The POS Software Blog

The POS Software Blog

News from Tower Systems about locally made POS software for specialty local retailers.

CategoryFishing software

Advice for Small Business Retailers: Here’s Why Vibe Coding Your Own POS Software Probably a Mistake

May 16, 2026
4 Min read
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Let’s talk about vibe coding and vertical market software.

Hi, I’m Mark Fletcher. I founded Tower Systems back in 1981. Back then I was a programmer. My languages of choice were Fortran (for more technical application) and PL/1 (for more commercial coding). The last programming I did was in the very early 1990s.

I also have owned retail shops for decades. Today, I have one physical shop and four online retail businesses. That retail experience is relevant to this. You can check me out on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-fletcher-tower/

Early this year, I vibe coded a couple of applications. It was exciting, fun. One was a possible commercial project. I deployed a test version. It was very cool. But, it wasn’t commercial, certainly not to a standard I’d want money for.

I mention all that for perspective for what I want to say in this comparison of vibe coding versus buying commercial software. I should also note that I sold Tower Systems to Vela APX, a Constellation Software company. I’m still in the business and loving it by the way.

How does vibe coding compare commercial vertical market software?

Vibe Coding is a mainstream topic thanks to social media content pitching it. Plenty of people are making money selling courses and workshops about vibe coding and while vibe coding is cool, there are reasons that businesses need to be careful in approaching it.

Retailers read about vibe coding, about anyone being able to spin up an app in a weekend, and they start wondering: why am I paying for software when I could just build it myself?

It’s a fair question. But most of the time, the answer is: don’t.

Here’s the thing about commercially released software: it’s been through a process. Think of it like food from a licensed kitchen. Before it reaches you, someone has checked it, tested it, made sure it does what it claims. When you vibe code something yourself, you might end up with something that looks right and feels right. But unless you’re a developer, it probably has gaps.

Where does commercially released vertical market software differ to vibe coded software?

I spoke recently with a retailer who’d done exactly this. They’d built their own tool, and it handled some of what they needed. But not all of it. There were steps at the end of key processes that the software couldn’t complete, and so they completed them manually. Two to three hours a week, every week. When we looked at Tower Systems software covering the same ground, it handled the whole process end to end. Our software costs a few dollars a day. Their manual workaround was costing them hours.

There’s another reason to go commercial that doesn’t get talked about enough: collective knowledge. Software used across hundreds of businesses accumulates feedback that a single-user build never can. Every retailer using Tower Systems is, in a sense, contributing to the product. Their experience, their edge cases, their suggestions, that all feeds back into what gets built next. Retailers benefit from that even if they never submit a single support ticket.

The latest Tower Systems release is a good example. A meaningful chunk of the enhancements came directly from retailers. Not from our team guessing what might be useful, from people actually running shops telling us what they needed.

What is the value difference between commercial and vibe coded software?

When you’re weighing up vibe coding versus commercial software, think about what you’re actually comparing. On one side: something built quickly, for free, by someone who isn’t a software developer, with no QA process and no community behind it. But, since it’s personal you may feel more love for it. On the other: software built over decades, tested before release, shaped by hundreds of retailers across Australia and New Zealand, and updated regularly. But, since it is commercial it has a cost.

The food analogy I shared earlier holds. You wouldn’t buy a meal from a home kitchen that hasn’t met basic health standards. The same logic applies to software running your business.

Tower Systems builds specifically for specialty retail: bookshops, farm supply businesses, gift shops, bike shops, pet shops,  jewellers,  newsagencies, garden centres, toy shops, music shops, and more.

If you want to talk through whether it’s right for your business, reach out: towersystems.com.au, sales@towersystems.com.au, or call 1300 662 957.

Yes, this post is a sales pitch. It’s also true. And, it’s written by me: Mark Fletcher. Someone with decades of experience in software development and decades of experience owning and running retail businesses.

Oh, and, yes, these are all my own words.

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Beyond Generic: Why Vertical Market Software and AI Define a Bright Future for Specialty Retail

March 13, 2026
4 Min read
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Local independent retailers in Australia and New Zealand face a unique challenges. It’s always been thus. Small vs big. Main Street vs shopping centre. Physical vs online. Capital poor vs capital rich. tenants vs landlords. We could go on.

Whether you manage a garden centre, a bookshop, a sewing shop, a produce business a jewellery store, a bike shop, or a newsagency, your business does not operate like a supermarket or a big business. You have specific supplier relationships, unique inventory requirements, and specialized customer service workflows. Using generic, off-the-shelf point of sale software often forces you to “dumb down” your operations to fit a one-size-fits-all model.

Vertical market software is designed to solve this problem. It is built specifically for your industry, embedding best-practice workflows and features that generic systems simply do not offer. At Tower Systems, we have spent over 40 years developing software that serves the distinct needs of specialty marketplaces.

The Power of Specialisation

A vertical market system understands the nuances of your trade. For a jeweller, this means the ability to print specialised labels with multiple sections—parts for the ring itself that will not cause damage, and sections for the packaging. For a garden centre, it means weatherproof labels that can withstand the elements outdoors.

Specialisation also extends to how you sell your products. Many specialty retailers do not just sell by the unit. Our software allows for selling by fractions, such as length or weight. Integrated scale functionality, which is NMI approved, is essential for spice shops, butchers, and health food stores. These are not “add-ons” but core components of a system built for your specific type of business. When your software handles these industry complexities, you are free to focus on what makes your shop different from the average retailer.

Practical AI for Small Business

While large corporations talk about artificial intelligence in abstract terms, here at Tower Systems we have integrated practical AI tools directly into our specialty retail POS software. This is not about futuristic theories; it is about saving time and improving your bottom line today.

We have made AI tools accessible and understandable.

One of the most significant advancements is AI-driven invoice processing. In the past, a retailer receiving a large shipment—such as a fishing tackle shop with an invoice of 200 items—would spend hours, or even a full day, manually entering data. Our embedded AI tools can now process that same invoice in a few minutes.

Unlike some systems where you must export data to an external spreadsheet or a tool like ChatGPT and then re-import it, our solution is seamless. It happens within the software. One retailer reported saving between seven and eight hours of costed labour per week just by using these tools. This represents a weekly saving of $250 to $300, which often exceeds the cost of the software itself.

Better Data, Better Decisions

The phrase “what gets measured gets managed” is a cornerstone of retail. However, many retailers avoid complex reporting because it is time-consuming or difficult to interpret. Our software now includes AI analysis for end-of-shift and inventory reports.

Instead of scrolling through pages of raw data, you can receive a concise AI summary. This summary analyses sales trends, looks for potential theft patterns, and even considers local weather impacts on your performance. It provides an “at-a-glance” understanding of your business health, allowing you to make informed decisions without needing to be a data scientist.

Protecting Your Business Asset

Choosing professionally developed, peer-reviewed software is also an investment in your business’s future value. Some retailers attempt to build their own tools using basic bot technology. While this might serve a temporary need, it creates a liability when it comes time to sell the business.

A new owner needs a system that is supported, documented, and maintained by a professional team. By using a vertical market system with built-in AI, you are building a scalable asset. We provide the help desk support and online resources to ensure that as your business evolves or changes hands, the technology remains a source of strength rather than a point of failure.

The retail landscape is changing rapidly. By leveraging software that is built for your specific industry and enhanced with integrated AI, you can move away from manual admin and spend more time on the shop floor where it matters most.

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Enhancing independent retail with vertical market POS software

January 25, 2026
3 Min read
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Selecting the right point-of-sale system is a critical decision for any independent retailer. In this video, Mark Fletcher, founder of Tower Systems, discusses why vertical market software is often a superior choice compared to generic, one-size-fits-all solutions. He explains how specialised technology can help local businesses maintain a competitive edge in an increasingly crowded marketplace.

Tailored solutions for specialty niches
Generic software often lacks the nuanced features required by specific industries. For instance, jewelers require non-adhesive labeling for delicate inventory, while garden centres need labels that can withstand the elements. Similarly, stores selling products by weight or length, such as fabric shops or butchers, require precise fractional calculations and scale integration. Vertical market software is built with these unique requirements in mind, ensuring that the technology supports rather than hinders daily operations.

Driving efficiency through automation
Modern retail management now relies heavily on automation to save time and reduce errors. The software discussed uses artificial intelligence to monitor inventory levels and predict future stock requirements. By automating supplier invoices and reordering processes, business owners can step away from the back office. This shift allows staff to focus on customer service and floor sales, which are vital components for the success of any specialty shop.

