system not only handles credit, debit and cash transactions, but also certain product returns. Customers write their signature on the iPod touch using a stylus, when doing purchases with a credit card. Last month, ifoAppleStore and AppleInsider gave an exclusive look at Apple's new iPod touch-based EasyPay checkout system, now extended only to some retail locations.

Coincidentally, although not in a related move, Twitter founder Jack Dorsey announced a new start-up and, implicitly, a possible competitor to the iPod POS. Square will market a magnetic strip reader dongle for the iPhone, along with advanced card-processing services. The solution will allow small businesses to easily and quickly accept credit-card payments using a mobile device, while the iPod touch is first on that list.

News Source : iPod touch POS May See Adoption Beyond Apple’s Stores

Top 10 Mistakes To Avoid When Choosing A POS System

webmaster@billit.in (Anonymous) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 05:31:00 -0700

Independent retailers have traditionally been technology laggards. This slow adoption of new technology has provided hidden benefits though. Economies of scale are achieved at larger retail stores and the new technologies become available to independent retailers at much lower costs. Today, independent retailers have access to point-of-sale systems with features comparable to large competitors. The costs of these systems are often hundreds of times less than the investment made by the large retail chains.

Measured by dollars, the technology investment made by an independent retailer is considerably less than their larger counterparts. But if you measure the investment against annual revenues (i.e. percent of revenue), the comparison becomes similar. Once understood, independent retailers should approach their technology investment like the large retail chains. Unlike other purchases a retailer will make, the technology decision is one the retailer will live with for many years. The amount of time required to implement a system and become productive in its use will be the largest costs associated with any system. Economists refer to these types of costs as “sunk costs”. Sunk costs are those costs that are incurred and cannot be recovered to any significant degree.

If a retailer avoids the ten most common mistakes when selecting a point-of-sale system, they can avoid duplicating their efforts and control these costs. Avoiding these ten mistakes will help insure that the right system is selected the first time.

1. Not Understanding Your Needs

If a retailer isn’t automated or is operating an out-of-date system, they may have developed inefficient procedures. Every process in the business (e.g. purchasing, receiving, transfers, etc.) should be noted and worked through in the point-of-sale software during the demonstration phase. The provider of the software can then demonstrate the automation of each process within the proposed solution. The provider should also have extensive industry knowledge and be able to make recommendations on how related retailers have automated similar processes.

2. Not Obtaining Product References

Do not move forward with a purchase until you have obtained a minimum of three references and contacted those references. Requesting local references also gives you the ability to visit the retail store and see the point-of-sale product in action. When talking with references also make sure that they are using the version of the software you are evaluating. Ask them if they like the product, how the implementation went, and how they rate the on-going support. These references can also be used to create your own support group if you move forward with the purchase.

3. Neglecting Due Diligence

What do you know about the company providing your new point-of-sale system? There are many companies that will sell you a system but very few that are exclusively in the point-of-sale business. Companies that are “in” the business have been dedicated to the market for decades and have vast amounts of knowledge and expertise. Once you make a decision on a system purchase, you are married to the company providing you with the system. Do your due diligence homework and find out the following:

- How long has the company been in business?

You want to insure that the company will be around as long as you have their system. Most businesses fail within the first five years.

- How large is the company measured by employee count and revenue?

A financially strong company will have sufficient revenue and resources to support you for the life of the system. Larger companies with more employees often offer superior support services, training, installation, and faster feature development.

- How strong is the company and is it publicly traded?

Public companies offer the safety of full disclosure and access to the capital markets. Audited financial statements will provide you with information regarding the company’s strength. Records for public companies can be obtained through any financial website such as Yahoo Finance, eTrade, Fidelity and so on.

Software development and support is labor and capital intensive. By choosing a strong company, you are insuring that the software you choose will be updated with new features for many years.

4. Insufficient Training

Maybe it is human nature, but all retailers try to save money in this area. But, just like a college degree, you will earn many times more than the training costs with better use of the system. Many retailers have purchased great point-of-sale systems only to use them as glorified cash registers because of a lack of training. Your training plan should resemble the following:

- Pre-installation – 1 day of classroom training as an overview of the system

- Installation – 1-5 days depending upon the size of the store and number of employees. This training normally takes place at the store location. Point-of-sale training for employees normally only requires an hour or two. Back office management functions such as purchasing, receiving, barcodes, inventory management, reporting, ecommerce, etc. will take up the remaining time. Make sure you don’t overwhelm yourself at this point with too much information. Learn what you need to run your business day to day. More training should be available in the future.

