Futura back in Hamburg: Our central location is now at Harburger Binnenhafen. More on page 9

2017

IN THIS ISSUE

Look into Futura 2017

S.02: Table of Content

S.03: Popken Fashion Group – Mobile Sales Assistant

S.04: BIRKENSTOCK – Verona and Madrid with POS software from Futura

S.05: Futura4POS - Points at the Checkout

S.06: Futura – Your Service Provider

S.07: FuturERS – RFID Fully Integrated

S.08: Futura4Retail – Powerful Management System

S.09: Lovisa – Expanding with Futura Australia

Imprint

2017

As part of EuroShop, Egbert Renken, Director of IT Operations at the Popken Fashion Group, gives an insight into the joint development of the Futura4- SalesAssistant tablet solution. Under the title “Virtual Colleague in Deployment,” Renken reports on the idea behind the mobile sales assistant and on experiences in its use within the omnichannel company’s stores. The Popken Fashion Group has around 500 of its own Ulla Popken and GINA LAURA stores in Germany alone. The solution Futura4SalesAssistant was developed in close cooperation between Futura and the Popken Fashion Group and, in 2016, was awarded the Gold Seal by the retail journal, which named it as a Top Retail Product.

Tuesday, 7 March 2017, 12:30-13:00 at the Omnichannel Forum, Messe Düsseldorf, Hall 6/109

With seven topics, Euro 2017 Shop is presenting factors within the retail landscape as experience dimensions. Experience the Retail Technology/EuroCIS dimension with Futura. From 5 – 8 March we will be present with our solutions at Messe Dusseldorf which will be a venue for questions such as: Which innovations profitably expand horizons? Is shopping becoming an interactive high-tech experience? And which technologies need omnichannel? Visit us over a 100m2 area, take a look at our future-oriented solutions up close, and speak with us about your individual requirements and questions.

Our central themes are tablets as sales support in-store and the design of complete omni-channel systems which include POS, merchandise management and partner systems from the web and logistics.

POS checkouts are becoming multi-talents, integrating various payment systems and managing loyalty programmes. The Futura POS solution Futura4POS is characterised here in particular by the latest modular technology and is fully prepared for coopera-tion across sectors with systems such as SAP or Microsoft.

But even in terms of what is classically required of a retail management system, you are in good hands with us. Using sophisticated methods of product management or planning, Futura’s merchandise management can tap unused potential. This is confirmed by successful customer projects.

Our solutions are complemented by services from our partners FASHION CLOUD and e-velopment. The e-commerce and commerce-platform e-velopment presents solutions for shipping and logistics that have been successfully deployed by Futura customers for years. Also with us at the stand is FASHION CLOUD, the online platform for sharing marketing material and product data about numerous fashion brands amongst trade partners. FASHION CLOUD closes the gaps that may arise in an omnichannel system or in a web shop due to missing content. (See also the report in this issue.)

We look forward to seeing you – in Hall 6, Stand A45!

Futura4SalesAssistant at the Popken Fashion Group

Egbert Renken, Popken Fashion Group, Head of IT Operations

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Retail Technology as an Experience Dimension

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New opening in Verona with Futura4POSBei der Eröffnung des ersten BIRKENSTOCK-Shops in Italien setzte das deutsche Traditionsunternehmen auf Soft- ware von Futura. In Verona sollte die Kassensoftware Futura4POS im brandneuen BIRKENSTOCK-Store zum Einsatz kommen. Nach einem kurzfristig anberaumten Workshop im Hause BIRKENSTOCK begann das Futura-Team sofort mit ersten Abstimmungen und Datentransfers, konfigurierte die Systeme Futura4Retail und Futura4POS und konnte mit einer Vorlaufzeit von kaum mehr als drei Wochen den geplanten Eröffnungstermin halten.

Proven performanceThis was followed by the opening of another shoe store with Futura4POS, this time in the Spanish capital Madrid. Meanwhile, the major restructuring of retail IT in the company is still in progress. „When choosing Futura, the country-specific expertise, the operational readiness and the efficiency of the company were of importance to us.“ And that was what Futura demonstrated with the rapid shop opening in Verona. You will soon be able to find out about how the collaboration between BIRKENSTOCK and Futura will continue after the projects in Verona and Madrid on our homepage (references/customer stories).