Strategic data utilisation
The video also explores how specialszed software turns raw transaction data into actionable business intelligence. Rather than just recording sales, the system tracks specific customer buying patterns and seasonal trends relevant to the particular industry. This data allows independent retailers to make informed decisions regarding marketing and stock selection. By leveraging these insights, business owners can create more personalised shopping experiences that build long-term customer loyalty.

Supporting the local retail community
Beyond the technical features, the value of a specialized system often lies in the support behind it. Tower Systems provides localized assistance tailored to the Australian and New Zealand retail landscapes. This ensures that help desk staff understand the specific challenges and supplier relationships unique to local newsagents, pet shops, and bike stores. Choosing a partner that understands the local context can be as important as the software itself.

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The right POS system for any retail business depends on the specific needs of the retail business. Tower offers POS software made specifically for local small business retailers in a selection of retail channels. To see if we might help you…, request a free, no-obligation demo today.  

Call 1300 662 957 in Australia or 0800 444 367 in New Zealand. Or, email sales@towersystems.com.au. 

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The question small business retailers ask online: “How can I reduce operating costs without losing customers?”

January 14, 2026
5 Min read
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Many retailers are working harder for less profit because they are trapped by old pricing habits and manual labor. We’ve worked with thousands of specialty businesses and found that the path to lower operating costs is about optimisation. This post covers how to reclaim 3–5% of your revenue from theft, how to automate your way out of manual data entry, and why your shop’s convenience might be worth more than you’re currently charging.

How can I reduce operating costs without losing customers? This is a common question small business retailers are asking. It’s a question rooted in higher power prices, rising rent, rising labour costs and increases in the cost of products they sell.

Before we get to talking about opportunities for reducing costs, it’s useful to consider opportunities for increasing prices. In our experience serving thousands of small business retailers in Australia and New Zealand for decades, they tend to hold back on price increased that, if done, would not impact sales.

We were working with a group of retailers in a specially retail channel a couple of years ago. We compared priced for products in a popular product category for their type of business. The diversity in pricing was considerable. While some applied a 100% mark-up on wholesale cost, some were as low as 80% and some as high as 125%.

We recommended everyone move to 125% mark-up. Two thirds of the retailers we were working with increased their mark-up. A year later we checked in and found what we expected, sales volume had not fallen. As a result, these retailers were banking more gross profit from each sale.

Our advice, based on this experience and years of experience helping small business retailers is: review your mark-up approach. Charge what you can. Do this based on why people shop with you. If it is for their convenience, you are likely able to charge more than is common for the same product.

Now, let’s get on to answering How can I reduce operating costs without losing customers?

Leveraging our experience helping small business retailers across many retail channels through supporting our Australian made POS software for jewellers, garden centres, bike shops, newsagents, bookshops, pet shops, music shops, toy stores, produce businesses, fashion shop, fishing bait and tackle businesses, firearms dealers, Christmas shops, sewing shops, repairs businesses, haberdashers businesses, Asian supermarkets,  here are 5 ways small business retailers can cut costs without losing customers.

  1. Save time = lower labour costs. Stop entering supplier invoices manually. Import them direct. AI tools in our POS software make this easy, fast and accurate. Use auto replenishment tools, based on Agentic AI tech, to have orders created ready for your approval – bypassing multiple labour steps.
  2. Reduce dead stock = less money wasted on what’s not selling. In a typical local independent shop around 25% of stock underperforms. That’s dead money, a cost to the business. Use your POS software properly and well to stop loading your shop with stock that won’t sell.
  3. Automate everyday bookkeeping tasks. Turn on the flow of data between our POS software and Xero. Shift from regular paid bookkeeping work to less frequent and less expensive work.
  4. Stop paying for analysis at your fingertips. Use your POS software business performance insights that you can access any time and at no additional cost instead of hiring a consultant or paying your accountant to do this.
  5. Cut theft. Theft cost a typical local retail business an amount annually equal to between 3% and 5% of revenue. Use the theft tracking and mitigation tools in your POS software to attack the cost of theft.

You can do these five things today without having to spend more money. Each of them saves money. The thing is though, plenty of business experts don’t talk about these things because when they do talk about ways you can cut costs they are pitching for you to spend money with them.

Here at Tower Systems we are not trying to get you to spend more money with us. The facilities in our software covered in this list of five things are there in the software today, accessible for no extra cost. Use them and you will cut costs in your retail business.

Reducing your operating costs starts by making your business smarter. The tools we’ve discussed are likely sitting in your POS system right now, waiting to be used.

Take a moment this week to audit your mark-ups and look for one manual task you can automate. You don’t need a high-priced consultant to find more profit, you just need to leverage the technology already at your fingertips. If you’re a Tower Systems customer and aren’t sure how to switch these features on, give our team a call. We’re here to help you keep more of what you earn.

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The right POS system for any retail business depends on the specific needs of the retail business. Tower offers POS software made specifically for local small business retailers in a selection of retail channels. To see if we might help you…, request a free, no-obligation demo today. 

Call 1300 662 957 in Australia or 0800 444 367 in New Zealand. Or, email sales@towersystems.com.au. 

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What’s the best website platform for a small retail business Wix, Shopify, Woo Commerce or Squarespace?

November 25, 2025
6 Min read
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We are often asked this question by small business retailers: What’s the best website platform for a small retail business Wix, Shopify, Woo Commerce or Squarespace?

We have years of experience developing websites for small business retailers using Shopify, Magento, Big Commerce and WooCommerce. The advice we provide in this article is based on our years of experience serving thousands of small business retailers.

The best e-commerce platform for your business will depend on your technical experience, your budget, your position in your online journey and the goals you have for your website. Each of these platforms offers different benefits. from the outset, though, in our experience, Shopify is the best solution for easy of use, ease of change without technical skills, the ability to scale and ease of winning shoppers from the already considerable Shopify customer ecosystem.

Wix offers easy drag and drop, which can see like a big time saver for the novice. In reality, Wix websites can often become messy, overloaded. It can be a good platform to figure out what you want but our experience is that it’s not ideal once you are up and running and building your online business. We think it’s unlikely you’ll find hero websites for small business retailers based on Wix. If you need a site up in an hour and want total freedom to drag things around the screen, Wix could be a good choice today.

WooCommerce is a plugin for WordPress. It’s made for use by technically skilled people. You do the work, and once you;’ve done that you will tend to have to do more work. This tech work can distract you from running your retail business. Woo is terrifically flexible, which comes as a labour cost for you or for the web developer you hire. If you already have a WordPress site and want to avoid monthly subscription fees, this offers the most freedom, provided you have the technical skills and truckloads of time to manage it.

Squarespace is offers beautiful looking websites with an easy to use back end for adjustment. It’s heavily image-focused. You can’t “break” a Squarespace site as easily as a Wix site because the editor forces you to stay within a grid. Squarspace lacks some of the finesse of Shopiufy for businesses that need more, especially when it comes to shipping flexibility. fI selling “the vibe” is as important as selling the product, Squarespace might be your answer.

Shopify is the best solution for local small business retailers in our experience. Shopify themes make it easy for you to change the look and feel of your website without hiring a web developer. Shopify integrates with terrific local shipping options (Sendle, My Post Business etc) and Shopify validates Australian addresses incredibly well at checkout, which saves you money on “return to sender” errors. It is the industry standard for a reason. If your goal is to grow, Shopify handles the “boring” stuff (hosting, security, checkout compliance) better than anyone in our experience.

We have years of experience using Shopify ourselves – when we offer advice to retailers on e-commerce, it comes from a place of personal experience as well as extensive technical experience and years building Shopify websites for so many different retailers.

Now, we’re not saying Wix, Squarespace and WooCommerce are bad. What you choose for your business needs to be what you want/need.

What we are saying is do your research – choose the ecommerce platform that serves your technical skills, budget, business plans and how you see your business living online.

Low cost websites may be low cost because of the work you have to do to manage and modify them.

Fast to setup websites may be fast because they don’t go as deep within your business.

Key to success is you knowing what it is that you want / need for yourself and for your business. Saying you want a website is not enough. What do you want from it?

Take your time. Figure out what you need, want and can afford. Look at examples of websites for your type of business. Consider web developers local to you, people who understand your business, people you can speak with. Ask why they recommend what they recommend.

We recommend Shopify for speed to launch, ease of change, non technical back end management, ease of scale, wonderful integrations and access to a huge ecosystem of shoppers. It’s what we use and what many of our local small business retail customers use.

