What to Look for When Comparing POS Systems

 
When it comes to choosing the best point of sale (POS) system, small business owners have quite a bit of information at their disposal. While this process can seem daunting without a guide, the points of making a decision on any business software come down to some basic key elements.
 

Things to Keep In Mind:

 
Before delving into the nitty gritty of the point of sale system, business owners need to keep their business needs in mind.

What is the medium of sales? Is the business a physical brick and mortar location like a retail store or a small restaurant? Is the business a kiosk or box office kind of establishment?

Answering these questions will help business owners narrow down the exact software needed to provide for their needs. A retail store needs a different ordering process than a full scale restaurant. Additionally, if your business has a mobile component where commerce happens away from the register, your credit card processing system may need to be iPhone, iPad and Android friendly.
 

Points to Consider:

 
After narrowing down the specific needs of the business, one can look at the more detailed aspects of choosing a POS system provider.

1. Great Features
Strong features, such as touch activation, low inventory alerts, and a customer relationship management system are huge assets to consider when choosing a POS system. Convenience and efficiency are two of the biggest factors in a successful transaction. Consumers who have to wait for employees to slowly input information become impatient. The idea of your POS system is to make the credit card processing a quick transaction so your consumers and employees can move from one task to another with ease.

2. Ease of Use
Simplicity is another factor to consider. A friendly, easy-to-read layout is absolutely paramount for transaction navigation. Having contact storage features allows the input of consumer information for quick and easy return ordering. Software that lags or causes recurring glitches creates an environment of frustration and will potentially alienate consumers from future buys.

3. Customer Service
Along with ease of use comes good customer service. Take the time to understand the POS provider’s support methodology as you go through the quote and purchase process. All point of sale systems glitch at one time or another, but knowing that the tech support on the other end of the phone will be patient, competent, and friendly is a great comfort.

4. Flexibility
The flexibility of the system calls back to the features and benefits it offers. Will a business be able to use the POS system for more than simple transactions? Receiving inventory alerts and reminders of important transactions—such as shipping dates and arrivals—are little details that set certain systems apart. Understanding the shortcuts and the limits of the system will make or break it’s productivity.

5. Pricing Structures
Choosing a POS is like anything else and the price needs to directly correlate to the value of the product received. Cheap means nothing if the product constantly breaks down. Cost effective purchasing is purchasing that researches features, fees, and combs the fine print of the contract. When purchasing a POS system, be sure to enroll in a contract that does not egregious terms.