What's an EPOS?

 The EPOS (Electronic Point Of Sale) system is a way to allow customers to pay for services or goods. It assists businesses in managing their business better and enhances customers experience. By using an electronic POS system, businesses can quickly process sales and keep track of them. It collects information and creates reports on sales and product. 

It lets you monitor and track the performance of your brand from a safe location. It is also user-friendly which means you could use the system within a couple of minutes of instruction. It can be thought of as like a traditional cash register, but more sophisticated, with improved performance, reporting and the ease of use.

What is an EPOS system function?

An EPOS System is an electronic money register that is connected to computers. It basically reads the barcode of the item using the scanning device and determines the amount customers must pay. EPOS may be able to allow data entry using various devices, including keyboards, touchscreen monitors as well as scan barcodes. This gives accurate information about pricing and provides faster service for customers.

EPOS software typically requires a licence to run on a specific system that is operating in the cloud-based on demand. This is based on the Software-as-a-service (SaaS) model where a subscription will allow a business to fully equip their EPOS systems with everything they need to process payments. A majority of subscriptions will provide routine maintenance, software upgrades and continuous tech support.

As a retailer, choosing to use an EPOS is a major decision , but there are many tangible benefits that can remove some of the anxiety and stress out of the day-to-day running of your company.

What are the benefits to having an EPOS?

• Reduces human error
• It gives you greater control over pricing
• Faster transaction processing (and less queues)
• Collection of information and reports
• Controls promotions, discounts and loyalty programs
• Offers you a view of the stock levels and inventory levels

If you're a company and are still making payments manually and you don't have regular visibility of your cash flow and cash flow, a business cash advance could help you make investments in systems such as EPOS to take your business to a higher level.

How To Choose The Right EPOS System?

An EPOS System, or 'Electronic Point Of Sale' system, is the central component of your business. A POS system allows you to track transaction history, record sales and stock, provides insight into customers and data on employees, allowing you to manage your business more efficiently. Choosing to upgrade your POS can be a tough decision, as there are many points to consider including budget, time, and possibly the worry of losing sales during switching. Choosing the right epos system can drastically improve many aspects of the business and also increase profits when used properly.

Upgrading your POS

With multiple options available, upgrading your POS can be nerve racking. From iPad based solutions to complete systems, as well as self-checkout systems, it can be challenging to select the right one. You will initially have to decide your particular business traits to choose one that turns out best for you. Cautiously explore the options available and consider precisely what features includes your business needs, and you'll minimize the risk of winding up locked into a contract with a helpless system. Upgrading can bring many changes to your entire business operations:

Improved Efficiency – EPOS systems with a touchscreen monitor, eliminate the need to physically enter items and prices like you would with a cash register.

Ease of Use – Having a system that is simple to use is significant for a seamless customer experience, if staff can be trained quickly and explore the system easily, it will make each transaction run smoothly.

Less Cluttered Space – All-in-one system saves space and gives an all the more aesthetically satisfying front counter that will not look cluttered. It also increases staff satisfaction.

Complete Control – With cloud-based POS systems, sales reports and transaction data is stored securely and can be accessed from any compatible device allowing you to make business decisions.

Accuracy - With a digital POS, many allow various features to be tailored. With an organized intuitive interface, it means orders can be processed quickly and accurately.

What to Consider When Choosing Your POS

The advantages a POS system is obvious, however it's essential to understand what specific features you're looking for to guarantee you choose the right one. The system you choose will rely upon your business' individual requirements, anyway it's wise to consider the following points before making a decision:

Customers

Consider how you interact with your customers, as they are arguably the main part of your business. If customer loyalty programs are something you're thinking about, consider epos system UK that makes it possible. If you often have promotions, consider a system that allows you to advertise your offers effortlessly. Also, if you wish to send updates to your customers' email consider a system that includes an inbuilt CRM.

Stock Management

Integrating stock management in your POS system will provide you with complete control. Especially in case you're a busy place that frequently sell out things, consider a POS that gives low stock alerts, guaranteeing you'll never sell out of your top rated items. Most of the systems also allow you to see this data in real time, giving you complete overview.