- 1 Month Post-Installation – The retailer has had some time with the system and will need to generate month end reports. This is also a good time to train on questions that have come up since the initial training. Post-Installation training is often accomplished through a phone call and remote access to the retailers system.

- 3-6 Month Post-Installation – The retailer knows their way around the software, has established procedures, and the retail store is fully automated. At this time the retailer may want to learn the advanced features of the software to give them a strategic advantage. This could include advanced reporting, open-to-buy planning, eCommerce integration, customer marketing and so on.

5. Buying on Price

We are bombarded everyday with offers for low priced hardware and software. Advertisements from major computer manufacturers display unbelievable prices. Resist the temptation of trying to save yourself a few dollars with cheap hardware. It will end up costing you more when it doesn’t work. The low priced computers and printers advertised are cheap for a reason. They are consumer level products that aren’t manufactured to take the daily twelve hour beating most retail environments will impose on them. You can verify this by checking the duty cycles on consumer level hardware versus business class machines.

Low priced hardware is difficult for anyone to support because the internal components of the computer changes on a frequent basis. What is inside a cheap computer is based upon the lowest bidder at the time of bid. As an example, you may order a model M30 computer today and your point-of-sale software and peripherals run fine on it. You then order ten of the model M30 and find that the software only runs on some of them. The others have different components inside that conflict with the software. You’ve just saved yourself a few dollars on hardware but now get to pay an unlimited hourly rate for the point-of-sale company to figure out the problem.

Point-of-sale companies know what they know, but they don’t know what they don’t know. With cheap hardware, they can never possibly know so you will only cost yourself more money in the long run by not following their recommendation.

6. Purchasing One Size Fits All System

There is not a single point-of-sale system that is a perfect fit for every type of retailer. The retail industry has several different vertical markets that all have unique needs. As an example, pharmacies require a pos system that integrates with their prescription dispensing software and support IRS IIAS legislation for FSA (flexible spending account) credit cards. A bike shop requires serial number tracking and work order management for mechanics. A clothing store needs size and color matrixes to support the large number of SKUs for a single pair of jeans. The list goes on and on.

Find a point-of-sale system specific to your market. The unique features they offer will automate the distinct needs of your market. The industry specific automation will provide you with a better ROI (return on investment) compared with choosing generic point-of-sale software.

7. Customizing For Planned Obsolescence

Point-of-sale systems for independent retailers have been around for almost three decades now. The feature lists are extensive because millions of retailers have helped software developers create features specific to the industry. 95% or more of the features you will require will be offered in a single package. If not, avoid the temptation to customize the software. Customizing any software freezes you into the version you purchase and precludes you from moving forward with future releases. There are still many stores today that operate DOS based point-of-sale systems because of this oversight. Don’t be one of them.

8. Following The Garbage In, Garbage Out Cliché

A great point-of-sale system can be turned into a mediocre system if data input and standards aren’t maintained. Today’s software has the capability to turn raw data into meaningful information. The best example of this is the department/class/subclass structure. Every retail store has departments, larger ones also have related classes, and even larger ones have related subclasses. Categorizing your inventory this way allows you to quickly spot sales and inventory trends on the reports produced by the system.

Use the 10/10 rule. You should have no more than 10 departments and each of those departments should have no more than 10 classes. If you think about it, even the largest department stores merchandise within the rule.

9. Neglecting Disaster Recovery

The most neglected rule of all. But when it happens, people tend to become diligent about it. With the technology today, there is no reason to ignore this any longer. Backing up a system no longer requires slow tape drives, archaic software, and confusing rotation procedures. Today, backups can be performed with the use of portable hard drives or internet based online backup services.

Most retailers think of disaster recovery only in the case of a computer crash. But over the years I’ve seen retailers rely on them for fires, floods, and computer theft. As long as you have a good backup and insurance policy, a disaster does not have to be catastrophic.

