The POS Software Blog

The POS Software Blog

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

CategoryPOS Software

AI tools in small business retail software a game-changer

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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.

Streamlining repairs management for jewellers, bike shops and others doing repairs

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Managing repairs can be challenging for businesses offering specialised services.  Jewellers, bicycle shops, farm supply businesses, pool service providers, and irrigation specialists are some we have worked with in offering repairs management tools.

Our specialised retail POS software incorporates comprehensive repairs management tools meticulously designed to streamline these intricate processes, irrespective of whether repairs are conducted within the business or outsourced to external providers.

Initially developed to address the specific requirements of jewellers and bicycle shop operators, these features have since been embraced by a diverse spectrum of our retail customers.

Our repairs management software boasts a range of key functionalities tailored to the unique needs of various specialised industries:

  • Jewellery: Facilitates the efficient management of both jewellery and watch workshop repairs, alongside the precise tracking of time-sensitive manufacturing projects.
  • Bicycle shops: Offers comprehensive management of bicycle and tricycle repairs, coupled with a streamlined process for handling warranty returns.
  • Garden centres: Enables the effective organisation and management of landscaping service workflows, ensuring smooth project execution.
  • Firearms stores: For managing gunsmithing and equipment repairs, as well as an efficient system for processing warranty returns.
  • Pet Shops: Facilitates management of specialised installations, such as intricate aquarium setups, ensuring accurate scheduling and completion.
  • Irrigation businesses: tracking product repair and care.

Beyond these industry-specific applications, the repairs management tools within our POS software extend beyond basic tracking to offer comprehensive operational management capabilities, providing versatile tools for job management, workshop control, and enhanced overall operational efficiency.

From the initial receipt of a repair job, the system provides meticulous tracking of its progress and facilitates consistent and timely communication with the customer throughout the process. This ensures transparency and builds trust. Furthermore, the software enables precise tracking of both labour and resource utilisation, leading to accurate billing and efficient inventory control.

For businesses that utilise external providers, our system offers efficient management of repairs outsourced to contractors or suppliers, including the seamless handling of warranty claims. To optimise internal operations, the software also provides real-time tracking of repair staff actions, contributing to efficient service delivery and resource allocation.

Integrated customer communication is a cornerstone of our repairs management system. Automated customer notifications via SMS or their preferred communication method are triggered upon repair completion, ensuring prompt updates and enhancing the customer experience. The system also facilitates seamless payment processing through a variety of methods, including cash, EFTPOS, and various digital payment platforms, offering convenience for both the business and the customer.

By streamlining the entire repairs process, Tower Systems’ software significantly improves communication, enhances operational certainty, and ultimately empowers businesses to deliver a professional, efficient, and personalised service that fosters customer loyalty and satisfaction.

Our commitment to continuous improvement is reflected in the collaboration with our customer community, including firearms stores, bicycle shops, and other specialised retailers. Customer feedback is key to our development process, ensuring that our software remains a relevant and powerful tool for the specialised retail marketplaces we serve.

A self-checkout POS software solution made for local small business retailers

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Tower Systems offers innovative self-checkout point-of-sale (POS) software designed to cater specifically to the needs of local small business retailers. This POS software solution empowers these businesses to provide a convenient self-checkout option for their shoppers in various scenarios where it can significantly benefit their operations and customer experience.

There are numerous situations where implementing self-checkout can be advantageous: during peak trading hours, offering a self-service lane can dramatically improve customer throughput, reducing queues and enhancing overall efficiency. Similarly, for businesses operating in larger premises or those wishing to provide service in areas away from the main sales counter, a self-checkout terminal offers a practical and flexible solution for customers purchasing single items or those seeking a quicker transaction.

The Tower Systems self-checkout POS software provides customers with an easy to use experience. They can effortlessly scan their items, proceed to payment, and receive a digital or printed receipt. The system also offers the flexibility for customers to scan their items, save the sale temporarily, and then finalise their purchase at the main counter if they prefer, providing a hybrid approach to the checkout process.

