CategoryPOS Software

We can’t accurately answer the question How is Tower Systems POS software different to Hike POS? because we have never used Hike and have never looked at the software. Here’s what we can say to anyone considering POS software for their business and comparing us with Hike POS.

1. We are local. There is no call centre offshore for support.
2. Our POS software is available for the desktop as well as for any device: iPad, iPhone.
3. Our POS software can run in place or in the cloud – whatever is appropriate for you.
4. Our software development is local in Australia and New Zealand.
5. Our support is local, in Australia and New Zealand.
6. Our sales team is local.
7. You can see the software live in a personal demonstration for your type of business without obligation – before you make a decision.
8. You can speak direct with us, here in Australia.
9. All customers have direct access to the leadership team of our business.
10. To access support you can call (and we answer), email (and we respond) or use our chatbot.
11. You have more than 150 fresh and easy to access training videos so you always know how to use the software.
12. We do our own training of retail staff, with our own experts based in Australia – and they have local retail experience.
13. We regular host customer gatherings online to listed to feedback and share ideas.
14. All customers get to vote of software change suggestions.
15. You choose when you update the software.
16. Customers love the reports in our software.
17. The AI tools embedded in our software are helping retailers save time and make more money.
18. Retailers love our integration with Xero, Shopify and other platforms.

If you want to compare our Tower Systems POS software to Hike POS, arrange a demonstration, show us a Hike POS function and we can show how we handle that function. We can do this in as much detail as you would like.

Choosing POS software needs to take time. Do your research. Look carefully at what matters most to you. Ensure you look into customer service delivery and make sure that what a company you are considering offers is what is appropriate to your business. This is where local support can make a difference.

Some software companies offer support via an offshore help desk where staff use scripts for supports calls. These can be rigid because the software ‘expert’ is not a local retail expert and to able to have an in the moment conversation about your business.

At Tower Systems, support delivery is local with crew members in Australia and New Zealand. We don’t use scripts on the help desk. each call is a conversation. People switching software over the years have told us this is a valuable difference for us, and for our customers.

If you are comparing Hike POS with our POS software from Tower Systems, take your time. We’ll answer all your questions. If after all that you choose to move to us, we will welcome you with gratefulness and open arms. If we know we are not right for you, we will say so.

Find the right POS software for you business and you’ll love the results.

…

Tower Systems is a vertical market POS software company. That is, we make and support POS software for a select range of retail businesses: jewellers, garden centres, bike shops, toy shops, newsagents, bookshops, pet shops, produce businesses, whole foods businesses, health foods businesses, trophy shops, saddlery businesses, fishing and outdoor shops, charity shops, music shops, fabric shops, haberdashery businesses, homewares businesses, landscape businesses and more like these.

We love serving local specialty businesses, small businesses.

Email: sales@towersystems.com.au

Call 1300 662 957 or 0800 444 367 (NZ).

You can switch POS software and keep your current data in most situations. It does, however, depend on a couple of things: that your current software permits access to  data it manages and that the software you are switching to can import this data so that it is meaning full for you.

Here at Tower Systems our approach to data conversion from other software is thorough. We only commit to data conversion where we know we can get the data out of other software and that it can be imported into our software. If you have any doubts or questions about data conversion, please raise it early in the sales process. It could be a mistake to assume.

We will do a trial conversion for customers concerned, to prove whether we can successfully export data and then import data, or not. This is an obligation-free service. So, for retailers with the question, I want to switch POS software but want to keep my current data, Tower Systems can help – if our POS software looks like it is good software for your business. Please let us know early if you want a trial conversion done.

Data conversion between POS software solutions is not always easy, fast and straightforward. Different software stores data in different ways. Sometimes it takes time to cross match fields or even take, for example, two files and merge them as the new software has only one file with data the old system has cross two files.

We have data conversion specialists here at Tower Systems who have done data conversion from other POS software solutions many times. We have lost count of the number of software products from which we have successfully converted data.