Hardware

Consider your present system, what works and what doesn't. From this, you can figure out what type of hardware you require. Small venues may just need a single terminal and one card reader, while larger venues may require multiple systems with receipt printers and barcode scanners. Remember your customers and choose a hardware package that fits to you.

Reports

It is basic to understand what data you need for your business to perform well. Many systems will allow you to track sales data in real time by day, hour or specific time span. Consider what data you track right now and what you might want to gather and choose an EPOS system that gives it.

Costs

Explore all the fine print before making a final purchase. EPOS systems offer a "free" retail POS system, but may charge you for ongoing epos software packages. If you are a small business it might be wise to choose an item with a one-off cost, you'll understand what you can spend, and will not have the extra pressure of trying to keep up sales to keep up with monthly payments.

Conclusion

Once when you have decided the needs for your business and have an idea of the system that will work for you, try to see them in real life. Request demos and collect as much data as possible before making a final decision. Cautiously think about everything from cost, features, and ease of use to guarantee you have a seamless switch.

What Is The Need to Invest In A Modern Retail EPOS System?

For over years, EPOS software has on the rise, and it's easy to see why. Retail EPOS system helps integrate each part of your retail operations and can even be connected to other business systems, such as stock, ERP, accounting or CRM, to yield further advantages.

Now-a-days POS software solutions can achieve more than just accepting sales. If you are still using the same old cash registers, your operations could see such countless advantages from upgrading.

In this article, we'll see how retail POS software can radically change how you conduct sales and track your stock - changing the in store experience.

Reasons To Upgrade Your POS Software

Accept A Wider Range Of Payments

Any till or POS system can accept payments, however in a global sales environment, you need options for accepting payments. Along with standard types of payment like cash and card, POS systems can accept different types of payments like mobile wallet payments, multi-tender payments, deposits and more.

The simpler it is for your customers to pay, the more they'll come to choose over the competition. This can be significant if you're increasing operations into countries where you have a minimal physical presence and need ways of handling local payment methods.

An All-round Better Customer experience

Retail POS software makes life simpler for your customers in various ways. Beyond accepting multiple types of payments, your business staff can easily access item and other stock data from across your store allowing them to respond to enquiries, giving out exact data to allow customers to buy what they need in the easiest way. Providing a customized support also becomes possible with inbuilt reliability systems and that is important as customisation turns into a convenient way. Your systems build up information on what your customer habits are, so why not up sell by suggesting other items they may like, or reward loyal customers with targeted promotions?

A good POS will speed up processing at till point, reducing lines and mistakes. Products can be scanned with prices, lists markdowns and promotions all applied effectively and securely. This not just adds up to an improved customer experience and your customers will see the value in it, but it also guarantees that your business data is right and free from manual processing mistakes or fraud.

Inventory Tracking

Inventory tracking is standard in any modern POS software and it's fundamental for improving efficiency inside your retail business. There are no additional entering sales figures by hand, a tedious and error prone process. Each sale of each item, through POS, is tracked and synchronized instantly in real time across your store and in your central inventory management or ERP system. This single view on stock is essential while managing customer demand and your retail business effectively.

Analysis Of Your Sales Data

By tracking stock over the long run, you access an abundance of information on sales trends and how well specific product lines are performing, directly down to SKU level colour and size. You can measure customer interest especially if the POS is also integrated with your Customer Relationship Management (CRM). Report on sales on daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly basis. Distinguish your best salesmen, or which items have the most locations or demographics.

Since this data is real time, you get up-to-the-second reports at whatever you need, enabling you to respond quickly. There's no simpler or more powerful option for keeping on top your sales figures, , regardless of how large or sprawling your operation may be.

Improved Accounting and Cash Management

With all data tacking being taken care electronically, accounting and cash management become far simpler also. Systems data will be more reliable, with automated systems set up to guarantee every one add up.

Also, since all transactions are tracked including post-sale operations, this means refunds, discounts or transactions are also quickly gone into the system and represented. Reconciling your books has never been simpler, with fewer opportunities for human error to cause issues.

Besides, since POS systems can track staff conduct, you'll have the option to easily find out your best staff, so you can make on their abilities and strengths.

How To Choose The Right Epos System For Your Business?

Choosing epos system isn't simple, particularly when you're a small business with a limited budget for a point of sale. Many POS system providers in UK don't display price openly and require a kind of commitment and investment only huge businesses can afford.