Importantly, the self-checkout POS terminal seamlessly integrates with existing retail operations. All established special prices and catalogue pricing are automatically honoured at the self-service terminal, ensuring price consistency across all sales channels. Furthermore, the self-checkout system offers the same loyalty program facilities that customers can access at the traditional sales counter, allowing them to accrue and redeem rewards regardless of their chosen checkout method.

This powerful software solution is available for a modest per-site monthly rental fee, offering exceptional value and flexibility. Retailers can scale their self-checkout capabilities as needed, as the rental fee remains consistent regardless of the number of self-checkout terminals they operate within a single location.

To facilitate seamless transactions, the software requires integrated EFTPOS  capabilities. You can use Tyro or any of the major banks (through Linkyl cloud), ensuring compatibility with the major banking networks and providing retailers with reliable and secure payment processing options.

Getting started with the Tower Systems self-checkout POS software is easy. Upon initial setup, retailers are guided through an intuitive configuration process that includes the ability to load their own start-up and sale close images, allowing for brand personalisation and a consistent customer experience. Retailers retain complete control over these customisation options.

Please note that the self-checkout computer and stand options are available for separate purchase directly from Tower Systems, ensuring retailers have access to fully compatible and reliable hardware solutions to complement their software investment. This comprehensive offering allows local small business retailers to embrace the benefits of self-checkout and enhance their service delivery.

Here are our answers to frequently asked questions:

Is there a camera? What we have created is self-checkout POS software. It’s not integrated with a camera. We have left the choice of a camera up to each retailer to consider.

Could I run this in a pop-up shop? Yes, you could. All that is needed that the self-checkout is network connected to the main software.

Could I run self-checkout and nothing else? No, you need the base Tower software to manage the back end.

Is there anything that I might want as a retailer that the self-checkout software does not do? It does not do customer quotes or invoicing to a customer.

What if I want to use it for a couple of months of the year only? Easy. Rent it for those months and then suspend the rental costs until it is needed again.

Can I test it to see if it suits? Rental is so cheap it’s costs little to try.

Can I run this on a regular computer? Yes.

The POS screen appears to be in portrait more. Is that all you offer? No, you can run it in landscape as well.

Can I suspend a sale and finish it at my traditional sales counter? Yes, a staff member can suspend the sale so it can be completed at the counter.

Small business retail advice: the best place to manage your inventory data and retail business settings

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The needs of a physical shop are different to the needs of an online business and the best place to manage the settings for your physical shop are in software designed to manage your physical shop.

Smart POS software links seamlessly with any of the awesome website solutions out there. The POS software manages the shop, its inventory and its physical shop management settings and it leaves the specialist web software to manage online sales – feeding data both ways thanks to integration.

To try and run your physical shop with software designed for running a website could, we think, result in a cumbersome solution that costs time and results in other impediments to the business.

Trying to force a website-centric system to handle the intricacies of a brick-and-mortar store is like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. You’d likely end up with a clunky, inefficient setup that adds unnecessary complexity to your daily operations. Think of it this way: a chef needs specialized kitchen tools, not just a Swiss Army knife, to create culinary masterpieces. Similarly, a physical retailer needs purpose-built POS software to truly thrive.

We have been serving brick and mortar shops for decades with software that has evolved to serve the changing nature of physical retail. We’ve also served physical shops with online stores too. The needs of the two types of retail can have similarities. In our experience, the settings are different as is the workflow and other aspects of business operation.

Choosing software made for your needs, your specific tarp of customer interface: physical, online or a mix of both will deliver a more efficient and valuable outcome for your business. We serve physical and online and this is another thing that makes Tower Systems a useful partner.

By selecting software tailored to your specific customer interface – whether it’s the tangible experience of a physical store, the digital realm of online sales, or a seamless blend of both – you’re setting your business up for greater efficiency and ultimately, more value. It’s about having the right tools for the right job, allowing you to focus on what you do best: serving your customers.

Small business retail advice: be sure to understand the total cost of POS software

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The software of the software you choose for your retail; business is the cost of renting access to the software as well as any mandatory costs associated with the software.

Some software companies make it hard to understand the total cost of using their software. They are clever at how they dress up their data.

