Businesses should consider whether they want their point-of-sale software to include scheduling and time tracking tools like those offered by Square or whether they prefer to use a standalone time and attendance system. (Source: Carré)
As an established business owner evaluating POS upgrades or replacements, your decision must balance current operational issues with future growth requirements. The selection process requires careful consideration of several factors beyond basic features. We consulted with experienced business owners to understand their evaluation criteria and gather information to make informed point-of-sale decisions.
Prices
Point-of-sale systems typically have recurring monthly costs, so it’s essential to ensure your business can cover the expenses in the long term. While you shouldn’t sign up for a plan that will break your budget, it may be worth choosing a mid-tier or higher plan that will be more beneficial in the long run than a basic plan.
“An advanced POS may cost more, but provides scalable tools,” said Haiko de Poel, owner of The Great Greek Charleston. “If growth is a goal, the additional investment in a sophisticated system will pay off. »
Jay Owen, CEO of Business Builders, agrees. “If growth and scalability are priorities, invest in a system with powerful features, even if it costs more,” he told us.
Dylan Cleppe, owner of OneStop Northwest, also said, “An advanced platform may cost more upfront, but provide infrastructure at scale, avoiding replacement costs down the road. »
Industry-specific features
Most major POS vendors today offer feature sets designed for specific industries. For example, Clover offers different plans designed for different industries, such as retail stores and home and field service businesses.
For Matt Foley, founder of LobsterOrder.com, choosing a restaurant-specific POS system was essential, which led his team to select Toast. “We had to choose this product because of its strong features and design for the foodservice industry, (which is) very important to us as a seafood company,” he said.
Omnichannel ease of use
Your chosen POS system should be easy to navigate, especially across different sales channels. If you operate across multiple locations or offer e-commerce in addition to physical retail, using your POS solution should work seamlessly in all situations.
These needs drove Nathan Clark’s search when he was looking for a point-of-sale system as CEO of Organix SEO Agency. “Our main criteria for selecting a POS were ease of use and seamless integration with our store. We also needed a system that could manage both our in-store and online sales,” he said.
Clark found Shopify “intuitive to use,” noting, “The way it works seamlessly with our store has been fantastic. »
Payment options and pricing
During her search for a point-of-sale system, Ivonne Vazquez, owner of Bas Rouge Farm & Forge, found that “there were many factors to consider, such as transaction fees, customer service, the ability to accept many types of payments including NFC…the ability to securely integrate with my financial institution, and the fast processing time to add funds to my account.”
Prioritizing payment options and credit card processing rates led Vazquez to choose GoDaddy’s POS solution. “Transaction fees were lower, which is great for businesses,” she said. “Additionally, the ability to tap, swipe or insert was also a deciding factor, as it means I can appeal to more customer groups and their preferred payment methods, leading to a better overall customer experience.” »
Scalability
Whatever your business, your goal is to continue to grow and evolve your business over time. This means that your business needs will also continue to evolve over time. That’s why it’s important to choose a flexible POS system that can grow with your business.
“Select an outlet that can grow with your business,” Foley said. “For example, Toast offers flexible pricing plans and additional features that can be added when needed, making it ideally suited for businesses preparing for growth. »
Integrations
Brett Henrichsen, owner of Posterprintshop, was particularly concerned about integrations and customization. He liked that “Clover offers an open API to connect to our store” and said business owners should “choose a POS that fully integrates with your current systems.”
Reports
During his research, Henrichsen also placed importance on “in-depth sales reports to optimize our business.” It’s a lesson de Poel learned the hard way.
“I would have liked to evaluate the analyzes and data more closely,” he told us. “In the restaurant business, understanding sales trends and menu performance is key to growth. Clover’s basic reports don’t provide the information I need.”
Poel’s advice? “Determine your ‘must-haves’ and focus on systems that excel in those areas. Don’t just look at the basics,” he said. “For food businesses, think about inventory management, menu creation and data analysis.”