Your point of sale system plays a critical role in your business, so it’s understandable that you’ll have a few questions before diving into purchasing a POS system and the software and hardware to support it.
Here are four common questions about point of sale, answered:
This is of course a very subjective question; and the POS system, hardware and software that's right for you and your business will depend on what kind of business you run and what specifically you need. However, the best point of sale systems and software are those that give you the freedom and support to scale and curate your business as you see fit. The best POS systems are: hardware agnostic, platform agnostic and payment gateway agnostic… meaning, you can pick and choose the features you want and need to support your business without getting locked into expensive contracts or large upfront costs that don't serve your bottom line.
Some of these will depend on the type of industry you're in and the size of your business. But that’s not to say there aren’t universal features you should keep an eye out for no matter if you own a retail store, restaurant, salon, food truck, or any business that requires a POS.
Here are some features you should look out for in a point of sale system:
Traditionally, point of sale systems had to be hardwired or connected to WiFi in order to operate. But with advances in technology, and with cloud point of sale systems becoming the norm, there are plenty of workarounds to ensure that with or without the internet, your business can still run smoothly.
Today, point of sale systems have offline modes which save all point of sale transactions locally to your device, and will automatically update when you’re reconnected. This is especially helpful for food trucks, farmer’s market vendors, and mobile businesses like pet groomers, hairdressers and more.
Just be sure to take extra precautions when accepting credit card payments with no internet. If the card is expired or declined, you’re at risk for eating that cost. So make it a point to check IDs and expirations when taking payments in offline mode.
The short answer is yes! Of course you can.
And for the long answer: Make sure you have all the tools and programs you need to be successful. The right point of sale company will provide you with guidance on what apps and integrations you’ll need to run an organized and profitable business. They'll also easily equip you with the type of POS software you’ll need to process payments and manage your sales from an iPad.
Many business owners prefer to run their point of sale from an iPad because they are portable and have an easy-to-use touch screen. Rest assured that you can use an iPad as your main point of sale device or as a supporting device. Just remember to have a knowledgeable and trusted POS company help set it up for you because all point of sale software is not created equal.
For more business advice and guidance, visit our resources hub. To find out more about what an Epos Now system can do for your business, get in touch today.
Our Lowest Price Ever