POS Systems Review

As a current or future retail owner, you know the importance of providing fast, first-class customer service. A positive experience can turn a first-time shopper into a regular customer who will recommend your business to friends and family. A friendly and helpful store clerk can create a positive experience for customers; however, it also takes an efficient POS system that will provide the clerk with valuable information and make the checkout process quick and easy.

Since not every business is the same, most manufacturers will customize a point of sale system for you. With a custom system that addresses all the needs of your store, you can be more efficient and provide a quicker, more enjoyable experience for customers. In retail, it is important to provide great service so that people will choose you over your competition. POS systems like Gotmerchant, effortlessE and The General Store are designed to help with exactly that, and they make your life a little easier, too.

Whether you choose a software-based system or one that is hosted on the web, both solutions save time at the checkout. The best POS systems also help manage your inventory, track and store customer information, create a variety of labels and provide valuable reports. You will have instant access to all aspects of your store, including the information you need to make educated business decisions. Check out our additional articles on POS systems that will help you make an informed decision on which solution is right for your retail business. At TopTenREVIEWS We Do the Research So You Don’t Have To.™

POS System: What to Look For

Whether you are looking for a web-based or software-based POS system, you will want it to be a complete package. It should not only improve customer satisfaction, but also meet your needs as a retail business. The following criteria are what we looked for in these systems to meet both points.

Hardware
A complete solution should include a PC or module, display, keyboard and mouse, high–quality cash drawer, barcode scanner, credit card reader, receipt printer and label printer. Top manufacturers will customize the system to fit your business. Some companies have specific packages of hardware, while others offer each piece separately. Either way is fine as long as it meets your needs.

Inventory & Other Features
Whether it is software- or web-based, you want a system that will help track, organize and supply your inventory. Organization plays a major part in your employees' ability to locate items in the system, which in turn speeds the checkout process. Many also provide built in options for layaways, multi-payment plans and gift certificates.

Customer Tracking & Labels
For some businesses, it can be quite beneficial to be able to retain customer information for future transactions. Some software will also allow you to track customer's lines of credit so that they can buy now and pay later. Stored customer information can also speed up shipping by having labels with a customer's address all ready to go. Most POS Systems will print shipping labels, but only select systems will also do price tags, shelf tags and customized labels.

Employees & Security
All the information on POS systems is important. You will want one that has multiple levels of security access and password protection. It is also convenient when you can use your point of sale system for clocking in and out, tracking commissions, tracking employee hours and similar benefits.

Help & Support
The best manufacturers provide training through videos and manuals. Providers should also offer technical help through FAQs and online tutorials as well as 24/7 phone and email support. Aside from learning how to use them, POS systems can have issues just like any piece of equipment, so find a company that offers excellent tech support and a warranty.

The combination all of these features together gives you a solid POS system that will make your customers happy, help you manage your inventory and sales transactions, simplify your business and generally improve your speed and efficiency. The key is to find the one that best meets the needs of your company and cliental.