But, many affordable POS systems are available now-a-days, whether it's for off-license, gift shop, florist, bicycle shop or other independent stores.

Epos Direct is the best retail epos system for small businesses. The interface is easy to use, but with latest functionalities while including a balanced breadth of features to maximise retail performance.

This makes it particularly fit for extensive stock systems needed in, such as, jewellery, garments and fashion design outlets, book stores and grocery shops. It works on any device compatible with windows.

Epos direct offers 24/7 online and telephone support to all of its customers. They have a comprehensive resources section online with digital books, tools, articles and tips, courses, and even host events around the globe about maintaining a retail business. It's no big surprise Epos Direct is well regarded among retailers regardless of whether small, medium or big.

Pricing relies upon turnover, number of registers (PC using the application), and whether you pay monthly or yearly. All plans include general POS operations, real time stock management, unlimited products and unlimited customers.

There are also other plans that can be used based on the turnover and number of outlets. The Pro plan can be used with any turnover and includes advanced reporting, promotions, gift vouchers, multi-outlet management and access to all add-ons. Both include one register license more till licenses cost extra.

The exclusively plan is adopted by huge organizations. There is no minimum commitment, so it's feasible to drop any time. The Pro plan allows you to connect with extra business tools, including the ability to connect for store sales with an online store. The product can be integrated with card terminals from third party gateways and works with most POS hardware.

What Hardware Does A Restaurant Epos System Require?

Once you chose the restaurant epos software, you'll need to purchase epos hardware to run the software. 

Here's a list of POS hardware you require:

Restaurant Epos System Terminal

A POS terminal is the physical device on which your epos system runs on. For many restaurants, they choose a mix of mobile tablets, with a stand that changes it into a counter top when required. Tablets can easily replace the requirement for a PC, although some restaurant operations like reports about a PC.

Kitchen Display System

A Kitchen Display System (KDS) is an extension of your POS system for the back of house. Your KDS basically pushes orders that workers take to the kitchen and visualizes them for cooks in sequential order.

Basically, a KDS connects your front of house to your back of house and guarantees that you satisfy each order that gets through the kitchen. For smaller operations, it very well might be a 'ideal to have', but for any restaurant that handles higher volumes of orders, it's essential.

Receipt Printer

While email receipts are getting popular, it's still significant to offer paper receipts. To do that, you need a receipt printer.

Restaurateurs can choose between two types of printers:

Impact printer: these printers use wax, resin or ink-soaked strip cartridges to print receipts. Impact printers are typically used only as kitchen printers since they can work in high-temperature conditions without breaking down.

Thermal receipt printer: these are the most widely used printers in restaurants since they're cost effective. Since they use heat to print (like a laser), restaurants save costs on ink cartridges.

Payment Terminal

For customers with cards that don't have near field communication (NFC) chip, they need to pay using a conventional card reader the ones that allow them to swipe their cards.

For patrons that need to pay by tapping their card or cell phone, you need a contactless card reader. This allows them to pay using and device with a NFC chip that is connected with their banking information.

In light of the pandemic, many customers have changed to contactless payments. For one, cash is seen as 'filthy'. However, above all, paying with NFC-enabled devices is quicker and more advantageous.

Cash Drawer

Despite the fact that we just mentioned the advantages of mobile payment terminals and card payments, it's as essential as to help supporters who need to pay money.

Most epos systems are compatible with a few models of cash drawers and connected by means of USB or Bluetooth, every one of which are equipped with a bill and coin tray compartment. Check your restaurant epos system supplier's hardware features to see which cash drawers their platform is compatible with. 

How Epos System Help To Grow Your Business?

Entrepreneurs often underestimate the ability of epos systems. Thinking that it is purely used for tracking sales, returns and daily operations. Of course it is one of the reasons for installing epos system in your business, but it can offer much more. Best epos system has all the tools and features that can give businesses the resources to succeed and grow.

If you are looking to invest in epos system, make sure it has the tools and features built in with the goal that it can help your business drive growth. This is the time you look past the cost factor of the system and ensure it can do all you need right now and in the future.

Having the following tools helps to grow your business.

