If you’re thinking of starting your own business, there are several things you need to do before opening day, from paperwork to hiring. An important step is choosing your point-of-sale system. What is a POS system, why is it important and what features should you look for?
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What a Point-of-Sale System Is
POS systems are all-in-one solutions for small business owners. They’re designed to bring the majority of your business operations together in one place.
Modern Payment Solutions
As the name suggests, an essential part of POS systems relates to payments. These systems provide a variety of payment options for your customers:
- Credit card payments
- Debit card transactions
- Mobile payments
- Other card-not-present transactions
With this type of system, you may even be able to set up recurring billing or subscriptions. This can be handy when your services include memberships or monthly rentals.
Versatile Business Management Tools
However, with modern POS options, payments are only part of the package. These systems often include a variety of software solutions for accounting and business management, including:
- Inventory management tools
- Integrated ordering
- Reporting dashboards
- Customer data
- Marketing software
With all of these different tools at your fingertips, it’s no exaggeration to say that a high-quality POS system is one of the smartest investments you can make as a new entrepreneur.
How To Choose the Right POS System
It’s important to select a POS system that meets your needs. It should make your day-to-day work easier and provide tools for business growth. Look for the following features.
Industry-Specific Systems
You shouldn’t have to twist and turn to get your POS software to work with your company. It should be just the opposite. A good POS system should fit your business like a glove, as if every module were the ideal answer to overcome obstacles.
If you run a music business, choose specialized music store pos software. Look for features that help with your inventory management, ordering and customer service. In today’s digital world, it’s especially important to choose POS systems that help you expand online:
- Website creation options
- Full capabilities for In-store and online purchases
- Integrated payments
- Digital marketing tools
On the other hand, restaurants need a different kind of POS system. To provide the best customer experience, coffee shops and restaurants need rewards programs, digital menus, front- and back-of-house integration and payment options that customers can use without leaving the table.
Third-Party Integrations
Even the best POS systems have their limitations. For example, they generally don’t include in-depth accounting software or tax software. Instead, high-quality POS terminals should have integrations.
In other words, they should be designed to work with popular third-party apps, either as add-on modules or as independent software. Some popular integrations include accounting, payroll, tax and customer financing services.
With integrations, you can import and export data directly from your platform instead of needing to enter all the information by hand. This makes many areas of business faster and easier.
User-Friendly Design
You shouldn’t have to be an IT expert to get the most out of your POS system. The best software options are built for everyday small business owners and employees.
Look for a simple interface where the main tools are within easy reach. That way, your employees can manage work tasks without needing extensive training, and they deliver better service for your clients.
For example, reporting dashboards should tell you key info at a glance, but also let you customize the reports you generate. The processes for managing inventory, ordering, selling products, tracking returns and scheduling appointments should be just as smooth.
Put simply, an easy-to-use system with 50 of the right features is better than a complicated system with 5,000 different options. That’s why something designed to be industry specific is so helpful.
How a High-Quality POS System Can Help
A good POS system provides so many benefits that you practically can’t run a business without it:
- Saves time: POS software automates many tasks, letting you focus on more important things.
- Makes shopping more convenient: Whether people buy your products online or in-store, a POS system makes browsing, reserving and paying a breeze.
- Improves marketing: When you keep track of customer purchases, you can provide more effective marketing that fits client needs more closely.
With e-commerce tools, you can expand online and take advantage of an even larger audience. This type of investment is one you’ll never regret.
