4 tell-tale signs your small business really needs a POS system

POS systems make so many things easier - they aren't just for ushering your customers through the checkout process. Help your business grow to be everything you've ever wanted with the right POS system for your needs.

4 tell-tale signs your small business really needs a POS system

• You're noticing a lot of errors
  
  Without a POS system, you're likely dealing with a lot of paperwork and a lot of trust. You can't automate anything, and this often leads to small mistakes. These small mistakes can quickly accumulate into the equivalent of a big mistake - especially where money is concerned. Losing invoices or receipts, improperly filling them out, or making miscalculations can come back to bite you in the end.
  
  Without a POS system, you might even be more vulnerable to theft. A disgruntled employee could take a few pounds here and there without anyone noticing because of the inevitable margin of error that comes with doing everything by hand.
  
  A POS system will know if it's short a few pounds. It will also know who used it, and who can be asked about any missing money or errors. It's good to know, even if they were honest accidents or a miscalculation of a few pennies.


• You can't serve customers quickly
  
  Think about how much time you spend doing things the hard way. When things get busy, you likely need multiple people to complete transactions. It takes a while, and you need to be very careful and thorough to keep your information accurate. Before you know it, the line is backed up, and people are getting impatient. You don't want anyone to get impatient enough to leave.
  
  Long lines damage customer experience. They get impatient and they have places to be. It might put such a damper on the experience that they don't come back, even if they love your products or service. If they see you operating without a POS system and taking a long time to do so, they might even see this as a sign of unprofessionalism. You might still have long lines with a POS system, but you'll be able to clear the queue a lost faster.
  
  
• You always feel underprepared
  
  A POS system does a lot more than process payments and ring up services or merchandise. It also collects valuable information that can be used to automate a lot of aspects of your business. It can tell you what your bestselling products are, what you sell more of during certain times of the year, who is ringing up the most merchandise, and how well you fare during a sale versus other times of the year.
  
  The data you receive from a POS can help you create a better future for your business. You'll know how often you need to reorder products or materials. You'll know which of your employees are worth their weight in gold. You'll be extra prepared the next time a sale rolls around. Since Epos Now utilises cloud-based technology, you can access that information from anywhere. You can be making predictions and analysing your findings while employees are using the machine.
• Your current system is slow
  
  If you already have a POS system, you might not realise that you're in desperate need of a new one. Outdated machines take forever to load. They're prone to crashing and errors. They might take a few minutes to process payments, leaving customers worried that their card might be declined. If a stormy day causes the power to flicker, it might take half an hour for your POS system to reboot.
  
  
  Slow systems are more than inconvenient - they're unreliable and possibly even dangerous. The more out of date your POS system is, the more vulnerable it could be to malware or other security threats. Point of sale malware is a real concern among consumers. With data breaches and information theft being a prevalent part of our everyday lives, many customers don't want to risk sliding their card at a POS system that could be compromised.

A great new POS system can drastically simplify both your life and your small business. It may be costly upfront, but for what it does, it will pay for itself in no time. If you want your small business to grow, you simply can't afford to be without a great POS system.

Evie Cooper is a project manager working on online databases like UkAreaCode.co.uk and Postcode-Checker.co.uk. Privately, a huge fan of literature and travel.