How To Choose A POS Platform

So you’re interested in buying a Point Of Sale platform for your business?

Navigating this space can be time consuming, and without the proper recourses, overwhelming. If you’re feeling this, you are not alone because a report by Brother International Corporation and non-profit SCORE revealed that 64 percent of small business owners still feel "overwhelmed" when it comes to technology.

That’s why we laid it out simply, so you can get set up with a tailored POS perfect for your business.

Phase I

Step 1

Detail the needs of your business.

New to a POS?

Begin by outlining the type and size of your business, this includes your vertical as well as how many transactions you process a day. Identify the weaknesses and strengths in your operational efficiencies, how you want to grow your business and who your current customer base is.  

Replacing an existing POS?

If you’re looking to make an upgrade, you are likely familiar with general offerings from Point of Sale technology. Identify the issues or lack of features you are experiencing with your current system and seek these out in a new platform.

Step 2

Set A Budget And Pricing Model

Prices will vary from provider to provider and before reaching out it is important to define a budget. In addition to factoring in the up front costs, you should think about which payment option makes sense for you, whether that is subscription, leasing, or purchasing the platform. Processor agnostic platforms will give you the freedom to choose the processing rate that is best for your business. Remember, you want the pricing to be simple and straightforward.

Step 3

Research Roundup

Armed with the knowledge of what your business needs, you can efficiently pare down your POS options. Conduct an online search, speak with business owners in your industry, and read review sites. Review sites like Merchant Maverick and TrustPilot are informative and credible resources to help guide your research.

Phase II

Step 4

Get A Demo

It is important that you see the POS in action. Not only can you get a good idea about the features, you can see how intuitive and easy to use the product is. Optimize your demo experience by asking the representative all the questions that may have gone unanswered in the introductory process.

Step 5

Customize

If you are working with an open API vendor, you have a lot of flexibility in creating a customized solution for your business. Speak with the representative about which integrations would work best for your business and which additional features are needed to provide a thriving omnichannel experience.

Step 6

Customer Service

Before signing the deal, the last step is to ensure that your POS provider has excellent customer service that works for you on your time. You could require support’s assistance at anytime, so ensure that the company offers 24/7 assistance. Do you prefer to interact with customer service over email or on the phone or do would you rather follow detailed training videos and articles? These are important questions to ask.

Step 7

Sign The Deal

Congrats you are a proud owner of a POS platform! And once you’ve signed, follow the next steps to get you up and running as quick as possible.

Phase III

Step 8

Set Up Your Software

Utilize support resources to set up the back-end of your POS and ensure it is tailored exactly to your business needs.

Step 9

Set Up Your Hardware and Front End

Once the software is configured on the backend, you’ll set up your hardware as well as design the front end experience for your customers.

Step 10

Train Your Staff

Now that all your software is uploaded and hardware is setup, your business is ready to start running on your new POS! Be sure to take the time to familiarize yourself with the new technology and teach your staff.

Stay tuned as we will dive deep into each phase in the coming weeks.