Web development is unregulated. Be careful. There are some who know the words to say to dazzle less technically literate folks into spending money with them only to never deliver what the business wants / needs. Get any promises in writing – including delivery timing and website functionality.

Be sure you know the business you are dealing with. Often, we developers are not local as they may pitch.

Do your due diligence before you sign any contract or pay any money. We’ll say again: take your time.

This decision rests entirely on your business’s ultimate ambition. If you view your online store as a serious, scalable retail channel, one that you need to easily manage alongside your physical operations, integrates effortlessly with local logistics, and provides a reliable, secure foundation that won’t require a developer every time you want to make a change, then Shopify is our recommended investment.

While Wix and Squarespace offer beautiful simplicity for the start-up, and WooCommerce offers technical control, Shopify is purpose-built for the commercial rigor of a growing retail business, offering the best balance of ease-of-use, power, and a vast ecosystem of apps and support designed to help Australian retailers move more stock with less technical overhead.

Shopify is a good small business e-commerce solution, which can grow as you grow. We had one customer using Shopify go from $50,000 in their launch year to $2.5 million by year four. The growth came from their smart business decisions. Shopify made it easy to manage the growth.

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If you are considering a website for your retail business, consider Tower Systems. Call 1300 662 957 in Australia or 0800 444 367 in New Zealand. Or, email sales@towersystems.com.au. If we feel we are not right for you, we will say so.

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Retail Automation: Why the Tower Systems & Xero Link is a “No-Brainer” for Business Owners

November 22, 2025
4 Min read
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Okay, yes, for sure, we are biased. This is a blog post pitting our POS software Xero integration. We think it’s awesome. We made it to be awesome, for local small business retailers. We first made it back when we had our own shops and used our POS software ourselves and our in-house CFO needed to save time and gain access to accurate data. That was years ago. The Xero POS software link we have today are as good, as useful – and solely made for local small business retailers.

Running a retail business often means wearing multiple hats. One moment you are on the floor serving customers, and the next you are in the back office trying to make sense of spreadsheets. In a recent discussion between Mark and Michael from Tower Systems, they explored how the Tower Systems POS integration with Xero is changing the game for retailers—specifically by removing the headache of manual bookkeeping.

Here is why this integration is rated an “11 out of 10” by the experts.

1. Tested in the Real World

Michael isn’t just a software trainer; he’s a former retail business owner who managed his shop remotely from another state. He relied entirely on the data flowing from his POS to his accounting software to run the business.

For Michael, the integration wasn’t just a feature; it was a necessity. It allowed him to trust that the financial data being used for BAS and tax reporting was 100% accurate without him needing to be physically present to check the till every day.

2. Accuracy Over Manual Entry

The biggest takeaway from their conversation is the elimination of human error. When you manually enter daily sales figures, mistakes happen. By automating the flow of data between Tower Systems and Xero, you ensure that your books are pristine.

As Michael notes, “We didn’t have to pay someone else to input any of our data manually… it was just there”. This automation frees up business owners to make better decisions based on accurate, real-time data rather than fixing data entry errors.

3. It’s Included (Yes, Free)

A common pain point in the software industry is the “hidden cost” model, where essential features like loyalty programs or accounting integrations cost extra.

Mark highlights a key advantage of the Tower Systems approach: the Xero link is included at no extra cost. Whether you are a small startup or an established store, you get the same professional-grade integration without paying for an additional module.

4. The “Golden Rule” of Setup

If you are ready to set this up, Michael offers one crucial piece of advice: Wait until you have been trading for a week or two.

It might seem counter-intuitive, but it is impossible to test a data link if there is no data to export. By waiting a short period, you can perform a “catch-up” export for those first few weeks, ensuring everything lines up perfectly.

Furthermore, always bring your bookkeeper or accountant to the setup meeting. While the software is easy to use, having a financial professional present ensures that your tax codes, liability accounts, and ledger mappings are compliant from day one. As Michael explains, he can translate the “software speak” into “bookkeeper speak,” bridging the gap so you don’t have to.

Summary

If you are still doing your retail books manually, you are losing time and risking accuracy. As Michael puts it, why wouldn’t you use a tool that saves you hours of work and helps you sleep better at night knowing your data is correct?

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The right POS system for any retail business depends on the specific needs of the retail business. Tower offers specialty retail business software made for local small business retailers. To see if we might help you…, request a free, no-obligation demo today. 

Call 1300 662 957 in Australia or 0800 444 367 in New Zealand. Or, email sales@towersystems.com.au. 

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AI: Levelling the Playing Field for Small Business Retailers

November 3, 2025
3 Min read
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You might have seen the news this past week that Coles is rolling out an enterprise-wide partnership with OpenAI. When we saw that story at Tower Systems, our first thought wasn’t about the competition. It was: “This is fantastic news.”

This move by a retail giant validates what Tower Systems has been focused on for some time: AI isn’t just a gimmick for the big end of town; it’s a genuine “competitive game-changer” for independent, local retailers, including jewellers, bike shops, gift shops, produce businesses, newsagents and other small businesses we serve. It’s leveling the playing field. And the best part? You don’t have to wait. While Coles is just announcing their plans, local, independent retailers are already using powerful AI tools every single day.

We recently made a video discussing this, where we highlighted how Tower Systems has been embedding AI tools from OpenAI, Google Gemini, and others directly into our point-of-sale software for a long time now. It’s not about “future tech”; it’s about practical tools that solve real problems for small business owners.

In the video, we discuss how our customers are already using AI to:

  • Save hours of admin by automatically analyzing and importing virtually any supplier invoice, with no special setup required.
  • Market smarter by generating unique product descriptions and blog posts that speak in their business’s authentic voice.
  • Boost profitability with plain-English reports that identify what’s not selling, what’s overstocked, and even potential theft, long before it becomes a major issue.
  • Prevent lost sales by getting alerts on popular items you’re about to run out of.

As mentioned in the video, we rely on these and more AI tools in our own retail shop – to save time, make better-informed decisions, and run a smarter, more efficient shop.

This technology is here, it’s accessible, and it’s already making a fundamental difference for local businesses. The Coles announcement is a great signal for the entire retail sector and all who serve it that AI is no longer an option; AI is an essential part of modern retail.

We encourage you to watch the video to see a full breakdown of what this means for local small business retail and how you can leverage this power in your own independent business today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwRHiHlWcVg

As you can probably tell, we’re excited about AI. It makes accessible to small business retailers opportunities for more effectively competing – as plenty are already finding. It’s a terrific opportunity for efficiency and growth.

And, when you’re researching AI, get to the facts. Some software companies say they have AI tools, when they don’t. It’s important you see for yourself what’s available today as this matters

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The 5 steps to finding the right software for your shop

October 30, 2025
5 Min read
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Finding the right software for any shop is vital for the right software can add tens of thousands of dollars to the bottom line of your business. The wrong software, on the other hand, can cost a retail business tens of thousands of dollars.

The right software is the software that best serves your needs for a cost that is genuinely affordable and is flexible for you as the business evolves.

Here are our recommended 5 steps to finding the right software for your shop.

Step 1: be sure of what you need.

Make a note of everything you want to use the software for, with sub notes as to the detail. Make notes about the service expectations you have – for example, how easy is support to access, what are the hours of availability, what additional training options are there, is there a process for suggesting software enhancements.

The more detailed your approach before engaging any company the better the outcome for you. This is not something to wing.

Choose the software and the team behind it and not one individual.

Step 2: know your budget.

How much do you want to spend monthly all up for all terminals in your business and any additional facilities you want to use? Is the contract a lock-in or can you quit at any time? How do you pay? Are there any additional costs – some software companies require you to use a specific payments platform for transactions in the shop, which can have a cost beyond average.

Total cost of ownership is a thing – be sure you fully understand this for each POS software package you consider.

Good software companies are transparent about their pricing.

Step 3: see it for yourself.

Have the software demonstrated to you, completely to your satisfaction, covering every area of the software you request. Ask many questions. Get them to record the demonstration and give you a copy – their response speaks to their transparency.

If you are not sure, see it again. A good software company will welcome demonstrating the software to you again.

Each demonstration is an opportunity to learn more about the software company as well as the software itself.

Step 4: do it yourself.

Don’t outsource this. Do the work yourself. Treat it as the big decision it is. Take your time. Raise every doubt you have. Get every promise in writing. The more thorough your approach, the better the outcome for your business.

