Understanding How A Retail EPOS System Benefits Your Business
If you operate a retail business of any size, you’re undoubtedly familiar with the term POS – for Point-of-Sale. POS systems are standard in any sales situation, encompassing the till, as well as any hardware used at the point of sale such as screens, barcode scanners, card payment terminal, cash drawers and receipt printers. Now, a new kind of POS setup has appeared: the retail EPOS system. These go well beyond typical POS systems, allowing you to centralise and synchronise data seamlessly between Head Office, online and offline outlets, are scalable and more. In this article, we’ll briefly talk about what a retail EPOS system does, and how the most common features can benefit businesses of any size. The Major Features in A Retail EPOS System Real-time stock data across all outlets One of the most important features of an EPOS system is its ability to allow a single view of stock. You get full visibility into your stock across multiple outlets, including both online and offline channels so that you can see what is available, avoiding customer disappointment and never missing a potential sale. Robust analytical systems A retail EPOS system facilitates accurate data analysis. Since it reliabily tracks and processes sales, stocks, prices, promotions and more across all your outlets, you can be sure that you have the correct data insights on which to base future merchandising decisions. Customer relationship management features With a good EPOS system, you won’t have need of a separate CRM system because it’s all in one package. This is beneficial to you, in terms of saving time and resources, but it will also improve customer journey in store. It also simplifies potentially complicated tasks such as introducing loyalty card programs. All-in-one purchase, payment, and delivery options A good EPOS software package will streamline every area of sales transactions. They should speed up basic sales, while offering multiple payment options and upselling opportunities, empowering your staff to provide the very best service. Likewise, customer service features like returns will be simplified as well. Customisable and flexible Businesses aren’t one-size-fits-all, and neither is EPOS software. Retail EPOS systems are customisable, with different modules for different tasks, and should easily integrate into your existing stack of business software. Eurostop is one of the most popular retail EPOS systems in the world. Contact us to learn why it’s so trusted!
The Most Important Features in A Good Retail EPOS System
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.
Grow Your Loyal Base of Customers with the Right Retail POS System
The retail sector is all about one thing: serving your customers in the best manner possible to ensure you build an ongoing relationship with them to keep them coming back time and again. That’s all good and well, but nowadays easier said than done in a highly competitive market. For those looking for new ways to drum up business and compete with the online pureplays, the team from Eurostop has some insight for you. Learn here how to expand your base of loyal customers and offer exceptional service every time! What are the Benefits of Loyal Customers? Bringing in new customers is great, but one-time sales won’t keep the lights on. That’s why expanding your base of loyal customers is key. Having repeat customers demonstrate their loyalty to your retail establishment can be a great marketing tool, increasing sales through word of mouth and referrals. How to Understand Your Customers In order to grow a base of loyal customers, you need to first have a clear understanding of who they are, how they like to shop and what excites them about your brand. There are a variety of different ways you can do this, like performing email and online surveys, one-on-one interviews, telephone surveys, and focus groups. This research will help you resolve any pain points current or potential customers may have, as well as give you the knowledge you need to best engage them. Understanding your competitors is also a key component of performing market research. You can see your competition by doing some Google searches for products and services related to yours and see what comes up. Then, assess what your competitors are doing. What makes your products and service stand out? Are your competitors doing something you could be doing? All of these things will help make certain that you offer your customers the very best and make your retail business more attractive to potential customer. Use Your Retail POS as a Research Tool There’s another great way to understand your customers and that’s by taking advantage of the big data and tools your retail POS systems are equipped with. A connected and modern POS system can track all customer sales data across locations, even globally, making it the perfect tool for helping to analyse purchases across all channels and geographies. With the right retail POS software, you can understand consumer behavior and determine, for example, how often your current customers are visiting you, what they spend on the items you offer, how successful promotions are and when they’re making purchases, in addition to analysing sales data on a weekly, monthly, or annual basis. Increase your loyal customer base with a first-rate retail POS! One of the best ways to keep customers coming back is by investing in a modern and reliable retail POS system. To learn more about how doing so can help your business thrive, contact Eurostop today online or call +44 (0) 208 991 2700.
