Your business has plenty of tools available in the modern market; there are tools for organizing finances, tracking inventory and sales, interacting with customers, and...wait a minute...those are all things you can do with a modern POS system!
That's right; it's time to ditch the old-school method of having ten different software programs to handle inventory, sales, and customer profiles. Not only does a POS organized, store, and track all of that info for you, it's also a great way to expedite the purchase process and join on and offline operations.
When you're looking for a POS system, there are a few questions to ask yourself before you settle on a brand or model. Here are five questions to ask before purchasing a POS system.
1. Why Do I Need a POS System?
Is your current POS system so outdated that you can't track inventory or customer information within the software? Knowing the why of your decision can help you zero in on the right brand and model for your company. How are you tracking your inventory? If you're still using a manual pen and paper, it's time for an upgrade.
Think about how you use your current POS system. Are you often frustrated with its lack of features, slow response time, or frequent crashes? Are your customers frustrated with it as well? Remember that good service doesn't only mean interacting with the customers in a kind and helpful way; it also means that your equipment functions properly when it's supposed to.
2. What's My Budget Look Like?
POS systems vary in cost depending on the brand, model, and any extra features you may want, so you'll need to understand your budget before you move forward. Some POS systems are a one-time purchase where you get the software and hardware for a fixed price, and others are month-to-month payment plans for the software itself. With these plans, you often need to supply your hardware.
How much money can you set aside per month (reasonably) to pay for a POS system? Take a look at what your business is bringing in vs. what's going out at the end of each month, and go from there. A POS system will make it easier to track sales and income as well, so the next time you need to look at your budget, you can pull it up right from the POS interface.
3. What Features Must Your POS System Have?
You will likely have "wants" and "needs" when it comes to the POS system. You'll need certain features, such as inventory tracking tools and customer profile tracking, but there are some features on modern POS systems that are extra. Some services operate on cloud storage and can integrate with software like
Quickbooks. You may or may not need some of these extra features, but you at least want to narrow down the core features that you can't go without.
Having a hard list of what you need from your POS system will help you avoid buying bells and whistles from pushy salespeople. Only buy what you need at first, and then, if the budget allows and you like the brand and POS system model, you can add extra features later on.
4. Is the Software Intuitive?
The last thing you want to introduce into your business is a software system that is difficult to use and has a huge learning curve. In the early days of POS systems, the software was complex and difficult to navigate, but most POS software is much more intuitive nowadays.
Either way, it's important to try out a demo before you purchase any software online. The demo will tell you how easy the software is to use and give you a better idea of how it will function within your business.
5. Am I Choosing the Right Brand?
Choosing a POS brand is like finding a needle in a haystack. There are hundreds of varieties of POS systems out there, which is why looking at customer reviews and tech reviews is a must when you're shopping for POS software.
Every POS company claims to have "the best" software, but what it boils down to is customer service and the quality of the software itself. If the software isn't' intuitive, accurate regularly, and practical, you're wasting your money.
Also Read - Ways You Can Make Money As An Online Educator
Final Words
The biggest brands in POS software got there for a reason. They're dedicated to customer service and providing the highest-quality POS software for your money. Brands like Vend HQ take what they do seriously, and that's what you need when you're running a business. You simply can't afford to take unnecessary risks with a POS company that doesn't take pride in its work!
