How To Find The Right EPOS For Your Business

To make sure that transactions go without a hitch, you should find the right point of sale systems for your business. With that in mind, consider the following buying tips:

 

1. Analyze your business' income and requirements.

 

Point of sale systems are not cut from the same cloth. One system might offer a feature that cannot be found in other systems. There are also determining factors that will allow you to narrow down your options. Start with what your company really needs. Know the income stream of your company first. If your company is earning no more than £10,000 a month, you might find it easier to man an electronic cash register than a fully computerised or automated POS system.

Know which type of POS system will work better for your needs. Basically, POS systems serve two types of customers. The first one is the retailer. These are the customers that do not require complicated systems because they want to complete transactions pronto. You might want to search for a system that will allow returns or exchanges depending on the general rules of your retail stores. Some might also require electronic scales.

The POS systems needs of a restaurant or hospitality business might be different to those of an outlet selling retail goods. When running a restaurant, checking the orders, tweaking the orders to accommodate changes and knowing which member of the waiting staff is designated to a particular order are some of the features that must be incorporated in the system.

If you are running promotions, sales and discounts regularly, talk to the seller about creating a system that will work to accommodate sales and discounts. Also analyse the possibility of giving gift cards in the future as this might affect POS transactions.

2. Look for companies that can explain POS systems to you in layman's terms.

EPOS systems look and sound a little daunting at first. Many business owners can run a business even with their hands tied behind their back but can be lacking in technical skills. That being said, customers should transact with a company that can make things a lot more understandable and a tad easier.

The POS systems seller must discuss the features of the package to the customers in a very detailed manner. Before agreeing to any deal, make sure you as a customer also divulge more about your company's unique needs. Allow the seller to determine what the requirements of your retail company are.

Also find out what is included in the package. A typical EPOS system is comprised of a cash drawer, a printer and touch screen monitor. From here, you can discuss what other additional software and hardware can be included. Find out if the additional hardware is really needed. You could be paying for additional features or items that you do not really need. If you are looking to expand your business in the future, you might want to consider whether to include more advanced gadgets and devices such as a magnetic stripe reader or scanners.

However, loading your system with more advanced features does not necessarily mean giving you more convenience. A small company might find these devices a burden. If you are still in the process of growing your retail company, you can try looking for systems that are more flexible or those that will allow you to add more devices in the future without changing the over-all EPOS system.

3. Buy the system from a reliable seller.

Be savvy when choosing the seller that can buy your POS system from. Ask for price quotes and testimonials from existing customers before sealing the deal so you can still compare it with other companies. It is also often better to buy a complete PC-based system from one company rather than buying separate system pieces from different suppliers. This way, you won't have trouble dealing with errors or bugs in the system. Also, you won't have trouble with the incompatibility of software and hardware.

EPOS is an important part of a business. Whether you are buying restaurant EPOS or retailpoint of sale systems, you have to make sure that it is really right for your business.

About the Author

Sarah Shore writes articles for Sparkstone Technology, a supplier of effective point of sale systems to retail and ecommerce businesses, operating within a wide range of different sectors. Sparkstone's EPOS systems are packed with functionality, scalable and feature robust technology, as well as comprehensive reporting.