Nothing in life comes in a standard form. People are different shapes and sizes, as are the products they buy. Packaging can be very simple, or borderline hyperactive. The industries that small business owners participate in vary even more wildly, making it impossible to create a blanket statement that holds true in all cases. And unfortunately, the same holds true for small businesses and the POS technology that they rely on to keep things humming along.
There isn’t a simple, one size fits all, point of sale software system requirements guide that all business owners can follow. Not only do point of sale solution requirements change with the size of the business, but they are also highly dependent on the configuration requirements of any particular industry. As you can imagine, this can quickly become very confusing and may tempt you to wave the white flag.
Before you give up and surrender to the legacy register on your checkout counter or your spreadsheets and piles of receipts on your office desk, pause for a moment. Take some time to review this short comparison of POS technologies, and discover how they work for a variety of industry types and business models. This will give you the perspective you need to make a decisive choice about the POS technology you should be using within your own business.
Retail and Specialty Boutiques Enjoy Universal POS Requirements
One industry that has consistent POS solution requirements regardless of size or genre is the retail industry. Developing a strict inventory control strategy, while leveraging data to stay on top of consumer trends, has a foundational place in any retail setting. Monitoring sales transactions for potential points of product leakage, while ensuring that returns, exchanges, or voids are handled correctly, are just a few of the ways a modern POS solution can help a retailer of any size.
The ability to readily scan in items the moment they arrive, and tracking them until sold is another requirement that all retailers have. Using an app-equipped smartphone to quickly scan items, or using a tablet with your POS loaded onto it to perform a checkout or place a special order are a few more ways that retailers can leverage advanced POS technology. These provide an easy avenue to build a better experience for customers while improving profit margins.
Restaurant and Food Service Businesses Have Complex and Unique POS Needs
The food services industry is much different than retail and will have a variety of nuances based on the type of food service being provided. Some of the most common aspects, such as online ordering, kitchen display systems, and managing tips, can be discussed as a general need across all foodservice genres. Here are some other POS specifics that common foodservice and restaurant genres may require to complete their POS platforms.
- QSRs are increasingly being required by consumer demand to provide app-based online ordering, including pickup scheduling or delivery options.
- Traditional family restaurants are leaning on POS technology to assist in managing table reservations.
- Specialty or fine dining restaurants are equipping servers with tablets to facilitate faster table turnaround times and to increase order accuracy.
- Cafes and coffee shops are using POS features that allow them to build kiosk ordering, use online ordering, and to better manage customer rewards programs.
While many of these POS functions can translate into most any foodservice genre, they will need to be configured and scaled to fit the particular needs of each business model. Understanding these differences, and applying the most applicable features to your restaurant or foodservice business will help you to design and implement a POS system that meets the demands of your particular business scenario.
Salons and Spas Rely Heavily on Creating a Stress-Free Environment
There are perhaps no other industries more devoted to creating a comfortable, relaxing environment for patrons than salons and spas. These business types not only have the task of making things as easy as possible for their customers but must also keep staff calm and relaxed at all times. This places a heavy reliance on the POS solutions to automatically manage most of the daily business tasks so that everything is taken care of behind the scenes.
Managing appointments is a large stressor for both parties. Modern POS solutions provide salons and spas with the ability to take scheduling into the cloud via a POS app. The app provides full transparency into schedules for clients and your staff and makes it easy for both parties to easily make date, time, or service changes simply by a few taps on a screen. This eliminates a large stress inducer and allows your staff to stay focused on your clientele.
POS Requirements for Mobile Businesses Starts with the Cloud
You typically do not consider a mobile business to be on the cusp of emerging technology. And yet, many mobile businesses, such as food trucks or craft show vendors, are increasingly relying on POS technology to better manage their businesses. Since mobile business owners are often an army of one, letting their advanced POS tools handle the heavy lifting of their business operations frees them to focus on their most important asset: the customer.
POS software solutions have advanced greatly in their use by mobile business owners, largely thanks to the emergence of cloud-based POS technologies. The ability to use the cloud to access their data and to manage operations through an app has allowed these businesses to step up their games. No longer regulated to sitting and hoping for customers, they can now take the initiative to drive business to them using the advanced POS tools at their fingertips.
Need Help with Your Point of Sale Software System Requirements?
Building the perfect POS solution for your business is a complex undertaking. Not only do use cases often not directly apply to your unique situation, but many POS platforms on the market today are rigidly designed and not easily adaptable. Choosing the best point of sale solution is directly related to your understanding of your specific POS system requirements, but gaining the knowledge you need to make this determination is not realistic.
This is where a valued POS solutions partner comes into the picture. They will sit down and develop an in-depth understanding of your current processes, future goals, and identify points of improvement. These aspects of your business will be seamlessly integrated into a POS solution that fits your business like a glove, giving you the confidence you need to project an enticing brand voice out into the world.
The development of a partnership with an experienced POS solution provider is critical. Not only will you obtain a fully customized POS solution for your business, but a valued partner as well. The consultants at talech offer a wide range of customizable POS features to choose from. This gives you the confidence of knowing the system you’re implementing gives you the results you desire. Reach out to us today to sign up for a demo and to learn more about how talech can be your valued POS partner.
