Epson’s new PoS printer testing programme helps retailers ensure that a solution is precisely matched to their needs – before they purchase.

Over the past few years, PoS printers have come a long way. Once an important, but passive, component in the PoS system, the printer is today capable of playing a valuable active role in the sales and marketing process, as well as contributing to business efficiency and the bottom line. In fact, it is no exaggeration to say that choice of PoS printer is among the most important technology decisions facing today’s retailer.

But this decision is rarely, if ever, easy to make. Every business has different requirements, and specifying a product which meets them exactly can be a complex issue. The matter is further complicated by the wide range of printer technologies available from a wide range of vendors. Which is precisely why Epson has launched TESTEPSON, a no-fuss programme designed to help retailers and resellers select the right product and test their chosen solution in the field at no cost to themselves. The programme will also demonstrate the many benefits of using Epson printing solutions – benefits which are already enjoyed by a global customer base, including many UK household names such as Waitrose, Clarks, Spar, Londis and the Co-op.

TESTEPSON is simplicity itself to use. Distributors, resellers and retailers (in the UK) are all eligible to nominate a particular project to be considered for the programme, and applications can be submitted in a matter of minutes through a simple online process which can be found at www.pos.epson.co.uk/testepson. Epson’s highly experienced PoS printer team is on hand to advise applicants on the most suitable choice of printer for their application. Covering Epson’s comprehensive portfolio that includes colour receipt printers, mobile printers, multifunction printers, thermal printers and undercounter printers, TESTEPSON is a fast, easy – and extremely cost-effective – way to put a printer solution to the test.

“This initiative has met with unqualified approval from the market,” said Ray Cranston, Sales and Marketing Manager at Epson, “and an increasing number of retailers have already taken the opportunity to test one of our printers. Although many leading names rely on Epson products, we recognise that other retailers may be reluctant to make a major business decision on the basis of faith alone – they understandably want to evaluate performance for themselves. We’re very happy to help them do so, as we have complete confidence in our own technology.”

Whatever a business is looking for, from colour receipts and personalised vouchers, through stylish, fast, quiet and compact printers, to a fully-portable device that allows receipt printing on-the-go, TESTEPSON spells good news for those looking at investing in printing technology. By putting an Epson PoS printing solution to the test, retailers can now quickly and easily assess the operational benefits of their investment before actual purchase and deployment.

"Really testing Epson"

‘Test Epson’ is not just about testing our printers. We want retailers to test our whole offering – from the pre-sales support we provide, right through to installation and our continuing post-sales support. In recent years, many leading retailers have challenged us to meet their specific requirements and we have worked with them to modify both hardware and software to provide a solution. It doesn’t stop there. We are also confident that our distribution channel (Box Technologies, PC POS, ScanSource and PC Cubed) reflects the same standards of service and provides a consistently high level of support. The reality is you can ‘Test Epson’ from the moment you enquire to the moment you serve your customer, and beyond.

To meet the Post Office’s unique and challenging requirements we customised the Epson TM-J7100 so that it would seamlessly integrate with their existing host application. To support the business case, we worked closely with our partner Fujitsu to demonstrate an attractive Total Cost of Ownership.

When Barclays needed to refresh their installed base of Epson printers, we worked with them to identify a best fit replacement. Together we concluded that the Epson TM-J7100 was ideal and could be adapted to give the flexibility they required for the future.

Following the installation of hundreds of our TM-H6000 printers at Waitrose, we were complimented for our ongoing support by Mike Cordrey, Senior Programmer, Retail Infrastructure Systems Team, “Every supplier should be like this. The printers are extremely reliable, and we rarely have a problem with them. When we did have a problem, it was quickly found and fixed, and now no-one really notices the printers because they just ‘work’!”.

more about TM-J7100

more about TM-H6000

more about choosing a PoS printer

more about TESTEPSON