Microsoft RMS is finished. Microsoft ended support for Dynamics Retail Management System 2.0 on 13 July 2021, and for Dynamics POS 2009 on 9 July 2019. If you're still running either, it's time to move.
For a small or mid-sized New Zealand retailer, the practical replacement is a cloud POS that works with NZ EFTPOS terminals and Xero. This page sets out the dates, the RMS features you'll want to keep, and the systems worth a look. It's our own desk research from Microsoft's lifecycle pages and vendor sites, checked on 5 October 2026.
What happened to Microsoft RMS and Dynamics POS 2009
Microsoft runs both products under its Fixed Lifecycle Policy: a period of mainstream support, then extended support, then nothing. Here are the dates from Microsoft's own lifecycle pages:
| Product | Mainstream support ended | Support ended completely |
|---|---|---|
| Dynamics RMS 2.0 (Headquarters and Store Operations) | 10 July 2016 | 13 July 2021 |
| Dynamics POS 2009 | 8 July 2014 | 9 July 2019 |
| Windows Embedded POSReady 7 (the Windows version on many tills of that era) | – | 12 October 2021 |
Some vendor sites give a different RMS end date. Microsoft's list of products ending support in 2021 says 13 July 2021, so that's the one to go by. Don't confuse the end of mainstream support (2016 for RMS) with the end of support altogether.
What "end of support" means, in Microsoft's words: "there will be no new security updates, non-security updates, free or paid assisted support options or online technical content updates."
The software doesn't switch off. But a till taking card payments on unpatched software, often on an unpatched version of Windows, is a risk to you and your customers. You'll also struggle to find help when something breaks. That's why we don't cover RMS downloads, product keys or reactivation here.
One naming note: if you search "Microsoft RMS", most results are about Rights Management Services, a document-security product. Dynamics RMS, the retail system, is a different thing.
What RMS did that you'll want to keep
RMS was built for small and mid-sized retailers, and it did a lot. Use this as a checklist when you look at replacements:
| What RMS did | What to look for now |
|---|---|
| Headquarters: central control of several stores | Multi-store reporting, stock transfers and central product lists |
| Inventory and purchasing with automatic reorder | Low-stock alerts, purchase orders, reorder points |
| Several suppliers per item | Multiple suppliers and supplier codes per product |
| Mix-and-match discounts | Promotions and bundle pricing |
| Store credit, returns and deposits (layby) | Refunds, exchanges, store credit, layby or deposits |
| Customer history at the counter | Customer profiles and purchase history |
| Staff commissions | Staff sales reporting and permissions |
| Report exports | Export to spreadsheet, plus a Xero connection |
| Worked with your existing scanners, printers and other peripherals | Check your hardware against the new system's supported list |
| Integrated card payments | Integrated NZ EFTPOS (Windcave, Shift4 (formerly Smartpay) or Eftpos NZ) |
Dynamics POS 2009 added touch screens you could customise by staff role, SQL Server reporting, and support for scales, PIN pads and line displays (the small customer-facing screen). Every modern cloud POS has a touch interface; staff roles and reporting depth vary by plan.
Alternatives for NZ retailers
Retail-focused systems
Lightspeed: its retail product, X-Series, is the system that used to be called Vend. It has been listed on Xero's NZ App Store since May 2011, which makes it one of the longest-running Xero POS connections.
- Price: ≈ NZ$183/mo incl. GST (Retail Basic, converted from A$129/mo, priced with Lightspeed Payments, which isn’t confirmed for NZ; ask Lightspeed for an NZ quote)
- Integrated EFTPOS: Windcave, Shift4 (formerly Smartpay), Eftpos NZ (Verifone)
- Xero: Yes
Hike is a cloud POS aimed at retail. Its Xero app posts sales, purchases, supplier details and payments to Xero.
- Price: ≈ NZ$121/mo incl. GST
- Integrated EFTPOS: HikePay, Eftpos NZ (Verifone), Windcave
- Xero: Add-on, Plus and up
Online and in-store
Shopify POS suits a retailer who also sells online and wants one product list for both.
- Price: ≈ NZ$80/mo incl. GST
- Integrated EFTPOS: No built-in NZ EFTPOS integration (available via the paid OrderMate app)
- Xero: Yes
The catch: Shopify Payments only accepts EFTPOS cards in NZ when they're co-branded Visa or Mastercard. Read Shopify POS and EFTPOS in NZ before you switch. Read our Shopify POS review.
Small shop on a budget
Loyverse has a free core plan, with paid add-ons for things like advanced inventory and staff management.
- Price: Free
- Integrated EFTPOS: Shift4 (formerly Smartpay), iOS only
- Xero: Partial
Enterprise or Microsoft-based businesses
Microsoft's current retail product is Dynamics 365 Commerce. Its documentation is organised around implementation guides, environments and deployment options, which tells you it's a project rather than a download. It's worth a look if you run a larger chain already on Microsoft's business software. We don't review it.
Like-for-like RMS replacements
RMH (Retail Management Hero) is a third-party product that says it "is designed as a replacement for RMS" and that your data and existing hardware carry forward. We couldn't confirm NZ-based support or integration with NZ EFTPOS terminals, so ask about both before you buy.
Moving off RMS: a short plan
- Export what you need. Products (with barcodes, costs and suppliers), customers and store-credit balances first. Sales history is nice to have; check whether the new system can import it.
- Clean it up. Delete dead lines and duplicate customers before you import. It's easier now than later.
- Check your hardware. List every scanner, printer, cash drawer and scale, and check each against the new system's supported hardware. Tills running Windows Embedded POSReady 7 are out of support too. Our guides to POS computers, barcode scanners and receipt printers cover what to buy.
- Sort EFTPOS early. Pick a POS that integrates with your terminal provider, or plan to switch providers at the same time.
- Connect Xero. See which POS systems integrate with Xero.
- Run both for a day or two if you can, then switch.
Work out the full monthly cost, including EFTPOS terminal and card fees, with our true cost calculator. For the wider checklist, read how to choose a POS system, see our retail picks, or compare all seven systems. If you're shopping for new kit too, start at our hardware guides.