Latest posts by ETP (see all)
Retail businesses owners and employees understand the issues that come because of using obsolete technologies in their business operations. The checkout counter which is the Point-of-sale is a very important component for the retail business. Therefore it is essential for retailers of this day and age to have point of sale (POS) software that is capable of easily handling modern day requirements along with providing multiple features that aids in running your business with ease.The right POS software will make sure that store staff at the checkout counter won’t run into any problems when your customers are ready to checkout. It will ensure that the handling of inventory is easy when you receive shipments, along with developing sales reports so that you can take the right business decisions accordingly.
Here’s a step-by-step process to make sure that you find the right POS system that’s supports your business.
1 – Features to look for in the new POS software: Purchasing a new POS solution is a big strategic business decision that will affect your operations the day you install it. That’s why it’s very critical to understand what you’re looking for in the system right off the bat. To start with, take note of the “must have” capabilities that are required in your store. The trick here is to make a list of all the features that you need in the new POS software. You could further break down the list of need features based on the priority of their requirement.
2 – Payments to be given importance: At the POS is where the transaction is realized. As such accepting payments becomes the most crucial aspect of the Point-of-sale process. So, no matter how amazing your products and service offerings are, if your POS systems aren’t capable to accept payments, your business will not go anywhere. Payment processors are required to handle payments and you must consider the right payment processor for your business. Selecting a payments processor which can easily and smoothly integrate with most of the POS software options available in the market would make the process easy.
3 – Assign business budgets for POS: Now that you have a comprehensive list of what features are you looking for in your new POS software it is time that you need to determine the budget you are willing and ready to allocate for this. Purchasing a new POS solutions is definitely a major technology upgrade for the business and though having to spend a large sum of money is not appreciated, with all certainties this will surely be a significant investment in the future of your business, so it is important to not basing your decision on the premise of getting the best bargain. Having said that, when it comes to budgeting for the POS software, you need to factor in various aspects such as the number of licenses that will be used, the implementation process, the features required, so on and so forth and allot budgets accordingly.
4 – Research for POS software in the market: Knowing your requirements and the kind of budgets you are willing to spend on a new POS software, it is time to get into a research mode and do a thorough prospecting of the POS software options that are available in the market. Perusing industry websites, speaking to peers, finding what the competition are using, finding information on videos, using social media to get opinion and other information are some of the many ways you can use to scour the various options, do a tertiary evaluation and then be able to shortlist on a few that you can look into further.
5 – Test and try: Every POS software company will always look good on paper, but that doesn’t mean that every one of them is good. There are a few who would suit your need better and from among them there will be one such POS software which will be perfect for your business when all the aspects are considered. Therefore it is necessary to test the options you have shortlisted. One of the ways of doing this is by subscribing to the trial or demo versions and using them for a few days for further understanding. In cases where trial versions are not available, you can checkout reviews or find out other retailers who are using these software and if possible go out and check them right in the store. Keep an eye out on for various aspects to be tested such as speed, functionality, and user-friendliness, implementation and after sales support, and so on.
6 – Set-up your new POS software: After doing your dew diligence and having garnered all the necessary information of the POS software options, you can select the one that is the best fit for your business in all aspects, especially in terms of your business requirements and the budget. Once the decision has been made, it is time to do the paperwork and then move on to implement the point-of-sale software in the business. Depending upon your business and its processes, the time-frame and complexity of the implementation will vary. While small scale implementations might not affect business operations that much, the bigger the business, the higher chances of complexities and challenges that can crop up during implementation. You and your POS software provider must factor in such kinds of challenges (as far as possible in advance) and be ready with suitable ways to tackle them, reduce risks and therefore ensure smooth functioning of the business.