Microsoft Dynamics AX for Retail

The Microsoft company presented a specialized set of the solutions Microsoft Dynamics AX for Retail focused on networks of retail stores in August, 2010. Deliveries of a packet of Dynamics AX for Retail began in 16 regional markets, including Europe, North America and South Africa at once, within several coming months the product will appear in 22 countries of the world.

The main advantage of the Dynamics AX for Retail system created based on the Axapta platform from the point of view of networks of retail consists in a full integration with other solutions of Microsoft. This technology is focused on retail networks of average scale, offering such specialized functions as control of the layout of goods (merchandising), integration into cash registers, management of a warehouse and control of supply chains (logistics).

The Dynamics AX for Retail system offers the role mechanism for the organization of individual interfaces for each user – each employee sees the data view depending on the role in the organization. Microsoft partners can use the designer of models for completion of interfaces which then can be unrolled on all shops and warehouses.

Developers of a packet Dynamics AX for Retail showed to the partners and potential clients the mechanism of so-called "points of loyalty" (loyalty points). Such points provide automatic receiving discounts when the client enters the data with the help of the touch screen or a special card – recognition of personal data is executed in real time.

Retail is highly competitive business, success in which directly depends on buyers and on their loyalty. According to Rosstat, in the first half of the year 2010 the income of the population grew by 5.2%. However, as many analysts and retailers note, most of consumers did not recover from crisis now that considerably changes their behavior. They began to buy less, to look for discounts and sales more actively, and some began to give preference discount centers, but not to specialized shops, etc. Besides, new trends in a consumer behavior are noted now. So, the lack of time at the modern person forces it to look for more convenient options of shopping. The buyer needs individual approach and a possibility of the choice of the sales channel today. The customer loyalty is not defined only by the price and goods availability and services any more. Now the satisfaction of needs of buyers requires a combination of all factors in the course of purchase. Retailers should monitor these changes to understand what of them will turn into real models of consumer behavior, and taking into account it to plan and adjust the activity.

Microsoft Dynamics AX for Retail allows to conduct assortment planning and procurements in a single system that gives the chance to control purchases and to optimize investments of the company into trade inventories and also there is an opportunity to automate subsorting of goods between the central warehouse and shops several times in one day thanks to ready integration of FO|BO. Having detailed statistics of sales and a commodity remaining balance in one system, both on separate shop, and on all network, retailers will be able to foresee emergence of deficit or overstocking and to make decisions at once on all supply chain. Automation of purchases allows to understand real cost value by types of goods that gives more exact information for pricing, including sales promotion.

Microsoft Dynamics AX for Retail includes the following modules:

• Control of the cash equipment (POS terminals): the dedicated components of the POS terminal integrated into Microsoft Dynamics AX for retail ensure full-function functioning, including on management of payments, returns, the nomenclature, programs of loyalty, etc. The possibility of setup of the role user interface allows to consider specifics of each outlet.
• Management of shop: this module in which all information on work of specific shop is consolidated offers ample analytical opportunities. On their basis it is possible to create the internal reporting under results of activity of shop and also, relying on information arriving from the central office, to show the current rating of shop in retail network as by the selected parameters, and assessing a situation in general.
• Logistics management of shop: the module integrates procurement processes and sales with logistics management and a warehouse. It provides permanent synchronization with information on logistic flows of the central office that is relevant for planning of goods items.
• Management of the central office: in this module all information which is necessary for daily operating activities of the company, including up-to-date data about all logistic and financial flows gathers.
• Merchandising: the module offers ample opportunities of the analysis of purchasing amounts, accumulative discounts, special or monthly rewards programs, the special prices of "happy hours", sales of joint products and so forth, helping to create competitive prices.
• Marketing: offers "single window" in which all information connected with marketing campaigns is consolidated.
• Scheduler: this module is intended for setup of rules of synchronization of data between the central office and shops, including cash registers. It allows to minimize load of network at data transmission.
• Basic functionality for management of finance, commodity material flows, customer relations, personnel and other spheres of activity of the company in full accordance with requirements of the Russian legislation in the field of conducting the Russian accounting, tax accounting, payroll calculation and preparation of all operational documentation and the regular reporting.

2018: Integration with NCR SelfServ Checkout

The Columbus company in February, 2018 announced solution integration of Microsoft Dynamics AX for Retail POS with cash desks of self-service of NCR SelfServ Checkout. Consolidation of opportunities Microsoft Dynamics AX for Retail POS and functionality of NCR SelfServ Checkout is intended to help visitors of shops to make purchases without queues, and to retail chain stores — to increase operational efficiency and customer service quality. Read more here.