The implementation of a new POS solution can involve high investment costs. For small retailers in particular, it is important to keep the fixed costs low in order to generate profit as quickly as possible. At the same time, to ensure successful business operations, even the smallest retailer needs to provide itself with an innovative solution that supports an efficient workflow.
In the search for a suitable retail solution, the small retailer must not only look at the POS system, but also at all systems that must be connected to it and its flexibility.
The four tips below form a guideline for the small retailer in the search for a POS system that suits their needs.
1. Possibility to expand
The main competitive advantages of the small retailer are a flat hierarchy and a flexible company structure. Small companies have the advantage of being able to respond immediately to changes in the market or in their own structure. The ideal POS system should support this maneuverability.
In the start-up phase, the small retailer only needs the standard functionalities. Nevertheless, with a view to the future, we recommend choosing a system with high flexibility and various possibilities for expansion.
Choose a system that is designed for growth. Once you have decided to expand your business, you can add POS terminals to your new stores with little effort and low costs and easily implement new functionalities. If you plan to implement an implementation in a short period of time, it is important to work closely with your implementation partner.
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2. A complete solution with back office functionalities
Small companies often do not have a back-office system. Stocks may then be recorded in Microsoft Excel. This kind of software solutions seems at first a good choice, because the initial costs are rather low. On closer inspection, it turns out to be more expensive as data has to be integrated and manually replicated.
POS Systems have a back-office system that includes all the functions that the small retailer needs and that makes them best retail pos. With this set-up the management of inventory, prices and items is very efficient, since it all takes place in the same system.
3. A smart solution
Before starting with the implementation of a POS system, the small retailer needs to clarify which functions they need from the beginning. To succeed, it is important to go step by step. Depending on the specific characteristics of the solution, POS systems today offer numerous functionalities. Many of them are useful, but not necessary at first. Do not forget that it is possible to expand the POS system in the future, for example with the growth of your company.
Once your priorities have been defined, the focus in choosing POS software must be simplicity, speed and flexibility for all important functions.
4. Compact hardware and mobility
In addition to the software, part of the investment costs goes to hardware. When implementing a new POS solution, the retailer must also take into account the costs of necessary hardware equipment such as a POS terminal, a receipt printer, a screen, a barcode scanner, a card reader, etc. Do not forget to include this list of equipment. multiply for each POS terminal!
Some software solutions can be implemented on mobile devices. This gives you the opportunity to equip your mobile phone with a ‘retail jacket’ and use it as Point of Sale (POS).
The ‘retail jacket’ contains a barcode scanner and USB ports to connect to other devices such as printers. This compact type of solution not only keeps the investment costs low, but is also flexible and future-oriented, allowing retailers to serve their customers anywhere on the shop floor and also to close sales. We therefore recommend choosing a software that also provides a mobile solution so that you can save on hardware costs and gain mobility.
