December 19, 2018
IHL determines company positions on each axis by identifying and evaluating not only market strength and market share, but also growth, direction and resilience, including factors like revenue trends, customer satisfaction, commitment to research and development, and unified commerce capabilities. For both General Retail and Food, Drug and Convenience segments, GK Software earned the highest placement on the growth, direction and resilience axis. IHL Group also ranked the company fourth in worldwide retail POS revenue with $114 million POS revenue in 2017.
“The POS software market is rapidly growing as retailers expand to account for unified commerce,” said Jerry Sheldon, zVice President, IHL Group. “Although many of the world’s best-known vendors are competing for POS market share in the U.S. and globally, GK Software differentiates itself with a robust solution suite designed for the future demands of high-profile retail accounts and an exclusive vendor agreement with SAP. Its market share, focus on innovation and continued revenue growth should position GK Software as a notable market force for years to come.”
GK Software’s point of sale solutions, including Omnichannel POS and Mobile POS, allow retailers to more effectively blend together brick-and-mortar sales with digital commerce. What’s more, GK Software offers a highly flexible deployment, whether offline, on-premises or in the cloud.
“As retail channels become less distinct and consumer demands continue to evolve, retailers need vendor partners that provide robust, scalable and flexible solutions that help them adapt,” said Michael Jaszczyk, CEO, GK Software USA. “At GK Software, we’re dedicated to creating solutions that go beyond the baseline of omnichannel commerce, and our ranking in IHL’s report validates our efforts.”
GK Software’s omnichannel solutions will be on display at NRF’s Big Show, on Jan. 13-15 in booth #3267.
In der IHL Insight Market View Positioning Map wurde GK Software im oberen Quadranten für POS-Software und Software as a Service (SaaS) im gesamten Einzelhandel sowie in den Segmenten Einzelhandel allgemein, Lebensmitteleinzelhandel sowie Drogerie- und Convenience positioniert.
IHL definiert die Unternehmenspositionen auf jeder Achse, indem neben Marktstärke und Marktanteil, auch Wachstum, Richtung und Widerstandsfähigkeit des Unternehmens identifiziert und bewertet werden. Dazu kommen weitere Faktoren wie Umsatzentwicklung, Kundenzufriedenheit, Engagement für Forschung und Entwicklung und Unified Commerce-Funktionalitäten. Sowohl für den allgemeinen Einzelhandel als auch für die Segmente Lebensmittel, Drogerie- und Convenience erreichte GK Software die höchste Platzierung auf der Wachstums-, Richtungs- und Widerstandsachse. Laut IHL Group belegte das Unternehmen mit 114 Millionen US-Dollar POS-Umsatz im Jahr 2017 auch den vierten Platz beim weltweiten POS-Umsatz im Einzelhandel.
"Der POS-Softwaremarkt wächst rasant, da Einzelhändler expandieren, um Unified-Commerce zu ermöglichen", sagte Jerry Sheldon, Vice President, IHL Group. "Viele der international bekanntesten Anbieter konkurrieren um Marktanteile im POS-Markt in den USA und weltweit. GK Software unterscheidet sich durch eine robuste Lösungssuite, die für die zukünftigen Anforderungen von hochkarätigen Handelsunternehmen aufgestellt ist sowie durch den exklusiven Resellervertrag mit SAP. Der Marktanteil, die Fokussierung auf Innovationen und das weitere Umsatzwachstum sollten GK Software in den kommenden Jahren als einen der wichtigsten Player im Markt positionieren."
Die POS-Lösungen von GK Software, einschließlich OmniPOS und Mobile POS, ermöglichen es Einzelhändlern, den stationären Verkauf mit dem digitalen Handel effektiver zu verbinden. Darüber hinaus bietet GK Software ein hochflexibles Deployment, ob offline, on Premises oder in der Cloud.
"Da die Vertriebskanäle immer mehr zusammenwachsen und sich die Anforderungen der Verbraucher weiter entwickeln, benötigen Einzelhändler Partner, die robuste, skalierbare und flexible Lösungen anbieten und die ihnen dabei helfen, sich anzupassen", sagt Michael Jaszczyk, CEO, GK Software USA. "Bei GK Software widmen wir uns der Entwicklung von Lösungen, die über die Grenzen des Omnichannel-Handels hinausgehen, und unser Ranking im Bericht von IHL bestätigt unsere Bemühungen."
Die Omnichannel-Lösungen von GK Software werden auf der NRF's Big Show vom 13. bis 15. Januar am Stand 3267 präsentiert.
September 14, 2018
GK Software announced today that Forrester Research, a leading global research and advisory firm, rated SAP Omnichannel POS by GK as a "leader" in its latest report, "The Forrester Wave: Point of Service, Q3 2018". The report ranked SAP as the POS provider with the strongest current offering. The report also noted that SAP has the strongest overall presence in the market with a perfect 5.00 in this category, which includes installed base, implementation scale and geographic deployment.