Sometimes, data conversion is not a good idea. Typically, this is when the data in your old software has not been respected, not well looked after. Starting fresh cold be what the business needs. We think it is helpful to assess your data and consider the quality of this before pushing ahead with data conversion. There is a rule in tech: garbage in, garbage out. Be sure to only request data conversion of the data you have is good, not garbage.

There is a big difference in the cost of software for retail businesses when comparing software companies. It can be challenging to understand, too. There is the cost of the software itself, which is usually a monthly rental cost and there can be other costs for additional components required and some software companies have a mandatory cost associated with the value off each transaction you process.

Here at Tower Systems, our pricing is transparent and easy to understand. There is a single monthly rental cost, which can be cancelled at any time. There is no cost per transaction, no requirement for you to use any specific payments platform. The software itself is loaded with facilities for which some others charge extra.

How much should software for your shop cost? If your retail business us one of the ones we serve: jeweller, garden centre, bike shop, bookshop, toy shop, product business stockfeed, newsagent, music shop, mobility scooter business, gift shop, charity shop, antique business, computer shop, homewares shop, repairs shop, cleaning supplies, clothing shop, your price will range between $220.00 and $275.00 inc. GST) per month from Tower Systems. This is one price, the only price inclusive of as many registers as you want at one location.

So, a big garden centre with five register points will pay $275.00 inc. GST all up. That’s the price, the one price. That’s what you compare against.

Of course, it is vital you research POS software thoroughly and choose software that does serve your needs. Making the wrong choice can be expensive, especially through lost time and opportunity.

As part of your software assessment process, look at the pricing, be sure to fully research and understand the cost of ownership. This research should also include you understanding the contract lock-in period. Make sure you do truly understand the cost of the software for the business over one, two and three years. be sure to ask about any extra costs, add-ons, and more.

Understanding the cost of POS software for any retail business starts with you creating a shortlist of possible software to use and you then thoroughly researching the cost of the software, getting the figures in writing to be sure you know all you need to know to make an informed decision.

Too many software companies hide their price. Some even mask the actual software cost by charging a payments fee or similar. These are all costs and need to be considered.

How much should software for my shop cost? Only go with software you know will serve your needs and for which the pricing is transparent.

Tower Systems is a vertical market software company offering software for a diverse mix of local small business specialty retailers including mobility scooter shops. Check it out:

Running a mobility scooter business in Australia presents a unique blend of challenges and opportunities. To truly thrive, having software specifically tailored to your needs is essential. That’s where our Australian-made and supported Tower Systems mobility scooter business software comes in. Available for just a few dollars a day, it’s designed to help your business flourish.

Eight Reasons Why Australian Mobility Scooter Shops are Opting for Our Software

Mobility scooter retailers across the country are discovering the significant advantages of our Point of Sale (POS) software. Here are eight key features they appreciate:

1. Boost Loyalty with Infrequent Visits: Mobility scooter customers often visit infrequently. Our software incorporates embedded loyalty tools that encourage shoppers to make each visit more valuable, helping you maximise every interaction.

2. Effortless Pre-Orders: Seamlessly manage sales of products even before they’re in stock. Our software streamlines the pre-order process, allowing you to secure sales and manage customer expectations with ease.

3. Flexible Payment Options: Provide your customers with both Buy Now, Pay Later and LayBy options directly through our software, offering greater financial flexibility and convenience.

4. Smart Bundling and Packaging: Create unique product bundles and packages tailored to your customers’ specific needs. This feature simplifies combining items, encouraging increased spending and enhancing the overall purchasing experience.

5. Targeted Group Marketing: Effortlessly engage with retirement villages, clubs, and other local groups through specific offers and pricing. Our software empowers you to connect effectively with these communities.

6. Streamlined Special Orders: Save time and minimise errors by efficiently managing and tracking special customer orders. Our system also facilitates securing advance payments for these unique requests.

7. Comprehensive Product Repairs and Servicing: Our robust repairs management facilities enable you to track parts and labour for repairs, even those performed externally. Additionally, you can easily recall customers based on activity, such as their last service date.

