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Point of Sale Systems are Table Stakes
For retail stores, restaurants, and bars a POS system is an essential part of doing business — your sidekick, your right-hand, your lifeline.
By providing efficient customer service to inventory management and valuable analytics that offer insight into business performance, you can’t afford to run your company without a point of sale solution.
With so many options in the market today, choosing the right POS system for your business may seem like it’s harder than ever.
That’s where we come in. We’re here to level the playing field. To help you make an educated judgment call by making sure you know what to consider before choosing a POS system.
Evaluate POS Features and Functionality
Choosing a category was the easy part. Now you need to spell out the details. Not all point of sale systems are created equal and not all POS solutions are designed to fit your business needs.
Questions to Ask When Buying a POS System
Choosing the best POS system for your business is a marathon, not a sprint. When you’re ready to make a significant purchase like a point of sale system, don’t put the blinders on and race to the finish line.
Take the time to ask questions. Ask for demos, ask for references, but most importantly, make sure it’s the right POS system for your business.
How will the POS system enhance the customer experience?
Customer Management
How do you capture customer information? How is the data stored and managed?
Customer Loyalty Program and Coupons
Is the loyalty program points-based? Can you accept coupons and promotions?
Mobile Point of Sale
Is the POS system stationary or are there mobile features like mobile checkout or tableside ordering?
Can the point of sale system manage my day-to-day operations?
Inventory Management
How is product information added, updated, organized, and monitored?
Employee Management
Can employees clock-in and clock out from the system? Are payroll hours tracked? How are user permissions allocated?
Vendor Management
Can you manage vendors, suppliers, and purchase orders from the POS system?
How will the POS system support my business now, and as it grows?
Reporting
What type of reports and analytics are available? Are they in real-time?
Multi-Store Functionality
Does the point of sale solution support multiple locations from one central back office?
E-Commerce Integration
Can the POS system easily sync with your website or shopping cart?
Customer Service
How does the POS provider support your business? Standard business hours or 24/7?
Usability and Interface
Is the POS system easy to set up? Is it simple to use and train employees?
How much does a POS system cost?
Payment Processing
Can you accept all forms of payment? Credit cards (EMV and NFC), debit cards, gift cards, and EBT transactions. What are my credit card processing fees?
Pricing
Is the quality and price of the point of sale system reasonable? Are there on-time fees, recurring fees, or a combination of both?
Have a question that’s not posted here?
While there is no magic formula, experts say you should reserve 1-4 percent of sales revenue as a point of sale system budget.
Start Your POS Search Here
Decide which general classifications best describes your business, and that’s your starting point.
Point of sale systems are broken down into four categories:
How to Choose a Restaurant POS System
Restaurants and bars have unique needs when it comes to how they use a point of sale system in their day-to-day operations. From using it as a communication tool between front-of-house and back-of-house to splitting checks and accepting tips, make sure the restaurant POS system you choose has all these features and more.
How to Choose a Quick-Service POS System
Point of sale systems for quick-service restaurants and full-service restaurants have many overlapping features, but there are also a few that set them apart.
How to Choose a Retail POS System
Just like the food and beverage business, retailers have their own set of special requirements when it comes to choosing the right point of sale system.
How to Choose a Salon and Spa POS System
Salons and spas are in a league of their own when it comes to finding zen with a POS system.
Just Because You Own Your Own Business Doesn’t Mean You Should Be On Your Own
Find a local point of sale company or POS dealer to answer all your questions
While a lot of companies follow the self-serve model when it comes to purchasing and setup of your point of sale system, other companies provide you with the personalized service you deserve.