Consultants can be helpful. But, they are not the ones who will use the software, and, sometimes they can bring a bias to consideration that is not in the interests of your specific business.

Step 5: get to it.

Okay, you’ve made your decision. Now work it, get the most from it. Learn it well and make sure all in your business do too. Use it. Push it. Treat it as an asset that needs to deliver a return. Prove through your approach that your homework paid off.

A bonus step: be in control.

Take your time. Make the decision when you are ready. Beware tricks and manoeuvres designed to get you to make a decision when you are not read.

This is your decision to make, when you are ready.

Choosing your software is not just a one-off purchase; it’s the start of a long-term relationship with the software provider. The company you choose will become a key partner in your business operations. Their approach to service, their culture of innovation, and their understanding of your specific retail needs will directly impact your ability to grow and adapt. This is why Step 1 (being sure of what you need) and Step 3 (seeing it for yourself) are so critical—you are not just assessing a product, you are assessing a partner.

The advice provided here will stand the test of scrutiny. Our approach here at Tower Systems is to provide transparent advice on which you can rely. If at any time in our discussions with a prospective customer we feel we are not the right fit for a business, we will say so.

Our ideal POS software customer is a local independent small retail business, a specialty retail business with no more than 10 retail outlets. Most of our customers have one shop. Our focus on small businesses gives us a customer community where all are equal.

As a company based in Hawthorn, Victoria, we are situated to serve Australian and near by businesses well. We are grateful to count plenty of shops in New Zealand as customers.

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While the right POS system for any retail business depends on the specific needs of the retail business, Tower Systems was built to serve  Australian and New Zealand local small business specialty retailers. To see how we can help you…, request a free, no-obligation demo today. 

Call 1300 662 957 in Australia or 0800 444 367 in New Zealand. Or, email sales@towersystems.com.au. 

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Grow Your Fishing & Outdoors Business with Our Aussie-Made POS Software

October 27, 2025
4 Min read
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Our Tower Systems software for Fishing, Outdoors and Camping shops is loved by many, for which we are sincerely grateful. We are proud that it’s Aussie-made, Aussie-supported, and built on the advice and feedback from our fishing, outdoor and camping business shop community.

Our software is made for local businesses, independent businesses, specialty fishing, outdoor and camping businesses.

The latest software is out now, and it’s packed with features specifically designed for your unique business.

Features Built for the Fishing / Outdoor / Camping Niches

Here are ways using our software, you can handle the specific needs of a fishing, camping, or outdoors business:

  • Sell by Weight & Fractions: Perfect for selling bait, our software integrates directly with your scales and easily handles fractions for selling rope or chain by the 1.5-meter.
  • Create Bundles & Kits: Easily sell bundle packs like a rod, reel, and net. The system can even prompt an upsell at the register when a customer buys just one part of a combo.
  • Manage Repairs & Workshops: Track rod and reel repairs from drop-off to pickup with our comprehensive job management module.
  • Handle Special Orders: Easily manage special customer orders for non-stocked items, take deposits, and automatically notify the customer via SMS or email when their item arrives.
  • Manage Apparel: If you sell clothing, you can manage your inventory by colour, size, and style.
  • Handle Subscriptions & Rentals: If you rent gear or run a subscription service, this is handled for you.
  • Age Checks: You can set a mandatory age check at the point of sale for any age-restricted items.

Here are embedded AI tools you can use to save time and run a more valuable business

  • AI Invoice Import: Stop wasting hours on data entry. Our AI can read supplier PDF invoices (like those from Shimano and other major suppliers) and import all items, costs, and quantities in seconds. This feature alone is saving some retailers 5 to 6 hours a week.
  • AI Blog Post Generator: Create SEO-friendly blog posts for your products directly from the software and publish them to your website to help with marketing.
  • AI Pricing: Get insights into what competitors in your local area are charging for the same products, helping you price items more effectively.
  • AI business performance analysis.
  • AI theft detection.

Leverage Your Local Expertise

Our software helps you stand out from the big chains by leveraging your unique local knowledge.

  • Share Local Fishing Tips: Automatically add local fishing tips, seasonal information, or care instructions to your customer receipts, adding value to every sale.
  • Build Community: Offer special pricing for local fishing club members. You can also easily use the software to help raise funds for the club, attracting their members to shop with you.

Fair, Simple, Aussie-Friendly Pricing

We believe in transparent pricing. There is no EFTPOS or transaction-related fee from us, just a simple monthly software rental fee. You choose the EFTPOS provider you prefer; we don’t lock you in.

Plus, you can run this software on as many computers in your shop as you want for no extra cost.

See our software for fishing, outdoor and camping businesses in Action

You can see these features demonstrated in our videos:

We’re Often Asked…

Here are some of the questions we get, and our answers:

  • Can I run BOGO pricing, buy 1 get 1 or similar? Yes.
  • Does the software let me manage time-based catalogue pricing? Yes.
  • Can I sell gift cards for my business? Yes.
  • Is there a loyalty facility guiding infrequent shoppers to spend? Yes.
  • Does the software let me buy in bulk and break to retail packs? Yes.
  • Can you reach out to customers based on past purchases? Yes, you can even target customers who bought specific items (like crabbing gear) with seasonal alerts.
  • Does the system handle account customers? Yes.
  • Does the software connect with my website? We partner with Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento, and WooCommerce.
  • Can you make a website for our business? Yes, we’ve made many.
  • Can I track where my customers come from? Yes.
  • Can I use my existing hardware? Yes, if your hardware is current.
  • Can I use my existing data with the software? Yes. We’d like to check your data to be sure. We will advise what can be safely brought across.
  • Does it integrate with Xero? Yes.

 

We’d love to give you a personal demonstration: Call 1 300 662 957 or email sales@towersystems.com.au

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An easy way for retailers to apportion the cost of freight across products on a supplier invoice

September 23, 2025
2 Min read
A

From Frustration to Efficiency: Simplifying Freight Cost Allocation

Handling the cost of freight can be a significant challenge for any retail business. For some, a substantial freight charge on an invoice can be a source of frustration. For others, the practical struggle lies in accurately apportioning that single cost across all the different items in the shipment.

Let’s start with the frustration. The simple truth is that every single item you receive has a freight cost associated with getting it to your store. Sometimes this cost is clearly itemised on your invoice; other times, it’s hidden within the cost of the goods themselves. But either way, it is always there.

The second challenge is the practical one: how do you accurately assign a portion of a $150 freight bill to hundreds of individual products on an invoice? This is where our Tower Systems POS software can help make the process easy.

In our software, you can take the total freight charge shown on an invoice and have it automatically apportioned across all items received. This ensures the landed cost of each product is accurate. The system is flexible, too. If you feel a specific product should carry more or less of the freight burden, you can easily adjust it manually. Plus, if your invoice has more than one freight charge, you can add them all in to be spread across the items.

Handling freight costs accurately and quickly is essential for maintaining healthy margins. Our software is designed to save you time on these crucial back-office tasks. We believe that every minute saved is valuable. Labour has a cost, and the more we can do to help retailers reduce this, the better.

Our software provides independent small businesses with a framework for consistency in their operations. By simplifying processes like freight allocation, we help you establish a reliable and accurate method for reflecting the true cost of your goods, paving the way for smarter pricing and better business decisions.

We love helping local small business retailers thrive. We do this for bookshops, sewing shops, music shops, garden centres, pet shops, toy shops, produce businesses, stockfeed businesses, jewellers, firearms dealers and more – all specialty retailers, all with unique needs, yet businesses with common needs when it comes to managing freight costs.

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We imported a PDF of a 16 page invoice with 480 stock items into our AI enabled POS software in no time at all with 100% accuracy

September 19, 2025
2 Min read
W

Manual data entry is the silent thief of productivity in local small business retail. Every business owner knows the feeling: a thick supplier invoice lands on your desk, and you know that hours of tedious, soul-destroying typing lie ahead. It’s a process prone to errors, where a single misplaced decimal or incorrect product code can lead to stock discrepancies, pricing mistakes, and ultimately, lost revenue.

We decided to put a definitive end to that.

We took a real-world, complex challenge: a 16-page supplier invoice containing 480 individual stock items with a freight charge and including some stock items not stocked before. The kind of document that would typically take a staff member hours to process, with a high likelihood of human error.

The result? Our AI-powered POS software ingested, read, and processed the entire document in moments. Not minutes, moments.

