RetailVista Mobile

RetailVista Mobile is the software that NedFox has developed for mobile scanners and phones. We support Android and iPhone IOS. While RetailVista ERP is primarily used in the office, RetailVista Mobile is designed for use on the shop floor.

Examples of some applications include item information, customer orders, inventory corrections, stocktaking, labeling, etc.

RetailVista Mobile is available in the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. Versions available in these stores are fully stabilized but may be somewhat older. However, more recent versions can be released upon consultation with our support department, but due to compatibility issues, they are not directly placed in the mentioned stores.

Phones

RetailVista Mobile was developed by NedFox in the 'Xamarin' language. It includes (free) support for scanning barcodes via the phone's camera. In practice, it has been found that this free camera support works moderately well, and we are transparent about this. Therefore, starting from the 2024 update of RetailVista Mobile, we have opted to purchase camera integration from a third party (Scandit). This integration works flawlessly but unfortunately results in a monthly additional licensing fee. In RetailVista ERP version 2024 and higher, the type of device (scanner or phone) must be specified for each mobile device. When set as 'phone', it is essential to have sufficient RetailVista Mobile phone CALS (licenses). If a mobile device remains set as 'scanner' in RetailVista ERP, the camera integration will no longer be available when installing RetailVista Mobile 2024. This problem does not apply to hardware scanners, as they have a real barcode laser/LED scanner built-in and do not use a camera to scan barcodes.

Support for Android and Apple Versions

We follow Google and Apple's version policies and end-of-life versions. Due to the rapid pace of innovation in the mobile industry, both parties frequently update their software. However, old versions are phased out very quickly. As the producer of RetailVista Mobile, we do our best to continue supporting older versions of Android and iOS, but this is based on a 'best effort' basis. In other words, we make every effort, but it cannot be guaranteed that certain older versions of Android or iOS will not cause RetailVista Mobile to function partially or not at all.

A website we recommend for more information on current versions is https://endoflife.date. Via the link Android OS | endoflife.date more information can be obtained about Android, and via Apple iOS | endoflife.date about Apple iOS. These are not the websites of the manufacturers themselves, but the website provides an overview of versions in a readable and straightforward manner. Manufacturer web pages change regularly and are not always understandable and readable. No rights can be derived from this information provided by NedFox.

Regarding Android versions on 'scanners,' it is practical that these hardware suppliers always lag behind with the installed version of Android provided on scanners. The pace at which Google (and also Apple) updates iOS is too fast for hardware manufacturers specializing in scanners, who operate in a niche market compared to phone manufacturers serving a mainstream market. As these hardware suppliers always lag behind, an Android version will relatively quickly fall out of Google's support lifecycle. It should be noted that scanners purchased from NedFox are guaranteed full support for one year. Therefore, in the unlikely event that a manufacturer withdraws the provided Android version within a year and this results in issues with using RetailVista Mobile that cannot be resolved by us, we will take back the scanner and provide a newer one.

Scanner Types

There are many types of Android hardware scanners available for purchase. At present, NedFox supports the Newland MT90 Orca scanners and the Zebra TC52, taking into account the Android version lifecycle policy. The Newland MT90 is considered to be of medium quality in our view, while the Zebra TC52 is definitely more expensive but is a trouble-free scanner falling into the high-end segment of scanners. Especially in warehouse situations and during stocktaking, when a fully trouble-free scanner is required, we will always recommend the Zebra TC52. This does not make the MT90 a poor scanner, but it should be evaluated in terms of price and performance.

We do not provide SLA support for other brands or types, and unfortunately, we are required to bill our hours for questions about these scanners. Of course, we will discuss this in advance if a support ticket arises concerning these scanners.

Wifi

We receive many questions about Wi-Fi connectivity in practice. This mainly concerns older scanners (predecessor of the MT90 Orca) and is often related to incompatibility between the scanner and the Wi-Fi access point. It also happens quite often that Wi-Fi networks are set up with access points that cannot handle 'roaming' or handle it incorrectly. Roaming is the data communication that occurs between access points, where they negotiate which access point will serve which scanner. After all, a scanner may be within the range of multiple access points, but only one access point should exchange data. The roaming protocol makes these decisions. Scanners that do not or poorly support roaming in practice result in vague connection problems. Unfortunately, we must also bill the hours spent on supporting Wi-Fi connectivity. Our advice is not to choose the cheapest access points when purchasing a Wi-Fi network. We are happy to share our knowledge about devices that function well at that moment. So please feel free to contact us!