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GLOBAL RETAILER URBAN Outfitters had its first ever annual analyst day this week and CIO Calvin Hollinger provided some interesting insights into the future of point-of-sales systems.

Specifically, the company is going all-Apple, all-the-time. Sales people will have iPod touches, and cash registers are being phased out in favour of iPads on a swivel.

Hollinger said, “Two or three weeks ago, we placed our very last register order…once we make sure this iPad works…all stores will be equipped with iPod touches and iPads.

iPads, he explained, only cost about one-fifth of what is paid for a cash register but it can be used for much more. For example, they can be turned towards the customer who can view content, put in personal information and use it as a gift registry.

It also makes sense from a space usage standpoint.

However, staff at the Dublin shops will have to wait a bit longer for their iPads with cash registers still being the order of the day in Irish stores.

-Additional reporting by Sinéad O’Carroll

More: Apple apologises to customers for Apple Maps>

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