There’s one thing every business has in common: the need to be paid. A great POS system can make this process a breeze while improving your customer experience and saving you a lot of time.
Technology is changing all the time, and it’s nowhere near as expensive as you might expect. It’s simple to implement, easy to use, and saves you a lot of headaches at tax time. Gone are the days of clunky cash registers, paper invoices, and taking payment by check.
So how do you choose the right POS system for your business?
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Step 1: Know Your Business
First, consider your needs. What are you selling? What’s your sales volume? How fast does your inventory turnover? How tech-savvy are your customers? How do you ring-up sales at the moment? How big is your team? And how do you normally interact with your customers?
Modern POS systems are so much more than just processing a sale and balancing your books. Okay, yes, the automated reporting features are pretty amazing. However, they also have a range of cool features like tracking your inventory, including letting you know when you’re running low or even auto-ordering supplies, and automating initiatives like customer loyalty programs.
These are things that can not only save time, but actively help your business grow.
Step 2: Research the Market
Second, ask around. Talk to other business owners. Get Googling. Ask a local credit expert – like Cornerstone Credit Services, which is Alaska’s leader in the credit and debit card processing industry. It can be hard to make the time while you’re busily running a business, but it’s worth calling a few providers. A bit part of salespeople’s jobs is to educate, so hit them with your questions. A phone call will cost you nothing, but it will undoubtedly shed some light on the best POS system for you.
Another way you can conduct research is simply to start paying attention when you visit other businesses. It could be a diner, a hardware store, a grocery store, even a dental office. Think critically about the customer experience, and if you like it, ask the manager what POS system they use.
Step 3: Try the Software
Third, try the software. The great thing about doing business in the 21st century is that competition is fierce, which means providers will do everything they can to give you the best possible experience and gain your trust. Many offer free trials, which means you can put a system through its paces before making a final decision and investing in a new POS system. Just make sure you use it properly: get your whole team to try it and give feedback, ring up real sales, and generate reports.
This isn’t one to leave unread in your inbox. Generally, you’ll have between two and four weeks to test all the functionality before the trial period expires, so make the most of it.
Step 4: Outsource
Running a business is a huge undertaking, and it can be hard to find the time to analyze your business, research the market, and try the software. If this is the case, you might want to consider asking for professional advice and outsourcing the transition to a new POS system.
This is actually really common. If you’re tired of waiting on hold, navigating phone menus, and speaking with offshore customer assistance representatives, try a local provider. Local credit services are a great place to start, because they’ll have a great understanding of business in your area – and who knows, they may even be a customer! They will be able to present some comprehensive credit and debit card processing solutions at competitive rates, and help you make the right decision.
Ready to ask the experts? We’re here to help.