Apple, Old Navy Testing POS Systems: Report

As point of sale (POS) systems move farther into the mainstream consumer shopping ecosystem, Apple blog 9 to 5 Mac reported Gap-owned apparel store Old Navy is testing out the devices. The report was confirmed by a Gap, Inc. spokeswoman, who told the blog the company was indeed piloting the iPhone-based POS system at a handful of Old Navy retail outlets.

The device spotted in use at Old Navy was described by the blog as an “Apple PoS system … rebranded ‘ZipCheck’ for third parties”, which uses a modified iPod with barcode scanner to speed checkout procedures. The platform, originally called EasyPay, is already in use in select Apple stores around the country. The blog also features a photo of the iPod payment device in use: The picture shows a customer apparently signing for a purchase using her finger.

Apple argues most retail businesses — especially those that aspire to grow — can benefit greatly from the tools that a good retail POS system provides. “The general rule of thumb is that every retail business with gross annual sales of $250,000 or more needs a retail POS system in order to run efficiently and be competitive,” the company’s POS solutions Web page claimed. “A retail POS system is a good choice for any owner or manager who spends too much time on back-office activities instead of out front talking to customers, selling, learning what shoppers are looking for, providing customer service, and generally ‘minding the store’.”

For more, read the eWeek article: Apple Testing POS Systems at Old Navy Stores.