  • Pages processed: 16
  • Line items: 480
  • Time taken: Seconds
  • Accuracy: 100%

How is this possible?

This isn’t simple Optical Character Recognition (OCR). Our Tower Systems small business POS software AI has been trained to understand the structure of an invoice. It doesn’t just see text; it identifies columns and comprehends data, intelligently mapping product codes, descriptions, quantities, costs, and taxes directly into your inventory system.

What this could mean for your business:

  • Reclaim your time: Free up yourself and your staff to focus on what truly matters—serving customers and growing the business, not acting as data entry clerks.
  • Eliminate costly errors: 100% accuracy means your stock levels are correct from the moment goods arrive. No more pricing errors or chasing phantom inventory.
  • Get stock on shelves faster: The delay between receiving a delivery and having it available for sale is drastically reduced. In a fast-moving retail environment, this speed is a competitive advantage.
  • Improve staff morale: Removing the most tedious tasks from your team’s plate is a guaranteed way to boost job satisfaction.

The days of manually processing supplier invoices are over. Technology should work for you, simplifying complexity and giving you back your most valuable asset: time.

The Tower Systems AI enabled POS software is proving to be a game changer for local and independent small business retailers. Find out more at www.towersystems.com.au or call 1300 662 957 or email sales@towersystems.com.au.

We love helping local small business retailers thrive!

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Are you looking for an alternative to Shopify POS?

September 14, 2025
6 Min read
A

If you are looking for an alternative to Shopify POS for your shop, our Tower Systems POS software could be worth considering.

Now, to be clear, what we are talking about there is POS software for a physical shop.

Shopify started life as an e-commerce platform and that remains the core focus of their business. The Shopify POS app or service is an add-on for the physical shop.

Like many POS software companies, years ago we went through an approval process with Shopify to be an approved integrated POS software solution for Shopify – to offer in-store POS that’s integrated with their e-commerce platform. we continue to offer this today with many of our POS software customers using this.

What’s different about our POS software offering and how we compare to Shopify POS is that we are an in-store first solution, a physical retail first solution. That’s our specialty. In our software we go deep into serving the needs of retail businesses, workflow needs, operational needs, business growth needs. We also go deep into the needs of specific vertical retail channels: jewellers, bike shops, music shops, bookshops, pet shops, firearms dealers, camping shops, gift shops, newsagents, produce businesses, farm supply businesses, garden centres and many more.

This deep specialisation in our POS software matters because it addresses unique, real-world workflows that generic systems cannot. For a bike shop, it means seamlessly tracking serialised inventory from purchase to sale and managing workshop repairs. For a jeweller, it involves handling intricate repairs, managing consignment stock, and tracking precious metals. For a garden centre, it could be integrating scales to sell bulk landscape supplies by weight or it could be managing price changes to products when repotting or it could relate to producing product labels on weatherproof labels. These are not edge cases; they are the core, daily operations for these businesses, and our software is built from the ground up to make them efficient and profitable.

The needs of a physical shop are different to online, especially a retail business in an area of specialisation.

We think that a physical shop will be better served by something made first for their type of business and that any online business they have will be better serves by software made for the online business. That’s why we see our Tower Systems POS software as a viable alternative to Shopify POS for a physical store.

Make your own decision though. Do your research. Be sure to test all of your business specific needs against any POS software you are considering, including Shopify POS. And when you are dong the research, talk to the company, see how they handle your queries – some POS software companies are hard to talk to, you can’t pick up the phone and speak to someone. If personal contact will matter to your and your business, the availability of it should be a factor in your consideration as to the best POS software for your business.

When looking for an alternative to Shopify POS be clear about any doubts you have re Shopify POS (if any) and ensure the software alternatives you are considering do adequately address these doubts.

If you are looking for an alternative to Shopify POS for your retail business, consider Tower Systems. Our POS software might fit your needs. We’d be grateful for an opportunity to do this.

Now, here are some features and benefits with our Tower Systems POS software that customers tell us they love:

  1. The transparent approach to suggesting software enhancements.
  2. Easy access to support.
  3. Easy sales processing.
  4. Smooth counter workflow.
  5. Specialty retail functions for a range of specialty business types.
  6. Built-in AI tools.
  7. Loyalty tools customers love.
  8. Easy customisation options.
  9. The ability to sell anywhere, including on the road.
  10. Theft mitigation tools.
  11. Built in business insights.
  12. Scale integration.
  13. Selling by fractions.
  14. Selling products in kits.
  15. Comprehensive local delivery / dispatch tools.
  16. Roster integration.
  17. The ability to suspend sales.
  18. Easy import of supplier invoices without needing to use some EDI tool.
  19. Tracking and leveraging customer events.
  20. Integrated with Xero for accounting.
  21. No locked-in payment platform requirement.
  22. No cost based on each transaction.
  23. No lock-in contract.

Our POS software is about much more than this list.

Our extensive feature set is a direct result of our ‘in-store first’ philosophy. Functionality like direct scale integration for selling by weight, tools to handle fractional quantities for items sold by length, or the ability to seamlessly suspend a sale to serve another customer are born from decades of working directly with retailers on their shop floors. These are not just items on a checklist; they are robust solutions to real-world, physical retail challenges. While an e-commerce platform may eventually add such features as an afterthought, for us, they are foundational because the success of your physical shop is our foundational purpose.

Tower Systems in-store POS software solution integrated with Shopify for e-commerce gives you the best of both worlds with a single source of truth as to inventory and all transactions. While we integrate with Big Commerce, Woo Commerce and Magento, the majority of our online retail businesses integrate through our PSO software with Shopify for e-commerce.

We’d be happy to connect you with existing customers so you can talk retailer to retailer about the Shopify integration. We can also connect you with retailers who have switched from SHopify POS to our Tower Systems POS software. They can speak for themselves as to why and how it has gone for them.

If you are looking for an alternative to Shopify POS, Tower Systems might be a good choice. Let’s talk to explore that for you. No pressure. If there is anything you need that we don’t cover, we will tell you.

Before we go, here’s what we don’t have that Shopify does have when it comes Shopify POS – a huge marketing budget. We’re not paying to come first in search listings or to run billboard ads on social media. Most of our business is won by word of mouth – local small business retailers pitching us to their fellow retailers, for which we are sincerely grateful.

When we see someone ask the question what’s the best POS software for my business? or the question what’s a good alternative to Shopify POS?, we say: hey consider us here at Tower Systems. We will gladly show you what our software offers and let you experience the personal service we provide.

We’re not right for everyone, we know that. We might be right for your business. Let’s find out.

…

While the right POS system for any retail business depends on the specific needs of the retail business, Tower Systems was built to serve  Australian and New Zealand local small business specialty retailers. To see how we can help you…, request a free, no-obligation demo today. 

Call 1300 662 957 in Australia or 0800 444 367 in New Zealand. Or, email sales@towersystems.com.au. 

#SmallBusiness #Retail #POSsoftware

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Your business, your POS, your way: flexible software for Aussie small business retailers

September 2, 2025
3 Min read
Y

In the diverse landscape of Australian local small business retail, a one-size-fits-all approach rarely works. A boutique on a bustling city laneway has different needs and technical realities than a hardware store in a regional town, and different needs to a produce business in a rural setting. At Tower Systems, we understand this. That’s why  our Point of Sale software offers genuine flexibility, putting you in complete control of how you run your business.

We believe your POS system should adapt to your business, not the other way around. Ask any of our thousands of local small business retail customers. They can speak to flexibility, the ability to conduct retail their way.

Love the Cloud? We’ve got you covered.

If you want the freedom to access your business data from anywhere, at any time, you can choose to run your Tower Systems POS software 100% in the cloud. This setup is perfect for the modern retailer on the move, allowing you to manage stock, run reports, and keep an eye on sales whether you’re at a trade show, at home, or on holiday.

Prefer to keep it local? No worries.

For many retailers, the top priority is rock-solid stability at the counter. If the internet goes down, you still need to serve your customers. We get it. That’s why you can run our POS software entirely on local computers in your shop. Your sales, stock management, and day-to-day operations continue seamlessly, completely independent of your internet connection.

Got sketchy Internet? We’ve built for it.

This is where our commitment to Australian small business shines. We know that internet reliability can be a challenge, especially outside of major metro areas. If your business operates with a less-than-perfect internet connection, our software provides the perfect solution.