8. Essential Serial Number Tracking: Maintain meticulous records for service, insurance, and other operational needs by tracking the serial numbers of your stock items. This not only optimises your business operations but also significantly enhances customer service.

Why Local Matters in Mobility Scooter Retail

We understand the importance and inherent value of local specialty retail. Our software is specifically designed to help you leverage your local presence and connections:

• Local Businesses Contribute: Your local mobility scooter business plays a vital role in supporting local communities and families. Our software helps you amplify that local impact.
• Your Unique Asset: Your business stands out because of you and your dedicated team. Our mobility scooter business software provides the tools to help you leverage your unique strengths and personal touch.
• Bank on Real Loyalty: Move beyond generic points systems. Our software offers fresh, impactful loyalty toolsthat genuinely reward your customers and contribute directly to your bottom line.
• Uncover Hidden Opportunities: Access to quality data provides the evidence you need to make better, more informed business decisions, revealing opportunities you might otherwise miss.
• Reach More Shoppers Online: Not every potential customer will walk through your door. Our software offers a seamless connection to a beautiful website, allowing you to reach a wider audience and expand your market.

We are grateful to serve this vital local retail niche.

We make POS software for Hi Fi businesses and here’s a new short video from us on some of the features in this software:

Our POS software simplifies day-to-day operations, empowering Hi-Fi retailers to elevate their customer service. Facilities like tracking serial numbers, handling warranty repairs, bundling products into packages, and managing special customer orders are all built in to help businesses operate smoothly.

The software also offers loyalty management tools that are perfect for businesses with infrequent shopper visits and engagement, helping to build lasting relationships with customers.

Designed for Australian Retailers
This software for Hi-Fi shops is designed to be there when you need it, smoothing the path and facilitating accurate business transactions and management without getting in the way of doing business.

Made in Australia for local independent retailers, our software is already loved by thousands of retailers across a range of specialty retail channels. By streamlining processes like inventory look-ups, special orders, and multi-component package creation, our system frees up valuable time for staff. This allows them to focus on what truly matters: engaging with customers, demonstrating products, and sharing their passion for sound.

This dedicated focus on the customer experience, supported by efficient backend management, helps Hi-Fi shops build stronger, more loyal relationships with their clientele, encouraging repeat business and fostering a community of music lovers who trust their expertise and service.

We are truly grateful to our customers for their ongoing encouragement as we continue to evolve our software to meet the needs of the Australian retail landscape.

There’s something truly special about having the perfect sound system at home. It brings music to life, filling your space with energy and love. From sophisticated Hi-Fi systems playing through streaming services to beautifully engineered setups with turntables for wonderful vinyl, these systems are at the heart of many homes.

At Tower Systems, we’re grateful to offer POS software for Hi-Fi retailers, designed to help them manage their inventory, serve customers, and put together packages that bring music to life in homes across Australia. Our software has a range of features specifically designed to help these businesses thrive.

“What does it cost?” It’s a simple, straightforward question that many businesses often struggle to answer adequately. But we believe that providing a clear and immediate answer speaks volumes about a company’s commitment to customer service. That’s why, at Tower Systems, we’ve been transparent about our pricing for many years.

We understand that you want to know the investment upfront, without any hidden surprises or the need to jump through hoops. That’s precisely why you can always find our POS software pricing clearly displayed on our website at www.towersystems.com.au/pricing. You don’t need to provide any of your details; just visit the page and see for yourself, anytime.

We have a video dedicated to discussing our transparent approach to pricing, where we break down what’s included in each of our three POS software levels designed for local small business retailers.

We’re genuinely proud of our commitment to transparency, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to share this philosophy with you. We’ve found that being open about pricing isn’t just helpful for potential customers; it’s also incredibly liberating for us as a company.

Our POS Software: Plans and Features
Tower Systems provides comprehensive retail management software with three distinct pricing plans: Standard, Advanced, and Ultimate. You can choose between annual or monthly billing to best suit your business’s needs.

