Customer experience is essential to the success of any retail store. Some of the top customer complaints regarding retail are long checkout lines and issues with billing, e-commerce, or refunds. Choosing the best retail point of sale (POS) software for your store can solve both of these issues for your customers.
Whether you’re opening a new store or looking to make an upgrade, you know that your choice of POS system can influence the success of your business. The right choice will make your business processes more streamlined and help your staff work more efficiently, keeping your customers happy. The wrong choice can end up costing you time, money, and customers.
Let’s examine three key elements you need to consider when choosing the best retail POS software for your business. After reading this post, you should have all the tools you need to make an informed decision about the future of your store.
Finding the Best Retail POS Software
Some POS software solutions are inherently more robust or secure than others, but there is no objective “best” retail POS software. When we discuss choosing the “best” software, we really mean the best software for you. A POS solution that works seamlessly for the retail store down the street may not be the best fit for your business.
Related Read: What is the Best POS System for Small Business in 2022? 5 Top Vendors
When selecting your retail POS software solution, you need to consider elements specific to your business processes. In this post, we’ll look at this concept through three lenses: Your industry, the features you’ll need, and the support you’ll expect from your software provider. When you find a retail store POS system that meets your needs in all three areas, you’ve found the best solution for your store.
We’ve worked with clients who are transitioning from a bad-fit software more times than we can count, and so we know how to identify the warning signs of a poor fit — and the signs of a perfect fit. Let’s dive into the details of how you can confidently choose the perfect retail POS software for your store.
Consider Your Industry
The first thing you’ll want to consider when choosing your perfect POS solution is your industry. Every industry has its own unique needs from its POS software. For example, restaurants will need features like the ability to split checks, where quick-service establishments may benefit from self-ordering kiosks.
Retail is another ball game altogether. Your type of retail store will influence the POS features most likely to benefit your business. For example, a clothing store will need robust style matrix features from their inventory management system, enabling them to organize clothing by size, color, and style. On the other hand, a liquor store will benefit from liquor inventory software with case-break inventory and age verification features.
In short, there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to POS software. Ensure that the POS system you’re considering offers solutions for your industry and your store type. Additionally, it may be beneficial to partner with a POS software provider who has worked with clients in your industry before. You can discover this information by checking reviews or exploring what industries they list on their website.
For example, CAP Retail by POS Nation is a great fit for retail stores. Some of our most common store types include liquor stores, grocery stores, tobacco shops, and convenience stores.
Seek Out Key POS System Features
After you’ve found retail POS software that fits your industry, your next step is to scope out individual features. If other stores in your line of business have worked with software successfully, the solution likely offers the features you need, but that is not guaranteed.
To ensure a solution offers all the POS register system features you want to take advantage of, make a list of your most essential features. This isn’t a task that should be done in a vacuum! Consult your associates to see what features they believe would benefit your business. Your front-line staff may be aware of opportunities you didn’t know about, and now is the time to take advantage of them.
You may also want to explore cloud-based features at this time. A wholly cloud-dependent system may not be your best option, but that doesn’t mean you should discount the cloud altogether! It may be prudent to find a hybrid point of sale solution that allows you to back up key data on the cloud while managing your operations on-site.
Related Read: 5 Reasons Why Your Small Business Needs Cloud Backup
Lastly, you’ll want to consider the user experience of the POS software. How quickly will your staff be able to adapt to the new solution? When onboarding new associates, how long will it take them to get the hang of the system? The more user-friendly your POS software, the better.
It’s essential to select retail POS software that offers the key features and functionality you need because, without those key features, you’ll never be able to leverage your POS solution to its fullest potential.
Choose a Great Provider
Our last tip for finding the best retail POS software for your store is to pay close attention to the provider. Not just the software they’re offering, but the provider themselves.
- How do they help with setting up your POS solution and learning the system?
- Does the software provider you’re considering offer ongoing POS system tech support and assistance?
- Will you have a direct line to contact someone if you need help, or is there a general 1-800 customer service number?
- Do they offer multi-channel support if needed?
The answers to these questions can start to point you in the right direction, but the ultimate tip in choosing the right provider is checking reviews.
What are current and former customers saying about the software and its provider? You can glean incredible insights about the performance of the software and the customer service efforts of the provider from user reviews. One great resource for customer reviews is Capterra.
Why is this step so important? Ultimately, you aren’t just choosing software: you’re choosing a business partner. Ensure that you’re just as excited to work with the company behind the software as you are to work with the software itself.
Need Help Finding the Best Retail POS Software?
The best retail POS software for your business is out there, but we know it can be a lot of work to find it. Examining the expectations of your industry, compiling a list of essential features, and combing through online reviews of providers can feel like a full-time job. That’s why POS Nation is here to help.
We offer a retail POS software solution called CAP Retail. CAP Retail by POS Nation is a hybrid solution that includes advanced features in inventory management, customer loyalty, employee management, and so much more.
Check out our Retail POS Buyers’ Guide today to learn more about the features CAP Retail by POS Nation offers and how they can benefit your business.
