Solution Brief Intel® Architecture Processors Motion Computing* Tablet PCs Retail Industry Motion Computing Tablets Based on Intel® Processors Greatly Simplify Deployment in Retail The retail industry is taking a close look at mobile computing with the aim of improving the shopping experience, increasing sales assistant productivity, and simplifying inventory and back office functions, among other objectives. In fact, “tablet shipments have increased by 38 percent in 2013,” according to an IHL Group* study of North American retailers, titled: “Mobile POS: Hype To Reality.” Yet the study also indicates retailers are slowing down deployments in order to figure out how to better integrate the devices into their operation plans, explains Greg Buzek, founder and president of IHL Group, in an interview with Retail TouchPoints*.1 A major reason some retailers are struggling with deploying tablets is their decision to use popular consumer devices in the retail environment. What they are finding is that an intuitive consumer device does not translate into an easy-to-deploy device in a retail setting, where it is used for mobile point of sale (POS), price and inventory lookup, consultative selling, line busting, etc. The reality is that before a consumer device can be used in a retail environment, a number of things need to be done to condition it for the task. Many of these steps try to move the consumer device closer to the features available on Intel® processor-based systems running a Windows* operating system (OS): compatibility with most POS software and peripherals, world-class remote management, enterprise-grade wireless capabilities, PCI application support, and a computer capable enough to run a full retail suite. Motion Computing* has developed mobile (and only mobile) devices and full deployment solutions for a dozen years and has seen retailers implement mobility in many different ways. Their insights led to this solution brief on how retailers can avoid major challenges when deploying tablets. The reality is that before a consumer device can be used in a retail environment, a number of things need to be done to condition it for the task. Solution Brief Intel® Architecture Processors Motion Computing* Tablet PCs Retail Industry Little or Big Integration Effort? a Windows-based tablet capable of mistakes, slower transaction processing, running the existing retail software suite and employee frustration. If the frustration Retailers have made sizeable investments is likely to minimize the integration effort. reaches a peak, employees may avoid in physical terminals and peripherals, using the new mobile POS devices or even software, networking, enterprise On the other hand, retailers who select sabotage them. People instinctively resist information systems, IT expertise, training, tablets with an incompatible operating change, so retailers should carefully manage and support. Since pulling all these pieces system may need significant support from business process changes. The amount of together is a big job, it should be no surprise their retail software vendor to connect push-back to change is typically a function that integrating a new central element, like the tablets to their information systems. of the degree of change and how helpful mobile POS, takes considerable effort. Non-Windows tablets used for mobile the new systems are. POS could require new POS software, The amount of work involved often depends which adds cost, time, and complexity. IT Staff Skills on how compatible the mobile POS device There are also decisions to be made about For any tablets brought into the retail is with the current infrastructure. The integration, such as: environment, IT must have the expertise greater the departure from well-established to manage and maintain them, which infrastructure and business processes, • Less Effort: Allow the mobile POS to necessitates specialized training and/ the larger the integration task. In general, be a virtual island, not fully integrated or hiring. The integration effort will also deploying a consumer device in retail in the corporate infrastructure, or require IT skills related to the OS, and presents a big change when it cannot run • More Effort: Create bridge systems to these skills may not reside in-house unless the POS software or communicate with link the mobile POS to the rest of the the OS is already deployed on other systems and peripherals already installed infrastructure systems. Retailers shouldn’t assume that in stores. technical staff familiar with using popular An example of an island device comes The following describes a wide range of from a high-end restaurant that decided considerations when selecting a mobile to deploy a wine selector application on POS device. About Motion Computing* a consumer tablet. It wasn’t linked to the back-end system; and therefore, it was Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Motion Running Existing POS Software unaware of which wines were in stock. Computing* is a leading global provider Windows is a key component in the retail Customers would choose wines using the of tablet PCs and supporting mobility environment and continues to thrive, tablet, only to find out later they were solutions for vertical markets, including installed on 87 percent of POS terminals unavailable, so they had to go through retail, healthcare, construction, and field shipped in 2012, as reported by the IHL the wine list again, which detracted from service. Rugged, lightweight, and highly Group.2 Consequently, the majority of POS the dining experience. While printed wine mobile, Motion tablet PCs are designed for and back office software runs on Windows: lists can also be inaccurate, diners have a mobile professionals who require real-time tying POS terminals to headquarters; different expectation of electronic devices – computing at the point of service. Users collecting big data on every transaction; that the information is always up-to-date. can gather, access, analyze, and transmit supporting reward programs; and the critical information they need in order Business Process Impact monitoring inventory levels and shipments to be productive in today’s de-centralized Using non-Windows consumer devices automatically – all happening in real time. work environments. could pose issues for retailers forced to These Windows-based POS systems and deploy new POS software, which may not Motion offers a line of tablet PCs based POS applications deliver a lot of time- replicate established business processes, on Intel® processors and Windows* OSes, proven, retail-specific features, such as like how to accept a return if the product and when coupled with an array of tailored processing power, database integration, is now on sale. This means employees accessories and services, provides mobile remote management, multi-user need to be retrained to master different professionals with high levels of power, capabilities, as well as others. transaction flows for both cash wrap security, portability, and manageability. 5 Integration Effort stations and mobile POS. For a period of Customers report improved efficiency, When introducing a tablet to the retail time, there will be no experienced users accuracy, and overall performance while 6 environment, its operating system will available to quickly work through the saving time and reducing costs. Integrated have a large bearing on the integration transactional disparities since the mobile features, peripherals, software, wireless, effort. For retailers who already made large POS software will be new to everyone. and services come together to provide a investments in enterprise infrastructure, complete mobile computing solution for Introducing new POS software can much of it running on Windows, selecting vertical business environments. sometimes result in more transactional 2 Solution Brief Intel® Architecture Processors Motion Computing* Tablet PCs Retail Industry consumer devices at home translates into OPOS and JPOS, wireless support (e.g., Wi-Fi Many consumer devices do not have expertise in deploying and supporting them and BT), and USB for cabled peripherals. effective lock-down modes, which means in-store. employees can get into areas a retailer Motion Computing also offers does not want them in, even if third For these reasons, tablet PCs from Motion integrated retail accessories such as party MDM (mobile device management) Computing are Windows-compatible, 1D/2D barcode scanners and software is installed. Employees may allowing them to run nearly all retail encryption-capable MSRs. They are even try to download an unauthorized software suites and interface more easily integrated into the tablet housing so application or change other settings. to the store’s computing and networking as to retain the ruggedness specs These same people would not be able to infrastructure. needed by retailers while delivering manipulate the settings of a traditional a uniformly professional look to cash wrap station, but popular consumer Reusing Retail Peripherals complement brand image. devices are easier to infiltrate. Some retailers also have peripherals, like Locking Down the Mobile POS Since consumer devices are often printers, PIN pads, and cash drawers, that designed to be single-user devices, can only be accessed using Windows drivers. Device lockdown refers to a capability enforcing policies for sharing devices Since a consumer device running another that prevents employees from modifying with different categories of employees OS will not be able to communicate