Sage Software, Inc. — Sage Accpac ePOS 5.3

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From the November 2005 Review of Point-of-Sale Software

Sage Accpac ePOS is a point-of-sale program designed for small to mid-sized retail stores. Accpac ePOS can work in a single location or can be deployed across a network of remote locations.

EASE OF USE -- 5 Stars
The first step is to install Sage Accpac ERP (formerly ACCPAC Advantage Series), one of the vendor’s high-end accounting software offerings. Once this is completed, ePOS can be installed. This is a sophisticated business management application, so using an experienced network administrator to assist with installation is a good idea.

Two screen options are available for register users: the standard register screen and the simplified screen. The standard screen contains a menu bar at the top that will access system functions such as File, Report, Functions, Options and Help. The main body of the register screen contains four tabs: Main Screen, Customer, Item and Layaway. Also available are options to enter, create or edit customers and inventory items. The simplified screen, primarily designed for scan-and-bag environments, contains a menu bar and a ten-key pad, with a key to finalize sales. Payment totals are listed at the top of the screen, and a list of items being purchased is displayed on the left side of the screen.

Items found under the File menu option are self-explanatory, such as Cash Out, Process All Outstanding Transactions, Online/Offline, and Enable/Disable Cash Drawer. Keyboard shortcuts are available for all POS functions such as automatic discounts.

MODULES/SCALABILITY -- 5 Stars
As previously noted, ePOS is designed to work in conjunction with the Sage Accpac ERP business management application. Modules of Sage Accpac ERP include GL, AP, AR, System Manager, Multicurrency, Payroll, Purchase Order, Inventory Control, and Order Entry. Additional modules available include Sage Accpac CRM, Sage Accpac eTransact (which can assist in creating a Web store), Sage Accpac Insight (which delivers business intelligence to enterprise-wide data) and the Sage Accpac Warehouse Management System (which helps in automating and tracking inventory activity).

Sage Accpac ePOS uses a web interface that supports remote retail locations, so all store sites have access to real-time inventory totals. Sage Accpac ERP is available in three editions, which provides an easy upgrade path: Sage Accpac ERP 100, 200 and 500 (formerly ACCPAC Advantage Series Small Business, Corporate, and Enterprise editions, respectively). Sage Accpac ePOS supports both Windows and Linux operating systems at the server end. Database support includes IBM DB2, Windows SQL Server, Oracle and Pervasive SQL.

FEATURES/FUNCTIONALITY -- 5 Stars
Sage Accpac ePOS 5.3 contains numerous changes, upgrades and enhancements. New retail functions include a customer loyalty tracking program that monitors customer purchases by either inventory item or purchase total. The enhanced offline transaction processing system lets you process a high volume of transactions at a faster speed. The returns, exchanges and layaways process has been simplified for quicker completion. You can also sell gift cards and certificates, and then later track those purchases using the gift card and gift certificate report.