Finalising the POS Hardware for your retail store : The ultimate checklist
The spotlight of most retail outlets to grow as a business, is concentrated at increasing the sales, to ensure better revenue each month. In the quest to grow as a business, almost all retailers overlook the importance of a seamless process to transact those sales.
While generating sales by acquiring more customers is very important for a business, making sure your checkout process is absolutely effortless is one of the key principles for growing.
According to a research by HubSpot, it has been revealed that 93% of the customers are more likely to return to outlets that provide seamless shopping experience and good customer service.
To ensure repeated sales from returning customers, it is important to enhance their checkout experience as a part of your strategy to make them happy. A retail POS hardware that not only helps in conducting frictionless sales, but also improve the overall efficiency of your staff members is the first thing that should come to your mind while finalising one. This is only possible if you POS system is proficiently managing your inventory, your sales and the activity of your staff members.
With countless options available for POS hardware, finding the right set of devices that can make simplify your point-of-sales operations can be quite challenging. To narrow down your search, it is important that you understand the nature of your business and the category of the products that you will be selling.
Retail stores that are bigger in size, need a robust and dynamic set of devices that decreases the waiting time for the customers in the checkout queue. A relatively smaller unit, however, may not need as many devices but something that adds value to their business, reduces the operational time and cost. Whether your set up is small or large, a POS Hardware should always give provide precise data to help create a holistic strategy to grow the business.
If you think buying your devices for a perfect set-up is easy, it is time to re-consider options that you have in mind. Obviously, you can’t buy anything that is popular, your equipment should match the functions of your business too. We are no longer in a world where a standard product can fit every need.
It is important you analyse each item, small and big, and eliminate ones that doesn’t solve your problems. This is only possible if you know exactly what you need and the features of the devices you have shortlisted.
For instance: a thermal receipt printer can work a great deal in a heated kitchen atmosphere where the ink from a receipts evaporates within a matter of time. Thermal technology produces receipts that are long lasting. However, if you own a grocery store or a clothing outlet, you will not need a printer with thermal technology.
This explains that the policy of “one size fits all” doesn’t apply everywhere.
Think of what you need
Like we said, you can find a myriad options to buy from, but if you compare and choose as per your needs and wants, you will probably fall in good hands. Look for a POS hardware provider that guides you in the right direction and is available to explain the features of a particular device.
Consider the core functions that your devices can provide and the add-ons options available to make your checkout process faster and smoother.
We no longer live in an era where a single cash register could be the answer for all our POS problems. With an audience much bigger and the technology so advance, there is always scope for improvement. In the present day and age, let’s see what your POS Hardware is capable of managing:
To carry out the process of transacting a sales, you will need a barcode scanner that not only processes sales within fractions of seconds but also helps keep a check on the inventory.
There are many scanner that come with an in-built software to manage the inventory of your warehouse and store front. For instance : if you are running out on a product or have it in excess, you should be able to either order it in time or not place an order before the old stock is cleared.
Even if you are signing up to a POS software to maintain your sales, analytics and employee data, you will still need a scanner on your counter to carry out the sales.
The supplier of your point of sales hardware should be reliable and give you a good insight about the latest technology and the devices that will fit in best. The most common hardware that you will need include:
· POS terminal
· Receipt printer
· Barcode scanner
· Card reader for payments
· Cash Drawer
If you already have a set of equipment, consider things that you need to add and devices that need to be eliminated. The ones that only occupy space and are used minimally should be replaced with something that add value to your complete set-up.
Additionally, a set of devices as a part of POS hardware is something that will last you a couple of years. Therefore, buying a device in which the technology is obsolete will not be a great idea, especially if you are doing it to save a few bucks. Keep in mind, that you may be small right now, but your aim is to get bigger and bigger every few years.
Wrapping up
A good barcode scanner with an excellent scanning speed and inventory management software, along with a receipt printer that wirelessly connects to your POS system to print receipt within fractions of seconds will be the two backbones of your retail store. Additionally, you can go with buying an automatic cash drawer that opens up only when you conduct a transaction. Look for a POS Terminal that offers exceptional interface that is also user-friendly so that you can cut down the training time for your staff members.
Most certainly, the devices that you will buy for your retail outlet should be bought keeping in mind your requirement and convenience. Additionally, there is no harm in spending a few bucks extra for added features, since this going to be a one off investment. Going with devices that are a generation old or even one step behind technology is not advisable. After all, one small feature of a device can really save a lot of time and effort in your daily operations.
Find Wish A POS to tie up for reliable POS Hardware solution in Australia, for delivery at your doorstep.