Regardless of the plan you choose, all Tower Systems POS software includes:

• Unlimited Terminals: No extra costs for additional checkouts.
• 0% EFTPOS Transaction Fees: Keep more of your sales revenue.
• No Limits: On products, customers, or turnover – your business can grow without restrictions.

Our software is packed with features designed to streamline your operations and help your business thrive:

• AI Tools: Innovative tools to assist with various business tasks.
• Point-of-Sale (POS): Enjoy fast transaction processing and seamless integration with major banks for EFTPOS.
• E-commerce Integration: Easily connect with popular platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce to manage your online sales.
• Customer Management: Build strong customer relationships with loyalty programs, gift cards, customer segmentation, and event tracking.
• Business Management & Marketing: Benefit from direct Xero integration, advanced reporting, email and SMS marketing tools, and a comprehensive insights dashboard.
• Inventory Management: Take control of your stock with advanced tools, variations, quick stocktaking, automated reordering, and special order management.
• Unique Integrations: We offer innovative features like ChatGPT for generating product descriptions and convenient barcode lookup.
• Industry-Specific Features: We provide specialised tools tailored for various sectors, such as freight invoice management for produce stores and unique functionalities for newsagencies.
• Support and Optional Add-ons

We offer:

• 24/7 Customer Support: Assistance is always available when you need it.
• Dedicated Onboarding: We’ll help you get set up and running smoothly.
• Free E-learning: Access valuable resources to maximise your software’s potential.

We also offer optional add-ons to further enhance your system, including cloud hosting, our “Roam” mobile POS, customer self-checkout kiosks, and cloud backup.Tower Systems is a POS software company dedicated to small businesses. We focus on developing and supporting POS software specifically for niche specialty retailers.

WQhgat does your software cost? We are grateful to be transparent about our pricing.

We got to record a shat last week about enhancements in our POS software for local small business retailers, including the AI tools in our software:

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At Tower Systems, we’re continuously working to refine and advance our retail Point of Sale (POS) software for small businesses. Our recent discussions highlight key updates and exciting developments, especially our ongoing commitment to AI integration.

We’re pleased with the performance of our current software version and recently rolled out a patch to ensure smooth operation. Looking ahead, our next update is a “softer” release packed with practical improvements designed to streamline your daily operations.

What’s coming soon in our POS software?

• New CAS scales support: Seamless integration with the latest CAS scales.
• Improved AI invoicing: Based on your valuable feedback, we’ve further refined our AI invoicing capabilities.
• General invoicing enhancements: We’re improving ABN referencing for quicker and more accurate supplier matching.
• Significant order process changes: This update will better link orders after invoices arrive, making it easier to manage backorders, process EDI or CSV invoices, and automatically mark purchase orders as received.
• Enhanced order visibility: Users will soon be able to view orders, including customer orders, directly from the stock screen.
• The Power of AI in Our POS Software.  AI is a major focus for us, and we’re dedicated to finding innovative ways it can assist our users. We also regularly review and value software ideas submitted by our users, as your input is crucial to our development process.
• A highly anticipated feature arriving soon is our new “kit functionality.” This will empower businesses to create and sell customisable bundles—perfect for computer builds or starter packs. You’ll be able to swap out components within these kits, with all individual parts clearly listed on receipts and in sales reports. This functionality will also seamlessly link with online platforms like Shopify and Woo.

Real-World AI in Action
We recently demonstrated our AI import facility for invoices within our POS software. This powerful tool allows you to upload various invoice files, and our AI swiftly extracts data, matches items to existing stock, and simplifies the addition of new products. This feature has already proven to be a significant time and labour saver for our users.

Beyond invoicing, our AI tools extend to:

• AI-powered blog post generation
• Pricing suggestions
• Creating richer product descriptions for websites
• Our website’s AI chatbot, which efficiently handles a large volume of customer queries around the clock.

While AI offers immense benefits, we’re also realistic about its current limitations, particularly when invoices lack comprehensive referencing data. Nevertheless, we believe these AI tools are a key differentiator for Tower Systems, providing useful technological innovation to help drive your small business’s profitability.

