Company News • 17.02.2012

Innovation Offensive – GK Software AG Presents New Solutions for the Future of the Retail Trade at the EuroCIS

GK Software AG is using this year’s EuroCIS fair in Düsseldorf to present a variety of new solutions that will help shape the current changes in the fields of mobile processes, channel integration and interaction with consumers.

The retail sector currently faces an enormous quantum leap in the use of technology, which is mainly being powered by the rapid and more widespread use of new classes of devices like smartphones and tablets and the rapid development of the mobile Internet. GK SOFTWARE AG views itself as an active driving force in new technologies and this surge of innovative ideas and is presenting many new developments from its extensive Business Suite for the retail trade at the EuroCIS and some enhancements of existing ideas too.

The retail world is turning mobile – iOS solutions for POS units without any compromise
One highlight at the fair will be the latest development of the leading POS solution made by GK SOFTWARE AG under the iOS operating system, which has already been in productive use at Parfümerie Douglas since 2011. The software is available in native forms on iPhones/iPods and iPads and handles every till process that is used on stationary systems. It is fully integrated and can map the complete payment process. GK/Retail Mobile POS permits new dimensions in customer services regardless of whether the customer is located inside or outside a store.

StoreWeaver EE – mobile merchandise management on an iPad too now
Another central exhibit at the GK SOFTWARE AG stand is the current version of the StoreWeaver Enterprise Edition, which is able to completely handle store merchandise management processes with a direct link to an SAP central system. An iOS variant of the mobile component will be on display at the fair for the first time too; this will enable corporations to handle merchandise management processes on a mobile iPad in a much clearer way. Fully integrated in the SAP components like SAP Netweaver, SAP POS DM or Instore MIM, StoreWeaver EE provides mobile process support for all the store processes online and offline and Store Device Control for the direct end-to-end integration of the store’s complete peripheral equipment. These software components are being used in EDEKA’s Lunar Project, among others, and are being directly marketed by SAP under the “SAP Store Device Control by GK” and “SAP Mobile Offline Store by GK” names.

Integrated mobile self-scanning and checkout software on consumer smartphones
New dimensions in customer services are available as a result of an integrated software solution for mobile self-scanning and mobile checkout operations and these will be on display at the EuroCIS for the first time in conjunction with our partner corporation, valuephone. This allows registered customers to check in at a store with their smartphone and then scan their basket of goods during their shopping session. They can finish their shopping activities at the checkout point directly in the app, receive their receipt and can then open an appropriate gateway, for example, The innovative slim solution therefore links up self-scanning, checkout services, mobile couponing and mobile payment on the consumer’s device and can be seamlessly integrated in the stationary POS system and an all-round mobile marketing concept.

Full retail banking solution including cash handling
GK SOFTWARE AG is opening a complete Postbank branch for the duration of the fair together with its business partner, Postbank. This will demonstrate how classic banking business can be handled with a software package, which is based on GK/Retail POS. The functions available in the field of retail banking are particularly interesting for the retail sector; they allow companies to handle cash withdrawals, payments, savings book entries or enquiries about the balance in an account during the normal sales process. The whole process operates within GK/Retail and not in a separate system. Even the cash handling facility – for both notes and coins – is fully integrated in GK/Retail. This reduces costs for obtaining cash and increases the level of security in this sensitive area.

High-end software for PC-based scales
The GK/Retail Business Suite now has a fully integrated solution for open PC scales called Open Scale. This enables retailers to efficiently operate various types of scales made by different manufacturers with the same software as their tills, prevent any isolated solutions within their stores and use dual vendor strategies without any compromise. Open Scale has been certified for use by the relevant testing body.

The entire GK/Retail Business Suite in a new Design
At the EuroCIS the whole GK/Retail Business Suite is presented for the first time in a new look & feel. In a close cooperation with the most experienced GUI designers all GK/Retail modules from mobile devices and POS systems to the back office went thru a complete redesign. This enables the leading solution for all store operations a state-of-the-art graphical user interface in all components to satisfy even the highest ergonomic demands.

Perfect software solutions for all the challenges in a store
The partner company valuephone will also be presenting its products designed to make direct mobile customer contact in a comprehensive manner at the GK SOFTWARE AG stand. valuephone is one of the first providers in the world to put into productive operation a 360 degree marketing solution including mobile couponing and mobile payment at major retailers, and it has, for example, developed the consumer apps for Netto Marken-Discount and EDEKA. Together with IBM, there will also be a fully-integrated version of GK/Retail POS on display at an IBM self-checkout.