Point Of Sale Software: Integrated Solutions For Store Owners

Expert businessmen participating in growing industry know the importance of the nitty-gritty details of a cash management system, sales records, inventory, tax figures and the like. Accurate data is a must so intelligent decisions can be made in every aspect of management. Manual cash registers are undoubtedly cheaper but having a point of sale (POS) software can be a good investment to businesses with growing needs. The point of sale software works with different hardware models that usually include a POS computer, POS monitor, keyboard, bar code reader / scanner, customer pole display (optional), a cash drawer, signature capture devices and a receipt printer.

With accurate entry of item database into the system, it is now easy to track the sales, inventory of goods, calculate the tax and even the amount of change tendered to reconcile with the sales. Point of sale software is also able to record the date and time of every sale so store owners can analyze which items are seasonal and which are always in demand. Similarly, they can also know the impact of item promotion after the day’s end or after the promotion ends by viewing the item’s sales record. If there are discounts and markdown prices to items, POS can make price adjustment manageable. With the manual cash register, employees of big stores are caught up with checking, calculating, ordering and analyzing. But with the POS, these time-consuming tasks are lifted from their shoulders, enabling them to make time for essential things such as customer care.

Securing accurate sales reports, efficient calculations, organizing customer mailings, inventory re-ordering and financial statements can use up serious amount of energy and time. That is why more and more medium to big retail stores invest on a point of sale software to ease the load of cash management. Point of sales software is a computerized cash register system that not only calculates sales but can also manage inventory records, compute tax figures, and calculates the change back to the tendered amount of customers. With the efficiency and accuracy in processing returns, coupons, price overrides, inventory tracking and financial reports of a POS software system; it can definitely take the headache off from business proprietors and empower them to make decisions intelligently for business growth. With technology innovation, cashiers can use touch screen POS monitors for ease. To save space, there is an all-in one unit where a computer is built in to the monitor chassis. “Back-office” computers handle other POS functions such as inventory control, sales information for reporting and analyzing trends, cost, price, and profits.

Most people who have heard about POS systems only know about the benefits of the system. Some people blindly go ahead and start the installation process even before they get to know both sides of the coin. It is true that POS systems are generally great for businesses, however, just like everything else in life, it can come with some costs. Some of these costs include purchasing the hardware and the operational software.

Though installation is quick, you will still need to pay for the system to be installed. Good POS systems are constantly developed to be made better and better. So after using your system for some time, it is advisable to upgrade the system. By upgrading it, it means that you will need to buy new software and hardware which could increase the costs. These upgrades are worth while though, because the system becomes more secure and even more efficient. Having the most recent version gives you the most bang for your buck.

Maintaining of the system is another cost consideration. Therefore, before you purchase a POS system, it is good to know all the expenses that you are going to encounter. This way you will never be caught off guard or surprised when some costs come your way and you will never regret or complain your decision to go POS.

Online Means of Purchasing the POS Systems
Did you know that you could purchase an entire POS system from the comfort zone of your home? It is a very simple process, which takes less than a minute of your time. Most people prefer this method since it is cheap, efficient and they do not have to waste their precious time moving from shop to shop trying to look for the package that they are most comfortable with.

All you need to do is search online for the various POS company websites such as http://www.possoftwaresystems.net. The sites will give you all the background information to start your search. Look for the feature lists and see if they offer what you are looking for. Read testimonials to learn other people’s experiences with the systems you are most interested in. If the reviews are positive, then you can add those systems to your shortlist and move onto the next step – starting the negotiations process.

Make sure they clarify whether or not they are going to handle the installation for you. This is so that you won’t have to incur additional expenses of having to look for an installation specialist. If you happen to reach an agreement, ask if you can pay them after the installation. This is the best way avoid scams. However, if they insist that you pay first, then you should make sure that it is not the full amount. Pay them a small upfront fee to start and pay the rest later on after the installation is complete.

There are hundreds of reasons why most businesses are switching to point of sale software and saying goodbye to their outdated cash registers and manual inventory tracking. Business owners nowadays are looking for ways to spend less time on the mundane but necessary elements of running their businesses. If you can do things faster, you will have more customers lining up for your service. Admit it, if you could choose between a price check happening in a few seconds as opposed to a few minutes, you would prefer the former! So would your customers. The same can be said for sales reports. If it existed, you would definitely buy a tool that gave you instant access to this critical information.

Basic point of sale software offers the following features: clerk-register functions, customer profiling (depending on your need), inventory control, and point of sale reporting. If you are making the purchase personally, make sure that you know what your company’s needs are since it will be a waste of money to buy something that will only serve as an accessory to the system. To operate a POS, you need to start with the clerk-register function. This function scans the item and displays the price. The customer profiling function is an optional feature. It allows you to store personal information such as you client’s mailing and residential address, their birthdays, perks and purchasing habits. Inventory control is one of the best-selling features of POS. Be aware that not all providers offer “up-to-the-second” inventory statistics. It is more expensive so make sure that it is a feature that you absolutely need. Another common feature is point of sale reporting. Check the sales by register, by store and by tax totals. You can also have a list of the total transactions by product type.

The features will only be useful if you know how to use them to your advantage. Make sure that you know the ins and outs of the point of sale software system that you’re buying, use this as your leverage when negotiating prices and packages.

Start With A Trial Version Of Point Of Sale Systems Software
Before you purchase any software, it is always good to at least test out the trial version which will help you discover whether a specific software package has all the features that you require. This is one precaution that most people are always told to take so that they do not end up spending a lot of money purchasing unsatisfactory software. It is also important to compare versions. Sometimes you may end up preferring the basic version rather than an upgraded version. The upgraded version costs more and the additional features may not be necessary to you. The trail version offers the perfect opportunity to make this comparison. This will let you know whether the basic system is what you’ll need or whether you’ll require the upgrade – this helps ensure that your money goes farther in providing you with the optimal system and optimal savings.

Though not generally advisable, in some circumstances – particularly for businesses that are just starting out, you can even use the demo versions in a live scenario. If you do not immediately have the resources to pay for the full version, you can just use the trial version until you are able to purchase the full version of the software. During this time, you will be able to familiarize with the software and by the time you purchase the full version, you will have at least the basic knowledge of how it works and whether or not it will be a good investment for your company or not.