An electronic point-of-sale (EPOS) software package is one of the best ways for growing retailers to get a handle on their sales, stock, and customer management. A good retail EPOS system, combined with Head Office software, centralises numerous functions which were previously handled separately, allowing stock-related activities to be streamlined, while also tying in-person and online sales into a single system.
If you’re looking at EPOS systems for your own business, what features should you look for? These are some of the most important you should focus on.
Four Must-Have Features in A Retail EPOS System
- A simple user interface
A good easy-to-use GUI is a must in a retail EPOS system. You should have to spend as little time as possible re-training your staff on the new system. Ideally, it should be intuitive enough that staff can figure out functions on their own, even without being specifically trained on them. Be sure to get a demo of the system before buying!
- Substantially improved transaction times
One of the biggest benefits for your business, your staff, and your customers will be a reduction in the amount of time it takes to perform a transaction. Common activities such as basic purchases should happen much more quickly, and it should also be easier to perform more complicated tasks like utilising loyalty cards.
If your EPOS system isn’t significantly speeding things up, there’s something wrong.
- Strong security & GDPR Compliance
Cybercrime has become a major problem in the past decade, and it’s not going away. When you switch to electronic actions and record-keeping, you must do as much as possible to protect your customers’ information from data thieves and other online criminals. This is particularly important if you’ll be processing sensitive information like credit card numbers or handling personal data. The General Data Protection Action (GDPR) 2018, means that as a data controller, you need to ensure that you request and record consent when collecting personal data and respect the right of the individuals.
Ask about what security measures and GDPR features the package utilises, before buying.
- All-in-one data collection
Your retail EPOS system should be the focus of all sales-related data collection in store. As well as processing sales, it can also include customer management features and also store fulfilment, transfers and goods in features, as well as product and stock information. Combining them into a single place with robust reporting functions will substantially reduce your back-office work, as well as opening up new ways of reaching out to your customers.
Eurostop is one of the world’s most-used retail EPOS systems, utilised by many of the most successful retailers globally. To learn more about Eurostop and its benefits, please contact us.