Our commitment
Tower Systems is a POS software company dedicated to developing and supporting software for niche specialty retailers. Our solutions benefit a wide range of businesses, including jewellers, garden centres, bike shops, toy shops, produce businesses, farm supply businesses, fishing shops, pet shops, charity businesses, landscape gardening businesses, antique shops, sewing shops, haberdashery businesses, newsagents, and more.

We are committed to both pioneering cutting-edge AI features and continuously improving all the core, everyday functions of our software that our users rely on.

Yes, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is actually helping small business retailers in Australia and New Zealand.

Here at Tower Systems we have been delivering AI tools in our POS software for years, providing practical assistance for retailers using our POS software. The AI tools in the POS software are enhanced regularly, most recently in March 2025. Right now we have more enhancements being developed by our tech experts.

We know that y innovating we can help local small business retailers more easily and effectively compete against big business. In fact, it is in this AI space that we are able to help small business retailers achieve more since big retailers appear to be stalling on practical al AI delivery in store.

Now, here are the key AI features of our Tower Systems POS software as at today:

• Product Description Generation: AI can generate compelling and SEO-ready product names and descriptions for online stores, receipts, and invoices. This saves retailers significant time and helps improve online visibility and sales. Users can also customize the AI’s prompts to tailor the generated text.
• PDF Invoice Import: This feature automates the historically manual and time-consuming task of data entry from supplier invoices. The AI extracts key information (supplier details, invoice number, item descriptions, quantities) from PDF invoices and converts them into an import-ready electronic format. Retailers can then review, import, assign departments, generate barcodes, and update pricing.
• Stock Item Blog Posts: AI can generate informative and engaging blog posts about products managed by the POS software. These can then be scheduled and uploaded to e-commerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce, improving SEO and driving traffic.
• AI Pricing Guidance: This tool helps retailers optimize product pricing by analyzing local market data and suggesting standard, low, and premium price ranges. This assists businesses in identifying opportunities to improve profitability and stay competitive.
• Barcode Lookup Integration: While not solely AI, this feature integrates with vast online databases to instantly access product information (descriptions, images, etc.) by scanning barcodes, speeding up new product setup and updates.
• Business Insights Dashboard: AI-powered insights go beyond traditional reports, offering new knowledge about business performance, identifying what’s not selling, potential missed sales, and even potential theft issues.
• Integration with LLMs: Tower Systems leverages leading Large Language Models (LLMs) from providers like OpenAI and Google Gemini to power their AI tools.

These features are all out now. Our I tools are embedded directly within the POS software, allowing for seamless integration and use without needing to transfer data between different applications.

“That AI tool saving my business $105.00 a week in real labour costs!” they said on the other end of the phone. “Thank you!”

This wasn’t just a casual remark; it was a powerful testament to the tangible impact of smart technology, the AI tools delivered in our POS software for local small business retailers.

The annual labour cost saving this particular customer was talking about is a staggering $2,500 more than the annual cost of the software they are using. Think about that for a moment: a net gain of over two thousand dollars in their pocket, year after year, all thanks to just one AI function within our Point of Sale (POS) software. This isn’t just an improvement; it’s proving to be a genuine game-changer for their small retail business.

At Tower Systems, our journey has never been about pursuing scale for its own sake. Instead, our ] focus has been, and continues to be, on understanding and addressing the everyday needs of local small business retailers.

We believe that it’s in the often-overlooked daily operations – the repetitive tasks, the time-consuming processes, the small inefficiencies – where we find the greatest opportunities for real efficiency, significant cost savings, and ultimately, enduring success for our customers.

The AI tool that prompted our customer’s enthusiastic feedback is not a standalone marvel, but rather one of a comprehensive kit of AI tools seamlessly integrated into our POS software for small business retailers. We’ve dedicated ourselves to delivering tools that don’t just promise, but genuinely deliver on saving valuable time and nurturing true business value.

