Category Archives: Point of Sale Software

by Retail Pro

3 tips for choosing new POS software

If your point of sale is not up to snuff, it could be enough to dissuade consumers from completing purchases when they visit your online or brick-and-mortar store. Updating your POS software can be all it takes to drive up sales, as shoppers who may have previously been hesitant to buy will be more likely to do so. Here are three things to keep in mind when you're choosing POS software.

1. Inventory tracking
Keeping track of which items are selling, what you still have in stock and what you may soon need to reorder can all be done with the help of the right point of sale software. Choosing a POS program with these features will make it easier to account for your merchandise and give you an idea of what items are popular, so you can better target your customer base, YFS Magazine reported.

2. Rewards program
POS software may be able to track customer data and establish a loyalty program, according to Business Bee. This allows you to establish a rewards program that gives shoppers perks in return for repeated business, which will improve loyalty and drive up sales.

3. Streamlined checkout
A smooth and efficient transaction at the point of sale can improve customer loyalty. Choose something simple with efficient features, as extra buttons and options may slow down the checkout process.

by Retail Pro

5 tips for establishing POS software

When you're just starting out in the online retail market, it is important to ensure you have an effective point of sale system in place. Choosing the right ecommerce software can be tricky, since there are so many options available. Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you work on establishing your online point of sale:

1. Security is crucial. Bank Info Security pointed out that correctly installing​ POS software or applications can reduce the threat of cybercrime to you and your customers.

2. Software should be secure. According to Practical Ecommerce, your POS software should provide authentication, authorization and SSL services that will protect sensitive information.

3. Compliance with industry standards is a must. Payment Card Industry compliance ensures your business is adhering to the latest security and safety guidelines.

4. Customer support can prevent shoppers from abandoning sales by resolving common checkout issues.

5. Offer different payment methods. Not all online shoppers will want to hand out their credit card information, so accepting payments from third-party sites like PayPal and peer-to-per digital currency like Bitcoin can increase your customer base.

by Retail Pro

Brick-and-mortar strategies in the digital age

Online shopping is a growing sector of the retail industry, but that doesn't mean brick-and-mortar stores are being phased out. Rather, retail merchants are simply rethinking their marketing strategies to stay relevant in the digital age. This can entail a variety of changes, such as embracing modern POS software and integrating online and in-store services. Here's a look at a few different ways for retail stores to say competitive:

Combine the online and in-store experience
Consumers often like to compare products and prices online, where they can see all the details of particular items, but they may not want to wait days or weeks for delivery. Creating a custom online experience that can easily transition to brick-and-mortar services can be a great way to draw customers in. Digital Journal reported that personalizing the shopping experience across all channels is a great way to provide the instant gratification many shoppers crave. Shoppers can buy online and then pick up their orders at brick-and-mortar locations so they can avoid the hassle and cost of having goods shipped.

Modernize your point of sale
With mobile wallets and online payment options like PayPal and LevelUp, more people are leaving their cash and credit cards at home in lieu of carrying their smartphones. Investing in POS software that can recognize various forms of payment can be a great way to win over customers and draw them in to brick-and-mortar locations. Another great option to offer consumers is email receipts that are easier to track and save than paper and sure to please eco-conscious shoppers.

Offer extra in-store services
When it comes to online shopping, the experience is often lacking a human element. Forbes suggested that retailers can attract shoppers by hosting in-store events to promote newly released products like video games and draw people in for sales. It's also nice for customers to be able to direct their questions to knowledgeable staff. Training employees on the products they are selling can be a great place to start, and retailers can also equip them with tablets that allow them to quickly access inventory and other information to better serve customers. Employees will also be able to track down other stores that carry out-of-stock items or restock on the spot for customers, according to Forbes.

by Retail Pro

Four exciting ways to leverage mobile for retail marketing

From in-store innovations to ecommerce platforms, merchants are seeing exciting ways to use retail technology to improve the customer experience and engage shoppers. Mobile platforms offer a wealth of possibilities, particularly as smartphones become more integrated within the lives of most Americans. Retailers can use mobile technology both to capture online sales and draw more shoppers into their physical stores. The trick is implementing creative strategies that integrate well with the rest of the store management technology. Here are a few ideas:

  1. Offer mobile coupons. Allowing shoppers to download and redeem promotions via smartphone can reduce printing costs and provide convenient options for customers, Biz Community suggested.
  2. Track in-store conversion rates. According to Business 2 Community contributor Himanshu Sareen, founder and CEO of Icreon Tech, merchants can use mobile technology to track window-to-conversion rates, allowing them to better assess their displays' effectiveness.
  3. Showcase brand personalities. As part of an effort to be more accessible and appealing to consumers, retailers can give their brands a more "human" face through interactive features on mobile platforms, such as video clips, suggested The Guardian.
  4. Take loyalty programs to mobile. Merchants can make it easier for customers to participate in loyalty programs by integrating them with their mobile POS systems and by providing loyalty apps so customers don't even need to carry a card, Biz Community advised.
by Retail Pro

How retail technology can empower your store clerks

Retail marketing is currently focused on improving the customer experience, but merchants should also consider how retail technology can benefit their employees. Not only do happier workers usually lead to satisfied customers and bigger profits, but technology can empower workers to be more productive and provide better service.