Take a nameless POS software company. Their monthly rental for a small shop is $200 a month. They require you to use their payments platform at a cost of 1.6% of all transactions. A business doing $500,000 a year using this software has a total cost of ownership of $2,400.00 + $8,000 =$10,400.00 $10,400.00.

That same small retail business using Tower Systems and a price competitive payments gateway would pay $2,800.00 for the software and $4,500.00 for payments, making a total cost $7,300.00.

That’s a saving of $3,100.00 in one year alone on the cost of the software and the payments processing.

If you add in enhanced functionality that supports better productivity and a more useful focus on profitability we can make a case for benefits of more than $50,000 to the bottom line.

Our point here is to note that it is vital for any retailer to understand the cost of ownership of the software they are considering as there are big differences in the costs, especially when comparing with businesses that require you to use a payments platform connected to their software. Oh they will pitch productivity gains and other good-sounding benefits. the thing is, these benefits are available outside their business.

Take your time. Do your research. get the numbers in writing. Compare, and compare again.

Slick marketing can cover many sins, including a higher cost for your business.

Here at Tower Systems our approach to pricing is transparent. The choice you make about payments is 100% yours to make, meaning you can shop the market for the best deal for you.

Look beyond the sticker price; ongoing expenses and limitations imposed by a software provider can significantly impact your bottom line. By forcing you into their payment ecosystem, some companies effectively create a captive market, limiting your ability to secure more competitive processing fees. This lack of transparency and control can erode your profit margins over time, making it crucial to look beyond the surface-level monthly subscription and delve into the complete cost structure, including any mandatory integrations or transaction-based charges.

How to choose the right POS software for your specialty retail business

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Choosing the right Point of Sale (POS) software is a pivotal decision for any independent, small retail business. A well-suited system can significantly boost your business’s worth and success, whereas a poor choice can be costly.

While this advice is from us and we are a POS software company, it is advice that will stand up to professional and independent scrutiny.

To make a well-informed decision, it’s crucial to carefully think about your business’s unique aspects.

  • Specialisation: If your business caters to a specific niche, look for POS software designed for similar businesses, software that serves your needs.
  • Local focus: If supporting local businesses is important to you, consider POS solutions developed and supported locally. Talking to people who understand your local situation is helpful.
  • Training. be sure to understand the cost of training for professional training by the software company is key to you leveraging the best value from the software.
  • Expertise: To establish yourself as a local expert, your POS system should enable efficient and consistent service, and the leveraging of your expertise.
  • Services: If you offer repair or maintenance services, your software should handle these functions, and save you time.
  • Product bundling: For businesses selling bundled items, the POS system must effectively manage these configurations, helping you to differentiate through what you sell.
  • Customer retention: If you operate in a tourist area, loyalty programs can be vital for maximising repeat business – they need to be the type of loyalty encouragement your shoppers will love.
  • Product weight: If you sell products by weight, your POS system should have this capability, especially selling in fractions.

By carefully considering these factors, you can pinpoint the specific features and capabilities needed in your ideal POS software.

It’s important to remember that while price is a consideration, it shouldn’t be the only deciding factor. Just as you’d advise customers against compromising quality for price, the same applies to POS software. Investing in a higher-quality system initially can lead to significant long-term savings and advantages.

To make comparisons easier, think about the weekly cost of the software rather than just the upfront investment. This approach gives a more accurate picture of value for money, taking into account support services and software functionality.

If you’re unsure about a particular software package, it’s wise to explore other options. It’s better to pass on a system that doesn’t fully meet your needs than to deal with ongoing frustrations. However, be prepared to adjust some of your business processes to align with your chosen software.

Once you’ve implemented a system, it’s crucial to follow the software provider’s advice and make full use of the training provided. Embracing suggested changes to your business processes can optimise how well the system works for you.

Accurate data is essential for successful POS software use. Put in place strict data entry procedures to ensure reliable information for making decisions.

Building a strong relationship with your software provider can benefit both parties. Sharing feedback and suggestions can contribute to the ongoing development and improvement of the software.

By using your POS system to automate tasks, you can free up valuable time for strategic planning and engaging with customers.