10. Choosing The Wrong Partner

The point-of-sale space has always been very competitive but only a few key players have sustained in the marketplace. Every year many companies enter the market and leave just as quickly. Retailers are then stuck without support and eventually have to choose a new system from a reputable company. To guard yourself against this, make sure to partner with a strong company dedicated to the retail industry. You can accomplish this by asking a few of the following questions:

- Is point-of-sale the company’s primary business?

When software companies choose to expand their target market, they will often times view the retail space very favorably due to the large number of retailers. Many times they underestimate the complexity of the market and the vertical requirements of each retail segment. This will cause them to enter the market with an offering and leave once they suffer unsustainable losses. Accounting software companies have been notorious for this behavior throughout the years. To protect yourself, make sure the focus of the company is primarily point-of-sale systems.

- Is the provider THE company or just a reseller of a product?

Several of the prominent point-of-sale companies use a direct sales channel. Smaller point-of-sale companies use a reseller or distributor model to sell their systems. The difference is staggering. The direct channel establishes a relationship between the retailer and the software vendor. Better support, quality, and expertise are the result. Resellers of a product cannot begin to match support or quality a direct relationship provides. It is far too common for retailers to be left without support once a reseller moves on to other products.

- What type on on-going support do they provide?

Support departments for point-of-sale systems are very different than consumer software products. Point-of-sale applications are mission critical. If a POS system is down, it literally costs the retailer money. Insist that the point-of-sale provider you select offers a “real time” support model. Real time support insures that a technician will pick up the phone and assist you when you call. Older support models implement a “call back” method that requires you to leave a message of the problem and a technician calls you back at an undetermined length of time. The difference between the two support models can literally cost a retailer thousands of dollars in lost sales.

- Do they offer onsite technical assistance?

Your job is retail, not technology. You should be able to rely upon your point-of-sale provider to supply you with onsite technicians. These technicians can install a new system correctly and troubleshoot any technical problems you may experience.

- Do they offer training classes?

Training, training, training, we all know we get better with more of it. You can insure you get the most out of your investment with on-going training. The provider you select should offer classes to help you gain efficiencies as your expertise on the point-of-sale system grows.

- Do they have user groups and regular meetings?

User group meetings are one of the best places to learn new ideas, see the newest features in the software, and network with your peers. Many times a peer will have a solution or offer a new way to accomplish a task using the software.

An independent retailer can insure their success by avoiding these ten common mistakes. Although this article is written with a point-of-sale purchase in mind, the same checklist can be applied to many other business purchases. Often times, the strength and ethics of the company providing the product is just as important as the product itself.

Source : Top 10 Mistakes To Avoid When Choosing A POS System

How To Choose Billing Software

webmaster@billit.in (Anonymous) — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 02:16:00 -0700

If you were wondering if there was anyway you could make your business transactions real-time and not factored on the time of services of your bank or service provider, you need not wonder any more. Close to real time processing systems employing online billing software has been the new age advents of the internet. Online Billing software enhances the services offered by the internet by making things as simple as it can be for the end user.

The one click shopping is no longer a dream. Several interesting techniques are employed by these companies utilizing such online billing software. Classified ad software, the term, that is almost concurrent with online billing software, is the major source of marketing for such companies. If you ever thought looking up for businesses over the internet or products for exchange or even a right place to donate as charity on your birthday, you need not , any longer , browse through the yellow pages for services or flip through countless irrelevant ads on any hard print. Classified ad software aims at customers seeking specific services by giving the host an opportunity to dynamically display only relevant ads to the consumer. Looking up for things are getting easier , many companies develop these classified ad software , targeting businesses and individuals who utilize them in turn to turn potential visitors to customers . This is where online billing software comes into picture.

Transforming customer support and billing online enables telecom carriers to reduce billing processing charges, improving the tedious process and target more specifically on marketing. This process too, is readily aided by classified ad software. Such software also enhances the quality of CRM. The main focus will be, by these classified ad software companies, to provide services that can convince the unconvinced and to change the conventional theories of static marketing. This system is customer targeted and hence its impact is more. For example, as a comparison, a company employing such classified ad software to market and sell products as compared to a company practicing the traditional billing and marketing techniques has been seen to have larger coverage of consumers, better customer care and support and enhanced CRM. Since close to only five percent of the entire consumers stay addicted to online billing as primary transaction method, the challenge will be to enhance marketing strategies. Classified ad software aids in this area.