You can run your core POS functions locally, ensuring the till is always operational, and have the software sync your data to the cloud, if thats’s what you want, whenever a stable connection is available. It’s the ultimate safety net, offering the resilience of a local system with the convenient backup and remote access benefits of the cloud. No more stressing when the internet drops out during a busy Saturday rush.

You choose.

Your business is unique, and your POS software should reflect that. Whether you want a pure cloud, strictly local, or a hybrid setup that gives you peace of mind, Tower Systems provides a flexible solution that is appropriate for your specific needs.

We empower you to run your business, your way.

Now, if all this sounds a bit shiny, let us show you. We love talking one-on-one with local small business retailers. We’d also love to connect you with some of our customers.

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Is changing your POS system worth the effort for a small business retailer?

August 28, 2025
3 Min read
I

It is easy to feel handcuffed to a POS software, especially if the company you are using makes it hard for you to switch systems. Some software companies make it difficult to export your sales, product and other data. Some charge heavily for this and related services. Some even make talking about switching software difficult.

Here at Tower Systems we think the extent of difficulty in switching from a POS software solution could speak to the confidence that software company has in their product and service.

Some POS software companies actively make it hard, and expensive, to switch thinking that keeps you their customer for longer.

Recent experience tells us that the bigger the push-back from a company, the more motivated some small business retailers are in switching POS software.

Here at Tower Systems, we see your data as valuable asset, and it belongs to you. Our commitment is to provide easy access to your own information, without hidden fees or intentionally difficult processes. Our confidence lies not in providing a solution so valuable and a service so responsive that you won’t have a reason to. For us, the freedom to leave is the most compelling reason to stay.

Our belief in freedom is backed by our commitment to delivering tangible value every day. From specialist features designed for unique retail channels to our accessible, Australian-based help desk support, we focus on providing the tools that actually help you run a better business. We are confident that by empowering you, we build a partnership you will choose to be in for the long term.

Retailers should use the software that best serves the needs of their business, that helps the business succeed. Sticking with software because switching too hard could be a bad decision, encumbering the business with costs that hold the business back.

if you are using POS software that is hard to switch from, research the cost of staying with what you have versus the cost of switching. next, consider the benefits of making the search, and place a value on this. This simple exercise may show that short term cost has a longer term gain, or not. The key is that you do the research, so you can make an informed decision.

We will say it again: the extent of difficulty in switching from a POS software solution could speak to the confidence that software company has in their product and service.

…

While the right POS system for an retail business depends on the specific needs of the retail business, Tower Systems was built to serve  Australian and New Zealand local small business specialty retailers. To see how we can help you…, request a free, no-obligation demo today. 

Call 1300 662 957 in Australia or 0800 444 367 in New Zealand. Or, email sales@towersystems.com.au. 

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What is good POS software to connect to Xero?

August 21, 2025
3 Min read
W

Our Tower Systems POS software connected to Xero. For many years we have been a partner of Xero, listed on their website, with a direct to Xero POS software integration that meets the Xero requirements as well as the requirements of the small business retailers we serve.

We are grateful to Xero for listing us as a POS software integration partner and for the opportunity to reach more local small business retailers through this.

What’s the best POS software to connect with Xero? That depends on your needs. We think our Tower Systems POS software is worthy of consideration for jewellers, garden centres, bike shops, pet shops, newsagents,. toy shops, games shops, fashion shops, fabric shops, haberdashery businesses, landscape businesses, music shops, firearms dealers, bookshops, health food shops, organic goods shops and plenty more.

Our POS software is made for local, independent specialty retail shops. Our POS software Xero link saves time, reduces mistakes and helps local retailers run more efficient and successful retail businesses.

Our powerful Tower Advantage Link platform allows Tower Systems’ specialist retail software to connect directly to Xero, one of Australia’s most popular and streamlined accounting services. Linking Retailer to Xero saves you precious time by completing the majority of your day-to-day accounting for you. We are experts at bringing independent retail businesses and Xero together and pride ourselves on connecting business owners with such an innovative, useful service.

If you are in Australia or New Zealand, select a POS software solution that is equally local like Xero. Our Tower Systems POS software is made in Australia and supported in Australia and New Zealand.

Save time, eliminate bookkeeping costs, cut mistakes and make better business decisions sooner with the Tower Systems POS software Xero integration.

The direct connection between your Tower Systems POS and Xero provides a live, accurate snapshot of your business’s financial health. Sales data, inventory adjustments, and customer payments flow seamlessly, eliminating delays and giving you the clarity needed to make informed, strategic decisions on the fly. This real-time visibility is crucial for agile specialty retailers, and our local support team is on hand to ensure your connection is set up smoothly, so you can leverage these powerful insights from day one.

So, to the question What is good POS software to connect to Xero? we think our Tower Systems POS software solution is good POS software to connect to Xero.

While the right POS system for an retail business depends on the specific needs of the retail business, Tower Systems was built to serve  Australian and New Zealand local small business specialty retailers. To see how we can help you…, request a free, no-obligation demo today. 

Call 1300 662 957 in Australia or 0800 444 367 in New Zealand. Or, email sales@towersystems.com.au. 

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Omnichannel, or unified commerce, helps independent retailers thrive

August 13, 2025
3 Min read
O

Unifying a bricks-and-mortar store, a high street store as some call it, and a Shopify website for that same store can be a challenge. Not all POS systems make this unification easy.

Historically, software businesses have referred to this unification of as omnichannel. IT people love a buzzword.

The label doesn’t matter: unified commerce or omnichannel. They mean the same thing. What matters is that retailers have the toolset necessary to meet their customers where and when they want. This is the flexibility that retailers need from their POS system.

A unified solution is a POS system directly integrated with Shopify or one of the other e-commerce platforms like Big Commerce, Woo Commerce or Magento. This integration provides the business with robust deep retail management features in the POS system as online tools and flexibility in the Shopify platform. each has their area of specialisation.

The best approach is for the POS system to own and manage inventory and to feed sales and other business data through to an integrated accounting solution. In this world, Shopify captures online sales and these are reported real time to the POS system. The POS system, likewise, provides inventory data such as pricing, images and product descriptions to Shopify. This is all done non the background, seamlessly.

This unified approach to a bricks and mortar store and a Shopify website beings to the business the ability to manage inventory in one place, to accurately share sales transactions and to capture sales where it is mist suited by the customer,

A good POS system will make the link easy, seamless, with appropriate data flowing in both directions to avoid duplication of labour. This is where you need to research POS systems to ensure that you only consider those with the dynamic live link described, that works the way you want it to work for you.

If you have a question about whether a POS system does deliver a seamless Shopify integration it’s best you ask the question, ask them to show this to you. See it for yourself. This is vital. Make sure the connection works how you want it to.  Not all POS systems link with Shopify in the same way.

Unifying a bricks-and-mortar store with Shopify is easy with the right POS system partner and with the right approach, mindset and business processes on your side.

With the right POS system, local small business retailers can easily sell in-store and online. Tower Systems solves this challenge for Australian and New Zealand local small business specialty retailers. To see how we can help you…, request a free, no-obligation demo today.

Call 1300 662 957 in Australia or 0800 444 367 in New Zealand. Or, email sales@towersystems.com.au.

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Buying a business with POS software? Here’s advice on how to get the most out of this in-place asset

July 15, 2025
2 Min read
B

If you are buying a retail business that has POS software there are steps you can take to leverage the asset already in place, to easy your tradition into the business an to find early and easy wins for the business.

We see new owners sometimes want to change the POS software to something they know. What that can make sense, it could be that learning the POS software in place provides a faster pathway to making the business your own, to leverage for you a quicker return on the investment you have made in the business.

Learning the existing software makes it easier for you to make money from the existing data in the business – even is the data is not as well looked after as it may have been.

Our advice is to assess the software, and the data. Make an informed business decision as to whether they are good for how you want to run the business and what you are looking to achieve with and from the business.

Here at Tower Systems we offer new business owners with easy access to wonderful self-serve training resources as well as access to personal one-on-one training. Training is the key to unlocking the best value possible from any POS software. We know that someone trained by us will get far more utility of our POS software than someone not trained by us.

The FREE option is our library of 150+ training videos. These are organised by topic, making it easy for your to learn different parts of the software at your own pace and in your own location and without spending any money.

Our POS software for local small business retailers has many cool business building opportunities cities. Leveraging these takes knowledge of the software tools. This is where good training comes in.

