How to Choose the Right Retail Point of Sale System for Your Business

At SumUp, we know how crucial it is to pick the perfect point of sale system for your business. With years of experience helping countless businesses choose the right POS system, we're excited to share our tips with you. Here's our guide on choosing the perfect retail POS system to help grow your business.

Assess your business needs

Before choosing a POS system, it's important to assess your business needs. This can help you identify the features and functionality that are most important to you. Here are some questions to ask when assessing your business needs:

What is your sales volume?

Your sales volume is an important consideration when choosing a POS system. If you have a high volume of sales, you may need a system that can handle a large number of transactions quickly and efficiently.

What kind of inventory management do you need?

Consider your inventory management needs. If you sell a large number of products, you may need a system that can handle complex inventory tracking and management.

What kind of customer relationship management (CRM) do you need?

Consider your CRM needs when choosing a POS system. If you want to track customer information and purchase history, you may need a system that has robust CRM features.

Consider hardware and software options

There are many hardware and software options available for POS systems. It's important to consider the pros and cons of each option before making a decision. Some considerations include:

Traditional cash registers vs. tablet-based systems

Traditional cash registers are a tried and true option that many businesses are used to. However, tablet-based systems are becoming increasingly popular due to their flexibility and ease of use.

Cloud-based vs. on-premise software

On-premise software can offer more control over your data and security. Cloud-based software can offer many benefits, including automatic updates, which can eliminate the need to take time and resources to manage updates, and remote access, making it accessible from anywhere, which is beneficial for managing multiple locations. 

Look for integrations

Integrations can help streamline your operations and improve your marketing efforts. Some integrations to consider include:

Accounting software

Integrating your POS system with accounting software can help streamline your financial reporting and reduce errors. This includes popular accounting software like QuickBooks or Xero.

Email marketing software

Integrating your POS system with email marketing software can help you create targeted marketing campaigns based on customer purchase history. This can include popular email marketing software like Mailchimp or Constant Contact, or as part of a native loyalty marketing platform, like SumUp Loyalty.

Evaluate ease of use

Ease of use is an important consideration when choosing a POS system. A system that is easy to use can help minimize employee training time and improve customer satisfaction. Some features to look for include:

User interface

A good UI is designed to be intuitive, so users can easily navigate the system without confusion. A well-designed interface uses clear, consistent labeling and grouping of functions, and a logical flow of information. This can help reduce the learning curve for new users and improve their productivity.

Reporting capabilities

Make sure the system has robust reporting capabilities that are easy to understand. A well-designed reporting system can improve ease of use, provide easy access to information, offer customizable reports, provide real-time data, and ensure data security. 

Consider customer support

Customer support is an important consideration when choosing a POS system. A reliable support team can help minimize downtime and resolve issues quickly. Some options to consider include:

Phone and online chat support

Make sure the system offers phone support during business hours, including a live support line and callback services, as well as a system that offers online chat support for quick issue resolution. This can include features like live support or call-back services.

Compare pricing and fees

Pricing and fees can vary widely between POS systems. It's important to compare pricing models and fees to choose a system that fits your budget. Some considerations include:

Transaction-based fees

Some systems charge transaction-based fees. These transaction fees are commonly percentage-based fees or flat fees per transaction.

Subscription-based fees

Many cloud-based POS systems charge a monthly or yearly subscription fee, which can be more predictable and easier to budget for. This can include features like tiered pricing or all-inclusive pricing. 

Evaluate security features

Security features are an important consideration when choosing a POS system. A secure system can help protect customer data and minimize the risk of fraud. Some features to look for include:

Encryption

Make sure the system uses encryption to protect customer data. Encryption works by encoding sensitive information into an unreadable format that can only be decrypted with the appropriate decryption key. This helps to protect customer data from unauthorized access, theft, and fraud. Common encryption types include SSL, TLS, AES and RSA encryption.

User access controls

Make sure the system has user access controls to prevent unauthorized access. This can include features like password protection or multi-factor authentication.

Consider scalability

Scalability is an important consideration if you're planning to grow your business. It's important to choose a system that can grow with you and adapt to changing needs. Some features to look for include:

Multi-location management

eAs businesses grow and expand, managing inventory, employees, and customer data across multiple locations can become increasingly challenging. Multi-location management helps businesses overcome these challenges by streamlining operations and providing centralized control over multiple locations.

Inventory tracking

Make sure the system can handle increased inventory tracking if you're planning to expand your product offerings. Features like real-time inventory updates or automated reordering may be useful in the scaling of your business. 

Choosing the right retail point of sale system is an important decision that can have a significant impact on your business. By assessing your business needs, considering hardware and software options, integrations, ease of use, customer support, pricing and fees, security features, and scalability, you can choose the system that fits your budget and meets your needs.