When choosing a POS system, there are some key factors to consider. Before you go ahead and schedule a demo or access a free trial of any system, take a moment to think about your business needs and create a shortlist of candidates who might be a good fit for them.
We spoke with business owners and decision-makers who went through the process of choosing a POS system and asked them how they made their choice and what they wish they had known in advance.
Consider configuration and implementation
Setting up a point-of-sale system can be a big task, and sometimes it can come with an additional price tag. For new businesses trying to get started, a poor system could cause unnecessary delays. For small businesses with a limited budget, high installation costs can end up turning a cost-effective system into a cost-prohibitive one.
“While the ongoing costs of a good POS system are generally low, initial installation costs can be higher than expected,” said Dimitri Zobnin, owner and general manager of House of Enki. “You’re not just paying for the software; If the POS you’ve chosen isn’t compatible with your current hardware, you could end up spending a lot of money on new cash drawers, barcode readers, and other equipment.
Find training and learning resources
Your staff will work on your point-of-sale system daily and must be proficient in its use. To avoid disruption to operations, it is essential to choose a user-friendly POS system with extensive training and learning resources. Reducing the learning curve as much as possible will ensure that your business can operate unhindered by the new system.
“Another crucial factor for us was the simplicity of the training procedures. Retail often experiences high staff turnover, particularly in the run-up to Christmas when you may bring in temporary staff to meet increased demand,” Zobnin said. “I can say that extensive training can really drain company resources as experienced staff have to take time away from their regular duties to train new team members.”
By choosing a relatively intuitive POS system, you can minimize the need for training, which is especially important when starting a startup or running a small business with limited staff. Additionally, if the vendor offers plenty of easy-to-understand self-guided help resources, your staff can reference this information to quickly get up to speed on their own.
Check reporting tools
When a POS system offers detailed reporting, it can become a valuable asset that helps you make better decisions about how to run your business. However, not all POS system reporting modules are created equal. Be sure to take a look under the hood at the types of reports you can run and if a system offers custom reports. You should also consider whether a system allows you to export your data to an external source, if you need to use it elsewhere.
“We needed a point of sale that would allow us to export our sales data and reports in CSV format,” said Lev Tretyakov, CEO and Sales Director of Fortador. “We opted for Loyverse in 2017. Their advanced data export features suited our needs well. We export the data and use Excel to check trends, performance and patterns and make business decisions.
Analyzing reports in this way is especially important for new businesses who need to establish a basic understanding of what their customers want and don’t want. Over time, this data can be used to adjust inventory and ensure you are providing your customers with the right products.
Discover customization and flexibility
Some POS systems are very flexible and allow you to customize the software and configure the hardware in a way that works best for your team. Others are more rigid and what you see is what you get. When demonstrating any POS system, be sure to ask clear questions about customization and what can be adapted to your existing workflow.
“If I could do anything differently, I would explore more customizable solutions to better meet our specific needs,” said Valentin Radu, CEO and founder of Omniconvert. “Investing time to assess our unique requirements before purchasing could have led to an even more suitable solution. »
Ultimately, properly customized software can improve efficiency and reduce the learning curve associated with any new system. Look for a system that can be tailored to your business needs and a vendor who will help you configure it that way.
Opt for responsive customer support
Check out customer support team reviews from other customers before partnering with a provider. You’re bound to run into issues with your POS system sooner or later, and a helpful and responsive customer support team can make the difference between a minor problem and a major nightmare.
“The customer support experience also plays a vital role; having responsive support can make a significant difference when troubleshooting issues,” Radu said.