Find the system that is right for your campus

A list of campus retail systems

Campus retail systems are unique

Every campus retail technology platform is listed below along with a way to reach them. We hope you take a look at every system as you run your selection process. These are big decisions. Ask for references. Take a demo. Get to know the teams that support these systems! We are all here (yes, us and our competitors) to help you research thoroughly and make the best decision you can.

HELLO
100% Web & Cloud
From their website:

"A modern full replacement retail solution for any campus store. Inventory management, reporting, eCommerce, POS, mobile POS, digital and physical course materials, campus data integration, financial aid, marketing, and more. The Hello POS is an end-to-end solution."
  • STRENGTHS
  • Single platform omnichannel design covers end-to-end retail management
  • eCommerce (real time)
  • Course materials management in every format including multi-vendor buyback
  • Revenue growth tools (facebook / instagram shops, sms marketing, inventory planning)
  • Real time support and training
  • Low cost and hardware agnostic with mobile options for pop ups, stadiums, food trucks, etc.
  • Modern and intuitive design
  • Real time updates across entire system, single database design
  • Flexible reporting
  • Fast and transparent implementation process
  • 100% Web, 100% Cloud, PCI compliant
  • WEAKNESSES
  • Must choose one of two available cloud secure credit card processing platforms (CardConnect / Clover or Shift4)
  • Must have network connection to process orders
Contact Hello
PRISM
From their website:

"An intuitive retail solution designed to focus on your business so you can focus on what really matters, your customers."
  • STRENGTHS
  • Long time in market
  • Course materials management in every format
  • Magnetic and barcode reading
  • Meal planning can help you run cafeteria operations
  • Student card integration
  • Mobile options available
  • Digital shelf tags available
  • Can process transactions offline with correct configuration
  • PCI compliant
  • WEAKNESSES
  • Proprietary hardware increases costs and maintenance, and decreases flexibility
  • Legacy data platform prevents real time updates across all product surfaces
Contact Prism
RATEX
From their website:

"VisualRATEX has been one of the leading solutions for independent college stores. The product of years of experience and knowledge, this feature-rich platform delivers the most comprehensive course materials solution available."
  • STRENGTHS
  • Long time in market
  • Course materials management in every format
  • Accounting features
  • Student card integration
  • Supplier EDI integrations
  • Multi-store capable
  • WEAKNESSES
  • On-premise infrastructure
  • Legacy data platform prevents real time updates across all product surfaces
  • Proprietary hardware increases costs and maintenance, and decreases flexibility
  • Older user interface / design
  • eCommerce
Contact Ratex
MBS
From their website:

"The MBS POS allows you to provide a customer-focused experience from the moment shoppers step into your store."
  • STRENGTHS
  • Long time in market
  • Customer loyalty program
  • Course materials management in every format
  • Improved access to workflows with Arc
  • Dashboard reporting
  • Buyback
  • Supplier EDI integrations
  • WEAKNESSES
  • On-premise infrastructure
  • Legacy data platform prevents real time updates across all product surfaces
  • Updates and maintenance
Contact MBS
NETSUITE
Highest Price
From their website:

"Modernize your campus bookstore experience with best-in-class omnichannel bookstore management system software."
  • STRENGTHS
  • Omnichannel design
  • Cloud based and real time
  • Oracle backed
  • Accounting and reporting
  • CRM capabilities
  • WEAKNESSES
  • Course materials management
  • Long implementation times
  • Less intuitive user interfaces
  • High entrance cost and maintenance cost
Contact Netsuite
TCS / ZUMASYS
From their website:

"SmartSuite by TCS is a fully integrated retail management solution that adjusts to your changing POS and inventory management needs."
  • STRENGTHS
  • Long time in market
  • General ledger
  • Course materials management in every format
  • Ability to process POS transactions offline
  • Dining and meal plans
  • Buyback
  • Campus integrations
  • WEAKNESSES
  • On-premise infrastructure
  • eCommerce
  • Legacy design
Contact TCS / Zumasys
RESERO
From their website:

"resero provides modern and comprehensive solutions to the higher ed retail market that offer unmatched, state-of-the-art technology, the most affordable costs, and responsive support and development."
  • STRENGTHS
  • Low cost
  • Course materials management
  • SmartLockers
  • Multi-store
  • Cloud based
  • Payment integrations
  • Integrated eCommerce
  • Campus integrations
  • WEAKNESSES
  • Less time in market
  • Less workfows
  • Support & service model
Contact resero
BOOKLOG
From their website:

"Empowering Bookstores Since 1983"
  • STRENGTHS
  • Smaller store configurations
  • Course materials management
  • Multiple credit card processor opions
  • Multi-store
  • Campus integrations
  • WEAKNESSES
  • Separate eCommerce module
  • System is not all-in-one; must pay for additional modules
  • Legacy data platform prevents real time updates across all product surfaces
  • On-premise infrastructure
Contact Booklog
SHOPIFY
Non-campus
From their website:

"Shopify is supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs, the world’s biggest brands, and everyone in between."
  • STRENGTHS
  • Largest eCommerce platform on earth for retailers
  • Easy to install and start
  • Sales and promotions
  • Reporting
  • Cloud based
  • Easy to update and modify information and websites
  • Good checkout experiene
  • Large community of users for support
  • WEAKNESSES
  • No course materials management
  • No campus data integrations
  • No financial aid
  • Not designed for campus stores
  • Higher transaction fees can become very expensive with volume
  • In-store POS is less common than eCommerce which is Shopify's speciaty
  • Must purchase many supporting add-on applications and ensure they play well together to make the system work in a campus retail environment
Contact Shopify
LIGHTSPEED
Non-campus
From their website:

"From timesaving POS tools and automations to insights that help you plan your next move, Lightspeed helps the world’s best businesses get even better."
  • STRENGTHS
  • Multi-channel, multi-location
  • Real time insights
  • Integrated eCommerce
  • Sales and promotions
  • Good in-store POS
  • 24/7 support
  • Cloud based
  • WEAKNESSES
  • No course materials management
  • No campus data integrations
  • No financial aid
  • Not designed for campus stores
  • Higher transaction fees can become very expensive with volume
  • Some legacy design makes it less intuitive
Contact Lightspeed
SQUARE
Non-campus
From their website:

"Work smarter, automate for efficiency, and open up new revenue streams on the software and hardware platform millions of businesses trust."
  • STRENGTHS
  • Largest in-store POS provider for small retailers and pop-ups
  • Easy to start
  • Simple hardware
  • Mobile & very flexible
  • Good in-store POS
  • Customer communication and feedback tools
  • Reporting and insights
  • WEAKNESSES
  • No course materials management
  • No campus data integrations
  • No financial aid
  • Not designed for campus stores
  • Higher transaction fees can become very expensive with volume
Contact Square
Hello is a 100% cloud, 100% web, end to end retail management system for your campus store. Retail POS, eCommerce, Inventory control, Reporting, Data integration to campus, with reporting to run end to end. Come take a look :)
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