Groupon Announces ‘Gnome’ – A New iPad-Based Point-of-Sale System

Groupon has announced Gnome, their new point-of-sale system that integrates with the company’s popular daily deals. The iPad-based system offers payment processing, in addition to customer management tools for merchants that offer Groupon deals.

Groupon News Release:

“Gnome is an amazing piece of technology that plugs our merchants into the Web and helps them form relationships with every customer that walks in their front door,” said Eric Lefkofsky, CEO. “When it’s complete, Gnome will serve as an operating system for merchants to run their entire operation and enable them to create real-time promotions that bring customers into their business when they need them the most.”

Groupon says the system will allow customer instantly recognize their Groupon customers as they enter their establishment, seamlessly redeem Groupons, and save time and money with a simple point of-sale system and credit card payment processing service.

Groupon has plans for Gnome to integrate with popular accounting software packages, including Quickbooks, and offer a complete suite of customer relationship management tools.

Highlights of Gnome will include:

• Bluetooth Groupon Redemption – Automatically redeem Groupons using Bluetooth technology or search for customers by name, Groupon barcode or voucher number. Customers no longer have to present a printed voucher or even show their mobile device.
• All-in-one Cash Register – Everything local businesses need to operate more efficiently and deliver outstanding customer service—log cash transactions, accept credit and debit card payments, print or email receipts, calculate multiple tax rates, manage menu items, view transaction history and issue refunds.
• Customer Relationship Management – Customize marketing campaigns using customer purchase history and preferences. Gnome also lets merchants share customer feedback via Facebook and Twitter and enables one-click email response to solve customer service issues as they happen.
• Accounting Software Integration – Gnome integrates with popular accounting software programs Quickbooks and Xero, providing merchants with a convenient and hassle-free way to upload their sales data for bookkeeping and taxes.
• Simple, Customizable Point of Sale – Gnome comes with preloaded menus and inventory lists for the most popular types of local businesses, enabling merchants to start running their systems within minutes; merchants can also add, scroll and search thousands of menu items.

According to Re/Code, Groupon is charging 1.8 percent plus 15 cents for Visa and Mastercard transactions, along with a $10 monthly Gnome fee, for the POS service. 

Gnome is already being used  by select retailers with “tens of thousands” of merchants expected adopt the system in the coming months.

(Via MacRumors)