AroKandela, a Japanese aroma products manufacturer, relies on retail stores, online sales, local events and trade shows to distribute their products to a wide audience. Their sales teams use the Toshiba Portégé® Z20t 2-in-1 detachable PC running Windows 10 Pro to set up a secure, portable Point of Sale (POS) system, anywhere, in a matter of hours.
Business situation
Typically, customers want to experience the aroma of a new, scented candle or sachet before purchasing. This presents a challenge to AroKandela’s efforts in acquiring new customers: how can they bring in new customers when their online store lacks that sensory experience and building a vast network of traditional stores is cost-prohibitive?
“Our brick-and-mortar locations are highly successful, but, sales are still geographically limited to the people in the region. We are looking to reach new customers in new locations in the most cost-effective way possible,” said Kotomi Ebersold, owner, AroKandela.
The retailer discovered a solution in trade shows, but unfortunately, they encountered a new hurdle. “Mobility was difficult,” said Yusuke Deguchi, Director of Marketing at AroKandela. Sales teams were traveling to these events with clunky cash registers with poor battery life that were difficult to set up. The sales teams had to bring two or three extra power sources to make it through the day. The previous alternative was an old-fashioned cash box, which made it difficult to track the sales performance of the products and aromas sold throughout the day.
Solution
AroKandela replaced its burdensome cash registers with the Toshiba Portégé® Z20t 2-in-1 detachable PC. Now, the retailer’s sales teams can set up at trade shows quickly and securely. The entire operation is run on a single Portégé® Z20t, providing them with a secure POS system and access to their customer tracking system and the online site for complete inventory.
“Essentially, the Portégé® Z20t 2-in-1 with Windows 10 Pro is a sales and trade show booth management system in a box,” said Ebersold. “We can come in, set up quickly and be ready to take orders immediately. The set-up is intuitive and fast, and the battery life lasts an entire day. Everything we need now is on one lightweight notebook that we can take anywhere.”
Benefits
The Portégé® Z20t enables AroKandela to set up shop in any location, provide customers with a flexible shopping experience and complete sales transactions with confidence in their data security. As a result, they can reach more customers, sell more products and build brand loyalty that extends to their brickand-mortar locations and online sales.
Retail in a box
With the Portégé® Z20t 2-in-1 with Windows 10 Pro, AroKandela’s sales teams have access to all the applications they need, including Square Point of Sale (POS), Freee (Accounting), and shipping applications from Kuroneko (Yamato Transport) and Sagawa Transport, no matter where they need to set up shop. Sales associates can now take orders and conduct transactions on Square and use Windows Ink to sign for credit card payments directly on the screen.
At events, customers who wish to join the store’s mailing list can handwrite their contact information using the Wacom digitizer pen and Windows® Ink. Their handwriting is automatically recognized, and the information is dropped directly into AroKandela’s customer tracking system, thus avoiding the need for AroKandela’s staff to manually enter the information afterward.
“We can make transactions faster and easier for our customers with the pairing of the Portégé® Z20t and Windows 10 Pro,” said Ebersold. “And hopefully, those improvements translate into a terrific customer experience and increased sales.”
Flexible experience
The flexibility of the Portégé® Z20t 2-in-1 detachable PC supports AroKandela by providing service to customers in innovative ways that were not possible in the past. For example, when a customer asks about a product that is not on display, a sales associate can detach the touchscreen display, turning the laptop into a tablet, and guide the customer through the store’s complete inventory on AroKandela.com. The bright, clear HD display gives customers a quality digital experience that complements in-store offerings and samples—helping shoppers find their perfect candle.
Data security
As a retailer, AroKandela needs to ensure that its customers’ credit cards and personal information are secure. With Windows 10 Pro, comprehensive security is built in. Security features, including antivirus, firewall and anti-phishing technologies with ongoing updates, help safeguard against current and future threats. BitLocker®, only included in Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise, encrypts and protects the device even if it is lost or stolen—a necessary feature when traveling between locations. Also, the Portégé® Z20t comes with a locking mechanism that locks the tablet onto the keyboard dock with a special switch, making it immovable.
“As small business owners, we wear many hats. It’s not unusual for us to be heading the sales teams at events, while at the same time staying on top of our day-to-day management and production responsibilities,” explained Ebersold. “With the Portégé® Z20t, we can securely access all the software and information we need to keep our business running smoothly without missing a beat when we’re on the road.”
Toshiba Portégé® Z20t
- 2-in-1 detachable PC High-Resolution display with Full HD support 1080p for amazing color, clarity, and contrast
- DTS Studio Sound™ for the best immersive surround sound experience ever offered from videos and music
- Wacom® digitizer with 2,048 points of sensitivity for advanced levels of handwriting recognition
- Business Connections—VGA, DVI, HDMI®, RGB, Ethernet LAN, USB Ports with Sleep & Charge and a bridge media adapter
- Toshiba’s EasyGuard® Technology—built into all Tecra® and Portégé® business laptops—for an added blanket of protection and convenience to help you go mobile with confidence
- 3-year standard warranty with extended warranty offers available
- Touch, swipe, pinch and zoom with the 10-finger multitouch display
- Premium magnesium alloy chassis, shock-absorbing design and a unique honeycomb reinforcement structure for increased rigidity and durability
Windows 10 Pro
- Windows 10 Pro provides you the powerful essentials you need with comprehensive, built-in and ongoing protection.
- BitLocker®: BitLocker®, only included in Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise, encrypts your data on your device and even on your USB drive, so you’re more protected.
- Windows® Update for Business: Windows 10 Pro keeps itself up to date with market-tested security updates and new features to keep your system current for the supported lifetime of the device.
- Windows® Ink: Quickly turn thoughts into action with the power of Windows® Ink.
- Pen and Touch: From traditional keyboard to voice, pen, touch and gesture.
- Tablet Mode: Use your laptop like a tablet.
