So, you’re about to sign a contract for the purchase of a new retail POS system. Stop! Unless you’ve conducted a retail POS demo, you’ve skipped the most important step in the buying process. Let’s discuss why this is the case—and what makes a retail POS demo a “must” before you make a firm commitment to acquiring any retail POS technology from any vendor or VAR.
The Retail POS Demo Rationale
Vendor-supplied collateral can provide a wealth of information about retail POS offerings, but there are several reasons to insist on supplementing a review of these materials with a demo in some form or another. For starters, unless you experience a retail POS system “hands-on”—either in person or via a live demo online where someone is available to answer your questions—you will not be able to determine whether you really like it and would be comfortable using it in your establishment(s).
Some variables—such as the arrangement of icons on a touchscreen or the manner in which users are guided through ringing up transactions and performing other functions—can appear to be minor on paper, but may make a significant difference in your impression of the system when experienced first-hand. So, a demo can protect you from such surprises and prevent you from investing in what turns out to be the wrong solution for your particular needs and preferences.
What You’ll Find Out From a Retail POS Demo
A demo should yield the best, most comprehensive insight into these critical issues:
- Does the retail POS system include all of your must-have features? Before purchasing any retail POS system, it’s important to make a list of the features that are most important to you. Leverage the retail POS demo to determine whether those features are truly a part of the solution being evaluated.
- How easy is it to use the system? For example, how intuitive is the equipment? How intuitive is the interface to other systems? Is the hardware bulky and awkward to operate, or is it optimized for ergonomics? Vendor commentary and testimonials from other retailers have some value when it comes to answering this question, but ease of use is best determined through the retail POS demo.
- How functional is the system? In other words, does the software do everything the ISV claims? Is it truly compatible with your existing hardware, or are a myriad of tweaks, that may not even be effective, necessary to enable the software and hardware to work together properly? Is the POS system fast (handles tasks in seconds, not minutes) and reliable (operates the same way every time)? Again, only through a retail POS demo will you know for certain.
- What is the degree of scalability? The POS system’s configuration should allow POS terminals and software to be added as growth dictates.
Clearly, when it comes to evaluating retail technology, the adage that seeing is believing holds true. Any time spent on a retail POS demo is time well invested.