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Everyone knows them: In recent years, the BIRKENSTOCK sandals with the anatomically formed cushion have developed into catwalk-quality „must-haves“. BIRKENSTOCK, a traditional company, has accelerated into top gear in a short space of time. With approximately 3,800 employees, it is one of the top five global footwear brands. As one of the best-known German brands worldwide, BIRKENSTOCK, with its quality products, is now also expanding into company-owned stores.

cooperation with

• Manufacturing and worldwide distribution of shoes, Headquarters: Rahms (Neustadt/Wied)

• Production locations: Rhineland-Palatinate, North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse and Saxony

• Employees: 3,800

• Brand: BIRKENSTOCK

• In planning: Sleeping systems and natural cosmetics

• www.birkenstock.com/de

BIRKENSTOCK GMBH & CO. KG (HOLDING)

“The right product at the right place at the rig

ht time at the right price!

For this goal, we want to continue

placing the best possible tools at our

customers’ fingertips. The focus for me is also on strengthening the re

tail

industry via digitisation and more intelligence i

n-store.“

Vanjo Wandscher, CEO

Christian Jürs, CSO

Reinhard Hopp, COO

“The issue of digitisation should be an integral

part of business strategy in retail.

It is important to me that retaile

rs find an individual and authe

ntic way that best

suits them and their possibilities. It start

s with a coordinated transformation

process which combines the efforts and projects of individual departments.”

“Critical to the success of retail techno

logy is successful interplay o

f systems.

Networking opportunities throughout enterprise

software are a particular conce

rn

to me. At the end of the day, it comes down to making it possible for the end

customer to have a consistent an

d positive shopping experience.“

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These include:

• The balance of open items on the Futura4POS in store: When necessary, a customer’s outstanding bills are queried on demand at checkout. Customers who bought on account can settle at the checkout if they wish.

• Collecting loyalty points: Loyalty points are accumulated, for example, with every purchase made via a personal account. The customer can use his/her credit as payment at the Futura4POS.

• The two-person rule: This feature is based on the cashier registering with his/her own password. If it was determined that a higher authorisation level is needed for certain cash register features, then an alert is displayed. The two-person rule can now also be set up for returns, cancellations, discounts and assortments.

• Tax-free shopping: A new feature makes tax-free shopping possible for EU-based corporate customers and for diplomats. VAT is then deducted automatically.

• The personalised cash drawer: The personalised cash drawer is also new. The sales staff create a login or logout slip (receipt with barcode), taking their cash drawer with them and logging this on again by scanning the ticket at another workstation.

• Promotions and discount logics: Here, an extensive range of possibilities for the formation of discount groups and other campaigns is available. It is also possible to define a hierarchy of deductions, e.g. first employee discount, then promotional campaign. Entirely according to the needs of the store.

• The modernised FAS dashboard: The dashboard makes it possible to take a glance behind the scenery of the FAS application, directly at the master data. It shows, for example, which checkouts still have receipts that have still not been processed.

• Automatic updates. Updates to the POS system Futura4POS can be installed centrally and distributed to all connected systems.

You can discover more about Futura4POS and other features of modern POS software from your contact persons in sales or by calling +49 (0) 40 570103-112

Features:

Dunja Stumpfe can boast over 20 years’ experience in retail management. Very early on, she focused on POS and ERP introduction projects and on the introduction of customer card systems in various product sectors. Since 2013, the vivacious retail expert has been part of the Futura team, and since 2014 a Futura4POS product owner.

Dunja Stumpfe: “At Futura, I can let my many years of retail experience with a wide variety of ERP and POS products be incorporated into our solution. Since I’m a big fan of our customers, my goal is to make our customers into fans of Futura.”

The development of the software solution for the POS should thus adhere closely to the needs of retailers.

„This year, for the first time, we are planning to carry out a product workshop with participants from our customer base, product developers, project managers and sales staff. Together, we want to collect ideas and suggestions on how we can adjust Futura4POS to current demands even better. I‘m looking forward to this exciting joint project.”

