Taking the plunge into the world of POS or Point of sale software can seem like a rather technical task. At possibly we are all about helping you make sure your business is running as smoothly as possible.
Making the right choice can mean the difference between a thriving business where revenue is flowing or a stagnant one that eats away at your own pocket.
As a business owner, we know you don’t have the time to do this research yourself, so we have done it for you, putting together all of the best POS systems on the market in Australia and dissecting them one by one so you can purchase the one that ticks all your boxes.
In this guide, we will take you through all of the relevant POS systems and help you make your final decision, but before we get to that, let’s take a moment to find out why it is so important to have a POS system in the first place.
Why Do You Need A POS System?
The simple way to think about this answer is to take two important factors into account: Time and money. Both of which business owners, like yourself, would like to have more of.
In short, a POS system will save you time, money and sanity.
With the ability to do everything from customer management to marketing and staff reviews, POS systems are more than what meets the eye. Integrations with the biggest eCommerce sites, payroll software are also available, streamlining your third-party systems and software into one place.
back to menu ↑What Do You Need?
If you are someone in the retail industry then these POS systems might work best for you, but what if you are in the hospitality industry or maybe you have a specialty area like a hair salon or grocery store? There really is something for everyone and we have made sure to include these in our review lists. (link to)
Here are some areas to think about:
- What kind of business do you have?
- What tasks are included as part of your business running daily
- What areas of focus do you have?
- What are your goals as a business?
Once you narrow down your niche, you will be able to compare the POS systems down to the one that is right for you.
back to menu ↑Ready For The Future: Cloud-Based Vs. Locally Installed
Cloud-based POS software means no heavy lifting, so to speak, you can be ready to go quite quickly with minimal setup time and effort. Having your system in the cloud is a great way to ensure that customer data and business data is not lost when there is an internal server crash. Not only this but you will also be less susceptible to security breaches and it allows you to have multiple devices set up to it at once.
back to menu ↑How Tech-Savvy Are You? Apple Or Android?
Take a step back for a moment and really think about your level of tech knowledge, if you are an absolute gun then no worries, but what about your staff. Working with a POS system can be challenging for staff members who are not as tech-savvy as you so keep that in mind when making final decisions. Another point to consider is whether you want to delve into the world of Apple or Android. Again, think about the people who will be using the POS software daily and what they prefer. Making everyone’s life easier is what having a POS system is all about, so don’t overcomplicate things with a complex system.
back to menu ↑POS Pricing
Let’s be honest, having a business is all about making money, not losing it. Keeping overhead costs low is one of the biggest factors when it comes to upgrading software and staying up to date with your business running solutions.
The first thing you should remember before setting a POS budget is understanding that you really do get what you pay for, If you are after simple and cheap it might just end up being cheap and not simple or vise versa. Sometimes the simple systems turn out to be too simple for your needs so keep this in the back of your mind before making any final decisions.
Don’t have the cotton wool pulled over your eyes when you see the word free. Yes it might be free to use the online software itself but you will likely be up for hardware costs, software licensing fees (yearly, monthly or lifetime).
Extras like API integrations will cost extra!
Credit card processing costs: Every time someone uses their card to make a payment you will be up for certain fees. These are important to consider when creating a budget. Most POS systems in Australia allow easy integration with most payment solutions and can come as a package.
A great example is Kounta: They allow different add-ons and integrations within their POS systems.
Kounta
Key Features
Retail
- Ecommerce/online product listing integration
- Stocktake
- Loyalty and membership options
- Shipping options
- Gift card purchase
- SKU Customisation
Hospitality
- Online ordering
- Delivery apps
- Ability to use kitchen screens
- Back and front of house communication tools
- Floor plan features
- Loyalty programs
- Advanced stock take with tracking for individual ingredients
- Pay-at-table services, split payment system
Service
- Advanced scheduling for people, rooms, and equipment
- Calendar
- Online reservations
- Customer-facing booking tools
- eCommerce integration
- Loyalty programs
- Gift cards
Salon/Spa
- Booking system with scheduling and online bookings
- Calendar sync
- Product integration, in-store and online
- Rewards programs
Grocery
- Barcode scanner
- Product selection
- Shopping cart
- Rewards programs
- Weighing scales
Available Support
Having a strong support system available, when you need it, is important when selecting which POS system to purchase. Being a technology-based system, things can go wrong, just as things in life often don’t go to plan. Getting you back up and running as fast as possible should always be any POS companies’ first priority as well as your own.
Do they offer a hotline?
Do you need help getting it all setup and running? Choose a solution that comes with set up costs from a trained professional. This will ensure everything is running smoothly for your first day using your new system and you are getting the most out of your product.
Tech minded? You may not need any help setting up but don’t come crying when things don’t go to plan, it really is better to have someone who knows the platform back to front help you to get started.
Think about your business hours and when you might need support, does your POS system offer help within these hours? Some are 24/7 others are just 9-5, so take this into consideration.
Ask as many questions as you can during set up, whether it be over the phone or in person. The more you and your staff know about the system, the more confident you will feel using it to its maximum potential.
Also, take the time to test customer support out, how do they rank, do they hate their jobs or were they really helpful?
back to menu ↑The Wrap Up
Before making any final decisions, it is important to read through the reviews and key features and make a pros and cons list. This way you can be 100% sure before taking the plunge into the world of POS.
Unlock the potential of your business with a new POS software system that might just take you to a whole new level of success. This could quite literally be the beginning of the best relationship you have ever had (with a piece of technology).