GK Software, which offers its own suite of branded omnichannel solutions worldwide, is the exclusive omnichannel POS provider for SAP. The report found that the Omnichannel POS by GK delivers a compelling omnichannel retail capability and highlights client references stating that "the POS team is well structured and delivers functional well-tested software." GK Software's Omnichannel POS is an integrated piece of SAP's Omnichannel suite for retail, and it allows providers to more effectively blend together brick-and-mortar sales with digital commerce. Combined with SAP's Omnichannel Customer Experience tools, it provides a coherent and personalized experience for consumers and retailers alike.
Forrester emphasizes that leading POS vendors excel at exploiting "...new capabilities to provide both mobility and secure distribution of enterprise data and logic for resilient offline trading." SAP Omnichannel POS by GK contributes to this experience as an important component of the SAP Commerce Cloud. The entire solution enables retailers to optimize their IT landscape while offering consumers a consistent and uncomplicated shopping experience in every channel and at every touchpoint.
"With the increasingly complex network of shopping channels available to consumers, retailers are finding robust omnichannel solutions to be an essential part of their sustained growth potential," said Michael Jaszczyk, CEO, GK Software USA. " Forrester's recognition of GK Software solutions sold by SAP validates the strength of GK's product suite and value of its service offerings."
- GK OmniPOS, TransAction+ and Mobile Customer Assistant enable the grocery retailer to improve customer service across all channels
Raleigh, NC - July 31, 2018 - GK Software, a global leader in omni-channel retail, today announced that Hy-Vee, an employee-owned retailer operating more than 245 stores in eight Midwestern states, will deploy GK Software's next-generation store systems, including OmniPOS for omni-channel POS, Mobile Customer Assistant (MCA) for mobile app self-scanning and the TransAction+ payment solution. By selecting GK Software, Hy-Vee will have the ability to use a single platform to support a variety of customer touchpoints, including traditional point of sale, self-checkout, mobile check-out solutions, payments, click and collect e-commerce and more.
Hy-Vee is recognized as a leader in technology innovation and excellent customer service. As a progressive and forward-thinking retailer, Hy-Vee demanded a POS system that would allow the company to be responsive to its customers and business, especially in an industry that rewards those that can move and implement changes quickly. GK Software is uniquely capable of delivering the level of functionality, flexibility and service Hy-Vee requires for its current and future projects.
"In today's ever-changing retail environment, we recognize the need to deliver a cohesive customer experience," said Luke Tingley, Senior Vice President of Information Technology, Hy-Vee. "By integrating software that will allow us to deliver innovations at a greater pace, we are better equipped to provide our customers with an outstanding experience."
Hy-Vee will take advantage of GK Software's next-generation store systems, which are designed to deliver the most innovative and flexible retail tools, including the following products:
- OmniPOS - highly flexible platform providing real time omni-channel retailing services across all store touchpoints for leading global retailers.
- TransAction+ - adaptable and configurable payment processing solution.
- Mobile Customer Assistant (MCA) - mobile app providing a variety of services on Hy-Vee customers' smart phones, including Self-scan.
GK's advanced capabilities and functionalities will provide the following:
- Fast and seamless integration with Hy-Vee's existing infrastructure;
- Solution extensibility that empowers Hy-Vee to innovate on top of the GK platform;
- Agile and flexible platform architecture that can easily adjust and grow with Hy-Vee's evolving business needs.
"We are excited to work with Hy-Vee as the company continues to push the boundaries of cutting-edge customer service and technology," said Michael Jaszczyk, CEO, GK Software USA. "With GK's solutions, Hy-Vee will be able to seamlessly access every functional element across all touchpoints in the store, allowing the retailer to innovate faster and better serve its customers, while staying at the forefront of a competitive and constantly changing retail landscape."
- Strong growth in the GK/Retail core business (+23.3 percent)
- EBITDA one third higher than in the previous year
This development was mainly achieved by a significant increase in licensing and maintenance revenues. At EUR 1.34 million, EBITDA was almost one third above the previous year's figure of EUR 1.0 million.
Based on these results and the sales opportunities for the rest of the financial year, the Management Board continues to expect the company to be able to increase its turnover in comparison with the previous year in line with expectations; and it is standing by its forecast for the year 2018 and the medium term, as published in the last financial statement.
- Growth of 11.1 percent to 49 million EUR in the first six months
- EBITDA reached 2.39 million EUR
For the second half of 2018, the management board expects a continuation of the turnover growth and a significant increase of the profitability, because excellent sales opportunities exist and catch-up effects are expected. According to the good positioning on the market is the valuation of SAP Omnichannel Point-of-Sale by GK as leading product of POS-solutions by Forrester Research (Source: The Forrester Wave: Point of Service, Q3 2018). This also corresponds with the acquisition of two new customers in the USA after the end of the second quarter, after a major customer in this world's largest retail market, Hy-Vee, had already opted for OmniPOS in the first quarter.
