BikeBiz

Register Revolution

Citrus Lime Citrus Lime has created a range of ‘Clicks and Mortar’ solutions for the retail market tailored specifically for the bike market.

MD Neil McQuillan says: “Now more than ever retailers need to be running a tight ship, providing excellent customer service, keeping a close eye on their stock position, taking every opportunity to up-sell and making sure that they meet the needs of their customers first time, every time.”

Lime’s offerings will help dealers do just that, according to McQuillan: “Epos is a key tool in achieving this. It’s not just about being able to serve customers quickly at the till, it’s having a complete overview of your trading position – how much stock you hold and how quickly is it moving? Epos can help retailers to reduce the amount of capital tied up in slow-moving stock and make sure that they don’t lose sales with stock-outs.”

The core of Citrus-Lime’s offering is Microsoft’s RMS Epos system – a stable, secure and scaleable Epos and Stock Control system. Modules can be bolted on, including one for the workshop which cuts down the amount of management time the workshop takes up, with tools to run it efficiently and profitably.

Also available is the Supplier Integration Module –saving time, improving profitability and reducing overheads. Citrus Lime also offers Integrated Ecommerce Websites for dealers that integrate with its Epos solutions, all providing essential assistance with running those all-important ‘Clicks and Mortar’ retail businesses.

Abacus Developed over 20 years, Abacus Business Software can handle stock over multiple locations and features a fully integrated online shop/ecommerce website. The system also boasts full bar code support and operation, and control at sales order point, or POS. Other key features include purchase order processing, sales order processing, quotation and kit selling, customer tracking and all-important contact management for keeping tabs on customers and suppliers.

Abacus takes care of a wide variety of essential business procedures, including tracking profit and loss and balance sheets, as well as looking to the future with stock forecasting based on best sellers and slow movers. Management reports help owners to keep track of the business and a cunning feature allows for portable stock checking and updates. It can even handle the likes of marketing through email shots and text messages.

Abacus is currently based in over 150 cycle shops.

Xsilva (Via Square) Xsilva’s retail-specific LightSpeed software is a next generation retail Point of Sales tool built exclusively for the Mac and designed expressly to accelerate growing small businesses and improve the efficiency of larger organisations – even for multi-sites.

The clever software provides stores with a full set of straightforward tools that make it easy to operate and track all aspects of a cycle retailer’s business.

Using an easy-to-learn iTunes-like browser, it uses an innovative POS interface designed for high-speed, error-free checkout. A Web Store integrated module (sold separately) takes business online, downloading orders into the software. This functionality is built on a robust multi-user database, scaling to satisfy the needs of your business.

Actinic Actinic’s EPOS is a range of electronic POS hardware and software ideal for smaller retailers and chains providing simplicity and efficiency at the touch of a button, according to the company.

Networked systems also link to the Actinic Business ecommerce application, to offer a complete multi-channel sales solution.

The Actinic Epos electronic till software is at the heart of the system and runs on a user-friendly Windows PC or PC-based till linked to a Microsoft Access or SQL Server database. It integrates with standard Epos peripherals including cash drawer, barcode scanner, customer pole display, touch screen and receipt printer to offer a complete in-store checkout and stock control system. Moreover the system has been designed to grow with businesses and is equally reliable from a single till up to multiple sales points across a chain of outlets.

Electronic stock control reduces capital tied up in slow-moving stock and helps eliminate sales lost through stock-outs. Sophisticated merchandising features help maximise revenue through the use of special promotions and discounts. Powerful reporting facilities give retailers far greater control on their business. And advanced security features reduce opportunities for theft and fraud.

Actinic’s Epos software starts at £399, while complete till systems including hardware start from £1,449. The Epos Solo is a low-cost single-till system priced at £399 (plus VAT).

The Actinic Epos Network is a network-ready version supporting multiple tills, retailing at £799 (plus VAT). Finally, the Actinic Epos Head Office provides head office functionality for businesses with multiple stores all for £1500 (plus VAT).