What Do you Want in Retail ePOS Systems?
When it comes to improving productivity and profits at your retail location(s), few investments can potentially pay off more than purchasing retail ePOS systems. Electronic Point-of-Sale software is a rich and mature sector of retail support, offering numerous features that streamline your workflow while improving customer experience. Of course, all POS software will be able to handle the basics, such as checkout tasks. The trick is to find the ePOS systems capable of going beyond and delivering the most return on your investment. These are some of the features to look for. Four Key Features in Modern Retail ePOS Systems 1. A full hardware package Consumers have more payment options today than ever before, and it pays to support as many of those options as possible. The best way to achieve this is to choose an ePOS system that includes all the hardware you need. This should include, at a minimum, Dual screens: one staff-facing, one customer-facing Secure cash draw Barcode scanner Integrated Chip and PIN Receipt printer Support for other e-payment systems is also a plus. The more smoothly the ePOS software supports multiple hardware options, the easier sales will be for everyone. 2. Reliable support Even the easiest-to-use retail ePOS systems will have glitches from time to time or situations that occur where a staff member is unsure how to utilize the system. You should purchase from a vendor who offers robust and reliable support that will be able to respond whenever an issue arises. 3. Modernized security features We are in an age of cyber-crime, and it’s on each business to protect themselves -and their customers- from theft and fraud. Too many ePOS systems lack robust security, so that should be a major concern in your purchase. Your POS should be fully compliant with industry standards and best-practice recommendations, along with strong encryption and security when dealing with electronic payment systems like eWallets. If you are taking card payments, your POS and surrounding retail systems must be PCI compliant. In addition, GDPR compliance is a must. You must have adequate security and safeguard your data against theft, and ensure that you have features to capture and use customer data in the correct way, which a good ePOS can do. 4. Customer sales tracking High-quality sales tracking can improve your metrics and your loyalty programs, so make sure your POS makes it easy to collect and utilize this data. You should be leveraging the data you gather to the greatest possible extent. Eurostop Eurostop retail ePOS systems are trusted by businesses around the world! Contact us to learn more about our solutions.
What is the Importance of Retail EPOS Systems?
When it comes to retail, ensuring all of your customers are given the utmost attention is key. That’s why improving the payment process and providing them with efficient service is essential. To attain such goals, many retailers implement a reliable retail EPOS system to help them track inventory, process payments, provide customer benefits, and more. At Eurostop, we’ve helped hundreds of retailers over 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 important aspects of implementing a system with reliable retail POS features. Pricing Benefits When it comes to pricing the products in your retail establishment, a retail EPOS system can help drastically reduce errors. This is because the system keeps pricing consistent by synching with your stock control or ERP system so that scanning a barcode gives you accurate pricing information, avoiding user error. Of course, discounts, sales, and other customer incentive programs are also programmed into your EPOS software, with additional options to override, depending on staff permissions set by Head Office. Tracking Employees The right EPOS system can also help you keep an eye on your employees. You can monitor their performance and what they’re doing, as well as reduce wasted time by making employees responsible for their own registers and payment terminals. You’ll also be able to track top-performing staff members and see where others need improvement. Inventory Management With reliable retail POS solutions, you’ll be able to keep a close eye on all of your inventory. Each time a customer purchases a product, that product’s stock level will be automatically updated, ensuring you know exactly how much inventory 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 items and optimize your retail floor. Customer Service Retail EPOS systems make it easy to serve your customers. By making the buying process faster and more efficient, you’ll reduce wait periods. Additionally, EPOS systems can help you tailor to your customers’ specific needs, bringing up data about past purchases and other info to help you better serve them. It also makes it easy to run customer incentive programs and offer special discounts for loyal customers. Increased Efficiency EPOS systems can drastically increase efficiency by cutting down the number of employees needed to track payments or stock shelves manually; the POS system does all of these things. These automated solutions reduce the need for relying on human resources, enabling you to save money on operation costs and focus your resources elsewhere. Let us be your retail EPOS system provider; contact Eurostop today! Do you want to improve your retail process, keep better track of employees and customers, and save time and money! If so, our team of retail EPOS experts would love to hear from you. To learn more about our solutions, contact Eurostop online today or call +44 (0) 20 8991 2700.
