Rent-to-own News - High Touch introduces RTO software fusion, 'Cynergi' product line

High Touch CEO Wayne Chambers describes the fusion of RSSS and High Touch features at the company's users conference Thursday.

High Touch President/CEO Wayne Chambers Thursday addressed users conference attendees and outlined project "Fusion" -- a cooperative effort between High Touch and RSSS programmers to combine the best features of the two largest rent to own software companies.

The resulting product, named the 'Cynergi' product line' by Chambers at the meeting, will offer users a web-based, point and click graphical interface system incorporating some 38 new features. The new system promises a better customer and employee user experience and will make more data accessible to users through a number of improvements.

At it's core, the highly complex integration of the two systems' point of sale software was driven by the demands of the RTO industry and input from users themselves through intensive users meetings.

"RTO to the core is the fundamental basis of our business," Chambers said. "You are why we are here. You are who write our paychecks. We want to be business partners, not just a software company. We've made great strides using RSSS' centralized architecture and High Touch features and this will be a system that is much more robust than either system today."

Chambers then led participants in a game of "Deal or No Deal" based on some of the features of the new POS software.

RSSS -- a subsidiary of High Touch -- serves RTO companies internationally including easyhome, Buddy's Home Furnishings, Rent One, American Rental and Rent-A-Center accounts receivable locations.

High Touch's software is used across a vast segment of the rent to own industry.

Together the companies' software is used by more than 300 rent to own companies.

Beta testing of the the Cynergi product line is set to begin in June 2011.

Attendees then rotated out through half a dozen breakout sessions preparing them for the new software rollout and training them on other features and enhancements in the current system including talks on hardware, conversion/installation, current state, feature and functionality, fleet management, recurring payments and social media.

Darren Tinney, vice president of operations for Rent America, a 15 store rent to own company said the improvements planned for High Touch software through project fusion were on the money.

"The biggest thing for us is going to be the online payments," Tiinney said. "We do have customers asking for that. The premier business intelligence features are really nice as well and I look forward to accessing some of this great data on our system. Plus having a point and click system is going to make training some our our younger employees much easier because that's what they're used to. I'm excited about bringing together the best of the best -- RSSS and High Touch."

The day wrapped with a game night featuring a casino and Wii sports challenge.

High Touch employees and attendees raised close to $300 this week for Special Olympics of Kansas. The special needs organization is holding its annual softball and golf tournament in Wichita this summer. Last year more than 100 High Touch employees participated in the games as volunteers. High Touch has been a supporter of Special Olympics since 2006.

See photos from the 2010 High Touch User's Conference and game night here.

Breakout sessions continue Friday.