Implementing new software can be challenging. Focus on the long-term benefits of increased efficiency and satisfaction once you’ve mastered the system.

Ultimately, the POS software you choose should reflect your business’s identity. Invest time in careful consideration to select a system that aligns with your goals and helps your business grow.

Here at Tower Systems we make POS software for local specialty retailers.

The smart way to do a stocktake in your local retail business

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The days of using a stocktaker to count stock for your end of financial year stocktake are well and truly over. Smart POS software makes it easy. Smarter POS software makes it faster and even easier. That’s what we offer here at Tower Systems with our POS software for local specialty retailers.

Retailer Roam is a portable POS software solution that can run on your iPhone, iPad or any Android device. It truly is portable POS software.

Retailers can use Retailer Roam to sell from anywhere. It’s perfect for the local market, selling or the road or at a pop-up shop.

Best of all, Retailer Roam offers a live stocktake facility. Use it to update sock on hand data in real time, quickly, easily, accurately.

Using Retailer Roam will help retailers ease the burden of the stocktake and eliminate the cost of using a professional stocktaker.

Retailers can use Retailer Roam to do a full stocktake or part of a store stocktake. It’s easy to use and ideal for shop staff engagement.

This video is one of our training videos. Its;s been made for businesses already using our software. We share it here to show you how to setup to use Retailer Roam for stocktaking and to demonstrate more generally the quality of training we provide.

This video explains how to perform stock takes using Retailer Roam, highlighting its ability to sync data live back to Retailer, which allows for more up-to-date quantity on hand tracking. The video covers starting a stock take, navigating the interface, using search and barcode scanning, explaining scan modes, demonstrating item counting, syncing data, and finishing the process.

We have found short videos like this one to be useful to retailers in training team members.

Every retail business does stocktakes. Our goal with Retailer Roam is to help you save time and improve outcome accuracy.

Tower Systems is grateful to its local small retail business customers for their engagement and helping us to make better POS software that helps local retailers thrive. Their engagement during the software development and testing processes help us create better products.

Retail business advice: Tips for dealing with being in a small country town with a declining population

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If you are in a small country town with a declining population we have some tips for you.

Make more babies, and fast!

Okay, seriously, since you have no control over the population growth of the town, you need to work on that which you can control—you need to work on the reach of your business.

Yes, this means reaching shoppers online. This is the easiest way to combat the challenge of a declining population within the reach of your physical shop.

As cliché as it’s, if the population cannot get to your shop, take your shop to the population.

I have seen a shop in a small town do two-thirds of its revenue online and thrive as a result.

Being online is more critical than ever. It is the best way to attract new shoppers, leverage existing inventory, retail space and labour as well as top plot a fresh and profitable path forward for the business.

Tower Systems has team of skilled Shopify web developers, all working from in Victoria. This matters since many web developers actually outsource development to offshore businesses.

Tower offers a one stop shop service whereby we offer specialty retail POS software and beautiful Shopify websites connected to this POS software. The connection is safe, fast and seamless. The Shopify websites we develop are made specifically for each retailer customer, to their needs, meeting their requirements, populated with data that is collated through the integrated POS software.

Being a Shopify website developer and a POS software developer in the one business and being Australian based business positions Tower well to serve the needs of local Australian retailers. Being so engaged with the newsagency channel is a reason Tower has helped so many newsagents attract new shoppers through their websites.

The Tower Systems Shopify website development for small business retailers is done on a fixed price basis.

By embracing e-commerce and leveraging Tower Systems’ newsagency and web development expertise, newsagents can unlock a world of new opportunities. From seamless website integration to a focus on targeted customer acquisition, Tower Systems empowers newsagents to thrive in the digital age.

If you can measure it, we can help you sell it, easily

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If you can measure it, our POS software can help you sell it. If you can weigh it, our POS software can help you sell it. Our Tower Systems POS software helps retailers sell by fractions, by weight, by measure.

How Tower Systems helps retailers be more easily found online

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How people search online has changed fundamentally over the last few months. It is among the fastest change relates to consumer action and intersected with tech that we have seen. Here at Tower Systems we help retailers navigate these and other changes, too be relevant and to be more easily found in this changing world.

