Types of POS Systems: Choosing the Best One For Your Business

There is no question. There are many choices of POS systems available in the market today.

Retail POS (point-of-sale) options for businesses regardless of size range from simple mobile payment processors to those transactions  that can manage large multi-branch businesses. 

Yet which one is for you?

Understanding the functions of a retail POS and its differences as compared to the different types is the perfect way to make the best decision for your business.

So which will you choose?

Retail POS systems provide a variety of features that make running your business more efficient.

It is also a great way to attract customers because of certain features like providing discounts and loyalty programs.

There are many different types of retail POS systems, starting from mobile POS systems, self-service kiosks to the more complex ones. 

To give you an idea, here are the different types of POS systems to choose from:

1. Terminal POS Systems 

This is the one that you normally see at the countertops upon check-out.

They are better looking now as compared to the vintage ones that are big and bulky.

These are hardware and software combined and require access to the internet.

Providers normally offer all-in-one solutions that would include barcode scanners, cash drawers and printers.

Terminal retail POS systems are great for retailers such as the following: restaurants, grocery stores,  busy retailers, bookstores, boutiques, antique stores, bakeshops, cafes, salons, spas and many more.

2. Mobile POS Systems

Retail POS have now become more simple and more convenient.

Do you know that smartphone and tablet retail POS services can transact payments and manage some inventory and customer information?

In many cases, the app is free in exchange for payment processing and there are also other perks offered like the credit card reader given out as a freebie.

For someone who is up and about, this is perhaps the best POS and inventory management software choice you can have.

Mobile POS systems  can cater to: farmers, market and street vendors, fair or event community vendors, contract workers and freelancers, contracted professional services, music merchandise vendors, mobile services, day care providers, car care services and repair shops.

3. Tablet POS Systems 

This type of POS system is becoming popular these days.

iPad and Android point-of-sale solutions are very practical and convenient, since they require minimal investment and you can just use a tablet that you already have. 

Some tablet POS systems are provided for  free with credit card processing; while there are others that collect an affordable monthly subscription fee but do not include the credit card processor.

Many iPad and android gadgets are compatible with the POS hardware such as barcode readers, cash drawers and tablet stands.

Some require simple applications; others can  diligently manage daunting inventory management concerns and have the capacity to track employee time.

To name businesses that might be able to avail of this type of POS system these are:  mobile vendors, ice cream shops, restaurants, coffee shops, gift shops, small retail stores, professional services, pizzerias, juice bars, sandwich shops, art galleries, small theaters and salons. 

4. Cloud based POS Systems

Since cloud-based POS and inventory management software systems run on the cloud, this means that you can use iPads and mobile devices to transact and monitor anywhere and anytime.

These systems are accessible from anywhere in the world, which enables you to keep an eye on things even if you’re not physically around! It is easier, more efficient and secure.

5. Open source POS Systems

This type of POS system is for free! An open-source POS system is a software with a free-to-use source code.

This means you would no longer need to invest to have a POS system.

Open-source systems can be edited or accessed by anyone, making them a good choice for startup businesses who want to save on operating expenses.

6. POS Apps

What are POS Apps?

A POS app is a software and  is very similar to cloud-based POS systems because they both work on a remote server.

The great thing about employing  POS apps is that you can operate on them with just about any mobile device.

And it is accessible from wherever you are! 

There are a variety of POS apps that integrate well on multiple operating systems, although some are either made for Android or iOS.

On the other hand there are also POS apps out there that are exclusive to iPad devices only.

POS apps typically have a simpler feature and are more affordable. 

Depending on the kind of business you currently have, choosing the best one is not too hard after all.

Features of different POS and inventory management software systems vary.

A retail POS system, for instance, will most probably come with some sort of inventory management feature that allows business owners to monitor different products.

On the other hand, a restaurant retail POS might use some sort of customer tracking feature to help customers get through the checkout process quickly.

To name a few features you should consider in choosing the best one, here are some of them:

• Customer relationship management

• Inventory management

• Payment processing (credit card processing, smartphone pay processing, etc.)Employee management

• Employee management

• Reporting and sales analytics

• Loyalty programs

So, in essence , the best retail POS system is so much more than a payment mechanism that processes transactions.

A reliable retail POS system should be able to offer features that do inventory management , deal with employee management, monitor online sales, provide loyalty programs, offer rewards point system and gift cards, and more.

Beyond that, you should also make sure that your POS provider has excellent customer service and support, whether it is through email, live chat, phone calls or a customer account officer handling your business. 

Still searching for the best one? Here is EasyPOS.

It may be able to give you what you need in a POS and inventory management software with the following features: 

• Complete sales and inventory system with item components for backflushing inventory.

• Two user Interface: Barcode (for grocery) and Touch screen (for restaurants).

• Unlimited discounting, Multiple price levels, Unlimited pay types, e.g., Cash, Credit Cards, Gift Certificates, etc.

• Customizable restaurant setups, from menu items to table groupings.

• Multiple users with ordering capability for pharmacy and restaurants.

• BIR Accredited

With EasyPOS  you get to enjoy not only fast sales recording but an accurate and more efficient one to help make strategic decisions for the business.

For more details you can inquire from https://human-incubator.com/easy-pos.

Choose the best retail POS for your business!