Point of Sales Systems – Choosing the Right POS for Your Business

I have spent the last 15 years in the Hospitality Industry, this has given me the opportunity to explore various Point of Sales systems. I would like to use this knowledge to give you and idea on what you should look for in a POS System.Purchase and Maintenance CostThe First thing anyone will consider is the cost, many companies will offer systems that might seem to be the same but have a huge difference in price. Many times this cost is excused since the software behind the POS will offer you functionality that will help you minimize Labour Cost and or expenses for other software in the long run. Here is an example. The Micros POS system will offer you a stock option and a food cost option which can add slightly to the cost, if you however choose to not get this option, you will surly need someone to manual calculate cost (man hours) and enter this information in your accounting system. This goes for many features of the system. Make sure you take the time and sit with the Sales Agent and tell him to give you strong points of features and functionality. The second part is the Annual support fee, make clear what it includes it is important that any broken equipment is replaced in due time so it does not cause operational issues to your business. In any case always negotiate you will find that they do have room for discount.Functionality and ease of useNo matter how advanced and great the Point of sales system is, it is still operated by employees. While your POS might stay with you for a long time, employees might come and go. A strong factor here is the Ease of Use of the system and the cost of training for new employees. Training sessions can be very costly thus it is best to have a few members of the team who know the system well enough to train others. This can safe money and make your business run smoother when key employees leave.Once the POS system is installed the installer will customize the interface for you, they will add buttons for products, discounts, cancellations and other mechanics. The POS Company should consider the business needs and work flow, but vice versa you should use and consider the knowledge and experience of the installer. Ask what similar business do and what problems they faced. This will help you run in to the same problems which again can cost money and man hours.Network Capabilities and interfacingMany times your POS system will interface with other systems like accounting systems. Make sure your Accounting System and your POS system can interface and that this has been previously tested. Usually this is done via an XML import/export or even a life interface via database connection. Many POS systems also accept remote connections for reporting and administration. So if you want to add new products, print reports or adjust prices and menus you should be able to do this from your office or even at home with a VPN connection. Ask your sales person for availability of these features.If your Restaurant or bar is part of a bigger picture like a chain or hotel, make sure it interfaces with the other systems used. In a hotel for example you will want to let guest charge their meals and drinks to their room and pay upon check out. If your POS does not interface with the Property Management System than this will not be a possibility. If your Restaurant is part of a Chain you will want to be able to change the menus and prices chain wide and not waste hours of doing the same change in each of your restaurants.So these are a few points you should consider obviously there are a lot more but I can not list them all in this article, if you need any more information feel free to contact me.