Our POS software helps local small business retailers to be smart in their engagement with data about what they sell, when they sell and to whom they sell such that them being found in online searches and conversations is more certain than is often the case elsewhere.

The place where customers seek information has undergone a rapid transformation in recent months. The scope of change is a fundamental shift in how consumers behave online, driven by technological advancements and impacting every aspect of their journey, from initial curiosity to final purchase. For small business retailers, staying ahead of this curve isn’t just advantageous – it’s essential for survival and growth.

At Tower Systems, we understand the challenges these evolving search patterns present. We’re dedicated to equipping local retailers with the tools and insights needed to not only navigate these changes but to thrive within them. Our approach goes beyond simply acknowledging the shift; we actively empower you to become more visible, more relevant, and ultimately, more successful in this dynamic environment.

You only have to look at our early and continues AI innovation to see the extent of accessibility we offer to smart help.

Our POS software is designed with this new reality in mind. We recognise that in today’s world, simply having a physical storefront isn’t enough. Consumers are online, actively searching for products, services, and information. They’re engaging in conversations, reading reviews, and making decisions based on their digital experiences.

This is where the power of data comes in. Our POS system acts as your central intelligence hub, meticulously capturing crucial information about your sales. It reveals not just what you sell, but when you sell it and, perhaps most importantly, to whom you sell it. This granular understanding of your customer base and their purchasing habits is the key to unlocking more effective online visibility.

Imagine being able to identify your most popular products, the times of year they see the highest demand, and the demographic profiles of your loyal customers. With this knowledge at your fingertips, you can craft more targeted online content, optimize your website and social media presence with relevant keywords, and even engage in more personalized online conversations.

Our software helps you move beyond guesswork and into a realm of data-driven decisions. Through understanding you can strategically position your business to be found more easily in online searches. You can participate in relevant online conversations, offer solutions that directly address customer needs, and build a stronger online presence that attracts and retains customers in this ever-changing digital world. We’re here to ensure that your local small business not only keeps pace with these fundamental shifts but leverages them to gain a competitive edge.

Cutting through the AI hype: how smart POS is helping Aussie retailers thrive

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Let’s face it, the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) can feel like a whirlwind. Every day, there’s another headline, another social media trend, another “expert” opinion. But amidst all the noise, something genuinely useful is happening for small business retailers right here in Australia.

The statement actions speak louder than words is so true. Let’s explain. But first, let’s show you there AI tools in our POS software in action:

Forget the science fiction; we’re talking about practical, down-to-earth AI tools that are saving time, cutting costs, and helping retailers make smarter decisions, faster. At Tower Systems, we’ve been working with AI in our POS solutions since mid-2022, and we’ve seen firsthand the real-world benefits for our customers.

Think of AI as a helpful assistant, one that can take on some of the tedious but crucial tasks that eat up valuable time. Our AI-powered POS software, designed specifically for Australian specialty retailers, offers a range of features that make a real difference:

  • Boost your online presence: Need compelling product names and SEO-friendly descriptions? Our AI can generate them in seconds, helping you get noticed in online searches.
  • Simplify paperwork: Say goodbye to manual data entry. Our AI can convert PDF supplier invoices into import-ready electronic files, saving you hours of admin.
  • Stay competitive: Want to know how your prices stack up? Our AI can compare prices locally, helping you identify opportunities to improve your profit margins.
  • Engage your customers: Create fresh, relevant blog content with just a few clicks. Our AI can generate publishable blog posts based on your product data, and even publish them for you.

These are just a few examples of how AI is making a tangible difference for retailers. We’re not talking about futuristic promises; these features are available right now.

The real power of AI lies in its ability to save time, improve decision-making, and accelerate your business. We’re constantly exploring new ways to enhance our AI capabilities, and we’re excited about the future.

At Tower Systems, we’re passionate about supporting local small businesses. We understand the challenges you face, because we’ve been in your shoes. That’s why we’re committed to providing you with the tools you need to succeed.

If you’re looking for a POS solution that leverages the power of AI, we encourage you to do your research. Don’t just take a company’s word for it; ask for a demonstration and see the AI features in action.