The POS software you inherit could be a treasure chest of business intelligence waiting to be unlocked. It holds the secrets to your customers’ buying habits, seasonal trends, and most profitable product lines. Proper training acts as the key, transforming this raw data into actionable strategies. By investing a little time in learning the system, you empower yourself to not only continue operations seamlessly but to also quickly identify and act on these valuable insights, driving growth and ensuring your new business venture is profitable from the outset.

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AI Tools are a game changer for local indie retailers like Tackle World

July 11, 2025
3 Min read
A

Retail software has changed more this year than in the last 10 years combined.

Embedded AI tools have changed local retail businesses forever.

AI tools available in our Tower Systems POS software today give small retail businesses an advantage over big businesses

Here are 5 ways to Tower Systems software available for Tackle World businesses is delivering appreciated benefits:

  1. Automatic loading of any supplier invoice PDF. The Ai tools scan the invoice and extract product details, pricing and more.
  2. Optimised product listings: AI-generated, SEO-friendly product descriptions – it’s easier for people to find you based on what you sell vis Shopify etc.
  3. Strategic content marketing: Fast and east auto creation of product specific blog content and automatic publishing of this.
  4. Data-informed pricing decisions: AI-powered price comparison tools, enabling you to maintain competitive pricing strategies.
  5. Efficient inventory management: Smart, and easy – minimising out of stocks and maximising sales potential.
  6. Operational streamlining: Reducing of administrative overhead, allowing retailers to focus on sales and customer service.

We have retailers telling us they are saving more in labour costs each month than the software costs.

These AI tools can help you run a better business, a business you’re likely to enjoy more and find more valuable when you decide to sell.

We are grateful to our fishing and outdoor shop community for advice and support. The latest software is out now, and it is packed with treats.

Handling subscriptions or recurring billing is easy. If you rent something, this handles it for you.

Selling by weight (yes, it’s scale integrated) and fractions is easy too, as is selling bundle packs like a rod, reel and net, for example.

Selling to club members at a special price is easy. You can also easily use the software to raise funds for the club, attracting members of the club to shop with your business.

Best of all, you can easily share local fishing tips, leveraging your knowledge to differentiate your business.

Our software for fishing and outdoors shops aims to help you run a more successful, valuable and enjoyable business. It helps you streamline workflow, eliminate some manual processes and make better business decisions, sooner.

Now, these benefits are not just for Tackle World retailers – any retailer using our POS software can expect to tap into these benefits and plenty more.

We mention Tackle World today as we are grateful to serve some of their member retailers with POS software.

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EDI is dead, you can import just about any invoice into our POS software thanks to our AI tools

June 24, 2025
3 Min read
E

For years, retailers needed EDI (electronic data interchange) told to import supplier invoices. These were specialist tools that helped POS software read unique supplier invoices that were presented in a specific format. Those days are pretty much over thanks to the AI tools now embedded in the POS software from Tower Systems. Now tested on 500+ supplier invoices, the POS software from Tower Systems assesses a supplier invoice and imports it accurately and quickly – saving time, cutting mistakes and setting the retail business up for data based success.

Yes, EDI is a thing of the past thanks to the AI tools in the Tower Systems POS software.

Jewellers, garden centres, bike shops, newsagents, pet shops, music shop0s, produce businesses, stockfeed businesses, toy shops, computer shops, homewares shops, bookshops and plenty of other retailers are able to use these POS software embedded AI tools to accurately and easily import supplier invoice.

We have retailers telling us of savings of three and more hours a week. That’s actual labour cost saved. It’s money back into the business for more valuable use elsewhere. It is also a chunk of mistakes eliminated.

The power of this embedded AI lies in its ability to learn and adapt to the nuances of various invoice layouts, eliminating the rigid formatting requirements of old EDI systems. This means less time spent manually correcting entries or wrestling with incompatible file types. Instead, your team can focus on higher-value tasks, confident that your inventory and financial data are accurate and up-to-date. It’s a leap forward in efficiency, transforming a historically tedious task into a seamless, automated process that directly contributes to your bottom line and improves overall operational flow.

If you have questions about data security and privacy in the use of our POS software integrated AI tools:  the AI tools aren’t “learning” from your sensitive customer data in a way that exposes it to the public internet or shares it inappropriately. Instead, they are designed to process your supplier invoices locally and securely, within the confines of your existing software, much like how your current accounting software handles sensitive financial data.

AI is trained to recognise patterns in invoice layouts and data points, not to extract or store personal customer information for external use. It’s about enhancing efficiency through intelligent automation of a specific task, not about intrusive data collection. Tower Systems understands the critical importance of trust in retail, and our AI integration prioritises robust data protection measures, ensuring your business operates not only smarter but also with complete peace of mind.

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What is scanned based trading and how does it help retailers, especially small business retailers?

June 23, 2025
2 Min read
W

Scanned based trading in retail is where a supplier supplies product to a shop based on sales of the product in the shop. The POS software in the retail shop feeds sales to the supplier and the supplier triggers a top-up order based on settings agreed with the retailer.

Scanned based trading is a time saver for retailers. This is useful in today’s retail settings where retailers are time-poor.

With popular items being out of stock too often, scanned based trading can help retailers to not be out of stock of items they need.

Our Tower Systems POS software has the data feed necessary to supply suppliers with sales per store, thereby feeding into suppliers ready themselves to engage in scanned based trading with local small business retailers.

In some scanned based trading models, retailers only pay for inventory they sell.

  • Reduced inventory costs: Retailers don’t have to tie up capital in inventory that might not sell.
  • Lower financial risk: They are not stuck with unsold or expired products.
  • Increased product variety: Retailers can experiment with new products without significant upfront investment.
  • Reduced shrink (loss of inventory): While the exact split of shrink liability is negotiated, SBT can reduce losses from operational errors as suppliers have more incentive to manage their inventory effectively.
  • Improved cash flow: Payments are made only when sales occur.

These are just some of the benefits that POS software facilitates scanned based trading has delivered from our experiences in retail.

While the benefits for retailers are clear, scan-based trading offers significant advantages to suppliers, fostering a closer and more aligned relationship.

Suppliers gain real-time visibility into sales data, enabling more accurate forecasting, optimised production, and efficient inventory management. This direct insight allows them to better understand consumer demand and tailor their offerings accordingly, ultimately leading to increased sales and reduced waste from overproduction.

By taking on the inventory risk, suppliers often secure broader distribution channels as retailers become more willing to stock a wider variety of their products, even new or niche items. This collaborative approach, where both parties benefit from shared data and aligned incentives, transforms the traditional buyer-seller dynamic into a more strategic partnership focused on mutual growth and efficiency.

Retailers love scanned based trading because of less out of stocks, increased revenue and time saves.

Suppliers love scanned based trading because of increased sales and more value from retailer relationships.

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Software for fishing and outdoor shops helps these loved local retail businesses shine

June 20, 2025
3 Min read
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Local fishing and outdoors shops are key to people loving being outdoors and exploring local sights and feeding the family with a good catch. often, the businesses are started by people who enjoy these activities.

Here at Tower Systems we make software to help local fishing and outdoors businesses thrive. This is specialty retail software because, after all, these shops are specialty retail shops.

We are grateful to our fishing and outdoor shop community for advice and support. The latest software is out now, and it is packed with treats.

Handling subscriptions or recurring billing is easy. If you rent something, this handles it for you.

Selling by weight (yes, it’s scale integrated) and fractions is easy too, as is selling bundle packs like a rod, reel and net, for example.

Selling to club members at a special price is easy. You can also easily use the software to raise funds for the club, attracting members of the club to shop with your business.

Here are common questions we get about our software for fishing and outdoors shops:

  • Can I connect the software to a scale to sell bait by weight? Yes.
  • Can I sell products in fraction units, like 1.25? Yes.
  • Do I have to pay extra to run it on more terminals? No.
  • Do I have to pay more if my sales increase? No.
  • Can I share local fishing maps and information? Yes, you can load files, images, documents and include them on receipts.
  • Can I bundle items together like a rod, reel and line? Yes.
  • I sell at events away from the shop sometimes, can I do this with the software? Yes, using our Retailer Roam.
  • Does the software handle club member pricing? Yes, this can be a great marketing, connecting with and supporting clubs and your business.
  • Can I share local fishing and camping tips on receipts? Yes.
  • Can I set an age check on age restricted items? Yes.

This truly is specialty retail POS software made for these businesses, tuned to their needs, in service of them serving local campers and locals who love fishing.

Our Tower Systems software for fishing, Outdoors and camping businesses is Aussie made and supported. This is an ideal solution for these local businesses.

