It goes without saying that migrating from an electronic cash register to a POS system is the best move small retailers and restaurant operators can make to grow their business. However, not just any hardware configuration will do for these establishments; rather, choosing an all-in-one POS system is imperative. Here are four reasons why this is so.
1. An all-in-one POS system features optimal ergonomics and yields the benefits of an ergonomically sound design. Many small retail and restaurant operations have limited counter space. An all-in-one POS system with a small footprint not only saves counter space; it also leaves extra room to display all sorts of small impulse merchandise—edible or otherwise—in an organized, aesthetically pleasing manner that will lead to additional sales.
Employee comfort is another ergonomic advantage of a small-footprint all-in-one POS. Using multiple POS peripherals crammed into a small area on the counter can be very awkward. And the greater employees’ discomfort, the higher their potential for making mistakes as well as taking out their frustrations on customers by providing less-than-stellar service.
2. An all-in-one POS system offers superior durability and life expectancy. True, there’s no guaranteed life expectancy for any POS configuration—all-in-one or otherwise. However, every peripheral component of an all-in-one POS system is manufactured by the same vendor, therefore ensuring that all peripherals will be uniform and durable it, increasing the life cycle of the unit. This isn’t necessarily the case with a traditional POS system.
3. The long-term cost of using an all-in-one POS system is lower than the long-term cost of using a traditional POS system. Arguably the biggest benefit of choosing an all-in-one POS system is that one company is responsible for all maintenance, and there’s no need to make multiple calls to different vendors to determine the source of any problem you encounter. Obtaining maintenance services from a single vendor is almost assuredly less expensive in the long run than obtaining maintenance services from one touchscreen vendor, one bar code scanner vendor, and the like.
The same is true when it comes to the price of replacements. Replacing an all-in-one POS system in one fell swoop is likely a less costly move than replacing a traditional POS system peripheral by peripheral, components typically are more expensive when purchased individually than when bundled with other components to create an entire POS system.
4. An all-in-one POS system is highly scaleable. Chances are, you intend to build your small retail or restaurant business, rather than to allow it to remain stagnant. In such a scenario, a POS system that grows along with your operation isn’t merely a “nice-to-have”; it’s a “must-have.” Adjusting a traditional POS system that comprises disparate peripherals from disparate vendors is neither an easy proposition, nor a cost-effective one.
By contrast, an all-in-one POS system is configured for scaleability—that is, it’s designed for adjustment to accommodate any growth that occurs after it has been deployed. Additionally, your vendor may provide an upgrade path to smooth the upgrade process along.
Today, there’s an all-in-one POS system to suit the various needs of almost every small retail and restaurant operation. This fact, coupled with the four reasons discussed above, should clinch your decision to follow the all-in-one POS route now and when purchasing POS technology in the future.
