What did you miss?

Well, in addition to exciting new features to standard Futura ERS, Futura’s new POS solution was unveiled in Reading last month to leading lifestyle retailers at our UK user forum. Database and operating system independent, Futura4POS works seamlessly with Futura’s Enterprise Retail System, but is equally at home with other standard ERP platforms such as SAP.

Futura4POS

Using an entirely modern, Java based, IT architecture, Futura4POS delivers what progressive lifestyle and fashion retailers need, especially brands looking to expand and trade internationally. A next step up for many Futura customers, the focus is on real time data anywhere, all in a robust and secure POS solution – one of the most affordable and feature rich solutions available today.

Omni-Channel Integration

Futura4POS is designed for true omni-channel trading and will allow consumers to Buy, Reserve and Return items cross-channel, Research Online but Purchase Offline; Purchase Online but Return Offline as well as both Click and Collect and Click and Reserve.

Faster customer service

By improving Search at the till, Futura4POS helps you search items and customers with Google-like ability, see live Stock from all branches and capture customer details straight to Futura’s CRM-System. It’s also great for Mobile POS! What’s more, this new functionality makes it simpler and easier for you to process returns and complaints. Find out more here about Futura4POS.

New Version Changes

In tandem with the new platform, Futura remains fully committed to continued development of its existing and well proven Futura ERS solution.  Already we’ve improved navigation and POS security to help minimise shrinkage and you can now Receipt Reprint from multiple tills in store and take returns from a different branch.

With tablets on the shopfloor you can now include Mobile POS and for overseas customers, the new payment system Union Pay card (popular with Chinese customers) is supported and for tax free shopping the system allows you to give VAT refunds. Meanwhile overseas branches can trade in a foreign currency rather than having to become “franchises” to simplify administration.

New developments that were particularly well received include an easier to use screen to capture customer data, a new customer capture wizard and a new postcode look-up function to find customer data faster, in turn minimising customer duplication and queues at the till.  To read more and download the latest  update document in full click here.

Better, more accessible reporting & analysis

Other exciting new developments include a new suite of Business Intelligence (BI) tools designed to make essential business analysis faster, more accessible to a wider range of users and more intuitive. Futura4Analysis will be enhanced with links to the Qlik® Sense platform – changing what has been a very specialist function into one that multiple departments can take advantage of. Announcements on Futura plug and play reports, a new BI Dashboard and other developments will follow – look out for further updates during 2015.

Futura4Data – faster uploading of information

Improvements to the Futura4Data module now allow you to import XLS, CSV or text information quickly and easily into Futura with improved validation. The new functionality will help you save time while increasing accuracy and there’s even an automatic import tool to help you to import transactions from a concession. From this summer, Futura announces that you can use Futura4Data to import and export stock and sales information into Channel Advisor to facilitate e-commerce for all.

Combine this with more building blocks on the way for full omni-channel retailing, as well as retail EDI and other developments and Futura is definitely not standing still.

To keep up to date the Futura blog is always a good place to start so make sure you are signed up, and of course for further information on any of the above don’t hesitate to contact us.