You’ve already got a Point of Sale (POS) system so why aren’t you utilizing it to help you with marketing your business?
Selecting a Point of Sale (POS) system is one of the most significant decisions small business owners will ever make. That’s why you shouldn’t hurry your decision and spend some time researching POS software.
POS systems make life much easier for small business owners, in particular, as they track sales, do inventory, account for employees and work with customers. The system isn’t just a fancy cash register because, bottom line, it helps you manage your entire business more efficiently.
While there are a number of different POS system for every kind of business, there are some factors to consider when purchasing one:
- Make sure it has features that make it easier to run your business. It’s not just about taking payments and making sales – you have to have a system that also simplified other tasks, such as inventory and customer management.
- It should provide a better collaboration with the outsourced employee, bookkeeper or accountant. That way you can sync-up and work on the data simultaneously, which means faster and more efficient collaboration that always results in better and quicker decisions making for your business.
- A cloud-based system gives you browser access to back office management and reporting tools. Other advantages include fewer costs up front because you’re paying a monthly fee instead of buying a software license. Cloud service providers also ensure that your data is safe in case of hard disk failure, server crash or accidental file deletion, thanks to an automatic feature that backs up your date on a regular basis.
- You will want to have a system that comes with the latest tools to guarantee complete security from malicious software or any natural disaster, like fires or flood. Cloud hosting providers offer the highest security standards, such as 256-bit encryption, continuous network monitoring, and fully-clustered multi-tier structure to keep your data safe and secure.
- You will want to make certain there are no contractor leases. If you happen to choose a system that you don’t like or doesn’t have all the bells and whistles you need, you certainly don’t want to have to keep it or throw away a lot of money in order to break the contract. Equipment leases, in particular, can be a problem because they’re difficult to get out of. Always select a POS system that is on a monthly basis and if possible, purchase your equipment outright.
- Having third-party processor and hardware compatibility lets you look for the bests deals on these components of your system. It also will save you money down the line if you choose to get a new system because you might be able to keep using the POS equipment you already have.
- Integrations make it easier to connect the POS system with other business systems you might use, i.e. your accounting or email marketing software. This allows the programs to share sales figures and customer contact information, saving you the aggravation of manually downloading it from one program and uploading it to the other.
It’s also important to choose a system that offers round the clock customer support at no additional cost. There are many POS systems on the market so make sure you do your due diligence and find the absolute best one for you and your needs.