We’re confident that our AI-powered POS software can make a real difference for many local small retail businesses. If you’d like to learn more, please reach our: sales@towersystems.com.au. We’d be happy to show you how AI can help you thrive in today’s competitive retail landscape.

Reports are dead in smart POS software

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Okay, that headline Reports are dead in smart POS software does sound dramatic. Our POS software for special small business retailers has more than one hundred reports. The thing is though, there is more immediate and profitable value delivered from our insights, a smart time-efficient approach to helping local small business retailers thrive.

While some POS software companies say go run this report, read that and gain this knowledge, or insights, in our Tower Systems POS software we have our Insights Dashboard that provides insights at your fingertips without you having to run reports.

Better still, our retailers have access to our Tower Systems POS software Visual Deck, a go anywhere on any device platform with up to the moment insights on your business performance. Again, no reports required.

This is smart retail management, time saving retail management, profit-focussed retail management. This is the Tower Systems POS software solution.

We first released our visual insights solutions years ago. We have regularly enhanced these ever since. Today, what we offer in this space of reports-free retail; business insights is best-practice, smart and, again, profit-focussed.

Gone are the days of spending hours wading through reports. Who has the time?

Some POS software companies push reports so they can push their business coaching services, for which they charge. Others push reports because the software is designed boy software people rooted in the past.

Our approach to small business retail insights forms from our lived experiences working in retail, being on the shop floor, being short on time, being in local retail competitive situations. We saw the need and delivered solutions.

The Insights Dashboard in our Tower Systems POS software, one of the report-free solutions, instantly displays business performance insights and retailer will find valuable.

There is no report to run. No work to collate and interpret data. The insights are there, immediately, answering 6 key business questions:

1. What’s working?
2. What’s not working?
3. What am I missing out on?
4. Is theft an issue?
5. What sells with what?
6. When am I busiest?

Retailers love these insights, especially that they don’t haver to run a report to access them.

Our Visual deck offers Instant Insights, Anywhere You Go

  1. Real-Time Updates – Sales data is refreshed within minutes, keeping you up to date with the latest trends.
  2. Cloud-Based Access – Monitor your store’s performance from any device, no matter where you are.
  3. Customisable Dashboard – Track what’s important to you with personalised tiles displaying key business insights.
  4. Data-Driven Decision Making

With the Visual Deck, you get clear, visualised data to help drive smarter business decisions, including but not limited to: Month-on-Month Performance – Compare sales trends from recent months to the same period last year. ABC Inventory Analysis – Identify your most and least valuable stock with intuitive grading. Trending & Declining Products – Spot hot sellers and underperforming items at a glance.

So, yes, reports are a thing of the past for small business retailers. If your POS software company is promoting reports, ask why they are rooted in the past when there are smarter, time-saving, profit-focussed solutions available today.

We welcome Epos Now customers to our Tower Systems community

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We appreciate the opportunity to welcome Epos Now customers to the Tower Systems POS software and our valued customer community.

We believe our Tower Systems POS software offers a compelling alternative to Epos Now, particularly for Australian businesses. Here’s why:

  • Australian focus: Our software is developed and supported in Australia, incorporating retail terminology familiar to local businesses.
  • Comprehensive functionality: We are confident that a detailed comparison of features will demonstrate the extensive benefits offered by Tower Systems.
  • Local specialty retail expertise: Our software is tailored to the unique needs of Australian local specialty retail channels, providing targeted functionality rather than generalised features.
  • E-commerce integration: Tower Systems integrates seamlessly with popular platforms such as Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, and Magento.
  • Flexible terms: There is no lock-in contract. In this area alone we feel we are a good alternative to Epos Now.
  • Direct engagement: We do not employ commission-based sales agents, ensuring a direct and transparent relationship.
  • Respectful approach: We prioritise a respectful and informative approach, allowing retailers to explore our software at their own pace. We will not engage in spam or persistent follow-ups.
  • Real-world insights: While we haven’t used Epos Now directly, we can connect you with verified retailers who have transitioned to Tower Systems, allowing for open and honest peer-to-peer discussions.
  • Informed decision-making: If you are considering Epos Now, we encourage you to thoroughly compare software functionality and carefully review the contract to ensure it aligns with your business needs. Take your time and explore other POS solutions to make an informed decision.
  • Established and trusted: Tower Systems is proud to serve over 3,000 independent retailers across various specialty retail sectors. We are a stable and established company dedicated to supporting local businesses.
  • Transparent comparison: We welcome a detailed, function-by-function comparison with Epos Now. This type of analysis is crucial for determining the best fit for your business. We understand that our software may not be suitable for every retailer.