The Insights to Plan Ahead

Epos system can give you insights into the overall health and performance of your business with reporting functions. The information from these reports can be used to help you make more informed decisions. As a retailer it's advantageous to have the option to make the most informed decisions possible with regards to stock levels, tracking profit margins, and reorders.

A POS allows viewing reports for sales by means of hours, days, weeks, months and can be filtered to specific data sets to implement purchasing decisions.

Businesses can't grow without the information to help it's expansion along these lines therefore data is important.

Stock Management

Epos System help with removing the guess work out of stock levels and help minimize the frustration of customers if a product is sold out. By using the POS to track your stock you can set up automated reorder prompts and distinguish those over stocked lines. On point stock can be exceptionally helpful to organizations, particularly those with multiple locations. Your POS system should allow you to see the amount you have of a product and which location it is at. Having a simple and right way to track stock is required when expansions and growth happens inside your business.

Connect With Customers

The most significant factor in driving growth is sales and to achieve that you need satisfied customers. Loyalty programs have been identified as a driver in improving customer relations and helping with enabling repeat customers. Therefore it is a significant feature to have in your POS system. Whether it be a simple inbuilt customer loyalty program or the ability to integrate seamlessly with third party apps you may as of now use. Having this data included means you can not only reward your customers for returning as well as track what products are popular and tailor marketing of promotions that make certain to entice the customer.

Staff Management

Having a stellar work force is imperative to growing your business, and something that can help manage with your workers is your POS system. Having your workers sign in for every sale will mean you can track which staff member is performing well, which one is promoting products and who is under performing.

You can also set user permissions within your POS, so particularly as you can characterize precisely the role you need your staff to have. This could mean delegating manager roles to your staff and permitting them more access to your POS system to have the option to perform higher duties. At the point when your business is ready or your staff you can characterize every staff member group and modify user permissions with your POS system.

What Are The Different Types Of Epos Systems?

We've developed from single cash registers and hand written ledgers to epos system. Now- a-days, irrespective of what you are selling or where ever you are selling it from, there's a sophisticated epos. Let’s have a look at various types of epos systems that are available for retail businesses.

Counter-Based Epos Systems for Retail Shop

There's a reassurance and ritual to accepting items to a store’s front counter for payment. So the traditional payment terminal epos system for retail shop isn't probably going to disappear soon. For most retailers, their set up consists of a PC or Laptop, epos software, barcode scanner, cash drawer and receipt printers. Your epos software should suggest up-selling and cross selling options for your staff, sales reportsand stock.

Mobile Epos Systems

Counter terminals have their place for most stores, but retailers presently don't tether by wires either. With flexible mobile epos systems for tablets it's not difficult to set up a mobile system that links directly to your actual stock and updates information in real time. Your staff can move toward customers on the shop floor and make the sale directly. They can show products and access pricing whilst they're with the customer, including at pop up stores.

Online Epos System – E-Commerce

Now-a-days online customers hope to get the same level of service and experience to what they get in-store. The more reliable, seamless and valuable you can make the E-Commerce and checkout process, the better possibility you have of changing over interest into sales. Choosing an E-Commerce business platform that integrates mobile responsive design, reporting, and stock will guarantee your online store is not difficult to operate and manage.

Omni-Channel Epos System UK

For a best practice possible, your in-store and online sales operations should be running off one integrated system. That means one platform to manage and monitor your stock levels, pricing, customers and other important information. Avoid having to make your online customer saying 'sorry' that they will not get the merchandise they've bought on the grounds that you sold the final stock in-store earlier that day but your website wasn't up to date. Today’s consumers have more options than before as they will not accept excuses for such instances of disconnected systems.

How To Identify You Require EPOS Software Update?

As new technology advances arising at a high rate, upgrading your business epos software is an important aspect of your business. In case if you fail to adopt the latest features your epos system and business can lead to some costly damages. Here are a couple of signs that your EPOS may require upgrade to the latest features.

Obsolete and Slow

Having obsolete epos software or hardware is quite possibly the most important signs that you need an upgrade. Traditional epos systems are likely going to cause compatibility issues and technical failures. You may have to reboot your epos ceaselessly as it requires some time to load. Besides, they are inclined to errors. An update will not simply ensure convenience but also from potential data breaches and damaged customer experience.

