The Point of Sale for Your Business: Make the Most of the Opportunity

Imagine if this was a typical day at your business ... a customer (who you think might be new, but you're not sure) walks in, and with the help of your well-trained sales associate, finds exactly what he is looking for. Pretty good so far, right?

Next comes the point of sale for your business.

But then he gets to the checkout stage, and you can't read the scribbled price tag on the last item of its kind on the shelf, and so you have to guess how much the price is ... it's may have been part of that special sale, but you can't remember - you are one employee short and have too much on your mind. He waits patiently as you scribble out a receipt, and he asks if you know when you will be getting more of the item. You're not sure, and you hem and haw until he says "No worries, I'll just pick another one up somewhere else tomorrow," as he walks out without you even knowing how to reach him. Clearly, what started out as a promising sale progressively turned into a real-time study of "what not to do in a competitive marketplace at the point of sale."

What could have been different? Well, for starters, at the crucial point of sale for your business, you could have had a bar code scan a customized price tag and the correct price could have come up instantaneously. The customer might have even received the pre-programmed discount, making him happy as well. As you handed him his automatic receipt from the printer, you could have logged on to your order summary and told him that the item is due in tomorrow, so please stop back in. Even better, you could have entered in his email address or phone number for future reference, and sent him a "thank you" postcard for being a loyal customer after he stopped back in the next day. Sound more like the outcome you would rather have? Absolutely!

There is no questioning the fact that POS retail computers are quicker and more useful at the point of sale for your business than the traditional (and outdated) cash register is, but did you know that their uses extend much further than at the checkout? Were you aware that such systems can also be a valuable reporting tool by producing real-time inventory reports, telling you which customer hasn't been to your store in a few months, and serve as a time clock for your employees?

They can do all that, and a few more things. A quality POS software and hardware package can help with:

• Collecting crucial data for accurate forecasting of buying trends or seasonal rushes
• Physical counts and automatic re-order forms for inventory
• Determining what items should be marked-down, and what items are slow movers
• Viewing accounts payable and receivable information
• Employee scheduling and tracking
• Keeping track of vendor returns
• Viewing current accounts payable and receivable data
• Processing customers faster, to minimize long lines

And lastly, don't forget the customer. The customer data collected at the point of sale for your business can give you the information you need to start a customer loyalty program. These types of programs are easy to set up and monitor with POS software, and tell your customers just how much they matter to you. Not only does this keep them coming back, but customer loyalty cards are also a great reminder of your business, adding a little free advertising.

If you are ready to become more competitive and learn all the additional benefits of the point of sale for your business (and how the right system can help maximize the experience), please give us a call at (734) 453-9200. We are waiting to show you all the great things you may be missing!