Retail technology is complex and retailers are diverse. Often, many different platforms and retail applications are at work within one store. Integration of all these systems is key to improved efficiency for both users and support staff. Applications built using Objectives for Retail share the same architecture, allowing them to access the same databases and business functions. The underlying standards-based architecture of "OFR" delivers the ability to integrate with legacy systems and share information across platforms.

With Objectives for Retail, you can quickly implement alternative point-of-service applications such as Point of Sale, e-commerce, kiosk and gift registry. These applications can all share the same architecture, the same functions and a similar look so that the customer experience is the same regardless of the application used.

Applications built using Objectives for Retail are readily customizable through the use of our interface designers and wizards. The object-oriented platform allows new functionality to be added with the development of new objects. This means that Objectives for Retail will meet your business needs well into the future.

The benefits of Objectives for Retail will have an immediate impact on your organization, your customers and your users:

• Affordable customized applications - no need to conform to off-the-shelf software.
• Roll-out applications fast - new applications can take one-tenth the time of traditional custom applications.
• Improve the customer's overall shopping experience by providing consistent business objects, components and data across all service touch points.
• Multiple applications on the same Objectives for Retail platform means less cost to support, integrate and install business software.
• Risk-free technology that is already being used by retailers worldwide.
• Establish and maintain true differentiation from competitors.
• Standards-based: Objectives for Retail architecture is built to Microsoft COM/DCOM, ActiveStore and OPOS standards.
• Easy integration with existing systems and legacy applications.
• Encrypted and compressed data to ensure maximum speed and security over the network.
• Full support and documentation, including authorized training providers worldwide.
• Extensibility to add new functionality protects your investment.
• Bitmap and AVI support allows addition of multimedia sales tools and reference images at Point of Service.
• Familiar Windows™ look and feel translates to lower training costs where employee turnover is high.
• Built to the Unicode standard, ensuring rapid translation for global retailers.
• Data replication (available with certain configurations) ensures that applications will continue to function with a full product inventory in the event of server downtime.
• Architecture supports both fat and thin client structures to suit your business model and budget.

Cashiers or other employees using Point of Sale or Store Office applications will benefit from the intuitive and easy-to-use nature of applications built using Objectives for Retail. In an industry where employee turnover approaches 50%, this offers considerable advantages.

• Consistent look and feel, regardless of which retail application the employee uses (e.g. Store Office, Point of Sale, etc).
• Quick response time on product queries.
• Shortcut keys to selected functions to process transactions quickly.
• The ability to save a transaction and recall it later instead of re-entering the entire transaction.
• On-line, context-sensitive help.
• AVI and bitmap support for product identification or on-line, step-by-step help files.
• Controlled access to the Internet/Intranet to view staff bulletins, flyers or store news.