Imagine a small business owner who previously spent hours manually processing supplier invoices, now having that task automated with a few clicks. Or a retailer who can generate SEO-ready product descriptions for their online store in minutes, rather than painstakingly writing them from scratch. These aren’t futuristic concepts; they are the practical applications of AI that our customers are leveraging today. Our AI-powered features are designed to tackle these everyday pain points, transforming them into areas of remarkable efficiency and competitive advantage.

From automating mundane administrative duties to providing insightful data analysis that informs smarter business decisions, our AI tools are built with the independent retailer in mind. We understand the pressures small businesses face, and our aim is to level the playing field, empowering them with technology that was once the exclusive domain of larger enterprises.

We are incredibly proud to hear stories like the one above, confirming that our approach is hitting the mark. It reinforces our commitment to ongoing research and development, ensuring that our AI capabilities continue to evolve and deliver even greater benefits. For us, success is truly measured by the success of the local small business retailers we serve. If you’re a small business retailer looking for ways to boost efficiency, cut costs, and unlock new opportunities, perhaps it’s time to explore how the right AI-enabled POS software can be a game-changer for you too.

Our customers are loving the suite of AI-powered tools that streamline operations and boost sales. Small business retailers from a range of specialty retail; channels tell us they are losing the benefits of AI in their businesses, tools accessible within our software.

Key AI Features embedded in the Tower Systems POS software:

• AI for Writing Descriptions: Generate compelling product descriptions for receipts, invoices, and online stores. This feature leverages AI to create engaging content that can improve product visibility and drive online sales. Users can customise the AI’s prompts to tailor the generated text to their specific needs.
• AI Import of Invoices: Say goodbye to manual data entry. This feature allows users to import supplier invoices in PDF format. The AI automatically extracts key information, such as supplier details, invoice number, item descriptions, and quantities. Retailers can then review and import these items, assign departments, generate barcodes, and update pricing.
• Stock Item Blog Posts: Create engaging blog content for products with ease. This feature uses AI to generate informative blog posts that can be scheduled and uploaded to online store platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce, improving SEO and driving traffic to online stores.
• Barcode Lookup Integration: Instantly access product information by scanning barcodes. This feature integrates with a vast online database, allowing retailers to quickly retrieve descriptions, images, and other details for over a billion items. This significantly speeds up the process of adding new products to the system and updating existing information. While not your traditional AI, this is a loved integration.
• AI Pricing: Optimise product pricing with AI-driven suggestions. This tool analyses local market data to recommend standard, low, and premium price ranges, helping retailers find the sweet spot for maximising profits.

These AI tools in our Tower Systems POS software offer significant benefits, including:

• Time Savings: Automating tasks like description writing and invoice processing frees up valuable time for retailers to focus on other aspects of their business.
• Increased Accuracy: AI-powered tools reduce the risk of human error, ensuring more accurate product information and financial data.
• Improved Online Presence: Generating high-quality product descriptions and blog posts can boost SEO and drive online sales.
• Enhanced Profitability: Optimising pricing and streamlining operations can contribute to increased revenue and reduced costs.

This AI functionality is available to retailers on the “Advanced” or “Ultimate” software plan who also have an API key with a provider like OpenAI or Google Gemini. The cost of using these AI features, particularly for invoice analysis, is low – as our customers are finding.

The success of any loyalty program hinges on a few core principles:

• Clarity: The value proposition must be easy for customers to understand. Rewards should be clear and accessible.
• Discretion: Loyalty programs should enhance the customer experience, not detract from it with an overwhelming amount of marketing communications. Avoiding excessive “spam” is vital for maintaining a positive perception.
• Instant Gratification: In today’s fast-paced world, immediate rewards often resonate more strongly with customers than delayed ones. Providing instant value, like that offered by Tower Systems’ vouchers, can significantly boost engagement and satisfaction.

By focusing on these principles, Tower Systems’ voucher-based loyalty system provides a powerful and effective way for retailers to not only attract but also retain customers, building lasting relationships that go beyond a simple transaction.

