POSitively
Business! is a Microsoft Access-based
add-on package for use with the
company’s Business! Professional
or Business! Standard accounting
packages. It features a ‘mouseless
interface’ and support for
standard point-of-sale hardware,
such as scanners, light poles, receipt
printers, credit card scanners,
cash drawers and barcode printers.
All Microsoft Access source code
is included, so nearly anything
could be customized to meet specialized
needs.
EASE OF USE – 3 Stars
During installation, the workstation
can be installed as either a Cashier
or Administrative workstation. If
it is installed as a Cashier workstation,
the application goes directly to
the point-of-sale form after the
cashier logs into the system, preventing
the workstation from being used
for anything but a sale or return.
If the program is installed as an
Administrative workstation, the
Administrative Options window opens,
which has buttons for Point of Sale
(POS) and the other administrative
modules.
The POS sales entry screen has several
areas. At the top of the screen,
the current item being rung up is
displayed, and also provides for
editing the item in this area. On
the left side of the screen, a panel
displays a facsimile of the actual
printed receipt the customer will
receive after the sale is tendered.
Another panel below this area displays
summarized information about the
current item being rung up or other
summarized transaction information
such as total or change due. This
panel is called ‘customer
information,’ since it displays
the same information that displays
on an (optional) attached light
pole for the customer to see. A
panel in the upper right-hand corner
displays either the company logo,
or if set up, a picture of each
item in your inventory as it is
scanned into a sale. Also on the
right-hand side of the screen are
other panels for Cashier Information
and Total Amount, which keeps a
running total of the transaction.
As part of the ‘mouseless
interface,’ many function
keys have been defined that can
perform many different functions
within the POS module. For instance,
F2 provides access to the customer
list, F3 begins a sale, F7 displays
inventory, and so forth. Holding
down the Control key provides another
set of function keys to process
returns and other register activities.
Function keys are user-definable,
but defaults are pre-defined and
should serve most purposes. Throughout
the POS data-entry screen, all functions
can be performed without the need
to use the mouse at any point. While
the program does support barcode
scanning, no touch-screen support
is provided.
MODULES/SCALABILITY – 4 Stars
POSitively Business! can be used
as a stand-alone product (with customization)
or with fully integrated accounting
modules from the company’s
Business accounting products. If
purchased as a stand-alone product,
POSitively Business includes Point
of Sale, Cash Drawer Reconciliation,
Sales Analyzer, Barcode Printing,
Setup and Utility, and Reports.
Database Creations’ full accounting
suite (available in Professional
or Standard editions) includes Accounting,
Order Entry and Invoicing, Customers
and Receivables, Inventory and Suppliers,
Purchasing and Payables, Banking,
Reports, Company Setup and Security,
Utilities/Data Import and Export,
and Analysis Tools. Several other
optional modules are available,
as well. Of interest to POS users
would be the Credit Card Charging,
Barcode Printing (a standard barcode
printing program is built into the
point-of-sale stand-alone package),
Shipping Module for FedEx and UPS,
and Warehouse Barcode modules.
Three types of licenses are available
for POSitively Business! The single-user
license allows the program to be
used on one machine. A three-register
license is available for up to three
workstations for one company, one
location use only. The Developer
license allows you to customize
the program to distribute to your
clients. A separate client license
must be purchased for each additional
client to whom you distribute your
customized software. The program
uses the Microsoft Access database
engine, which must be separately
purchased and installed. The software
works best with a maximum of 12
to 15 simultaneous users at one
location.
FEATURES/FUNCTIONALITY – 4 Stars
POSitively Business! accepts an
unlimited number of payments by
cash, check, credit card, house
charge, credits and voids. You can
also enter manufacturer or company
coupons. The optional PCCharge interface
automates credit card transaction
processing.
The Analyze Sales function is an
interactive tool that provides real-time
sales detail. The screen has four
sections: Cashiers, Sales, Items
and Payments. You can filter the
activity to be viewed by register,
drawer, cashier, status and date
range. Each section of the form
lets you drill down to view additional
detail for the item displayed. A
report can be printed from this
screen based on the selected item
or all activity.
Database Creations also offers a
companion Warehouse Inventory System
that handles physical inventory
reconciliations, loading doc transactions
or transfers between warehouses
using portable data collectors.
Support is available for multiple
warehouses, which is also supported
within the Point of Sale module.
Barcode shelf labels, warehouse
labels and product labels can also
be printed to help coordinate warehouse
activities with the front-end retail
operation.
INTEGRATION – 5 Stars
As noted above, POSitively Business!
provides full integration with all
other modules from the company’s
full suite of accounting modules.
While the company offers numerous
third-party tools that enhance many
different functions, the primary
tools that are of interest to POS
users would be the PCCharge Pro
(for credit card processing), ShipRush
(UPS/ FedEx shipping tool) and Barcode
Fonts by Azalea. Since source code
is part of the package, nearly any
type of software integration can
be programmed, using third-party
developers or Database Creations’
own team of programmers.
TRACKING/REPORTING – 3 Stars
The Reports module provides access
to more than 20 reports for Sales,
Registers, Cashiers and Products.
Wherever appropriate, you can filter
the report by date range, cashier,
drawer and so forth. You can either
preview or print each report. Reports
include Check Payment Detail, Coupon
Inventory, Credit Card Payments,
Sales Payment Summary, Cashier Hours
Worked, Cashier Overage and Shortage,
and Products Sold by Cashier.
RELATIVE VALUE – 4 Stars
POSitively Business! provides core
functions for retailers that use
the company’s Business! Standard
Edition and Business! Professional
Edition accounting products. Database
Creations can supply compatible
hardware, and also offers software
customization services and support.
It is easy to use once you become
accustomed to the many function
key definitions. Licensing can be
purchased for single registers ($595),
or in a three-register pack ($795).
The company also offers a starter
package that includes the cash drawer,
light pole, keyboard, scanner, and
printer for $1,595. Other packages
are available that include the companion
accounting software, as well.
2004 OVERALL RATING: 4 Stars
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