The need is to decide what software you plan to use. Classified ad software can provide marketing support, what billing can be a tedious once your market becomes considerably large. Obvious decision would be to have good quality software. But time spent must be very little on numbers. Typical billing software allows a database of all details of consumers, sales, stock and suppliers and many more. Many companies claim to be the ultimate solution for all business problems, but many remain only as promises. The choice of such software, aided by classified ad software is very vital. Some tips are given below.

1.) Decide on your scale and budget: scale of business and requirements primarily dictates what you will buy, but since software is available for nuts to castles, you will need to fix your budget.

2.) Database efficiency : Some software is designed for specific types of businesses. Choose one that is close to yours and remember this is the core of the software, and these records relate to the consumers who were benefited by the classified ad software turning into potential customers. Hence high efficiency database is required.

3.) Record maintenance: you should know how records are managed, a typical example would be, a good system will not cause any chaos over a consumer with multiple contact details. Since most advertising is testified by word of mouth, your ads should not reflect bad data to turn away vital consumers.

4.) Ability to find relevant data: What good can software do if it can not find what you are looking for from it? Make sure your software has good search ability. Data retrieval should be easy.

5.) Online support: Customers need you all the time. Software with this motto will be very good for your business.

6.) Backup and update: A system that can not keep updated with time and technology and is not failsafe is never a good one for you.

All said and pondered, it is the difference between good online billing software combined with high marketing efficiency and one that's incompetent that could result in the growth of your business.

Source : How To Choose Billing Software

Why Would You Customise Your Software

webmaster@billit.in (Anonymous) — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 02:10:00 -0700

Custom software development has been created for many different reasons and it is this that has made it unique from other software such as purpose built software. The custom software comes into its own because it is unlike any other software in that it is not mass produced like other software to be sold to millions of users.

Instead, is custom built to suit each user's needs and preferences. This means that a lot of time and money goes into the software development to get it to the right purpose of the user's (customers). This can cause some potential problems on one hand though, this is the fact that after the development and selling of the software some customers may not be able to install the software correctly or it may have some bugs in the program.

To be able to sort out these bugs and problems in the software the company will have to spend more time and money in finding and sorting out the bugs which means they will not be able to spend as much of their budget or resources on other projects that the business might want to do like mandatory software.

This may cause some problems with the smaller businesses as they may not be able to fix the bugs in time or run out of money causing them to close down their services. These problems occur because if they are offering their software to a small but broad range of customers each customer's computer may be different and this might cause conflicts with the software due to the many different components and other software each customer may be running on their machine at the same time.

This is a big problem worldwide for custom developed software and it is rare that a quick solution to the bugs works on all the customers' computers meaning they have to spend much more time finding a permanent and more thorough solution.

Custom software can be created for a huge variety of things. Many telecommunications software is custom as each phone company operates in a different way meaning that the custom software development team has to create individual software for each company to run on their own systems. Other examples where custom software development is used is for IT companies that provide different services on the internet where different companies need different software to advertise their products properly.

The internet and IT business has moved on leaps and bounds over the past few years and this has meant that boxed software and on the shelf upgrades are no longer helpful as they are outdated very quickly.

This is where the custom developed software comes in very handy as companies are constantly offering upgrades and packages to every specification of every business meaning that everyone can receive the software. This software may include any custom tools or toolbars that the business will need to be produce their products.

A major part of the IT market that uses custom software is the search optimisation market where a lot of custom software is needed for the job they have to do. For example, designing and editing websites uses a lot of custom programs that needed to be updated regularly so the designers can have the latest tools available to make the clients website that bit better.

Overall the custom developed software business is completely necessary to all in the IT business where many different aspects are used, and it is this where custom software comes into its own providing unique software to every business.

Source : Why Would You Customise Your Software

Building Your Business with Web Based CRM Software

webmaster@billit.in (Anonymous) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 23:17:00 -0700

The soul purpose of CRM software, otherwise known as Customer Relationship Management Software, is to aid business owners in building and maintaining important relationships between customers and the business itself, often times reducing overhead and driving more repeat customers as a result. Many businesses that are just using a CRM software for the first time tend to find themselves a little overwhelmed with the power that many of these solutions provide not to mention the depth of features and sometimes extensive learning curve.