Ballooning Sales

Tracking of sales and stock may end up being more complicated and tedious if you are using outdated epos software. Increased influx of customers in your business requires investment in more effective POS that will save you from accounting mistakes, over stocking and under stocking.

Significant Costs Without Returns

While using an EPOS is associated with specific costs, it should, thus, support your revenue. The essence of technology advancement is to improve efficiency and convenience while at the same time, staying affordable. When your present EPOS turns out to be too costly and demanding to work as far as costs, energy, and time, at that point it's best time to consider an upgrade. Modern day POS systems are reasonable and all the while, give a wide scope of useful applications.

Integration and Synchronization Problems

An Epos software upgrade may be required if you are confronting issues with its integration, which obstruct the service of your business. POS with such issues require various programs to run and may need key features needed for streamlined operations. Revamping to a modern system will offer better integration and synchronization that results in a more insightful and real time analysis.

You should also consider an upgrade when the system is never again easy to use to meet the issues of customers and needs support. You can move up to advance POS with modern Epos Software at EPOS Direct. We offer a wide scope of POS software’s for improved customer experience.

Importance of Retail EPOS System?

When it comes to retail, guaranteeing all of your customers are given the most extreme attention is important. That is the reason improving the payment process and providing them effective service is important. To achieve such goals, retailers implement a reliable retail EPOS system to help them track stock, process payments, give customer benefits and many more.

At Epos Direct, we've helped many retailers throughout the years track sales and improve their processes, so we've collected some insight for you here. Below you'll find some of the most significant parts of implementing a system with reliable retail POS features.

Pricing Benefits

With regards to pricing the products in your retail store, a retail EPOS system can help drastically lessen errors. This is because the system keeps pricing consistent by syncing with your stock control or ERP system so that scanning a barcode gives you exact pricing data, avoiding customer error. Obviously, discounts, sales and other customer incentive programs are also modified into your EPOS software, with extra options to override, depending upon staff permissions set by Head Office.

Tracking Employees

The right EPOS system can also help you keep an eye on your staff. You can monitor their performance and what they're doing, just as reduce wasted time by making staff responsible for their own registers and payment terminals. You'll also have the option to track best performing staff and see where others need improvement.

Stock Management

Having a reliable epos system, you'll have the option to track your stock. Each time a customer buys a product, that product's stock level will be automatically updated, guaranteeing you know accurately how much stock you have at a given time and when it's time to order more. You can also check your stock's performance to determine best selling products and streamline your retail floor.

Client Support

Retail EPOS systems make it easy to serve your customers. By making the purchasing process faster and more efficient, you'll reduce wait periods. Also, EPOS systems can help you customize to your customers' specific needs, bringing up data about past purchases and other data to help you better serve them. It also makes it simple to run customer incentive programs and offer special discounts for loyal customers.

Increased Efficiency

EPOS systems can drastically build efficiency by cutting down the number of staff expected needed to track payments or stock shelves manually; the POS system does these things. These automated solutions reduce the requirement for relying on human resources, enabling you to save money on operation costs and focus your resources somewhere else.

What Are The Key Features To Look In An Epos System?

A retail or hospitality business is to sell products or provide service where you need to have an epos system. But before investing in POS system, let’s understand the key features to have in a POS system. Since you understand what a POS system, here are 7 key features that you should look for while buying it.

1. Billing and Order Processing

Epos system should have the basic functionality of billing and order processing. It should be able to bill the orders by scanning products and capturing various types of payment modes.

It has the ability to generate order receipt, reprint and email to end customer along with adding the discount, customer details, remarks if any and sales representative's name to an order.

2. Sales Monitoring and reporting

The POS system must be able to generate a robust report on sales result. It should have the option to report hourly, daily, weekly, monthly and yearly takings and outgoings so the merchants can easily understand the growth of their business.

Sales trends such as seasonal demand in products, forecast based on sales trends, insights on unnecessary products and data regarding stock management are some features of advanced POS reporting module.

3. Inventory and Stock Management

A POS system's stock management module should give complete visibility and accountability at store level.

The system should provide a view on stock, SKU transaction history about 'in', 'out' and 'inside' movements of any SKU, and inbound and outbound stock.