With the Tower Systems POS software, local small business retailers can:

• Create and print vouchers instantly: Vouchers can be generated and printed directly on customer receipts in just moments, making the reward immediate and visible.
• Offer flexible discounts: Retailers have the power to customize their incentives, choosing between percentage-based discounts or fixed dollar amounts, tailoring offers to suit their business needs and customer base.
• Drive repeat business: These vouchers prove to be remarkably effective in encouraging customers to return, fostering valuable repeat business and strengthening customer relationships.
• Incentivize immediate purchases: Even first-time customers can be motivated by these vouchers to make additional purchases, turning a single transaction into a longer-term customer relationship.
• Enhance negotiation: For larger purchases, vouchers can serve as a valuable tool during negotiations, helping to close sales and ensure customer satisfaction.
• Tailor offers to customer preferences: Tower Systems allows retailers to create different customer profiles, enabling them to offer larger discounts to those who provide their contact information while still providing attractive vouchers to customers who prefer not to share their details.

Tower Systems POS software offers a refreshing and highly effective alternative: loyalty vouchers. This system simplifies the process for both retailers and customers, focusing on immediate, tangible value.

We’s a POS software company focussed solely on local small business retailers in a range of specialty retail channels. Size matters to us. If yours in a big business with 15 locations, we are likely not for you.

Ten days ago we released another PSO software update delivering terrific facilities for our, local small business retail customers. This latest update to the Tower Systems POS software contains more enhancements suggested by users of the software through our exclusive, transparent and customer-driven Software Ideas platform.

Launched a world first in the POS software space by Tower Systems in 2009, Software Ideas provides a transparent and structured approach to suggestions by the Tower Systems user community.

The Software Ideas service we launched in March 2009 inspired by the What Would Google Do? book by Jeff Jarvis continues to deliver benefits to our customers and to us.  This year alone, we have released a raft of software enhancements which have been put to us through Software Ideas. We have more in the pipeline too.

User submitted ideas plus those we create for ourselves as well as changes requested by supplier partners make up the broad and valuable mix of enhancements we deliver in our Point of Sale software in every update and every update makes our software more valuable.

Software Ideas remains unique in our marketplaces. It’s a best practice approach as it puts our customers first.

Our continued release of software enhancements that have been first suggested through Software Ideas shows the value of the process not only to customers of tower Systems but to us as well – through the extension and enhancement of our Point of sale software product. it demonstrated genuine and tran sparent cooperation.

Every idea is costed and evaluated. Every idea is open for customers to vote on and comment on.

The list of ideas live at Software Ideas is considered for each software update package we create.

This is is true collaboration between a software company and its customers. We’re proud, years on, to be able to point to the valuable two-way success of Software Ideas.

Tower Systems is a vertical market software company serving local and independent small business retailers in specialty retail channels: music repair businesses, stockfeed businesses, teddy bear shops, repairs shops, gunsmiths, jewellers, garden centres, bike shops, gift shops, toy shops, newsagents, bookshops and more. We make what we sell.

Here at Tower Systems we dedicated to providing independent small business retailers in specialty channels with POS software that delivers exceptional value and comprehensive functionality.

Value is the key here. To us, value means software back by service that helps local small business retailers run profitable businesses they enjoy. So, value to us is a financial measure as well as an emotional measure. The two go hand-in-hand.

Since our software is sometimes compares to Square POS, we thought it might be helpful to offer a comparison between Tower Systems POS and Square POS, focusing on essential cost considerations and the distinct features that differentiate our solution and since costs play into value.

Understanding the total cost of “Free” POS Systems

While Square POS is often presented as a “free” solution, retailers need to consider all  associated operational costs. From what we can see, Square’s primary revenue generation is through transaction fees applied via their integrated EFTPOS processing. For businesses with significant transaction volumes, these fees can accumulate substantially. Our observations indicate that these integrated EFTPOS rates can be notably higher than rates a retailer might secure independently. We consider these processing fees a direct business expense, irrespective of whether the merchant or the customer ultimately bears them.

