SOs looking to shed those extra equipment pounds and tone up their merchants might find the ideal product regimen in the latest technology from a software provider and hardware manufacturer that promises smart system weight loss.

Retailers have been spoiled for years and have grown equipment-heavy because of it. Where personal computer users have had to work their way through two and three newer and sleeker models in the past decade, older technology has performed adequately for merchants during the same period of time.

With average system lifespans of seven to 10 years, retailers weren't eager to change their infrastructure physique. However, those systems are coming to the end of their functionality, and retailers are putting out a call for streamlined systems with sales strength and profit potential. Two companies answered the call by pooling their respective hardware and software expertise - Wincor Nixdorf and ADS Retail.

For most retailers, their POS systems work off a dumb terminal - one computer acting as a window into the main server. It reads and sends information with no intelligence of its own.

If the server crashes, all terminals crash, and that means lost sales. Enter Smart Client - a system that adds intelligence, enabling terminals to capture data, hold it and finally transmit it when the server becomes available - compacted in the smallest and sleekest POS unit to strut the marketplace.

ADS Retail anticipated the inevitable end of overweight and overworked systems, having supported the old technology for years. ADS also realized that if it didn't move ahead of the curve, it would get left behind the new technology.

Twenty years of knowledge translated to software that rigorously responded to customer needs. However, these software architects knew they were building an application in need of hardware as well to take advantage of heretofore-unseen technology.

Wincor anticipated the same need and designed a thin client POS terminal called BEETLE. Where other companies offer thin client terminals, only one product can continue to function if disconnected from its main server - and that one is exclusive to Wincor.

ADS was the only software provider Wincor found that takes advantage of offline capability and fit seamlessly with Wincor's hardware technology. ADS software enables Smart Client to operate independently, and Wincor hardware provides the structure for Smart Client's independence.

While there appears to be no competition at the moment, both Wincor and ADS acknowledge that there soon will be. For the moment, ISOs can enjoy the opportunity to offer existing clients and/or new customers an exclusive product that has great sales appeal and style.

ADS and Wincor both are actively recruiting resellers for Smart Client. The cost of the system varies from customer to customer, depending on complexity of systems, special features and applications. ISOs can make individual arrangements for commission structures that depend on variables as well.

ISOs are welcome to contact ADS Vice President Doug Evans at 301-780-7600 or Wincor Director of Partner Alliances Ken Belanger at 401-823-9616. See the stats of Smart Client at www.adsretail.com or visit www.wincornixdorf.com