7 Pitfalls to Avoid when Purchasing your POS

It takes time, money, and patience to purchase a point-of-sale (POS) system — three key commodities that most business owners don’t have much extra to spare. However, it’s probably one of the most important decisions made in regards to operations. The choice will affect a business for years. So in order to make a successful POS purchase, consider these 7 common pitfalls.

1. One Size Fits All

A POS is a place where sales are made. The definition is simple, which is why it might make perfect sense to believe that all POS software is the same; though that couldn’t be further from the truth. Every industry has different vertical markets with unique needs. Find a POS system with features specific to your market. Those features will provide you with a better ROI compared to choosing just any old POS software.

2. Buy Software Here and Hardware There

Picture this, it’s opening day, your POS is working fine, but your receipt printer is not. After some trouble-shooting your realize your software isn’t compatible with your non-refundable, $2,500 hardware. Sounds like a nightmare? Well, it can become a reality if you purchase your POS software in one place and your hardware somewhere else. While Bepoz’s software integrates with most hardware, there are occasional instances where doesn’t. That’s why it’s best to purchase your software and hardware from the same vendor.

3. Purchasing Based On Price

A free/cheap POS system and hardware cannot lead to anything good. The age-old saying, “You get what you pay for,” really rings true here. It can be enticing to go with the deal, but save yourself the headache. Low priced hardware is difficult for anyone to support because the internal components of the computer change on a frequent basis. What works today may not work tomorrow. That’s why it’s of utmost importance to find a POS system that fits your business’s process of sales, purchases, receiving, etc. Purchase because of what your business needs, not solely off of price. The best way to go is to buy from a POS company that will supply software, hardware, and provide a backup service as well, like Bepoz.

4. Garbage In. Garbage Out.

A quality POS has the capability to turn raw data into meaningful information, but if your data input and standards aren’t maintained, what you put in is what you get out. The best example of this is the department/class/subclass structure. Categorizing your inventory this way allows you to quickly spot sales and inventory trends on the reports produced by the system. Many retailers yse the 10/10 rule. That means there are no more than 10 departments and each of those departments have no more than 10 classes.

5. No Support

Reliable support is a key component when faced with challenges in any situation in life, and the same goes in the business world. Consider technical support availability when purchasing POS software. Even the most competent individual will, at some point, need help troubleshooting a faulty printer. There are very few things that are more frustrating for a customer, cashier, and business owner than waiting for the register to work. Bepoz offers 24/7 Emergency Support from skilled technicians, as well as industry specialists.

6. Self Installed and Trained

Installing your POS system might seem easy, but in most cases, it’s best to have the system professionally installed. Issues with seemingly “little” things can wreak havoc when you start doing business with your POS. Additionally, training you and your staff is highly important. If your staff is not trained properly your stand to have in increase in mismanaged inventory , frustrated customers, and discontented employees.

7. Not Securing Your POS

In today’s world there’s always someone looking for a way to hack into unsecure systems. Allowing your POS to be open to a security breech could be a costly mistake that not only compromises your business data, but your customer’s information as well. Fraudulent charges resulting from an unsecured POS can also trigger an account suspension from your POS provider. That’s why it’s important to regularly maintain and check your POS to make sure it meets PCI-DSS compliance standards. Consider a POS that has built-in security features like Bepoz’s with alerts and audit logs, security camera integration, and more.

Now that you know some of the major pitfalls to avoid when purchasing a POS, you’re in a great place to start a successful search. Give Bepoz a call for a demo today.