Cougar Mountain Software — CMS Professional 2011POS

The CMS Professional 2011 POS software package offers a solid selection of
modules that work in conjunction with the POS application — Inventory
and Data Exchange. As previously noted, the CMS Professional 2011 POS package
also integrates effectively to the core accounting package (GL, OE, AP and AR).
Add-on modules include Job Cost, Multi-Location Inventory, Bank Reconciliation,
Payroll, GL Report Generator, BarTender Label Generator, Purchase Order and
Specialty Shop.

Unique codes can be easily created for each register, and a unique password
can be assigned to each salesperson for authorized access to the register. Salesperson
controls are set individually and include functions such as setting the maximum
check amount they can accept, maximum discount they can give, and a checklist
of all features.

One of the terrific things about CMS Professional 2011 POS is its extensive
customization capabilities. The Set up Sales Entry screen allows for customized
header prompts, tender types accepted, column detail to display, and register
close out options. New in the 2011 version is Cougar Dtails, A Sales Dashboard,
which pulls data from the sales modules (OE and/or POS), Inventory and AR to
display in a comprehensive dashboard, with users able to display sales summary,
sales by product or sales by customer. This sales dashboard allows a user to
quickly monitor their revenue status through multiple views and options by glimpsing
at their current sales and historical trends. The Single Point Server add-on
option, available for one to four users, can keep multiple locations on track
by allowing all authorized users to access and share company data.

CMS Professional 2011 POS allows multiple transaction types to be entered
from the same screen so special orders and discounts can be easily processed
at the same time as the regular order. Multiple pricing for all inventory items
is available and can be assigned using price type, such as list, margin and
markup, with alternate pricing also available.

The optional Multi-Location Inventory module easily handles multiple warehouse
management. CMS Total eCom is available for retailers who wish to easily integrate
their web store transactions into their back office accounting data. CMS Professional
2011 POS will also easily handle catalog and mail order products.

SPECIALIZED FEATURES/SERVICES:
Utilizing the integrated eCommerce add-on, CMS Total eCom, automatically adjusts
inventory when online sales occur. The eCommerce function also offers four hours
of website creation and shopping cart design to add online sales to existing
brick and mortar stores. The system accepts multiple tender types including
cash, check and credit cards. Debit cards can be accepted, as well.

Using CMS Professional 2011 POS with POS Back Office makes it easy to lookup
customer information, including a comprehensive customer transaction history,
aged analysis and credit/collection information. Retailers can track customer
purchases and reward return customers with special pricing and product discounts.

TRACKING/REPORTING:
With the addition of the Cougar Dtails, A Sales Dashboard, CMS makes a significant
enhancement to its reporting capabilities. A wide range of POS reports includes
reporting for cash receipts and credit card receipts. A Promotional Sales report
highlights sales activity for all promotional products. The optional add-on
product, CMS Professional 2011 POS R&R ReportWorks8 Infinity, allows for
creation of custom reports based on the criteria set by the user. Selected reports
can be exported to a CSV file for easy customization in Excel. The Snapshot
Reports provide quick reporting options such as vital statistics like 10 best
and worst selling products. Real-time integration with other CMS Professional
products means automatic updates and current data in all reports.

The Inventory module easily tracks product movement so a business will always
know which products are selling and which are not. Inventory sales can be tracked
by month or by year, revealing which products may need to be replaced or removed.
Dashboards provide excellent business financial and sales management analysis.
The audit trail report provides a complete listing of system transactions including
a user ID, description and account posted to.

INTEGRATION/IMPORT & EXPORT:
CMS Professional 2011 POS integrates with the CMS Professional suite of products
for complete front/back office functionality. Add-on modules are available for
integrated shipping options for both FedEx and UPS. The Data Exchange feature
allows easy import from database or spreadsheet programs, along with export
capability to a variety of file formats including MS Access, FoxPro, Paradox,
Excel and other ASCII file for-mats. CMS POS offers easy integration with numerous
hardware peripherals, including credit card readers, cash drawers, pole displays
and barcode scanners.

HELP/SUPPORT:
Cougar Mountain Software provides an excellent Help system. The Software Assurance
Plans offer maintenance releases, service packs, access to the FAQs knowledgebase,
and basic e-learning. Product documentation for all recent product versions
is available on the Customer Service Center website, as are software updates
and patches. Customer support is available during regular business hours and
is available by telephone or email. All CMS support is handled from the vendor’s
Idaho-based headquarters. The vendor offers a variety of on- or off-site training
solutions, and e-learning videos are available.

SUMMARY & PRICING
CMS Professional 2011 POS for a single-user starts at $845 and includes the
Software Assurance Plan. POS with Back Office starts at $1,934. CMS continues
to offer a solid, reasonably priced product, and is an excellent choice for
small to midsized retailers who want a solid POS product with an outstanding
back office system.

2010 OVERALL RATING: