HP's POS 'Suite' Spot

Few things are as stressful as the rollout of a new POS system. If it works, it helps sellers promote customer-facing programs. If it doesn't, you're out of business.

To help midsize retailers navigate the thorny path to POS, a number of vendors are rolling out comprehensive, easy-to-install POS suites.

Hewlett-Packard boasts a POS bundle that includes HP's first set of branded peripherals, according to company executives. Rolled out at the Retail Systems 2006 Conference and Exposition in Chicago late last month, the bundle is based on the HP rp5000 POS and is aimed at solution providers that serve the SMB retail space where users are, in turn, looking to simplify their customers' checkout experience. HP says it hopes its VAR partners will see the rp5000 bundle as a single source for all of their customers' POS needs.

"We want to provide small and midsize businesses with simplified, personalized technology that benefits them and their customers," says Denise Marcilio, director of SMBs for HP Americas. "Because the retail industry is changing from 'point of sale' to 'point of service,' it's important for retailers to focus on enhancing customer service. This solution is easy to set up and allows SMBs to simplify the checkout experience."

The rp5000 POS bundle runs on Microsoft's POS operating system and can include such HP peripherals as receipt printers, touch screens, card readers, scanners, cash drawers and keyboards. The suite can be purchased as a complete POS package or as individual components for mixing and matching, HP execs say.

"The main advantage here is performance for the price," says Donald Gusse, director of the marketing solutions group at Torex Retail, an HP POS reseller. "This allows VARs to hit the market with a very favorable package.

"The HP approach works really well in a distributed environment, where retailers need to spread the peripherals around and make better use of their real estate," Gusse adds.

HP provides the warranty, giving users a single point of contact if items fail and ensuring that all of the devices integrate seamlessly. The POS components come standard with a three-year warranty, but four- and five-year options are available as well.

Prices for rp5000 systems range from $599 to $2,800 depending on configuration. A typical installation includes a 15-inch touch screen, cash drawer, scanner, spill-proof keyboard and rp5000 CPU with four powered serial ports, four powered USB 2.0 ports, two standard USB 2.0 ports and two full-height PCI slots. The CPU uses Intel's Pentium 4 processor with the 845GV chipset and either Windows XP Professional or Windows Embedded for POS OSes.

Also targeting the midmarket is IBM with its SurePOS 300 Express package. Part of IBM Express Advantage, it's IBM's smallest distributed POS footprint and comes standard with a built-in CD-ROM, streamlined cable management and simplified access to internal components. The bundle also includes the IBM Compact Alphanumeric POS keyboard.