POS Systems to Avoid2 min read

Now that POS technology is becoming a household term, retail businesses everywhere are revamping their sales and checkout procedures on a full scale effort. Anyone who is not fully acquainted with point of sale technology may not realize that there are some distinctions between system choices. What this means is that if the average Joe-small business owner makes the decision to head forward with the implementation of POS technology for his business, there is still some important consideration ahead of him, in order to prevent his acquisition from being a frustration or a negative factor.

Know your specific needs

Among some of the more common mistakes retailers can make when evaluating point of sale software is understanding how it will impact the conduction of their business and their long term profitability. Certainly, most responsible retail business owners conduct a good deal of research before they add POS or make any changes to their existing methods of operation. But it’s important to understand that the various folks selling all of the different POS systems will all proclaim that their product is superior to the others. Here’s where the astute POS customer, AKA business owner, must be able to divide any sales hype from the true facts. One way to successfully accomplish this is to understand upfront exactly what their particular line of business will most benefit from, in terms of POS software. Goals must be clearly defined.

Vendors, vendors everywhere

Like with most new technological breakthroughs, we’re seeing vendors come and go. There are some important questions that should be answered by the vendor, in order to establish a level of accountability that anyone purchasing POS should have. A POS purchase should be accompanied by concerns such as the length of time the vendor has been in business, in addition to the exact level of support they will provide, after the sale. What, if any training will be provided, and what exact attributes of their software might be designed to address the specific needs of the business it will be used for? And finally, it’s OK to obtain references.

Don’t go for the low

Never simply opt for low priced POS, no matter how enticing the deal may sound. A deal that doesn’t specifically match your business will not be a deal. You’ll need a POS system that can not only meet your needs but also grow with your business, so think long term. A POS is an investment in your business’s future, and one that you will hopefully be able to be happy with for years to come.

There’s no universal POS

Avoid POS systems that promise to be “all things to all businesses.” It may take a little effort, but you’re going to need software that can effectively be integrated well with third-party technology apps, without which you will be locked into a dire stagnation.