You can get the exact date from our website: futura4retail.com/de/academy/workshops.

POS Project for Customers

Dunja Stumpfe (45), Futura4POS Product Owner.“I look forward to meeting you personally at our product workshop”

New and improved features are available right now for our POS system Futura4POS.

The proven features include:• Stock balance display• Click & reserve• Curated shopping• Price changes• Stock transfers• Goods requests

to headquarters• Call-back• In-store reservation

Newly implemented:

» Connection of the Futura4SalesAssistant to the merchandise management system Futura4Retail

In this way, the customer search, registration and processing (including customer cards, sub-customers, customer-specific needs) can be carried out using Futura4SalesAssistant on the Windows tablet.

» Bonus points for data acquisitionCustomers can start collecting bonus points simply by registering the customer data with the Futura4SalesAssistant. There is an extra point for each piece of contact information.

» Workflow engine for the creation of individual print forms and the automated sending of emails

An automatically-generated email confirmation is sent after the registration of a customer. A PDF file, also individually designed (e.g. a welcome voucher),

can also be attached. The notification for collection of an item that was requested by the customer in the store on the Futura4SalesAssistant also takes place via an automatic email.

In planning:

The next goal of the developer is the complete transformation of stock transfer processes.

In addition to the initial stock transfer, the goods requests from the headquarters and requests from other branches will be controlled via the Futura4SalesAssistant. This is followed by a stock transfer confirmation and a direct entry in Futura-4Retail. Thus, these processes can be carried out on the tablet separately from the POS.

New from

As your software provider, Futura is also your service provider. You already know our services, which include workshops, installation and constant further development of programmes, and a help desk for support. But there are also special requirements that arise from the needs of different customer groups. We have taken this as an opportunity to develop specific service packages that are used in target-group specific ways and can be booked if required.

EDI Support PackageFutura connects itself at to your system regular intervals, checking the consistency of EDI data. Possible discrepancies/errors are uncovered. Your EDI environment is thus “clean” and you will be relieved of routine tasks that often cannot be regularly carried by the user due to time issues

Update Flatrate PackageThis package will initially focus on our FuturERS customers. With the Update Flatrate, you get the assurance that we will install a new programme version for you at least once every year. Our service team will proactively contact you and clarify the extent to which the system requirements allow the update or what improvements may be necessary. This ensures that a secure operational environment is always available, with current software and hardware calibrated to it.

Flatrate Scanner Rental PackageYou define in advance how many inventory scanners you need, and when. Futura informs you with plenty of time before the deadline, does all the technical preparation of the scanner and ensures timely delivery of the device.

FAS Support PackageFutura carries out proactive monitoring of FAS communication. A distinction is made between central FAS and branch FAS. Checks are performed on all documents, any registered error messages, log data and whether your POS are online of offline. Smaller irregularities are resolved directly if possible. The customer receives a status notification each week

Package Prices and Conditions Pricing depends on parameters such as GLNs (with EDI care), the number of branches and/or POS or number of required scanners.

Please ask for an individual quote, including a detailed specification: Stephen Schultz, Head of Service, stephen.schultz@futura4retail.com

Futura-Support

Effectiveness via Service Modules

Stephen Schultz, born 1974, has worked as Head of Service at Futura since 2013. He has, among other things, brought the new service package to life. A short interview:

What are your responsibilities at Futura?My general tasks are the management of the service team at headquarters in Hamburg-Harburg and at the Horgen site (Switzerland) as well as overall support and management of training at Futura. In addition, I act as a point of contact and escalation level for customer issues of any kind.

Do you have a personal motivation, a personal concern?The strategic focus of my work is mainly on organisa-tional stability. My personal motivation as a member of the management team is to be able to deliver the necessary impetus for continued sustainable growth of the company within the infrastructure of Futura, which has grown over many decades. A personal concern for me is to maintain respectful communication at all levels, with what are sometimes very different personality types. One must understand the goals, motives and concerns of the other party to have good cooperation without any major problems.