Meeting fiscalisation laws – Five questions to ask about retail EPOS systems
Increasingly retailers that wish to operate in multiple countries can face costly and legally challenging issues around managing different fiscal regulations. A crucial element in the fight against fraud, fiscalisation ensures that a retailer’s transactions are recorded and that the appropriate VAT is paid for a particular country (read in French here). When operating in two or more markets that use fiscalisation, help with compliance is crucial, as is working with a retail EPOS systems partner that has already achieved certification and processes to support the varied requirements. At Eurostop we have identified five key questions to consider when thinking of expanding your business overseas: Which retail POS should I choose? Choosing a POS system that can meet fiscal legal requirements, handle multiple currencies, yet has an easy to use interface for staff, is critical. Having a POS that is intuitive improves customer service and reduces training time for staff, important in an industry when staff levels fluctuate to meet seasonal demand. How do the related retail processes work? While it’s important to have a POS system that processes sales that meet local tax requirements, it’s vital also to consider how it connects to your other systems. Unified retail EPOS systems help managers view transactions and stock movements across the whole business, including multi-channel as well as in specific countries. You may also have different fiscalisation requirements that need to be considered, depending on the nature of the goods, or for example, if there is an instore café, where the transaction needs to be recorded in a different way. What reports are required by authorities? Each country has specific tax laws which require different reports. These may also differ across payment methods, for example, cash, credit, vouchers, currencies and internal international bank cards can all require different reporting. Working with a specialist retail software provider helps to identify what your requirements are right from the start and how best to achieve them. How are sales reported to the authorities? Some countries in Europe (Poland, Italy and Hungary as examples) enforce the use of a network connected, certified receipt printer which communicates directly with the fiscal authority. However, software-based approaches are increasingly being introduced to meet new regulations. These define a process, for which POS software providers must demonstrate compliance. Often these approaches mean that each transaction must be signed using a certification process provided by the tax authorities. The signature is formed using a number of elements, such as Register ID, receipt no, previous transaction, transaction date and time, amount, VAT amounts at applicable rates. This data is submitted to the authorities immediately via a secure web service, and once recorded, the customer is provided with a receipt. Because each transaction is signed and contains the signature of the prior transaction, it creates a traceable history which allows the detection of missing or altered transactions, helping to reduce fraud. How do I choose the right supplier? Choosing the right supplier with certified software that meets the fiscalisation laws can save a lot of time and costs. At Eurostop we have experience of working with many international retailers (including M & S International, FatFace and Trespass) and are experienced in software development to meet local fiscalisation laws. We have recently achieved certification for our retail EPOS systems, e-pos touch, to comply with French fiscalisation laws. With this certification it means that retailers can trade in France knowing that their POS complies with French fiscal law, (introduced in January 2018). To comply with the French fiscal requirements, we integrated our retail EPOS software with EFSTA (a leading fiscal software developer) middleware solution “Electronic Fiscal Registers” (EFR). Retailers will be able to show the tax authorities that they comply using certified POS software, and the transaction process is straightforward, secure and transparent to retailers and their customers. If you are considering expanding into new European markets, talk to us today on +44 (0)20 8991 2700, contact us at [email protected], or request a call back
Christmas Season Guide to Retail EPOS Systems: How to Propel Your Business