In thinking about the software you want, think about your business. Here are some headline level thoughts and suggestions.

  • If you see your business as specialist in nature, the software you choose should be specialist.
  • If part of your business pitch is to shop local, choosing locally made and supported software supports your pitch. Local software is software made and supported in Australia.
  • If you want to be known as the local specialist, you need software that helps you do this consistently and effectively.
  • If you do repairs or maintenance of any sort, you need software that can handle this.
  • If you sell items bundled such as a rod, reel and line pack, you need software that can handle this.
  • If you are in a tourist area and sell to people once, or once a year, you need software with loyalty facilities to maximise their rare visits to your shop.
  • If you sell products by weight, you need software that can do this.

Think about these things and think about what you want in software in your business to help you stand out.

Here at Tower Systems we love serving local businesses. If you think we could help you, please reach out.

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While plenty preach you to pursue scale, staying small may be more profitable

June 6, 2025
3 Min read
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Everywhere you look, the message for small business owners is the same: bigger is better.  Business gurus applaud “scalable” and “replicable” models. Influencers celebrate follower milestones and encourage everyone to join the race for numbers.

It’s as if size is the only yardstick of success.

It’s not.

Sure there are the headline stories of small business owners who have made it big. The thing is, for each one of those there are hundreds, thousands, who did not make it, and not for lack of trying.

Who benefits most when you chase this endless pursuit of “more”? Often, it’s the very people telling you to do it – consultants, gurus, and influencers who profit from your participation in the game. Their goals might not align with yours, and their interests might be served far more than your own.

This pressure to chase size feels a lot like the relentless societal push to be slim, have perfect white teeth, or a full head of hair. It’s as if being content with what you have simply isn’t an option.

But what if the true goal isn’t endless expansion, but happiness? Happiness for you, the business owner; happiness for those who rely on your business for their income; and happiness for your customers.

A profitable small business can often generate more money for its owners than a business relentlessly pursuing scale, especially if that pursuit involves significant financial risk. Think about the emotional toll of taking on a hefty loan to fund growth. Compare that to the peace of mind that comes with a small, debt-free, self-sustaining business. It’s a different kind of wealth, one measured in peace of mind rather than balance sheet zeroes.

In our experience, small businesses are inherently more nimble, innovative, and efficient than their larger counterparts. They’re often more profitable too.We suspect this is because in a small business, everything matters, and nothing goes unnoticed. Inefficiency simply can’t hide. In big businesses, it can easily get lost in the noise.

Today, technology makes it easier than ever for us to achieve more with less in our small businesses, and with less risk.

Another significant benefit of being small is easy differentiation. Your people, their knowledge, and their personal approach to transacting business are your unique selling points. In a big business, this kind of personalisation is often systemised into something average and, ultimately, lost.

If you genuinely value your independence and understand the power of differentiation through personal service, you’re likely to find more happiness and fulfillment running a small to mid-size business than perpetually chasing scale.

So, don’t let anyone dictate your path or your definition of success. Reach your own conclusion about what’s truly right for you and your business.

Here at Tower Systems we serve local small business retailers, independent retailers. We made that decision long ago. It keeps us close to our customers, focussed on their needs and not beholden to one huge customer. Local matters to local communities. As cliche as that sounds, it’s what we believe. We are grateful to serve local small business retailers.

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We are grateful for Retail Fest 2025

May 31, 2025
3 Min read
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We enjoyed our time at Retail fest on the Gold Coast this week. We got to meet colleagues in the POS software space, be introduced to some new retailer prospects, talk with the payments specialists at Tyro and learn from the retail specialists at Retail Fest. It was an inspiring, engaging and relaxing few days, a perfect trade show we think.

A significant emphasis at Retail Fest on the Gold Coast this week was placed on leveraging AI to automate, optimise, and scale retail businesses. This includes using AI for demand forecasting, inventory planning, streamlining support, and enhancing customer experiences. The thing is, Tower Systems has already delivered embedded AI tools for its small business retail customers, tools that are already helping deliver cost savings, revenue growth and improved profit experiences.

AI is here for local small business retailers in the Tower Systems POS software.

Our advice to retailers looking for AI tools to help serve their business goals – make sure that the AI tools are real and not other tech wrapped to look like AI. make sure, too, that the AI tools are easily accessible within your existing tech desk. Going outside may have a cost and an operational speed-bump that may not serve your needs.

While some at Retail Fest spoke about scale, here at Tower Systems we serve local small business retailers for whom scale is usually not top of mind. We know of many instances where a successful local small retail; business delivers more profitability than a scaled business as the scaled business is often built to perpetually scale whereas the stable local small retail; business is built for profit.

Retail Fest prides itself on being a “community-driven event,” providing extensive networking opportunities to connect with peers, industry leaders, mentors, and potential partners. We experienced this first-hand, for which we are sincerely grateful.

This focus on community and practical application aligns with our Tower Systems philosophy. We believe that the true power of AI for small businesses lies not in abstract “scale” but in tangible, embedded tools that deliver real-world benefits. Our presence and experience at Retail Fest reinforced our commitment to providing accessible, effective AI solutions directly within our existing POS software.

For many local retailers, the goal isn’t just about getting bigger, but about getting better – more efficient, more profitable, and more connected to their customers. That’s why our AI development continues to prioritise the specific needs of independent retailers, ensuring they can harness the power of artificial intelligence to thrive in an increasingly competitive market, all while maintaining the community focus that makes their businesses unique.

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POS software embedded dispatch management tools tailored for Australian small business specialty retailers

May 8, 2025
3 Min read
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Successful dispatch management is important for local specialty retailers. Getting the right products delivered on time at the best price and with all paperwork in order is challenging. Garden centres, produce businesses, feedstock businesses, landscaping businesses – all of these and similar businesses with dispatch needs understand the challenges.

We are grateful to the many local small business retailers with dispatch needs who have helped us evolve the dispatch management tools in our POS software.

The dispatch management tools in our POS software empower retailers to manage the dispatch of sold products within their business efficiently and effectively, all in one place.

Retailers can easily manage the scheduling of their in-house vehicle assets, ensuring optimal utilisation and resource allocation. The system allows for the straightforward allocation of specific dispatch jobs to designated vehicles, providing clear accountability and organisation. Furthermore, the software enables real-time tracking of dispatch completion, offering valuable insights into delivery progress and potential delays.

Beyond vehicle management, our tools facilitate comprehensive management of dispatch orders at both the individual customer level and other relevant organisational levels. Retailers can gain a clear and consolidated view of dispatch activities by vehicle, allowing for efficient route planning and workload balancing. Additionally, the system provides the ability to view all outstanding orders for a specific customer assigned to a particular vehicle, enhancing customer service and delivery coordination.

To ensure a smoother and more accurate dispatch experience for customers, and to maximise operational efficiencies, our software incorporates robust address validation capabilities. This feature helps to minimise delivery errors and associated costs. Recognising the dynamic nature of local deliveries, the system also offers dispatch route options for use by drivers. Importantly, it empowers drivers with the flexibility to manage their dispatch sequence based on their invaluable local knowledge and other pertinent factors, optimising delivery routes in real-time.

The dispatch management facilities embedded within our Tower Systems POS software are robust, field-tested solutions that have been embraced and lauded by our valued customers. We deeply appreciate the collaborative journey we have undertaken with these retailers, whose invaluable feedback and insightful suggestions have directly shaped the evolution of this software, ensuring it truly meets their on-the-ground needs.

It is not commonplace for POS software to delve so deeply into such a specific area of operational need. However, for businesses such as garden centres, farm supply stores, produce retailers, landscape businesses, and others with in-house delivery operations, these integrated dispatch management facilities offer a workflow management solution and time-saving efficiencies that are genuinely appreciated and impactful.

Developed entirely from the ground up by our dedicated in-house POS software development team, these dispatch facilities represent true innovation for specialty retailers with mid-sized dispatch operations. We are, understandably, very proud of what we have achieved in this domain for our local small business retail partners. This is comprehensive software tailored to address the very specific and niche requirements within selected specialty retail channels. This focused approach embodies the very essence of Tower Systems’ mission – to serve the unique needs of these specialised marketplaces.

At Tower Systems, we take pride in creating and supporting the software we offer. We are committed to providing our retailers with an ever-evolving POS solution that meets their current needs and anticipates future demands in the specialty retail marketplaces we serve. Our integrated dispatch management tools are a testament to this commitment, providing a powerful and tailored solution for Australian specialty retailers.

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