While often times the features of a CRM will vary from software to software, the reality is that they generally have very similar functions, covering everything from business automation, task specific, to storing customer information and analyzing customer data such as purchases, time of visit and so on. CRM software truly is a very powerful tool for building a successful business

both online and offline.

Wikipedia describes CRM as: "Customer relationship management (CRM) is a multifaceted process, mediated by a set of information technologies, that focuses on creating two-way exchanges with customers so that firms have an intimate knowledge of their needs, wants, and buying patterns. In this way, CRM helps companies understand, as well as anticipate, the needs of current and potential customers. Functions that support this business purpose include sales, marketing, customer service, training, professional development, performance management, human resource development, and compensation. Many CRM initiatives have failed because implementation was limited to software installation without alignment to a customer-centric strategy."

Now you may have already figured out that CRM software is a must have for any growing business, but did you know that it can be affordable too. The secret is in the type of CRM that you choose. For instance, web based crm software is often times much more affordable than other types of CRM, but still has the important features that you will come to rely on as your business continues to grow. Web based CRM software can also drastically cut down on increasing advertising costs by allowing you to keep track of current and past customers and enticing them to possibly buy again.

Choosing the Best Web Based CRM Software:

If you have been searching for a web based CRM software, you will soon find that you have some choices to make. Now it is virtually impossible for me or anyone for that matter to tell you which web based CRM software is the best choice for you or your business. Why? Simple, because as I briefly mentioned above, all of the different services offer different features to go along with them. For example, while one CRM software might focus more on analyzing customer data another one probably has a more concentrated focus on effectively storing customer information.

Choosing the right CRM Software, especially when it comes to web based CRM software, really depends on your companies specific needs that's very important to remember, its crucial that you figure out what exactly your business needs out of the software and then work towards finding a software that caters to those needs. Now that you know what CRM software is, you understand the benefits of using web based CRM software and you know what to look for, you are ready to move forward and reap the rewards that CRM has to offer.

Article Source : Building Your Business with Web Based CRM Software

Sales Tracker - Find Out Why You Need Sales Tracker Software Today

webmaster@billit.in (Anonymous) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:13:00 -0700

Today if you are not able to have a good sales tracker on your side, you'll end up missing many opportunities and sales, and you just can't afford to do that today. It's important that you learn about sales tracker software and how you can use it to help improve and enhance your business today. If you want to learn more about this software and how it can make a difference in your company, then read on for more helpful information that can change your company forever.

Sales Tracker Software - Your Business Solution

If you want to be able to close more sales and finally have the sales tracking that you need, you need to go with good sales tracker software. You see, the software that you use for your sales tracking is extremely important. Just using the right sales tracker software can make a big difference in the sales that your company is able to make. Are you ready to change your company and bring in more sales, which leads to more profit? If so, then you'll need to find a great sales tracker software to use for your own company.

Sales Tracker - Find Out Why You Need Sales Tracker Software Today

Sales tracker software is extremely important for your business' success. However, you need to get the best sales tracker software out there for the best results. It's important that you take some time and look at the various options out there on the market today when you're looking for the best sales tracker software. So, here are some tips that can help you learn what you need to know in order to be able to choose the best sales tracker software for your business today.

Tip #1 - Find Out if the Software is Easy to Use - It is imperative that you make sure that the sales tracker software is going to be easy to use for you. It should be a software system that will be easy for everyone in the office to learn how to use and use on a regular basis. Be sure that the navigation is flexible, and you'll definitely want your sales tracker software to have a help feature that is built in. See how many clicks you're going to have to go through to create new information, fill in requests for information, or update a current record in the system. Also, take time to make sure that it has information display that is easy to see and use, so you don't have to go through a variety of screens to get information when you need it.

Tip #2 - Be Sure You can Customize the Software - You'll want to make sure that you can customize the sales tracker software as well when you're looking at different options for your sales tracker software. While there are many sales tracker software options that do allow you to perform different functions, you may need a higher level of customization for your company to make sure that the software works to its' greatest potential. Before you decide which sales tracker software is right for you, be sure it is customizable.

