Apple Considering Commercializing New iPod Touch EasyPay System?

[ShiftyPig]

The sheer number of small retailers in this country is staggering. If a portion of them stopped using DOS and Win point of sale and barcode systems in favor of an iPod Touch based system, that would make Apple the primary vendor for small business IP and POS in very short order.

Once dominant in transaction processing and inventory control and asset management applications, the halo effect we saw with iPod to mac on the consumer side would be approximated in large unfragmented business segments.

The popularity of the iPod shocked Apple. The popularity of the point of sale device shocked Apple. This is a wideband business Trojan Horse.

Rocketman

A lot of buzzwords there for a flimsy assertion. That portion would have to be pretty large and would be no "short order."

Edit to add: I like the device - saw that thing about Square last night. The key to making this segment grow will be security. But having the ability to accept credit card payments with a $199 touch and little else opens up a world of possibilities for vendors.

 

[Doctor Q]

Presumably Apple's point-of-sale software would have to be changed a bit to become a more generalized commercial product, but given the demand why wouldn't they jump at the opportunity? Maybe because this type of non-consumer iPhone app just hasn't been in their business plan.

 

[aucl]

My wife works in the restaurant business and something like this would be perfect. The server could input the order right at the table and never have to walk back to the kitchen or even the terminal to relay it. It would be perfect.

Actually in Austria we have that in quite every restaurant. Which makes the drinks ready before the waiter is back at the bar

 

[Komiksulo]

It needs to be able to accept chip cards.

 

[cjmillsnun]

It needs to be able to accept chip cards.

It certainly does.

In most of Europe we use the "chip and pin" system

 

[Rodimus Prime]

knowing apple the biggest failing that it will have will that it will only work with apple computers being the backbone and in the enterprise world and business world apple is kind of well crap in that department.

 

[macsamillion]

Sure hope Apple is paying attention to this thread. Frankly there is an entire new business here. Think of all the Apple amenities—Genius for Business, One on One Business—plus the hardware. Apple could be a major disruptor.

I too have asked about buying the system for my retail business and have been told it's not for sale. American businesses are missing out they just don't know it. Though Apple is likely worried about how conservative businesses are here. It took me almost ten years to convince my brother to move to Macs—you know the rest—he still talks about what he's saving in time, money and effort.

By accident I was in the room when L.A. County Coroners office made the decision to move to Macs. From what I understand it's saved them a ton of money.

 

[scottness]

knowing apple the biggest failing that it will have will that it will only work with apple computers being the backbone and in the enterprise world and business world apple is kind of well crap in that department.

They'll let Windows users use it, but will reserve the better features for Mac users. My prediction.

 

[kdarling]

I can't believe restaurants don't have this kind of thing yet.

They do. Especially in high traffic places like casino restaurants.

Just Google "mobile restaurant pos" and you'll see some examples.

Like this one in a video, for example.

Of course, you also need backend systems to support them, with appropriate general or specific purpose software.

 

[DipDog3]

Didn't know Apple was using a Windows system in the past.

 

[Zedder the Dog!]

My wife works in the restaurant business and something like this would be perfect. The server could input the order right at the table and never have to walk back to the kitchen or even the terminal to relay it. It would be perfect.

These already exist all over. I first noticed them a few years ago when on holiday in the Algarve (Portugal) - even small restaurants ie 6 table family owned had the waiter tapping on a wifi PDA with the order coming out in the Kitchen - kept track of the bill etc etc. Ive seen them in the UK too.

 

[babyj]

Whilst there are products like this on the market, I was under the impression the hardware devices were very expensive - especially with card processing.

I can't see Apple wanting to get in to the complete retail POS solution market, but selling just the iPod Touch add on unit would make a lot of sense, leaving all the software and everything else to resellers. They'd need to make it for the iPhone as well though, so it could work as a mobile card processing unit.

I'd imagine businesses would switch to it in a heartbeat as it will be a safe and reliable product that they can trust. Plus the market is massive, its very easy to see them shifting a million of the add on unit - which is a lot of money.

 

[RyanR.]

I want one!

I run a service company. I would love one of these preferably if it fit my iPhone. I would also love an app that is or like quickbooks. Something that I can sync with my mac and "sister software". I have not seen this ipod easy pay system in action since the closest Apple store is 3 hours away, but sounds just like what I want.

An app that does milage, time, inventory, billing, customer data base. This is what I want. Oh and it has to do it well.

 

[Willis]

This can be a pretty big cash cow for Apple. Not only can they hammer small to medium retail businesses, they will sell more hardware > more profit > larger iPhone OS integration with business to then move to a Macintosh system.

They should think about this wisely

 

[rlitchfield]

apple computers being the backbone and in the enterprise world and business world apple is kind of well crap in that department.

And that is basically what they used to say about programmers (games and apps) and now look at the thousands of App Store developers programming on Macs today.

RJL

 

[ctucci]

Easy Pay Potential

We've been through many POS systems in our company.

Easy pay sounds and looks nice, but we couldn't use it unless it was robust and not just "cool and pretty".