We are grateful for the opportunity to demonstrate the benefits of Tower Systems POS software as an alternative to Epos Now and assist you in making the right choice for your business.

If you are looking for an alternative to Epos Now, consider Tower Systems. We’d love to find out if we could serve your needs.

If you are a happy Epos Now customer, keep using it. If you are looking for an alternative, Tower Systems is ready to expose with you your business needs.

30 facilities in our POS software that make it more useful to local specialty retailers.

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Here at Tower Systems we make and support POS software for specialty retailers, retailers with operational needs beyond basic retail needs, needs through which they differentiate their businesses.

This list is NOT complete. It offers a taste of what specialty retail POS software offers. Also, many retailers only use one or two of these things. We have the list here today as it speaks to the depth of diverse functionality available in our POS software.

  1. Serial number tracking.
  2. Selling by length.
  3. Scale integration for selling by weight.
  4. Sharing product care instructions with purchase.
  5. Dispatch integration, including through to delivery mapping.
  6. Managing product returns for items you can return for credit if not sold by a time.
  7. Product attribute details.
  8. Age check for selected products.
  9. Sell from on the road or anywhere including a pop-up shop.
  10. Advanced stock search making finding stock easy.
  11. AI integration enabling SEO friendly product descriptions.
  12. AI auto generation of blog posts promoting products.
  13. Tracking inventory without barcodes.
  14. International barcode database lookup for easy stock setup.
  15. Product image management for each website data feed.
  16. ID recording for products requiring this.
  17. Uploading sales data to suppliers automatically for auto replenishment.
  18. Selling units by fractions.
  19. Upgrading product pricing as a product grows, such as you can do with plants.
  20. Managing special orders for customers.
  21. Tracking repairs from the moment a repair is dropped off to when it is picked up.
  22. Club / community group pricing: easily attract and service group members.
  23. Bundle products to sell more.
  24. Security settings controlling who has access to what.
  25. Shopper loyalty: cash on receipt offering a discount off next purchase.
  26. Shopper loyalty: points accrual and redemption.
  27. Gift card sale and balance management.
  28. Helping you market to customers based on past purchases.
  29. Sell and manage services.
  30. Link to a Shopify, Big Commerce or Woo website.

If you are a specialty retailer, Tower Systems may have software that can serve your specialty retail needs. We are grateful to serve toy shops, jewellers, firearms dealers, bike shops, bookshops, fashion shops, newsagencies, garden centres, fishing and outdoors shops, music shops, produce businesses, stockfeed businesses, gift shops, homewares shops, trophy shops, charity businesses and plenty more.

Specialty small business retail is our jam. We’d love to discover if we could help your local retail business.

Live demo: AI tools in POS software

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Here is a video of another session recorded a few days ago in which we demonstrate AI tools in our POS software:

We are grateful to our POS software development team for providing us with software at the forefront of AI engagement for small business retailers.

When it comes to AI in POS software, actions speak louder than words.

Free workshops this week: AI in POS software for small business retailers

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This week we are hosting two AI in POS software Zoom sessions on in which we will demonstrate current AI tools in our software. Bring your questions too. We will offer examples of how AI Is saving time, feeding better business decisions and helping retailers make more money.

  • Monday March 17 2pm (Melbourne time). https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82996597162?pwd=UC9fiZ5EXbJpf1QMzpaX6poacNb6Hh.1 Meeting ID: 829 9659 7162 Passcode: 687889
  • Wednesday March 19 2pm (Melbourne time). https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83348801103?pwd=PWmU98sP132o4x4cQIpaxRqkbhdWNz.1 Meeting ID: 833 4880 1103 Passcode: 308206

Anyone is welcome. The sessions will be recorded.