Demonstrable cost advantages with Tower Systems

Our analysis suggests that the majority of retailers utilising Tower Systems POS, coupled with a competitively sourced EFTPOS rate—which we’ve seen as low as half the cost of Square’s integrated rate—can realize annual savings ranging from $3,000 to $5,000 compared to using Square POS. This financial benefit arises from a combination of potentially lower transaction processing fees and the inclusion of valuable features within our standard software package.

• Integrated loyalty program: Tower Systems POS includes a fully integrated loyalty program at no additional charge, a feature that Square POS offers only through a monthly subscription. The Tower loyalty solution has been proven to drive incremental sales.
• Dedicated local support: We provide round-the-clock support, ensuring our customers have access to assistance whenever required. Based on available information, Square’s support hours may be more restricted, and direct human interaction can be less readily accessible.
• Seamless integrations: Tower Systems offers smooth integration with widely used accounting software such as Xero and popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify, streamlining business operations and saving valuable time.
• Customer-driven enhancements: Our software evolves continuously based on feedback and feature requests prioritized by our user community.
• Personalised engagement: At Tower Systems, we are committed to offering personalised service. Our experienced team is available to discuss your unique business needs and provide a tailored software demonstration. We aim to assist you in identifying the optimal POS solution for your business, and if that is us, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive support. We are proud to actively support the local small business retail sector.

For us, it all comes down to value. At Tower Systems you matter. We only serve local small retail businesses. Every customer is treated the same. We answer the phone. We personally respond to emails. We’re a small company, you know the service is personal.

Forget the POS software of yesteryear focussed on cash register replacement and reporting. That is so old, useful, but old. The world has changed.

While some still rely on those unique to local small business retail functions, plenty of retailers are leveraging artificial Intelligence tools embedded in our Tower Systems POS software to make faster decisions, better decisions, more profitable decisions.

Tower Systems released the first AI integration in its POS software in 2022 and has updated it every few months since. The latest AI enhancements, released two months ago, are the biggest yet. Retailers tell us they are a game changer.

AI innovations are engineered to drive operational efficiency and enhance sales revenue for local small business retailers, to improve their competitive position. Here are some of the AI tools retailers are loving today:

1. Optimised product listings: AI-generated, SEO-friendly product descriptions, enhancing online visibility and driving consumer demand.
2. Strategic content marketing: Streamlined creation of engaging blog content, amplifying product awareness and customer engagement.
3. Data-informed pricing decisions: AI-powered price comparison tools, enabling retailers to maintain competitive pricing strategies.
4. Efficient inventory management: AI-driven stock forecasting, minimising stockouts and maximising sales potential.
5. Operational streamlining: Reduction of administrative overhead, allowing retailers to focus on sales and customer service.

Retail is changing rapidly and big retailers plus online retailers are leveraging AI daily to compete in a mare targeted way. The exclusive AI tools released by Tower Systems help retailers meet that competition.

Strategic advantages include:

1. Increased product discoverability: Enhanced online product visibility through SEO-optimised content.
2. Improved retailer operational efficiency: Streamlined inventory management and reduced admin costs,.
3. Data-driven sales strategies: AI-enabled price comparison and sales analysis, facilitating informed decision-making and sales growth.
4. Reduced stock depletion: Accurate inventory forecasting, ensuring consistent product availability and maximising sales opportunities.
5. Strengthened retailer partnerships: Provision of advanced technological solutions, fostering long-term collaborative relationships.

By equipping local small business retailers with these sophisticated tools, Tower Systems is committed to nurturing local retail success.

We have been to the National Retail Federation conference in New York, the UK Spring Fair in Birmingham and Shoptalk in Las Vegas  this year and have seen first-hand what many other POS companies are offering and are confident in what Tower offers Aussie small business retailers.

Retail is changing rapidly because of AI and Tower Systems is equipping retailers to benefit from this.

While big retailers in 2025 wrestle with a whole of business real-time view of available inventory, Tower Systems small business retail customers rely on what we have now offered for 10+ years.