Is Your Point of Sale System Out of Date?

Retailer's point of sale systems are one of the primary customer interactions that shoppers have with their target audience. The point of sale system can leave a great impression with your shopper or a bad one. It can influence whether or not the shopper returns to your store.

Is your point of sale system out of date? Does it provide the conveniences that consumers expect from today's retailers? If it does not, now is the time to replace that old point of sale system and update your interactions with your customers!

Here is a check list of some key features that today's point of sale systems should provide:

1. Speed of check out. The most basic feature of a good point of sale system is fast processing to keep the check out lines low and allow customers to quickly check out. The shopper has concluded their shopping experience in your store and does not want to be delayed waiting in line to check out or by a slow check out process.
2. Quick and easy payment methods. Consumers expect tap to pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and other easy and secure means of payment. Historically payment processing has not been quick nor easy. It should be fast and easy. Can your shopper also be assured that their personal and credit card information is secure? Their trust is important.
3. Accurate deal and promotional pricing. Does your point of sale system handle promotions and deals that you offer or are prices often out of sync with shelf tags and advertised promotional prices or special deals? This causes delays at the check out, mistrust by the shopper and confusion with the cashiers.
4. Loyalty and Customer Retention Programs. Does the point of sale support programs to keep your shoppers coming back? Loyalty programs, gift cards, and other marketing programs should be integrated to the point of sale system so the shopper sees the benefits of repeat shopping at your stores.
5. Competitive Merchant Services Rates. Often hidden in merchant services statements and not frequently reviewed by store operators, many point of sale systems have high merchant services rates with hidden charges. While credit card processing rates are complex and difficult to understand, your point of sale system partner should assist you in understanding the true cost of taking credit cards to your business and the impact such rates are having on your profitability.
6. Provide data for management of your store. The data that the point of sale system provides is critical to the management of your business. This includes accurate item pricing, unit sales, inventory management, labor costs, mark downs, price adjustments, slow movers, out of stock positions, and shrinkage. Does your point of sale provide the data you need to run your stores in an understandable and focused manner?

SalePoint has been in the point of sale business since 1987 providing systems to leading retail companies. We would be happy to discuss your point of sale needs with you. Our website is https://www.salepoint.com/retail or email us at [email protected].