What can Futura customers expect from the support team?From our professional service team, our customers can expect specialist expertise, an innovative approach to consultation and an orientation around solutions. We benefit in this area from our years of experience in the context of enterprise resource planning systems and POS software, offering tailor-made support services for our customers based on our international expertise. We attach especially great importance to working closely with our customers to ensure optimum usage of the products. Discretion and integrity are as much a part of our self-image as the pursuit of steady improvement in the quality of our services.

Futura-Support

Interface with the Customers

Stephen Schultz (42), Head of Service: “One must understand the goals, motives and concerns of the other party.”

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FuturERS Supports Complete RFID Expiration

Good news for FuturERS customers: as of version 3.34, the existing RFID integra-tion has been significantly expanded. All information about the RFID features used is stored in FuturERS’s own tables without middleware, where it is available for evaluation purposes.

RFID supports the payment process, whereby up to 90% of the previous scan time can be saved depending on the selected logging mode. As a substitute for conven-tional article surveillance processes, ceiling antennas are used as a single antenna or in combinations of multiple antennas to detect the item and log it in the FuturERS database. In the case of an alarm, a visual and/or audible notification occurs. The configuration can be expanded, for instance with a customer frequency counter.

Subsequent Item LabellingGoods not tagged by the supplier with EPCs can still be registered like a tagged label using an RFID label. This ensures that this subsequently labelled item is assigned a unique serial number and is seamlessly integrated into the EAS process.

In addition, MDE integration makes available features such as inventory, goods received, stock transfer and return to vendor. Advanced features such as area monitoring can be integrated with tablet support on the sales floor.

Another part of the ERS-RFID solution is the dashboard; this bundles information on everything in the store, displaying it in compressed form.

Integration of RFID into the EDI CycleInformation regarding tagged items is done by suppliers, who provide DESADVs. The data is inputted directly into FuturERS and is thus available for the individual RFID features. This means that the article surveillance antenna can examine goods even before goods receipt is complete.

For more information contact: Rüdiger Hulla, Head of Project Management, ruediger.hulla@futura4retail.com

» The highlight is the complete RFID integration into FuturERS (see report on this page).

» In addition, the EDI area has been developed further. In addition to RFID connectivity, there is also advanced EDI functionality and support for the new eBiss 3 converters from Pranke.

» For timely implementation of the statutory requirements, we are currently preparing for delivery of the software, taking into account the new cash policy in Austria, which must be strictly adhered to from 1 April 2017.

» Other enhancements and additions will arise within the framework of fiscal rules for the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Portugal and Russia.

» Due to customer requests, we have also integrated the Wirecard-Giftcard interface.

One more technical note: new installations of stores will no longer be carried out with Paradox, but rather in the Absolute database format.

Futura Academy Current seminar dates are planned for the end of April 2017 and will be published with a written invitation and within the seminar section of our website: www.futura4retail.com/Academy

FuturERS – Making Good BetterThe ERS update days will be delivering exciting content along with release 3.34.

The store dashboard provides compressed information about the store. It is part of the RFID licence.

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The new retail management system is more powerful. With its full 64-bit capability, the server ca- pacities are fully exploited and overall improved performance is achieved. The structured and automated Futura4Retail pro-cesses save time in planning and in daily retail manage-ment in the fashion industry. The new or enhanced fea-tures include:

• Support for repeat orders: NOS administration has been linked to goods control. This provides enhanced capabilities

for calculating the optimal order quantity and it can generate automatic order suggestions.

• Easier ordering with a new order form: Where there are more stores or a large store group structure, it is possible to register orders more easily.

• Time saved via crossdocking: Via goods control, store orders can be automatically created through a central warehouse. For incoming goods, distribution proceeds as per the order,

or redistribution can occur.

• Clear supplier conditions: Central mapping of all conditions and special agreements, centrally for each supplier. Additional discount agreements can also be automatically included in the order.

• Automation of picklists: Picklists can now be created via automation or via alert management. The employees in charge will be informed by the system.

• Use of price ranges: Price ranges for planning and statistics are available, based on price characteristics (low, medium, high) and the threshold values entered.

• Visual evaluations: The dashboard is now integrated into Futura4Retail. So you have your business at a glance!

• Updateable workflows: Workflows created individually by companies are simply included within updates as of Futura4Retail 6.6, without any separate export procedure.

