Point of sale systems can be a valuable tool for business owners. More than just a regular cash register, the point of sale system allows you to keep track of your business' sales, inventory, customers and employees. As a result, it becomes the hub of information for your business, allowing you to manage your operations more efficiently and accurately. With that being said, investing in a reliable and functional point of sale equipment is incredibly important.
However, choosing one is not always an easy task. In fact, POS systems have advanced dramatically since the first cash register appeared, meaning that you have a large range of point of sale equipment to choose from. That's why you need to do your homework before buying one. Here are some factors to consider when sifting through the hundreds of POS systems on the market.
Features
First of all, ask yourself what category your business fits in. Hospitality POS systems are completely different from retail POS systems. Then, there's also the option to get a general, all-purpose POS. However, systems that try to cater to every business's needs tend to have many limits and won't be appropriate for everyone. Keep in mind your businesses unique operations, and choose a system designed to simplify them. For instance, if you run a retail business with a checkout counter, you may want to choose a point of sale system that has an NFC reader that allows for contactless payments. For restaurants, a POS system that is able to split checks and calculate tips can be a really smart choice. As for businesses that provide delivery services, a POS that can keep track of deliveries can be of great help.
Security
Your point of sale system will store valuable data about your business which you don't want to lose in any way. What's more, the system will also process confidential data about your customers such as credit card numbers and names. With that being said, in order to protect yourself and your customers, you should consider choosing a point of sale system that is EMV-compliant.
Integration
The point of sale system you choose should easily integrate into your existing business structure. It should be easy to connect it with other systems you use, such as accounting or email marketing software. If the point of sale can connect to other software, it can share sales figures and customer contact information with the programs you use. As a result, you won't have to deal with the hassle of manually uploading information from one program to the other.