When choosing retail management systems and devices, such as mobile point of sale solutions, retailers should focus on improving their employees' workflows. After implementing retail tools, merchants should train their staff and adjust business processes to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by these resources. Here are a few ways that retail technology can impact employee performance:

  • Increased productivity. According to Gulf Business, companies can use the analytical capabilities of management systems to assess productivity factors, such as hours for shifts and tasks for particular groups of employees. Then, they can adjust their processes and change variables like the layout of their warehouse to make operations run more efficiently. Technology can also help employees to complete tasks more quickly and automate processes that workers previously had to perform manually.
  • Easier scheduling. Tools like mobile apps can be used to make it simpler for workers to schedule and track their hours. Managers can more easily see information about their employees' shift preferences and be notified if staff members have worked too many hours in a row without taking a break, the news source noted.
  • Access to information. By allowing store clerks to instantly look up product or inventory data, retail technology empowers employees to provide customers with the same kind of information they seek online. Instead of leaving customers to check the back store room, for example, clerks can immediately provide shoppers with accurate responses.
  • Mobility. Mobile POS systems and other technology give employees the ability to leave the cash register while still being accessible when customers want to make a purchase. In fact, they can even help to move sales along by reaching out to customers in the aisle. According to Business Wire, mobile POS is the top priority for retailers, ranking even higher than security in the January 2014 mPOS Tracker report.
  • Improved communication. Technology can help employees communicate and collaborate better. This can range from simple messaging services to innovative ideas, such as The Container Store's novel "Siri without a phone" employee communication system, as Retail Systems Research reported. The store implemented technology that allows workers to broadcast messages to specific coworkers, reducing the noise that typically attends walkie-talkie conversations.
by Retail Pro

Mobile payments on the rise in Canada

Canada is at the forefront of mobile payments in the retail industry. According to Venture Beat, 75 percent of Canadian retailers accept mobile payments, such as transactions completed by tapping smartphones. In comparison, the source said, only 2 percent of U.S. retailers have implemented this kind of system.

BC Business reported that 80 percent of the Canadian population is expected to have "tap and pay," or contactless payment, capabilities by 2016. These transactions are facilitated by smartphones and wearable technology, which are gaining prevalence in the country. The speed and simplicity of tap and pay options provide another example of how retail POS systems are aiming to bolster sales by improving the customer experience. Venture Beat mentioned that these options are increasing per-sale purchases, driving Canadian retailers to implement the retail technology and banks to partner with technology companies on applications.

As with all POS systems, security remains a major concern. The tap and pay option might offer some advantages, though. BC Business explained that cyber criminals can't use the applications as widely as credit cards,which reduces the threat of payment information being stolen. According to Venture Beat, these processes can also make use of chip technology that is inherently more secure than credit card systems.

by Retail Pro

Mobile POS systems on the rise

Mobile POS (mPOS) systems give customers convenient options for checking out in the store and can provide employees with additional information to assist shoppers. IHS Technology found that mPOS shipments rose by 50 percent globally in 2013, reaching 8.4 million units, according to Retail Solutions Online. These numbers illustrate the growing trend toward using retail technology to improve the customer experience.

Why mPOS?
Mobile hardware for retail transactions can include tablets, smartphones, dongles and other portable devices. These gadgets enable store clerks to be available for customers without being bound to a register counter. Therefore, they can quickly help a customer while stocking merchandise or help drive sales by assisting shoppers who are examining products. Today, many of these devices are similar to the platforms store associates are already familiar with due to personal use.

"Retailers increasingly are embracing tablet- and smartphone-based systems to check out customers, providing an alternative to the cash registers used by large- and medium-sized merchants, or the informal systems—such as cigar boxes—employed by the smallest businesses," said Wincey Tang, digital ID & IT security analyst at IHS. "The wide availability and low-cost advantages of mPOS card-reader accessories make them a feasible payment acceptance solution for any business owner."

Overcoming low usage
Retail Solutions Online reported that even though more merchants are purchasing mPOS systems, up to a million units are going unused. The IHS study indicated that smaller retailers are more likely to falter in their adoption of the technology, whereas larger merchants have begun to implement the resources successfully. One of the roadblocks to the transition can be acclimating staff and customers to new types of interaction. In addition to training employees to use the devices effectively, it can be helpful to consider new routines and workflows that take advantage of the technology.

