|
by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer  POS software is what tells your point of sale system how to perform certain tasks, as well as how information is to be sent across multiple systems and the Internet. Exactly which tasks your POS software will perform depends on what software you choose and what needs your business may have. Be sure to get free price quotes and product details from a variety of vendors before making a purchase.
Using POS Software All small business POS software does not work the same, so it is important to examine different packages before making your final decision. Try to pick software that has all the features your company is looking for, but also is easy to learn and use for both you and your employees. Once it has been determined which POS software your company will use, and you have become familiar with its workings, you will likely want to offer a training session to instruct employees how to operate the system. POS Software: Features One feature you will see in most point of sale software is the ability to operate the cash drawer. A POS cash drawer cannot be opened or operated without a user ID and password. Another feature is the ability to transmit data to various business locations. This can be helpful to businesses that have more than one location, including small businesses with both a home office and a professional location. The small business POS software tracks everything that is done over the POS system. This can help prevent errors, process refunds and paperwork, find out which products sell most, and much more. POS software can come in forms compatible with both monitors and LCD touch screens. LCD touch screens are the most popular as they offer ease of use and quicker transactions than keyboard operation does. Customizing POS Software POS software is very versatile and can be customized to fit the needs of your business. For instance, if your company is a retail location, the POS system can not only track the sales, but also keep a record for bookkeeping as well as for restocking inventory. That same system might also keep a record of customer information, sales and promotions, price lists and more. This can make it simpler to look up information for refunds, check item stock for a customer, and to help control inventory loss. *I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network RELATED: Should You Buy a Used POS System? Do You Need a POS Cash Drawer? Benefits of Electronic Point of Sale (POS) Equipment
0 Comments
by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer  When considering a point of sale system for your company, there are times when it is practical to purchase a used POS system. There also are times where it will be more cost effective to buy a new one. It is important to pay attention to minor details and get price quotes and product descriptions from several different vendors before making a decision.
Used POS System: Pricing While pricing could play a role in your decision, it shouldn't be the deciding factor. The money that a POS system will save your business in the long run is likely far greater than any discount you will receive on a used POS system. Instead, look for the best system you can get that will fit your company's operational needs. Cheap POS systems are not always the best deal. Software Support POS software sometimes requires support, as does most software. When there are questions or difficulties that need to be resolved, it is the software support that your business will be consulting. The problem with some used POS systems is that support for the software may no longer exist. To run the system efficiently, you may have to purchase support or even a whole new software program. Doing so could cost you more than a new system. Compatibility Be sure to find out if all the POS components you are purchasing are compatible with each other, and whether anything extra will be needed for the system to operate. Individual components aren't worth much, if anything at all, without compatible components and software. Be sure to pay close attention to this detail, especially when choosing a used POS system. Customization The biggest benefit to a POS system is the ability to customize it to each company's needs. When considering a used system, be sure to examine how much customization is possible. Pay attention and make sure it is what your company is looking for. If the system cannot meet your company's needs, then it is not a wise choice. A POS system without all the desired features is usually a waste of money. Upgrade and Management Options As businesses grow and technology changes, upgrades will need to be made to the system. Be sure that the used options you are considering allow the ability to upgrade. If a system cannot be upgraded, it will not be good for your business. Software often requires upgrades to process data in the most current format. *I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer  Deciding whether or not your company needs a POS cash drawer depends on many factors. Though most businesses will benefit, it is best to weigh all the pluses and negatives when deciding whether to make a purchase or not.
What Makes a POS Cash Drawer Different? A POS cash drawer can only be operated in conjunction with the right POS cash register equipment and software. This helps prevent theft and also helps keep better track of sales. Sales are tracked in real time over the Internet through the POS software. On a manual cash register, sales might be added up, but they are not saved or transmitted in real time. A POS cash drawer also tracks inventory, customer information, refund dates and more. Why Use a POS Cash Drawer? Accounting is made simpler through the use of a point of sale cash register. There are fewer steps and less paperwork to be processed compared with a manual cash register. If your company has several locations and your customers wish to use their accounts at more than one of these, point of sale equipment makes that simpler. For example, say that a customer purchases a vacuum on Saturday. The customer has an account with your business, so his information, along with all of his sales transactions, are stored within the POS system. On Monday he decides he no longer wants that vacuum, but he has lost his receipt to prove he has paid for it. With a POS cash drawer, this isn't a problem because the customer's information can be looked up easily. Do You Really Need a POS Cash Drawer? Compare the benefits of a POS cash drawer to your company’s needs. Most companies will likely find that the benefits outweigh the risks. It’s much less difficult to track valuable customer data that is within easy access. That being said, if your company only does a few transactions per day, you may want to stick with your current method or use the most simplified version of POS cash drawers available. A regular cash register can be operated by anyone. However, a POS cash drawer can only be operated by registered users with a password. This adds a measure of security. The best POS cash drawers are made of steel for durability, since they are opened and closed so many times during the day. Getting price quotes and product details from various vendors can help you choose the right system for your company's needs. *I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network  Electronic Point of Sale Equipment: Cash Drawer Operation Electronic point of sale equipment makes it simple to operate a cash drawer. Every transaction made on the POS cash register equipment is recorded. Sales can be tracked in real time using electronic POS equipment. Real time sales tracking is beneficial in handling accounting, merchandise returns, voids, inventory control, processing credit cards and gift cards, check processing and more. Features such as touch screen menus and online price lists can help keep transactions fast and accurate. Also, the POS software can help ensure that sales and promotions are given to the customer at time of purchase. Record Keeping Everything done on electronic point of sale equipment is tracked. This is a great benefit for record keeping. Not only does it save a large amount of paper, but it also can save time and money. Some of the records kept by a POS system include inventory, customer accounts, sales transactions, restaurant orders, and current sales and pricing. With a manual cash register, these tasks would need to be handled individually and would require many more steps and manpower to complete. Accurate record keeping is also more easily attained with all the data and facts being stored in real time. For companies with more than one system or location, the ability to link multiple systems through the Internet and software is a big plus when it comes to keeping records. Safety and Loss Prevention Point of sale equipment can help with many safety and loss prevention issues. Because the system can only be operated using a registered ID and password, only certain people can open the cash drawer. This ensures that only the right people are in contact with the money. It also is tracked by transaction, as well as by registered user. This keeps the money safe and helps pinpoint where any money loss may have occurred and who may have processed the faulty transaction. Loss prevention can also be curtailed by the inventory tracking feature. *I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network
|
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
|
- Write W.A.V.E. Media
- Intent-sive Nature
- Business, Marketing, & Content Services
- Submit Guest Posts
- About Us & Contact
- Writing, Web, Business, & Tech
- News
- Travel
- Family & Home
- Education
- Health & Beauty
-
Causes
- Fun
- Become An Affiliate!
- Disclosure, TOU, Disclaimer, & Privacy
- Shipping Policy
- Return Policy
- Write W.A.V.E. Media
- Intent-sive Nature
- Business, Marketing, & Content Services
- Submit Guest Posts
- About Us & Contact
- Writing, Web, Business, & Tech
- News
- Travel
- Family & Home
- Education
- Health & Beauty
-
Causes
- Fun
- Become An Affiliate!
- Disclosure, TOU, Disclaimer, & Privacy
- Shipping Policy
- Return Policy
RSS Feed
