What You Should Look for In A Retail EPOS Software Package
Is it time to update your point-of-sale software? Modern retail EPOS software offers numerous advantages that weren’t available just a few years before. In particular, today’s retail EPOS systems are going to be beneficial to businesses looking to embrace digital transformation and move towards a data-based approach to their work. Here are some of the features you should look for in a new EPOS system – and the benefits they could bring you. Four Features to Consider When You Upgrade Your Retail EPOS Software Multi-Channel Retailing and Single View of Stock Chances are that in the modern world, you don’t do all your sales face-to-face. Most retail brands today host online sales channels as well – and their EPOS system should be compatible with this multichannel approach! A good EPOS software package can integrate with your e-tail software. This doesn’t merely help you track stock across your entire business, it also offers numerous potential customer benefits, such as connected customer experiences like collect in store options. Compatibility with Your Payment Processor(s) The world of payment options has expanded drastically in the past few years – has your old EPOS system been able to keep up? With different types of digital transactions, contactless payments, even digital currency like Bitcoin, there are a lot of new ways you can make it more convenient for your customers to spend. Supporting more payment choices will bring in more customers who appreciate flexible options that are suit them. How Handheld Devices Are Utilized Some EPOS software supports the use of handheld devices, like smartphones and tablets for taking payment. Other solutions have their own dedicated hardware, which can require additional investment, but often pays off in terms of reliability, fit for purpose and durability. For example an all in one scanning and payment device will ensure that you are able to scan barcodes quickly, every time, and not have to worry about wireless connection to additional devices. Strong Customer Service Don’t only look at the hardware and software features, also look at the vendor. You may have a need to call tech support for your EPOS, and the vendor should be able to offer full support during your local store hours. You don’t want to be left hanging if the customer has a problem, and you don’t know how to resolve it. Embrace Modern Retail EPOS Software with Eurostop Eurostop is one of the most-trusted EPOS system vendors in the world, with options to fit businesses of any size and budget. Contact us to discuss your needs!
Tips on Getting the Most from Your Retail EPOS Software
So, you’ve decided to invest in your retail EPOS software. That’s an excellent decision! More and more businesses are investing in digital transformation, and for many retail operations, that begins with a vendor that can provide a unified commerce approach. Your retail EPOS system can streamline day-to-day operations, while also collecting and collating huge amounts of actionable data you’ll benefit from in the future. Four Ways to See Great Returns from Your Retail EPOS Software Know the Basics Be sure you, and all your staff, understand what is available and how to use all the features of the software. If you have invested in a modern EPOS system, you want to make sure that you get the most out of the system. In particular, know: How to add items to the sale, including scanning barcodes, and how to use the product search feature in the EPOS system. Any hotkeys or shortcuts, like those for commonly purchased items. How to apply discounts, including managing permissions for different types of discount. The procedures for taking payment in various forms. Don’t forget less-common options such as gift cards or split payments, if you offer these. How to use the loyalty/points program, if applicable, and managing customer accounts, including obtaining and recording consent – an essential under the GDPR if you are collecting and processing personal data of EU citizens. Digitize Your Inventory Management A retail EPOS system works best when it’s also used to track inventory. Any good EPOS software will be able to integrate directly with an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) package, synchronising sales, customers and stock with Head Office. You will be able to setup product information like details, prices, markdowns and promotions centrally, which streamlines operations by reducing manual error, increasing accuracy of information and optimising resource. Embrace Digital Customer Management One of the more advanced features of EPOS software is the ability to track your customer spending behavior – especially if you’re using a loyalty program that helps you collect data on them. By analysing your customers’ shopping habits, you can introduce promotions and offers which better suit their needs or encourage repeat spend. Utilize Multi-Location Support To provide efficient customer service and a unfied commerce experience, being able to manage multi locations and channels is a must. You will need to get a big picture overview of how your business is performing and your customers’ shopping habits and it’s also an excellent way to be able to satisfy customer demand. For example, searching stock at multiple locations to fulfill a customer request, so that you never lose a sale. Eurostop is one of the world’s most-trusted EPOS vendors. Click here to contact us and to discuss your needs with 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.
3 Retail Success Tips from Today’s POS Experts
When it comes to running a retail establishment, there’s certainly a lot of data to keep track of, like sales, customer data, inventory, products information, etc. Having the right technology at your disposal, like a reliable retail POS system, is one of the best ways you can keep costs down and revenue up. As one of today’s leading retail POS system providers, Eurostop has helped hundreds of businesses flourish, which is why we’ve collected some important insights for you. Here you’ll find three proven tips to help make your business a success! Invest in the Right Technology One of the most important aspects of running a successful retail business is having the right retail technology at your fingertips. This way, you’ll be able to process sales efficiently, keep track of inventory, and ensure you have the rights tools and IT infrastructure to support your company, even as it grows. For this reason, investing in a modern retail POS system is essential. Doing so will enable you to offer fast service, and collect customer data to offer personalised products and services, as well as loyalty plans, promotions, and gift cards. As a retail establishment, it’s also important that you have reliable stock control software to ensure you’re always able to meet customer demand across your stores and channels. The right merchandise management solutions allow you to manage ordering, allocation and replenishment processes effectively. Inventory management software and reliable retail POS systems can also be connected to your other business systems, such as accounting packages, enabling you to streamline your business and operations. Give your Customers what they want In a competitive market like the retail sector, making your service stand out or giving customers something unique is the key to keep them coming back. Understanding your customers and personalised service is one of the best ways to drive customer loyalty and ensure repeat purchases. The right retail POS system can offer you a host of solutions to help you reward your top customers, as well as reach out to new ones. A few of the best ways to communicate with your customers are through targeted email campaigns and integrating a targeted reward program with your retail POS system. Ensure Your POS System is GDPR Compliant When dealing with customer personal data, it’s essential to invest in a POS system that’s GDPR compliant. This means having the right retail technology that will allow you to collect and hold data securely, protect the processing of their personal data and manage their data according to their customer’s rights and requests under the GDPR.. Let Eurostop be your retail POS system provider! Do you want to increase efficiency and ensure that your customers always get what they want when visiting your stores? If so, the team from Eurostop would love to hear from you. To learn more about our services, contact us online today 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.
Five Top Trends in Retail POS for 2020
Modern retail technology is changing the playing field for all retailers, benefitting both large brands and smaller, independent businesses. The latest retail POS can now act as a conduit for all aspects of a retailer’s business, from finance and sales to logistics and social media marketing. At Eurostop we’ve spotted five trends in retail EPOS systems for 2020 that will open up the retail market for all players: 1. Going Mobile Mobile tech covers a wide range of products and can help retailers in a number of ways. It can be used in retail POS with benefits including improved customer service, the ability to show more product inventory and improved efficiency of customer teams. With a mobile POS your staff are freed to deal with customer queries away from the tillpoint – and can even use it for queue busting at busy times. Mobile pay is also becoming a widespread mode of payment expected by today’s consumer, which means retailers now need to accommodate mobile payment processing and accept contactless payments, such as Apple Pay. New shopping apps available on mobile devices can also transform your customer experience. Eurostop’s MyShoppr® has been developed to merge the mobile shopping trend with the physical brand experience in your brick and mortar stores. It offers your customers a digital, on demand service and empowers your retail staff to offer true customer convenience using a seamless omnichannel experience. 2. Experiential shopping is the latest way to draw customers into your store. From in-store demonstrations, to themed days with advice and product techniques, workshops or film shows, to ‘influencer’ visits, these all help to keep customers coming back rather than just shopping online. The experience gives customers an added reason for shopping in store and builds a relationship with your brand. Plus, encouraging customers to share their likes and experiences on social media is a great way to get your customers to be your best brand ambassadors. 3. Business insights – using customer data more efficiently and effectively across all areas of the business allows you to effectively segment marketing and coordinate sales and promotions, based on customer interests and shopping habits. Plus, with your retail POS connected to your stock control system, you can also drill down into your sales data to identify best sellers and less popular lines, helping with restocking and avoiding surplus or wastage. 4. Personalisation – customers today demand a consistent experience across the store and every sales channel. There is also an expectation for a more personalised experience, which means that your data on customers’ shopping behaviours can help you to engage with them with loyalty programmes. A hyper-personalised marketing approach can help to create a new persona for your brand to approach new customers while maintaining and increasing repeat sales. 5. Customer Loyalty programmes also give you great opportunities to increase your sales by upselling and cross selling. Instant gratification plays a huge role in customer acquisition and retention. If you can sign up a customer and be able to communicate with them quickly (and with relevant offers) you are more likely to earn their loyalty. With accurate customer data, you can create seasonal promotions, early bird and multi-buy discounts and preview events to attract customers instore. Why wait? There’s no doubt that heading into 2020, having a smart retail POS and EPOS system system will become essential for businesses to offer customers a seamless experience. As the technology continues to evolve, retail POS systems are becoming more efficient, secure and affordable for all retailers to improve their business operations. Do you want to take advantage of the latest retail POS and EPOS system trends? To find out more, contact Eurostop on +44 (0)20 8991 2700, at [email protected], or request a call back
How To Use Your Retail POS To Improve Customer Experience
It’s easy to look at a point-of-sale system in terms of the advantages it brings you. Retail POS software improves your ability to track stock, analyze sales trends, predict future seasonal needs, and more. However, the benefits of a quality ePOS system go beyond that. They can also be powerful tools for improving the experience for your customers as well! Better CX leads to more repeat customers, better word of mouth, and improved presence on the online review sites. It really can be an all-in-one investment for improving the experience for everyone associated with your retail operation. Four Ways to Leverage A Retail POS For Better Customer Experiences 1. Beat long lines with mobile POS units Do you have peak times during your day when the checkout lines get longer, and you risk seeing customers abandon their purchase? Mobile POS units are the perfect solution. Handheld or tablet-based purchasing systems allow your employees to quickly service customers anywhere on the shop floor, reducing queues and ensuring every customer leaves happy. 2. Add an in-store cafe Some POS systems are flexible and can accommodate a wide variety of goods – even from different types of retail establishments. This can be leveraged to more easily add a cafe to your operation. Cafes encourage repeat business, while potentially also making your shop a place to relax, eat, or drink. (Just look at how much business IKEA pulls in with their in-store restaurants!) 3. Set up loyalty programs Loyalty programs are a time-tested method of improving CX and encouraging repeat business, and they’re even more useful when backed by a robust retail POS solution. You can track individual customers and their purchasing patterns, going far beyond the typical “punchcard” type solution. You could potentially offer rewards that are customized for the customer. At the least, tracking sales becomes much easier. 4. Display extra languages on the customer-facing screen Do you have a multi-cultural customer base, or occasionally have communication problems with foreign-language buyers? Your ePOS can use the customer-facing screen to show information in a variety of languages, customized for your particular selection of customers. It’s a quick and easy alternative to asking your employees to learn more languages. Businesses Worldwide Trust Eurostop More than 100,000 businesses utilize Eurostop retail POS and stock tracking solutions. With numerous must-have features and simple interfaces that reduce training requirements, our software enhances your CX! Contact us to learn more.
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.
New mobile retail POS solution, mpos, is now available
The single integrated payment device provides retailers with the freedom to serve anywhere on the shop floor, enhancing customer journey. An MPOS for The Fashion & Footwear World The launch of mpos, our new mobile POS solution, is the latest Eurostop product designed specifically for fashion clothing and footwear retailers. It enables retailers the flexibility to process sales from anywhere on the shop floor, even where space is limited. The mobile POS solution is sleek, yet durable, includes a built-in barcode scanner – and supports quick and easy card or mobile wallet payments, depending on customer preference. How Our New MPOS Works Using the mpos units, retailers can queue bust during busy periods, or process transactions at events or in pop-up stores, essentially giving the flexibility to sell anywhere. The mobile devices also provide retailers with an easy way to perform store operations without being tied to a fixed location, freeing up till points during busy sale periods. Dinesh Peerez, Head of Sales at Eurostop said: Mobile technology is a great way for retailers to connect with their shoppers, putting customer experience first and foremost. Eurostop’s aim is always to develop and use tech-driven solutions that meet the changing needs and wants of retailers and their consumers. Our new Mobile POS system is easy to use and provides retailers with a host of flexible options. Contact Eurostop To Learn MoreTo find out more talk to us today on +44 (0)20 8991 2700, contact us at [email protected], or request a call back.
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