Focusing on the benefits of mPOS systems can also give merchants a bit more incentive to put the product to good use. According to Merchant Warehouse, Accenture determined that retailers have observed the following positive results from using mobile systems:

  • Increased sales from on-the-spot purchases and reduced shopping cart abandonment
  • Better inventory management through greater awareness of seasonal and trending demands
  • Provide better immediate information to customers about products, pricing and purchasing

NCR Hospitality noted that mPOS systems can provide opportunities like making sales during special demonstrations and signing customers up for loyalty programs. The source explained that a hybrid approach using both traditional POS and mPOS can be effective and offer more flexibility.

by Retail Pro

Retail technology should empower employees

Merchants are implementing innovative retail technology, such as mobile point of sale systems, to improve their marketing strategies and enhance the customer experience. Both online and in stores, technological solutions can help retailers offer personalized services, provide consumers with information and make shopping a more efficient process.

An important component of successfully integrating retail systems is employee training. In a recent Wall Street Journal blog post, Michael Hickens described a shopping trip during which poorly implemented technology detracted from his experience. The store associate used a tablet POS system to take Hickens' information and complete the sale. While Hickens noted some opportunities the tablet could have provided – such as personalized suggestions for items that would go well with his purchase – the employee struggled with the basics on the tablet, taking time and causing frustration.

"I think it's important particularly when you're talking about higher-end, commission-driven environment, that sales associates don't become a point of resistance in adopting the technology," Steven Dennis, president of SageBerry Consulting LLC, told Luxury Daily. "When it's obvious it saves them time, closes more sales, efficiently solidifies relationships with clients and it happens to save money for company, then it's a win-win."

Simple, integrated POS solutions can help create a smoother transition, and retailers should make sure their employees are prepared to use the new resources.

by Retail Pro

Customers value time-saving retail technology

Retail customer trends reveal that consumers still choose brick-and-mortar store locations for a significant portion of their shopping. Even if they do their research online first, many patrons want the in-store experience, especially for specific items like apparel and home goods. Customers greatly appreciate the convenience of online shopping, so merchants are finding ways to provide time-saving options in their stores to meet consumers' expectations.

According to Advertising Age, a key strategy for retailers is to ensure their store operations match the convenience and information resources of online channels. Shoppers value time-saving technology that can help them make informed decisions faster and complete their transactions with minimal inconvenience. Here are a few examples of retail technology that merchants can use to give customers an efficient store experience:

  • Virtual try-on: Advertising Age mentioned that some stores are offering apps that show customers how they would look in new clothes, drawing on fashion advice from style bloggers. Other stores have body scanners or virtual dressing rooms that make it easy for shoppers to find the right size or explore options that are not in stock but can be ordered. For example, Bloomingdale​'s offers customers the option to try on outfits in 3D virtual dressing rooms, which allows them to see their look in real-time and solicit feedback from friends on social media networks. 
  • Payment options: From self-updating Bitcoin tags to digital wallets, retailers are offering customers more choices for payment types. Apps can allow gift card owners to pay by tapping their phones. While Bitcoin hasn't become mainstream for retail purchases, the BitTag technology shows a move toward expanded self-checkout options, CNN reported. Shoppers can shake the tag and then pay with their phones.
  • Mobile POS: With tools like mobile POS systems, store clerks can help customers check out anywhere in the store, reducing time spent waiting in check out lines. Some POS software empowers employees with instant access to product information, enabling them to serve as a valuable, real-time resource for shoppers who have questions about additional stock or alternative models. In-store kiosks can also provide some of the information access that consumers enjoy while shopping online.

Overall, these trends point to a need to incorporate technological advancements across channels. While the specific options are different in stores and online, merchants can work toward the same goals – convenience, information, empowerment, engagement – to provide customers with a better overall experience, regardless of the channel they choose.

by Retail Pro

Merchants entice shoppers with displays, retail technology

The new era of retail marketing isn't about ecommerce eclipsing traditional stores – it's about merchants taking advantage of retail technology to engage consumers in new and exciting ways. Innovative resources allow retailers to be present to customers like never before, but they need to develop new marketing strategies to stay competitive.

According to the Orange County Register, shoppers aren't visiting malls any less frequently, but they have changed the way that they visit stores. Instead of browsing and buying on impulse, customers are more likely to research online before they leave for a shopping center. Therefore, businesses need different strategies to attract consumers to their stores. The source noted that many retailers are expanding their displays to create eye-catching visuals and using technology to foster an interactive, enticing experience for shoppers.

"Online is an incredible sales tool, but the store still holds a key part in the whole brand identity where customers can engage with the brand on a different level than they would with the website," R.J. Abbott, Oakley's director of global visual merchandising, told the newspaper.

As the 2014 National Retail Federation Convention, held January 12-15 in New York City, made clear, customers appreciate convenient services like mobile POS systems and tablets where they can look up more information on the spot.