Tip #3 - Will it Integrate Easily into Your Current System? - Make sure that the sales tracker software you are looking for will integrate easily into the systems that you already have as well. Why spend a huge amount of time working to integrate a system that is difficult to deal with. Consider software that will integrate with accounting software that you are using, and if you're using Outlook, it's a great idea to look for sales tracker software that works along with Outlook.

Tip #4 - Reporting Features Should Be Included - Good sales tracker software should have some reporting features that are included with it too. It's important that you can easily generate reports so you will be able to see how your business is really doing. Then you'll be able to keep checking up on the reports from time to time to see where you need to work on some things and where you are really making great progress.

Now that you are aware of what great sales tracker software should contain, you should know that one software option that meets all these qualifications is Prophet software by Avidian. You'll find it easy to use, customizable, easy to integrate, and it has excellent reporting features too. So, if you're ready to start using sales tracker software for your business, consider trying Prophet

Article Source : Sales Tracker - Find Out Why You Need Sales Tracker Software Today

Billing Products for Hospitality Industry

webmaster@billit.in (Anonymous) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:15:00 -0800

Billit is a Point of Sale Software Products and Solutions Provider Company based out of New Delhi, India. Billit presents a wide range of fully customizable POS Software Solutions designed for Food Chains, Restaurants, Hotels, Resorts, Pubs, Bars, Discotheques etc. it covers all aspects of Hospitality Industry and F&B Business.

We have a lineup of products which plugged together cater to any food processing unit from procuring raw material to sales of processed food to wastage management. Since its inception in Jan’08 we have been able to create an impressive list of satisfied customers.

Our POS Software integrates a wide spectrum of customer requirements streamlining business functions and increase organizational efficiency with a definite mark of quality with a ROI assurance.

Billing Software Products Overview

1. Billit POS -

Point of Sale Software : Our POS Software enables outlets to streamline management of operations of their business from one central point. The software is the vessel for entering and maintaining products, customers, security, pricing, employees, promotions, discounts and payment methods to facilitating managerial duties and accounting reports for end of day and performance over time.

Product Features –

Point of Sale system for all your billing needs
Simple keyboard based interface
Easy to use
Easier to train your staff
Cost effective
Comprehensive reporting
Covers all aspects of sales & billing
Offers creation
Exhaustive user permissions
Online synchronization of data
Anywhere access over you billing counter

2. Billit Touch -

Touch Screen Software : We have a unique range of touch screen and kiosk Software for your all types of business needs and with our own unique integration skills, pull the project together to compliment your overall sales and marketing strategy.

Our Touch Screen Software can distribute your data via a content management tool across a network of kiosks, a wall of touch screens or big plasma screens – delivering information in a timely fashion and to a high level of professionalism.

Products Features –

Point of Sale system for all your billing needs
Easy to use
Easier to train your staff
Cost effective
Covers all aspects of sales & billing
Simplest interface ever
Operator need not be a computer literate
Complete operation with touch of a finger
No need of keyboard and mouse
Learn to use it within few minutes
Comprehensive reporting
Online data synchronization possible
Offers creation
Exhaustive user permissions
Online synchronization of data
Anywhere access over you billing counter

3. Billit Server -

Server Center Software : Billit Server Center Software allows you to create tasks for backing your data on Billit Secure Server. Billit Server Center provides you with a powerful task scheduler, ability of using scenarios and other useful features like -

Products Features –

Online data synchronization
Data backup on secure server
Our servers are located in US
Data accessible by authorized users only
Integrates with Billit TOUCH, Billit POS & Billit STORE.
Complete secure online data backup & retrieval solution

4. Billit Store

Store Manager Software : Billit Store Integrates with Billit TOUCH and Billit POS Software Billit Store and inventory Management software help you in Staff Training, Comprehensive reporting and more following excellent Features like –

Product Features -

Complete store and inventory management
Easy to use
Easier to train your staff
Cost effective
Comprehensive reporting
Enhanced inventory tracking system
Reduced wastage and theft losses
Integrates with Billit TOUCH and Billit POS as well
Can be used as an independent warehouse management system
Online data synchronization possible

If you want more about our Software Products and services visit http://billit.in or call us at +91-9810600337.