Based on the results achieved, the existing distribution potential and the significant improved efficiency in the US-business, the management board continues to assume that the turnover will increase as expected for the remaining business year. It is continuing to stand by its forecast for the year 2018 and its medium-term forecast as published in the financial statement for the year 2017 without making any changes.
The report for the first six months of the year will probably be published on 30 August.
- Turnover continues to increase (+13.6 percent)
- Eight new customers during the first nine months
On the basis of these results and the sales opportunities for the remainder of this financial year, the Board continues to assume that the Company will be able to further increase its turnover in comparison with the previous year. This expectation is based on the sales opportunities that are being processed and on work that has been performed during the past nine months, but has not yet been entered as turnover; nevertheless, the conditions for this will exist during the 4th quarter. The Board is standing by its short-term forecast for earnings in 2018, but would point out that meeting it will depend on achieving individual sales success stories during the current financial year. The medium-term forecast up to 2020 is being maintained without any change.
The nine-month report was published today at the following addresses:
German: https://investor.gk-software.com/de/veroeffentlichungen/financial-reports?task=download&cid=646
English: https://investor.gk-software.com/de/veroeffentlichungen/financial-reports?task=download&cid=647
- Completes the portfolio by adding solutions for mobile customer loyalty
- valuephone solutions already completely integrated
The latter has been developing market-leading solutions for mobile customer loyalty since 2006, with about 35 employees most recently, and several large customers make use of them. The solutions provided by valuephone GmbH have already been sold by GK Software SE since the beginning of 2017. SAP has also been making them directly available using the "Hybris Mobile Consumer Assistant by GK" name since 2017. One major international retailer decided just at the beginning of 2018 to deploy the solution in several countries in southern Africa. The valuephone software is already seamlessly integrated within the GK range of solutions and its support structures. By completely taking over the company, GK Software acquires the complete rights and can strengthen its expertise in the field of mobile consumer apps and the associated cloud background solutions. At the same time, the GK portfolio of products for the retail sector is complemented by this important area for modern store solutions.
valuephone GmbH generated turnover of approx. EUR 2.2 million in 2017. The parties have agreed not to disclose the purchase price in the low single-digit millions. The Management Board at GK Software SE is only expecting low integration costs because of the long-standing, close partnership with valuephone GmbH and the fact that the software is already fully embedded in the GK range of solutions. In the light of the valuephone results from the previous year, the Management Board does not believe that it is necessary to adjust its forecast for 2018 or its medium-term forecast.
- Turnover reaches EUR 90.5 million, medium-term forecast for 2018 almost met
- Significant growth in cloud turnover
- Another significant project gained in the USA in Q1 2018
Turnover increased by 17.0 percent to a figure of EUR 90.45 million (EUR 77.33 million in the previous year). It was therefore possible to almost meet the target for this key performance indicator early; this had not been expected until 2018 in the previous medium-term forecast. In terms of the EBIT, the stabilisation process from the previous two years continued to be consolidated. EBIT therefore grew even more strongly than turnover during the past financial year and reached a figure of EUR 4.9 million. The increase was 23.6 percent compared to the previous year.
The Management Board is very happy with these results, as, viewing things generally, it was possible to exceed the results from the previous year even more significantly. For one thing, the company was able to register its first significant software-as-a-service turnover (SaaS) in 2017; this success was achieved earlier than expected as a result of the “cloud4retail” cloud strategy. Success was obtained in 2017 despite certain factors opposing this process. In addition to the transition phase towards SaaS, there were special effects primarily from the transformation of the company into an SE, the issue of a convertible bond and the acquisition of prudsys AG. As it was possible to almost meet the goals of the forecast set until 2018 through the results that have been achieved, a new medium-term forecast until 2020 will be published with the coming financial report.
This positive development also continued during the first quarter of 2018 and several important sales success stories have already been registered. Gaining a significant project in the USA is particularly important in this process, as it will create a new reference in this important market. As part of this project, GK Software will put more than 6,000 new installations into productive service. In addition, one of GK Software’s very important existing customers has signed a contract to switch to the OmniPOS system. The Management Board is expecting other existing customers as well as new ones to opt for OmniPOS during the current financial year.
Based on the preliminary results for 2017, a well-filled sales pipeline and the competitive strength of the OmniPOS cloud solution, the Management Board is confident that the Company will be able to continue to grow.
The complete financial report from GK Software will probably be published on 26 April 2018.
The new legal form has no effect on ownership, shareholders, contractual partners or customers. The previous two-tier board structure consisting of the Management Board and the Supervisory Board remains unchanged. The headquarters of GK Software SE is still located in Schöneck and the stock remains listed on the present stock exchanges.
