The coming and development of technology have undoubtedly changed the small business tech landscape over recent years. A couple of decades back, small business owners had to rely on spreadsheets or pen-and-paper processes to run their operations properly. Back then, advanced or “techy” systems were strictly restricted to larger and bigger enterprises. POS (Point of Sale) systems are a very great example of such restricted tech. In the past, small businesses had no choice but to ring up sales using clunky cash registers. Today, even a brand new store down the corner can have a sleek and sophisticated point of sale solution without breaking the bank or moving out of budget.
If you are hunting for a POS system for your small business, you would have realized many options. However, picking the right one is the only challenge. In a bid to solve this problem, this guide on how to choose a POS system for your small business has been put together. In it, you can find great resources to help you with the top considerations when looking for a POS solution and how to decide which vendor to work with.
How Do I Choose A POS Platform?
This is a very valid question because most small business owners are ignorant of what to look out for in a bid to find the right POS platform and end up experiencing problems. The first and most important step to finding the right solution is to know your business requirements. It is important to list the must-have features you are looking for in a POS system and use that list to guide your research. It is important to consider things like
Your Sales Process
It is very important to consider your sales process. This will help you discover how best you will be using your POS system. You also need to understand the type of POS system you’ll be getting, as well as the cost, rating, and processing rates. You can check processing rates with clover station as well as reviews. A dedicated checkout counter in some stores requires a laptop or computer for the checkout process. Such factors need consideration. Irrespective of how peculiar your sales process is, there’s a system that works for you.
What You Sell
It is important for your point of sale system to be able to support the products or services in your catalog. Depending on the type of merchandise, you may need to consider a couple of specific attributes or variances so you can effectively track your sales and inventory levels. For example, in the case of clothing items, you should easily enter various sizes and colors into your POS system. Irrespective of the case, it’s essential to figure out your catalog requirements and set your sights on solutions that can accommodate your needs.
Your Team Mates
While in business, it is important to think of the people who will be using your system. For example, if you have a manager or cashier, you must spell out their roles and tasks and choose a point of sale system that will enable them to carry out their responsibilities. In addition, most POS systems can allow or restrict access based on the user’s role. For instance, a cashier will only be able to ring up sales, while a manager, on the other hand, can issue refunds, modify inventory levels, etc. Therefore, it is important to point out your team members’ roles and choose a POS system that supports those roles.
How You Interact With Your Customers
The only reason you are still in business is because of your customers. Therefore, it is important to think about the customer initiatives that you are in the process of implementing. Do you collect customer information or feedback? How do you communicate with shoppers? The answers to these questions will certainly shed light on the customer management capabilities you need in your POS system. Solutions often feature built-in client databases, which enable you to collect shopper information. Other systems may even come with a loyalty program out of the box that makes it easy to offer perks and rewards to your loyal shoppers.
The Tools You Use
If you already use and subscribe to certain business applications or tools like an eCommerce platform, accounting software, payment processor, you must look into their POS integrations. Choosing a point of sale solution that can connect to your existing systems will make your life and work a lot easier. POS integrations maximally reduce the need for a manual entry, so you won’t have to deal with discrepancies, double work, and human error.
Having a Point of sale (POS) for your small business is very important as it makes life easier for you and your customers. The world is gradually going cashless, and you are more likely to have more people trooping to patronize you if you have a POS system due to the ease it brings them and if you offer great customer services.
Published on Holr Magazine