In this competitive business landscape, you need tools that are as multifaceted as your business. A point of sales (POS) system that does more than just process transactions is a solid requirement. You need a pos system to help your business grow and bring in new customers.
Now that you have decided to take that step towards business growth, you will naturally have questions that help ensure you end up with a product that meets your business needs.
To help ease your burden, we will go over the top 10 questions you need to ask when looking for your first POS or switching your provider.
1. What Features Should I look out for in a Point of Sales System?
Point of sales systems has evolved so much in the last decade. These days you find POS systems that process transactions, automate warehousing, organize taxes, and so on, all on the same software. So, being sure of what exactly you are looking for makes it much easier to find what you need.
Paint a picture of your business, highlighting what each level would require to succeed sufficiently. The standard POS systems offer features that help capture employee attendance, online ordering, customer database, and recipe management. Although all these are great features, they might not all be useful to your business. For example, if you operate a retail business, you do not need the recipe management feature. Also, a full-service restaurant has different needs from a fast-food restaurant. You will save yourself money and added stress when you pick a system that fits your current needs. To know your specific needs, you can ask yourself these questions related to your business?
- What industry do I operate
- Is there a workflow particular to my industry?
- Do I plan to open other locations?
- Do I intend to take my business online?
- What specific features will make operations less prone to errors?
When you have answers to these questions, no matter the overwhelming amount of options that might come your way, you are grounded as to what exactly would work for you.
2. Are the Features Designed Specifically for My Industry?
Point of Sale (POS) systems are not one size fits all. Although some features that are for retail can adapt to the restaurant industry, food service and hospitality solutions generally have very different requirements. Therefore, choose a POS system developed for your business type. A solution built specifically for restaurants will enable you to easily handle daily tasks such as adding/removing ingredients from a dish, selling meal deals and combos, splitting the bill, sending orders straight to the kitchen, managing tables – and more. Do not settle for just any system. Select a POS designed with your needs in mind.
3. What Hardware is Required to Run the System?
The prospect of getting a new solution is exciting. However, you must not gloss over your hardware requirements. Though, chances that a discussion about hardware will come up with your POS provider, be sure of the kind of hardware your business needs – the specifications for your pos terminals, and other hardware requirements. Be sure of the basics like cash drawers, tablets (if required), printers, networking cables, and (or) barcode scanners (for retail). When you are sure of the hardware requirements, you avoid unpleasant surprises that might arise in the future.
4. How is Down Time Handled?
Network downtown is one factor most people overlook when discussing their pos needs. What happens when your system suddenly experiences an internet downtime or LAN failure?
With many cloud-based solutions, no internet means no sale (yikes!). That is is why asking about offline capabilities is necessary. With a cloud-based system, when you experience downtime, you can not process transactions. Also, staff will encounter challenges clocking in and out of their shifts, no access to reports, and restaurant waiters will experience challenges sending customers orders straight to the kitchen. One question to ask your provider is what happens when this happens. Does the pos system you are looking at have a contingency plan for this?
5. Is the Point of Sales System Reliable and Quick?
The retail and hospitality industry is about quality and speed. If there is one thing you want to avoid on a busy Saturday grocery shopping rush, it is a slow or unresponsive Point of sales System that delays service and creates a queue of irritated customers. To address/avoid this, you can ask the following questions:
- Is the interface intuitive? Can each till work independently of the others?
- Can it process different types of payments, split bills, process gift cards, and loyalty cards?
- What shortcut features help in improving the speed of service?
6. What is the Arrangement For Training and Support?
You do not want to purchase a pos solution, and you are left to figure out the setup by yourself. You need to consult with local partners who can provide you with training, training materials, on-site consultation, installation, and troubleshooting services.
7. Is It Scalable? What happens when my business Grows?
When selecting a new pos system, check that you can easily add more cash points and open new branches with no issues. The right system will allow for the growth of your business. If you have international expansion on your mind, it is necessary to investigate if the system has multiple currency options and whether the system is accessible in different languages. A rigid system will not allow the above. It may be cheaper to start with but, you will have to replace it once you grow thereby, costing you more in the long run. When considering an investment in a Point of sale technology, remember that a POS system will be with you for many years – choose a system that can scale with you and support you not just for today but also tomorrow.
8. Can the Point of Sales System give me Real-Time Insights and Reporting?
Your POS system is packed full of valuable information. It should be able to get access to necessary reports in an instant. Curious about the day’s sale? Hit a button and print reports. Want to know if employees are resuming late? Your time and attendance feature would provide you with the information you need. The information you pull from these reports should give you valuable insights for running your business and making an informed decision in real-time.
Some information you can see in your reports include;
· Report for top sellers, lowest sellers, busiest hours, top brands, etc.
· What payment methods are people using most
. Staff performance.
· Inventory analytics
9. What is the Cost of the Point of Sales System?
Cost is a necessary factor to consider in any big purchase like this. While it is very likely that this will be one of your first questions, be sure to go over the quote and verify both the hardware and software cost. Consider the value the systems add to your company and its longevity. Typically, POS systems come with their specific cost, which you can break down into these four categories;
- Hardware: This covers the cost of the touchscreen systems, receipt printers, barcode scanners, etc., depending on your business type.
- Software: Every POS system requires software that makes the system useable for the employee.
- Integration: If you want a POS solution that works with other solutions, such as an accounting ERP software, there is likely an additional fee for that.
- Service and Support: Your POS provider determines the arrangement for support service. For example, Yanot Consultants provides after-sales support service that is renewable annually.
10. Can I know Your Existing Client Base?
Going through a marketing brochure, you cannot help but feel that all Point of Sales systems can do everything. In your selection process, ask for references from the pos provider. The pos software provider will give you a list of current customers. If you are meticulous, you can visit first hand and see how the POS System works and confirm whether it will fit your operations.
The bottom line:
The best POS will cause your business to thrive and make your life easier. If you are still unsure of what pos system your business need, our expert consultants will be happy to help you find the right solution for your requirements. Contact us via email at solutions@yanot.ng.