Small to mid size retailers need things like:

- multistore capabilities including automated polling, report aggregation, interstore transfers
- Ability to lock down new product additions except at the hq
- reliable new store database and config rollout
- Multiple tenders
- Loyalty programs
- Add on modules for tagalongs that roll up cost for the transaction
- Searchable and reportable comment fields
- ability to lock a cash drawers to one associate until clocked out (prevents countdown arguments over multiple associates in one drawer)
- a backoffice module that's remotely accessible
- xml integration to Quickbooks or at least a reliable easily configured GL
etc.

The PC POS development industry has about a 20 year head start in sorting through the needs and details. Not to mention the use of MS SQL Express for more than a few of these systems. Not perfect, but it works, and you can usually forget it's there.

If Apple does their homework and tests this properly to seasoned retailers, they'll get an earful quickly.

If they act on the feedback, then a decently feature rich Point of Sale system on ipod/iphone writing to a back office installation on a Mac, hourly backups by Time Machine and all right out of the box... Killer biz app for Apple.

Especially with the SL Server or just regular Mini - that's great inexpensive hardware for the task. Makes them ideally positioned for small to mids.

I could sell this in my sleep, if they pull it off.

 

[QuarterSwede]

Yeah I heard about that also. Sounds very promising.

Why does Apple use a stylus for signature and the Square uses your finger?!

Either one looks great. It would depend on cost but I would love to be able to whip that out to receive payment from my customers when I deliver their custom made goods.

Especially since it doesn't matter what you sign. As long as there is some input the systems will take "your signature." My father-in-law signs as Mickey Mouse and I often just draw pictures. Signing means absolutely nothing these days.

 

[Fastshutter]

I do not want businesses to adopt this Apple store business practice. I hate having to hunt someone down to ring me up. I hate seeing three employees with nothing to do, and none of them can check me out.

I would much rather have static cash registers in one place for most days, and bring out the mobile POS devices when a new release has large crowds waiting at the door.

 

[mamcx]

If not need a Apple-made solution, I have a in-beta app for a POS for the iPhone in www.bestsellerapp.com. I have a sync server that can be used to build plugins to almost any ERP in the world (using python). The server run in Windows and very soon in Mac.

I'm looking for a international beta tester and is in use rigth now in several medium-size wholesale distributors. Can load +5.000 customers, +12.000 products, can accept credit card payments (not using hardware, need manual input rigth now, and depend in a paypal or Authorize.net account).

Can be use for freelancers, restaurants and any other company with direct-to-customer sales POS requeriments.

 

[Compufix]

My wife works in the restaurant business and something like this would be perfect. The server could input the order right at the table and never have to walk back to the kitchen or even the terminal to relay it. It would be perfect.

TGI Fridays (in this area anyway) already has a system that does this....it is rather cool!

 

[SimonMW]

Does Apple know what POS stands for in the real world?

 

[iGod 2.0]

Definitely

I would definitely consider this move. We love it at the Apple Store in Miami Beach. Completely seamless. Not even a fraction of the problems we had with the Windows CE based EasyPay system. Always on, always working. Just completely seamless. Apple should definitely consider commercializing the iPod touch EasyPay system.

 

[NAG]

Does Apple know what POS stands for in the real world?

Do you know what POS stands for the in the business world? Hint: all businesses use the term POS and it doesn't mean what you imply.

Oh, and I got to touch one recently and they're super snazy. I can see why businesses would love to get their hands on them.

 

[twoodcc]

this sounds like a great idea for apple! and i'd like to see other businesses using it also

 

[Saladinos]

We've been through many POS systems in our company.

Easy pay sounds and looks nice, but we couldn't use it unless it was robust and not just "cool and pretty".

Small to mid size retailers need things like:

- multistore capabilities including automated polling, report aggregation, interstore transfers
- Ability to lock down new product additions except at the hq
- reliable new store database and config rollout
- Multiple tenders
- Loyalty programs
- Add on modules for tagalongs that roll up cost for the transaction
- Searchable and reportable comment fields
- ability to lock a cash drawers to one associate until clocked out (prevents countdown arguments over multiple associates in one drawer)
- a backoffice module that's remotely accessible
- xml integration to Quickbooks or at least a reliable easily configured GL
etc.

The PC POS development industry has about a 20 year head start in sorting through the needs and details. Not to mention the use of MS SQL Express for more than a few of these systems. Not perfect, but it works, and you can usually forget it's there.

If Apple does their homework and tests this properly to seasoned retailers, they'll get an earful quickly.

If they act on the feedback, then a decently feature rich Point of Sale system on ipod/iphone writing to a back office installation on a Mac, hourly backups by Time Machine and all right out of the box... Killer biz app for Apple.

Especially with the SL Server or just regular Mini - that's great inexpensive hardware for the task. Makes them ideally positioned for small to mids.

I could sell this in my sleep, if they pull it off.

Apple runs some of the busiest stores on the planet, and their retail operation is the fastest growing retail chain in any industry. I'm sure their internal software is pretty robust.

It's a different way to enter the business market, for sure. But it looks like it could gain momentum and subsidise lots of the work that has been put in to the Apple Stores (which have already proven to be a good idea).