What is a POS System?

A POS System is a Computer System to streamline your Retail & Hospitality Business. A POS System usually consist of a POS Terminal, Cash Drawer, Receipt Printer.

You may add multiple POS Terminals, iPad POS Terminals, add Barcode Scanners, extra Printers, weighing scales, customer displays, etc depending on your Business Setup and Point of Sale Requirements.

The right POS System also provide the added benefit to have a better control of your business. Helps you Increase your Sale. It also helps prevent losses and theft. You will be able to see analytical information of your business performance to make decisions.

Which POS System is Best?

This article is NOT about which POS Provider the Best. It is a decision that you must make but going through the points of discussion.

POS systems has 3 main components to work as one to make a best pos system.

1. POS Hardware

A computer system can fail anytime, such as anything in life. A reliable brand-new set of POS Hardware will put you at low risk end up in that position. It’s big no no buying second hand POS hardware for obvious reasons.

Let’s checkout some costs. These prices are not off the shelf. They are a POS Provider to supply, provide a local replacement/repair warranty and to support.

A POS Terminal runs Windows 7 with 4GB Ram and 64GB SSD is about $1400.
80mm Thermal Receipt Printer is about $300.
Solid metal Cash Drawer about $200.
Add a wireless Keyboard and Mouse, we are looking at a minimum of about $2000 for POS Hardware to start.

2. POS Software

A good POS Software consist of a simple Sales Process for any average person to understand.
Inbuilt features to up sell, cross products to increase sales.
A good set of security features to avoid mistakes and misuse.
Not so complex approach to setup products and manage the system.
Reporting to help make informed decisions. For examples, what products make most profit. What products to discontinue, what times and days to have more staff.

Find a passionate POS Supplier. A local business would work well than an international POS software supplier wanting your monthly subscription.

There are many POS Providers you can find locally with a lot of positive feedback. But nothing like an actual visit in person and go through a one on one DEMO. This is the best approach finding if the POS software works for your business and gives you what you need to achieve a profitable business.

Many Retail & Hospitality business owners tend to avoid singing up with POS Software with regular license fees and venue fees. As there are so many POS Software Providers that do not charge license fees.

3. Warranty & Support

Industry minimum is 12 Monthly Warranty for Supplied POS Software and Equipment. Some POS Suppliers go with a Monthly Service/Support Charge. Some does Yearly. Pay as you go Support tend to be a little expensive and not fast.

In any case, you are at a high risk of stuck with the business at 2pm on a Sunday afternoon if your POS System is with no support by a Professional IT Company.

Which POS Provider is the best?

A POS Provider that can supply all brand-new POS hardware, provider POS Software, possibly the developers of the POS software and look after your POS system with Warranty and Support.

The POS Provider has to stand by their product, provide support and local to your business to visit you in a reasonable time frame in case you need a call out.

How to find a good POS Provider?

Word of mouth goes a long way. But search on Google is your first resource finding one.

“POS System for a Cafe” “POS System for a Retail Shop” “POS Supplier”, there are some example of your search terms.

Avoid advertisement that could bias your decision making. Research page 1-5. Fancy website does not reflect a good POS provider. There are genuine POS Systems Suppliers more suitable for your business and budget hidden from you on the first page of Google due to ads and major players taking up the first page. Make few calls, take few appointments and visit them for a DEMO. You are in for a long-term relationship, so visiting a POS Provider will tell you a big story and their Service, Customer Care and Passion for the business.