During the festive season, retailers experience increased in-store traffic and online purchases, making streamlining the transaction process essential. That’s why many invest in a cutting-edge retail EPOS system with software designed specifically for their business. The team at Eurostop wants you to know there are a host of benefits to having the right EPOS solutions during the Christmas season, so they’ve shared some insight below. Here you’ll find some tips for increasing sales and why having the right EPOS software this Christmas is key! Set Up Christmas Season Loyalty Programs Using a retail EPOS system can make it a breeze to set up Christmas loyalty programs and offer special discounts during the festive season. You can use the customer information you’ve collected to tailor rewards specifically to their likes and purchase history, as well as offer one-time deals like Christmas season discounts and buy-one-get-one-free deals. Have Your Top Sales Staff Working During Peak Hours EPOS systems also offer employee management solutions, making it easy for you to schedule your top salespeople during the busiest hours. Additionally, EPOS software can enable mobile staff to perform transactions on the retail floor, as well as issue refunds and perform other services. If you’re not sure who your best salespeople are, your system can break it down for you with the employee sales data it’s collected in the months leading up to the festive season. Prepare for UK’s 4 Busiest Days There are some big shopping days in the UK. This year, the top four are predicted to be Dec. 7, the first Saturday in December; Dec. 14 (second-to-last Saturday in December); and the 21st of December, also known as Super Saturday (the last Saturday before Christmas). The day after Boxing Day, Dec. 27, will also be one of this year’s busiest shopping days. Create a Sense of Urgency One way to attract more customers is by making them worried they’re missing out on something. You can create a sense of urgency by offering express delivery to select customers or increased discounts to the first 50 who walk through the door on busy shopping days. Email Marketing Another great way to boost sales during the festive season is by doing a little email marketing. Sending out personalized messages to repeat customers offering deals or enticements can do wonders for bringing them back into the store during the Christmas season. It’s also a good way to share some of the exclusive Xmas inventory you have in stock. Eurostop can help make it a great retail festive season! To find out more about our inventory control and total retail POS solutions, contact Eurostop today online or by calling +44 (0)20 8991 2700.
How Retail POS Systems Help Manage Festive Season Traffic
The festive season is one of the busiest times of the year for retailers, which means increased orders and in-store traffic. With a large influx of foot traffic and increased sales online, it can become difficult to keep track of orders without a reliable retail POS system. As one of the leading POS software and hardware providers in the industry, Eurostop has helped many clients manage festive season traffic and generate big returns. Here are some of the leading benefits of having a POS system during the festive season. Increased Efficiency One of the biggest benefits of using retail POS software during the festive period is that it can be much more efficient than ringing up sales the old-fashioned way. If your store has increased traffic, using reliable POS software will help you handle that heavy influx of customers, enabling you to serve more people. You’ll also be able to process payments anywhere, which means more solutions for making mobile sales and more transactions on the retail floor. Improved Customer Service Another added benefit to POS systems is that they can help you provide customers the very best service possible. This is especially important during the festive season, when people are expecting a bit of cheer and great service no matter how busy your store might be. You’ll be able to reduce lines and minimize the chance that customers are going to go elsewhere due to extended wait periods. You’ll also have customer loyalty information to hand, for that personalized service and be able to provide them with a digital receipt for each purchase. Offer Special Deals & Discounts Many businesses offer exclusive deals and discounts to drum up customers during the festive season. Having the right POS system makes it easy to set up promotions for scannable items, ensuring that the promotion/discount is applied when staff ring up sales. This makes it easy to offer gift cards, buy-one-get-one free deals, and other enticements, all while ensuring transactions are processed as quickly as possible. Added Marketing Opportunities Providing staff the ability to go out on the floor of your store and help customers rather than stay behind a register can be beneficial. With a POS system that’s compatible with tablets, for example, they can help answer pricing questions and ring up customers right then and there. Additionally, having facing displays and interactive screens can also provide added marketing opportunities. Let Eurostop help you handle the festive season rush! If you want to provide your customers with the very best customer service this festive season, as well as give your staff all the tools they need to streamline the transaction process, Eurostop would love to hear from you. Contact us online today for more stock control solutions and EPOS info or call +44 (0)20 8991 2700.