The openness of these sessions speak to our transparency as a company. We don’t like to put up roadblocks for access to us and what we offer our customers and prospective customers.

The use of AI in small business retail is evolving rapidly. Having offered our first AI innovation in mid 2022, Tower Systems is a genuine innovator in service of small business retail in Australia.

Housing these sessions is another example of our approach of show, don’t tell. By demonstration what our software offers today we are showing using anonymised real retail data how our the Ai integrations in our POS software serve the needs of our customers.

You’re welcome to join us.

Call 1300 662 957 (0800 444 367 – NZ) or email sales@towersystems.com.au to arrange your own one-on-one demonstration.

What are POS systems?

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Welcome to another of our explainers of topics of interest.

What are POS systems? POS systems are a combination of specialist software and specialist hardware tailored to help retail businesses operate.

Using a POS system you can transact sales, manage inventory, gain business performance insights and harness facts vital to making good business decisions. A POS system is vital for any retail business that wants to be successful. It is hard to do what a POS system does manually.

Let’s go back a step though. When we use the term POS we are referring to Point of Sale. POS is the common term.

A POS system is typically located at the sales counter of a business. That said, it could be a tablet computer, a phone or some other device being used portably in the shop running software designed for retail businesses.

A POS system is different to other computer software and hardware in that it is designed for retail businesses.

Costing only a couple of hundred dollars a month, a good POS system can typically be paying for items in saved time, reduced mistakes and better decision making from day on in any size retail business.

A modern POS system streamlines the checkout process, offering various payment options, including contactless and mobile payments, which significantly reduces wait times. Beyond the transaction itself, these systems often integrate loyalty programs, allowing businesses to track customer preferences and offer personalized promotions. This not only fosters customer retention but also provides valuable data for targeted marketing campaigns. In essence, a well-implemented POS system transforms the point of sale from a simple transaction hub to a dynamic tool for enhancing customer satisfaction and building lasting relationships.

Tower Systems offers POS software which, when combined with computer hardware, makes for a good POS system. Tower serves a range of retail sectors with software tailored to the needs of these sectors. Our POS soften is proven, well established. It’s been chosen by thousands of retailers.

Our software is  user-friendly, ensuring staff can quickly adapt and maximise its potential. Regular updates keep it current with evolving industry standards and customer expectations, ensuring a robust and reliable platform for your business.

We’re here to help local specialty retailers with good software backed by good local support.

How much does a POS system cost in Australia?

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The price of a POS system in Australia includes the cost of the software, the cost of computer hardware as well as any associated costs, such as payments costs.

Some POS software solutions force you to use their payments platform, locking you into their costs for this, which can be higher than traditional banking payment solutions.

Here at Tower Systems, you can rent our POS software with pricing transparent. At the time of writing, the monthly rental price ranges from $195.00 through to $246.00. These prices include GST.

Tower does not lock you on a payments platform – you should choose the one you prefer for your business, the one with the lowest cost if you like.

Tower Systems runs on a range of hardware. Your current hardware may suit.

So, if you have good hardware, your Tower Systems POS solution could cost $195.00 a month. That’s our answer to the question of How much does a POS system cost in Australia?

If you do have this question – How much does a POS system cost in Australia? – we recommend you be clear about your needs, ensure you only consider software that serves your needs. be clear too about the payments processing requirements of your business. If you are concerned about payments costs, be sure to know for sure what the various POS companies you are considering may think about you using payments platforms other than what they require.

If you are asking the question How much does a POS system cost in Australia?  we think you are starting with a good question. Knowing the cost of a long term relationship up front for your business is a good starting point even when the decision itself is not necessarily about dollars.

Ultimately, the true cost of a POS system isn’t just the upfront price, but the ongoing value it delivers to your business. By offering flexible software rentals, hardware compatibility, and payment freedom, Tower Systems empowers you to control your expenses and optimize your operations. We encourage you to contact our team for a personalized consultation, where we can discuss your specific needs and demonstrate how our POS solution can provide a cost-effective and efficient solution for your Australian business.

AI enabled POS software

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