It should also have the feature to make stock adjustments for example increase/decrease stock while seeing stock and capture the purpose behind stock adjustments.

4. Cross Channel Returns Management

Accepting cross-channel returns and facilitating refunds and replacements from any store location are a few of the requirements of a POS returns management module.

The system should facilitate creating refunds for one sales order at various time intervals. It should capture details like the purpose behind return, salesman's name, and remarks.

5. Customer Relationship and Experience

A POS system can help you with retain your customers by storing customer data and buying history. This can be used to give a customized insight to your customer.

Customer data is highly helpful for advertising as this data can give experiences on which customer would be interested in your sale. For example, sending a sale flyer for "30% off on larger sized shirts" to the customer who wears a medium sized shirt would be a waste of time.

6. Employee Management

It is surprising if we say that a POS system can be used to manage staff. But, a staff management feature of a POS system can help you with managing with your staffing levels, employee hours, and sales performance which causes you to track staff productivity.

You can track your staff performance by connecting it with every transaction. This will help you with bifurcate the good and bad performers so you can make appropriate decisions to improve their productivity.

7. Loyalty Programs and Gift Cards

Rather than using traditional punch cards, you would now be able to track your customer loyalty incentives using the POS System.

As the sales of gift cards are increasing each year, your POS system should have the ability to manage with those as well.

The modern POS System goes past processing sales. As you have learned in the previous sections, a feature rich POS can help increase efficiency and provide insights to help you with improving your productivity. These are a few reasons to change to a modern POS system.

How To Choose The Best EPOS System For Your Business?

We help you in choosing the right epos system for your business to manage stock, orders and payments as seamlessly as possible. We talk through some of the features you need staff interaction and more.

In 2021, your business is fast and reliable as the epos software that powers it. This doesn't simply apply to pure play business, however.

Bricks and mortar businesses need great software, particularly in the hospitality sector. When your financial turnover relies upon customer turnover, you should be certain you can manage stock, orders and payments as seamlessly as possible.

It's here that your EPOS system truly starts to matter.

Steps To Choose Your EPOS System

Your EPOS system will fuel your operations for quite a long time so it's important to get the right one.

These four questions will help any retail or hospitality business find the best EPOS system for them.

What Are The Important Features And Why?

When you start browsing around, you'll quickly see that EPOS systems differentiate themselves by features and few out of every feature will be essential for your industry.

For example, a fashion retailer won't require pay-at-table feature. Also, at a bar or pub, customers probably won't be paying with vouchers.

Here Are Some Features You Should Consider:

•         Stock control
•        Discount and gift coupon support
•        Reporting and analytics
•        E-Commerce integration

Tip: A feature only serves a purpose if it helps your team work more efficiently, or improve customer support.

How Your Staff Interact With Customers?

Ease of use should be your first priority while choosing the best EPOS system for you. All things considered, you don't need too steep a learning curve for staff, nor do you need an EPOS system that takes time from serving customers.

Take a back step and map out your staff and customer journeys do your F.O.H teams need mobile payments through tablet, or will a fixed till do? You need to find some kind of right balance here: giving your staff the tools they need, while just spending what you need to.

What Data Drives Your Business?

Chances are, you've identified your best sellers and profit drivers. But, with the right EPOS software, you can learn more about your business.

Cloud-based systems give real time access to sales data. Others can help you with back-office tasks like customer management.

You'll never have to think about what items to place in your shelf racks, cafe counter or chalk board again your EPOS system will advise you, and help you with supercharge sales.

Where Would You Like To Be In The Future?

Today, you may truly need to hit down the ground running with an EPOS system that simply works.

But, what happens when you start to grow?

Scaling is tough for all businesses, large or small, so it's smart to choose an EPOS solution that allows growth. For example, you may need the option to add more customers to the system or grow to new premises.

At Epos Direct, we can help serving your go-to EPOS partner, advising the best solutions for all retail and hospitality challenges, today and in future.

If Still Not Sure To Choose The Best EPOS System For Your Business? Talk To Epos Direct

It might sound like choosing the best EPOS system for your business will be a tough decision to make. However, it doesn't need to be.

Call the friendly team at Epos Direct today and draw on our 20 years of EPOS experience to help you make the right choice for your retail or hospitality business.