How to Choose the Right Retail EPOS System for Your Needs
Running a retail shop isn’t always a walk in the park: there are inventory and ordering to keep track of, in addition to managing employees and ensuring that your customers receive the very best service. That’s why many retailers try and take a bit of the work off their hands by investing in a reliable retail EPOS system, like the ones available from Eurostop. Switching over to retail EPOS software can help streamline processes and keep better track of your inventory. If you’re considering installing an EPOS system, here are some tips to ensure that you choose the very best one for your needs. Know What’s More Important: Features, Cost, & Transaction Execution Choosing by Features For some, the final choice might come down to features; others, the overall cost of the system. When choosing your retail EPOS system by features, it’s important to know which ones you’ll need. Some of the mandatory features included in any retail EPOS software package will be inventory management and reporting, credit and debit card processing, delivery tracking, inventory breakdown by size and color (for shoe and fashion retailers), and customer and employee management solutions. For some retailers, separating your EPOS system from your stock control software may be the best way to keep track of your inventory and oversee all your sales processes. Choosing by Cost Cost may be an important factor when it comes to selecting an EPOS system. However, we recommend that you consider whether your selected retail system is going to support your future plans. Will it enable you to scale up your EPOS estate as you grow? Does it have the correct support service plans to enable you to operate efficiently now? Having an idea of how the overall installation and implementation costs are determined both over the short and long term will help you get the most out of your investment. Transaction Execution Another important consideration to make is how you want transactions to be executed with your new EPOS software. Nowadays, most EPOS systems will be equipped with a barcode reader to scan the item/s a customer is purchasing. Some systems may also employ a touchscreen in addition to a scanner. These accessories will impact how your staff process transactions so select the ones most efficient for your retail needs. Let us be your premier retail EPOS systems provider! Do you want to streamline your retail processes, keep better track of orders, and track purchases? The cutting-edge retail EPOS software and hardware available from Eurostop makes it easy. In addition to our EPOS solutions, we also offer inventory control services, eCommerce integration services, and more. Contact us online today or call +44 (0)20 8991 2700 to learn more.
5 Ways Your Retail EPOS System can Boost Festive Season Sales
Running a retail establishment during Christmas and the festive months can certainly be a tough job without having to worry about your point-of-sale processes as well. That’s why many choose to invest in an affordable, reliable retail EPOS system to help them keep track of sales, customers, staff, and more. However, you might not be fully aware of what you’re missing, so Eurostop has collected some insightful information for you here! Create a More Intimate Customer Experience An affordable EPOS system can help you create a more intimate and positive customer experience by streamlining the payment process. Your system will be able to retain customer purchase information, payment details, and loyalty information all at the very touch of your fingertips. Attract New Customers with Loyalty Programs One of the best ways to draw new clients to your business during the festive season is by giving them an opportunity they can’t miss. With the right retail EPOS system, you can create enticing loyalty programs to drum up business during the Christmas season. The right software will make it easy to offer discounts, create special promotions, and launch successful festive season campaigns. Monitor Best-Selling Products During the festive season, it’s important to know which items are selling like hotcakes, so you can display them accordingly on the retail floor. You can run detailed reports to determine which products are selling best and when. This information will help you sell as much as possible and give you ideas to make those lesser-selling items more attractive. Streamline the Payment Process Gone are the days of the paper pad, calculator, and old-fashioned cash register, at least for most businesses. Having an outdated payment system, especially during the holidays, can make you lose business. But an affordable EPOS system will help streamline the payment process, enabling customers to pay in their manner of choice in a matter of seconds. With shorter lines, customers are less likely to go elsewhere to avoid a wait. Staff Scheduling Want your best salespeople on the floor this festive season? A retail EPOS system can help you identify the best members of your sales staff based on in-depth data. You can then make certain they’re working during peak hours, helping customers on the floor and raking in festive season sales! Let us help streamline your retail payment process! If you want to cut back on waste, monitor inventory and boost sales this holiday season, investing in one of our affordable EPOS systems is a great way to start. Learn more about our retail solutions by contacting Eurostop online today or calling +44 (0) 208 991 2700.