To buy a POS or a Point of Sale system is not just an important investment but is also easily one of the largest investments for your business. Some systems will be responsible to undertake extensive accounting duties that would otherwise require your attention and energy, while there are some that will manage inventory for you.
There are POS systems capable of tracking consumer spending patterns and there are also some sophisticated ones that can help perform series of intricate functions which can increase your overall productivity. A wise decision of investing in the right kind of system will ensure that your business performs at an optimum level.
A point of Sale System is that facilitates sales and logistics of your business and requires lot of research before you get one for your establishment. Since there are all kinds of POS Hardware available in the market, you need to understand the underlying nerve of your business that can benefit from the relevant software that goes into that system. Here are some tips that will help you make an informed choice.
The Need of your Business
Depending upon the type of business you are running, your requirement of a POS system will vary greatly. Another thing that you need to consider is the quantum of your business. If you are going to run a small establishment and intend to keep it small, then you don’t need to invest heavily on an advanced system. However, you can choose a POS register over cash register that can give you much greater features along with an added security measure.
Do your Research
You need to do your homework thoroughly before you make the decision as to what POS system you require. You can compare brands and features and also take a look at the ones used by your competitor to get more insight into what works in your business. It is always better to ask around before the final decision is made.
User Friendly
Another important aspect in the decision making process is how easy are these systems to use. What you need for a POS is something that is visually appealing as well as easy to use and understand, even better if it is intuitive. The best ones will be the ones that can be learnt in a day. You can take help from demo videos and demo the use of the system before you apply it on your customers.
Look for a scalable system
While there are some who would like to keep their business small, there are also people who would like to grow with time. If you are on a budget, opt for a system that has basic features. However, as your business grows, your system should be able to accommodate the needs like you can attach a bar code scanner or credit card reader etc.
Inventory management
The basic function of any POS system is to manage the inventory. A good POS system should be able to make that job easy for you. These systems should be smart enough to assess the inventory when it’s low and set off alarms so that the new items can be added. You can also have the ones with the ability to generate purchase orders that need to be sent to the vendors.
Self Reliant and Active Support system
A good POS system should not need too much technical support. You should be able to pick one that you can set up on your own which will save you thousands of dollars in additional investment. However, since it is machinery and is likely to break down at any point, you must have an active support system in place to be able to handle the situation. In case your machine breaks down at in rush hour, you should be able to get help immediately.
Image Source: Sale Tags Design
