SPORTING GOODS RETAILERS: MICROSOFT DYNAMICS RETAIL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (RMS) HELPS YOU KEEP A LEAN INVENTORY, BUILD CUSTOMER LOYALTY FOR PEAK PERFORMANCE

Keeping your sporting goods business in top condition means you'll need a lean, fast-moving inventory and cost-effective relationships with suppliers. You also need the power to serve customer needs—whether you're responding to special orders or processing transactions at top speed.

Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System (RMS) gives sporting-goods retailers momentum to help compete effectively. Easy to install and use, this flexible, affordable point of sale (POS) solution helps you manage all aspects of your inventory with pinpoint accuracy.

Among other things, you can:
 

	Manage a large range of inventory items—with ease. Keep track of every item—from basketballs and racing bikes to clothing. You'll know their warranty requirements, and you can track and manage hard goods, soft goods, and non-inventory labor codes. Make better buying decisions based on inventory records.
	Keep customers and employees happy with fast item lookups. Speed checkout processes and deliver specialized customer service.

7 KEY BENEFITS FOR SPORTING GOODS RETAILERS

1. IMPROVE INVENTORY MANAGEMENT
 

	Work with matrices in up to three dimensions, such as size, color, and brand.
	Manage multi-dimensional inventory requirements with easy-to-use matrix forms.
	Locate items quickly by searching on the supplier reorder number.
	Simplify inventory tracking of serialized items with up to three unique serial numbers per item.
	Use aliases to expedite item lookups by supplier part number, universal product code (UPC), or abbreviated nicknames.
	Quickly identify inventory replenishment based on reorder point/restock level or quantity sold.
	Upload item costs to headquarters when cost information changes at the store level.
	Create purchase orders that reflect the matrices you set up within your system.
	Export purchase orders to Office Excel and Office Word for easy customization and viewing in a matrix grid format.

2. GIVE YOUR CUSTOMERS A GREAT SHOPPING EXPERIENCE
Your sales clerks can process complex transactions more quickly and accurately—which pleases customers. They'll also have access to complete customer information and buying histories that helps them sell more effectively.
 

3. IMPROVE EMPLOYEE PRODUCTIVITY
Jump-start productivity with a solution that's easy to learn and use, and lets you maintain tight control over information and inventory to protect data and reduce theft.
 

4. USE CUSTOMIZABLE MANAGEMENT TOOLS
Get help managing every aspect of your store. In addition to automating the POS and inventory, Microsoft Dynamics RMS lets you set up pricing levels and promotions the way you want.
 

5. GET QUICK, COMPREHENSIVE REPORTS
Microsoft Dynamics RMS has more than 100 reports with extensive formatting options so you get the information the way that makes sense to you.

Stay on top of performance with accurate, timely data about sales, profitability, inventory, and customers. Know exactly what's selling best, who's buying, and when. Decide on a dime what to buy or mark down, and track return on investment (ROI) for marketing initiatives. Do analysis by department or category, too.

Here are a few examples:
 

	Easily export data to Microsoft Excel for viewing and analysis.
	Generate sales and inventory reports that help make it easy to decide what to buy or mark down.
	Track ROI from your ads, mailings, promotions, sales, and discounts.
	Preview, print, or export data in multiple formats.
	Add logos and graphics for formal reports.

6. GET BENEFITS OF CENTRALIZED INFORMATION
Want to send financials to your accounting program? Or sell through an e-commerce storefront? Microsoft Dynamics RMS can help.

Built on the latest Microsoft technologies, this integrated solution keeps information moving smoothly across your entire business and connects easily with other applications, platforms, and peripherals, such as the Microsoft Office system. The solution:
 

	Works with the Microsoft Office System, making it easy to create and deliver communications that connect you with your best customers.
	Can be integrated with legacy systems, accounting or financial software, Electronic Draft Capture (EDC), credit card services, and e-commerce storefronts—with the help of a Microsoft partner and third-party solutions. It also can be integrated with all your business channels—in-store, catalog, phone, and e-commerce—to provide a superior customer experience. You can ship and track orders online.
	Manages accounts receivable and trades summary POS data with popular accounting software to eliminate double entry.
	Uses EDC to integrate with leading credit card services to reduce fraud and keyboard errors.
	Smoothly integrates Web sales from multiple sites with the help of a Microsoft partner and a third-party application.
	Uses the POS as a data collector for back-end Electronic Retail Planning/Customer Relationship Management (CRM) applications. You can also work with a Microsoft partner to set up your system to enable personal digital assistant (PDA) and mobile/wireless stations.

7. GROWS WITH YOUR BUSINESSES
You can help protect your investment and keep the same software and systems as you pursue chain-wide success or simply grow into multiple stores and retail channels with Microsoft Dynamics RMS. Here are a few things to keep in mind: