Not every business is suited to be confined to the internet or a brick-and-mortar location—sometimes, they’re meant to be on-the-move, or “location independent.” Food trucks, for example, have the potential to conduct business one day and relocate to a different street corner the next. Some organizations, like nonprofits, host charity events in various venues, in which case auction items are present for one night and one night only. It doesn’t make sense to set up a bulky cash register.
Do you run a business that needs to take payments wherever you happen to be? You might think that cash and checks are your best bet unless you want to lug around heavy equipment, but you can have all the tools and data that other companies depend on. How so? With an electronic point of sale system. Here are a few reasons why ePOS systems for payments on the go are a possible solution for you.
1. You can accept payments anywhere
ePOS systems don’t require burdensome hardware. While some businesses will need a barcode scanner, customer display, and maybe a receipt printer, others can get away with only a tablet to run the software, a credit card reader, and a cash drawer. Having mobile equipment means you and your employees are not confined behind a counter—you can roam the area and accept payments wherever customers are, reducing the time spent waiting in line.
2. You can accept multiple payment methods
Have you been to a farmer’s market where the vendors could only accept cash? Fortunately, credit card swipers are small and can be easily plugged into a tablet, so you can accept credit and debit card payments wherever you are—which is especially important in an economy where people carry less cash with them.
Some people prefer other methods than cards and cash, though. With an ePOS system, you can accept contactless payments like Apple Pay and PayPal—and maybe even wire transfers for large purchases. Don’t stop taking cash—some people have no choice but to use it—but the more payment methods you can accept; the more kinds of customers you open your “doors” to.
3. ePOS systems work quickly
ePOS systems are also designed to work quickly, especially if your internet access is reliable and high-speed (some mobile point of sale systems do not need the internet to function). Their swiftness expedites the checkout process, so customers are less likely to stand frustrated because payment is taking too long. Customers are more likely to return to an establishment where the transaction process goes smoothly.
4. They are convenient for your employees
ePOS systems also help you and your staff members because they are straightforward (or at least, should be) and require less training than traditional cash registers. Plus, you can use an ePOS system to improve customer service. For example, it’s challenging to keep track of inventory that is always moving and different from one day to the next. Instead of manually maintaining a spreadsheet, an ePOS system will automatically deduct an item every time a customer makes a purchase, so your employees will always know how much stock is available at any moment. Customers will appreciate that staff members don’t take long to find the answers to their questions.
5. Loyalty programs still apply
ePOS systems also make it possible to create and execute customer loyalty programs. You don’t have to track point values per dollar manually because the software does it for you, remembering each customer every time they make a purchase. If you don’t have an official program in place, that’s okay—employees can easily apply customer-specific deals and discounts.
6. You can learn from insightful reports
One of the most significant advantages of an ePOS system is its ability to create reports. Trial and error won’t get you very far when it comes to growing your business, which is why it’s helpful to have in-depth analytics regarding your sales history and customers’ preferences. Having access to this kind of data enables you to make informed decisions that you would not otherwise make.
For instance, are you wasting money ordering products that don’t sell very well? If the data says so, then you know it’s time to cut back on said products and prioritize those that are top-sellers.
You can also use an ePOS system to find the best spots. Reports can be on a weekly, daily, or even real-time basis, so you can use these to compare which areas of town witnessed the most traffic and resulted in the most sales. When you have a comprehensive view of your business, you can optimize its efficiency and better appeal to your customers.
ePOS systems can help any small business, but they are especially helpful for organizations that need to take payments on the go. How do you see an ePOS system benefiting you?
Article Submitted By Community Writer