• Advanced search: When searching for something like “open orders,” relative time entries are also possible. If, for instance, it is necessary to search for orders which arrived more than 10 days ago, this is possible

without entering a date and can be done with a regular search query. Here, it also makes sense to create a link with automated alert management.

• Review of order response (EDI): The order confirmation is compared to the actual goods received, differences in quantity and price are listed and possible actions are suggested.

• Current open-to-buy limit: During the order process, the sum still outstanding is directly shown for purchase Planning.

• Individual store clustering: Orders can be initiated automatically for all stores within a cluster (e.g. “all big stores”). For this, various branch delivery times are set,

or differentiated according to summer or winter.

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We have a new address: Harburger Schloßstraße 28 in Hamburg.

Our new headquarters is the Channel Hamburg at Harburger Binnenhafen, which is how the southern high-tech area of the Hanseatic city is referred to. We’re convinced that this is also the right place for the further development of innovative retail software. And it feels a little like a homecoming. Ultimately, the roots of Futura go back to a computer store, located back in 1975 in the Bleichenbrücke, near the Inner Alster Lake. Back then it was possible to create a second income with software development for customers with mainframe computers. With a finger on the pulse, the IT specialists and programmers developed the first ERP system for a rapidly expanding fashion retailer from Scandinavia.

After 15 years in a self-owned company building in Stelle, close to Maschen, the new premises of the system house are easier for customers, interested parties and new applicants to get to, due to the S-Bahn and proximity to the university. “The central location in Hamburg-Harburg with excellent access to public transport will further increase our attractiveness as an employer. With the proximity to the Technical Univer-sity of Hamburg, we also get the ability to directly demonstrate the opportunities for young professionals at Futura,” said Futura CEO Vanjo Wandscher. Another argument for the move was the option on this site to expand beyond the initial 900m2. To give you an impression of our new location and the maritime environment, we have put together some impressions for you.

Futura Retail Solutions AG

Harburger Schloßstraße 28

21079 Hamburg

Germany

Tel.: +49 (0) 40 570 103-0

Fax: +49 (0) 40 570 103-499

Mail: info@futura4retail.com

Web: www.futura4retail.com

Futura Software AG

Seestrasse 227

8810 Horgen

Switzerland

Tel.: +41 (0) 44 / 925 35 00

Fax: +41 (0) 44 / 925 35 36

Mail: infoCH@futura4retail.com

Web: www.futura4software.ch

Futura4POS international

Our colleagues Down Under"

The Futura team in Chatswood (near Sydney) enjoys plenty of praise from its Australian customers. For example, David Barker, Managing Director Australia from BASLER says: “It is vital that any POS supplier has good support, the Futura team in Australia are always quick to respond and resolve any problems quickly.“ From left: Matthew, Sujan, Mike, David, Craig.

New Location in an Old Home

C

Futura has been represented for over 20 years at the Down Under site, developing into a market leader in Australia and Oceania. Since last year, Futura Retail Solutions Australia Pty Ltd has been introducing the modern POS solution Futura4POS. The pilot customer is Lovisa. Since the beginning, the fashion jewellery company has put its faith in Futura. Since its inception in 2010, the retailer of sparkling accessories has been working with the proven retail software. With technology and expertise, the Futura team in Australia stood shoulder to shoulder with the expanding jewellery retailer in its rapid growth. Graham Wilson, IT manager of Lovisa, assessed the current partnership with Futura CEO Craig Downing with corresponding positivity: “Opening nearly 250 stores in 8 countries in the first 5 years of a company’s life is ambitious; however we were able to achieve those goals and more through our partnership with Futura. I cannot endorse Craig, Mike and the Futura team enough.”

Within a few years, Lovisa has expanded with its stores from Australia to New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa and the UK, and is represented with franchise stores in Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman and now in Vietnam.

Futura Australia

Since summer 2016, the Futura customer Lovisa has been selling fashionable jewellery in Vietnam, too. At the POS, the omnichannel checkout Futura4POS offers checkout staff an interface in the local language, taking payments in Vietnamese Ðông (VND). Today, Futura4POS supports 30 different languages. Ðông (VND).

POS software to expand operations