The POS Software Blog

The POS Software Blog

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

CategoryPOS Software

Shopify POS software solutions from Tower Systems help retailers thrive in-store as well as online

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The Shopify POS solution from Tower Systems is designed for a range of specialty retail channels, independent retailers, local retailers, retailers that offer unique liocal service around specialty products.

Our Shopify POS solution is made here by us at Tower Systems and it is supported by us too.

We partner with Shopify to provide local small business retailers with a seamless Shopify POS solution.

From sales to inventory management to business decisions to business success, the Shopify POS solution is an ideal partnership solution for any local retailer keen to deliver a seamless in-store and online retail business management solution. designed for retailers first, it’s easy to learn and use, with the POS being in control of inventory and data at all times.

We love Shopify and what it offers online. Add to this our decades of years experience is serving local specialty retailing bolt it into Shopify and you have a two-way, seamless, Shopify POS solution from us here at Tower Systems.

Here is how our integration with Shopify works for retailers using our POS software:

Stock

Retailer is your master stock database. You flag what stock items you want to appear on your shopify store. Descriptions and extended descriptions are added as your titles and descriptions in Shopify. Newly flagged products are automatically added and if you edit items in Retailer you have field level control over how these are handled in Shopify.

Department And Categories

Option One: Treat departments as collections and Categories as Product Tags

This will use your Retailer Department as the collection and the category will be created as a product tag. This is our recommended approach as it allows for menu sorting and for categories to appear over multiple collections. Tags are searchable keywords associated with your product and can help customers find your product through your online store search. Tags can also use them to create automated collections. Please see Shopify knowledge base for more information.

Option Two: Treat Categories as Collections, ignore departments

The collection names are Retailer Categories. This is best used in smaller web stores selling a defined range of product.

Option Three: Self-Managed Collections

This is the least popular but may be necessary if there is an existing store and you do not want to change your current structure. If this option is selected then products will be added without a collection you will then need to allocate them once they have been added to the site via the link.

Prices And Quantity On Hand

You have control over your webstore pricing from within the Retailer Stock Screen. Bulk updates of the webstore prices can be performed in Stock Manager. Once new prices are set, your web store is updated automatically.

Quantity on hand is also managed automatically, when your sell or arrive an item into stock these adjustments are sent directly to Shopify. If the quantity on hand of an items drops to 0, the item is marked as out of stock in Shopify.

Images

The images you set against stock items in Retailer are automatically uploaded to your website. If images change, then old one is removed and the new one is added. You can upload as many images as you like per stock item.

Customers

Customers that purchase off your webstore are added as customers in your Retailer database, allowing you to track what they buy and market to them if you desire. Existing customers with an email address will also be added to your web store to facilitate easy sales if you choose.

Sales

Sales are downloaded on a periodic basis and imported into Retailer. They are imported into our Customer Invoice Maintenance facility allowing you to place orders and print invoices if needed. Once sales are imported it reduces your quantity on hand so you maintain accurate stock control. Sales can be allocated to a specific location or merged to you main sales data, giving you excellent control over how you report on your webstore sales.

The Tower Systems Shopify POS solution is comprehensive and constantly evolving as retail changes and the tech. platforms themselves change.

Multistore POS software helps retailers with more than one business to more efficiently manage

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Multistore POS software helps retailers manage across multiple retail stores easily, accurately and efficiently.

Created by Tower Systems for retailers with multiple stores in the toy, garden, jeweller, bike, homewares and similar specialty retail spaces, this multi-storey POS software is made to save time, reduce mistakes and support fluid movement of inventory between stores.

This is an add-on to the Tower Systems POS software. Single store retailers can evolve to multi-storey POS software if they wish over time, when it suits. They can also transition back, if or when it suits. It is available in every specialty marketplace in which Tower Systems operates.

Flexibility is the key to this multi-storey POS software.

No matter how hard you work as a business owner, you can’t be everywhere at once – but with Tower Systems’ multi-store technology, you can act as if you are.

If you’re a small business owner with multiple retail sites then you need flexible software to manage each location with confidence. We first expanded our software suite with multi-store functionality in 2007 and continue to install and support it for dozens of clients, whether they have two shops or twenty. Developed out of our own retail experience running four gift shops, you can rest assured that we’ve considered your needs and have the answers you’re looking for.

For example, if a customer asks for a certain product that is out of stock at their current retail location, our software will immediately check for stock in other stores and inform your customer service staff of its availability. If you have a warehouse location, your staff can use this functionality to provide estimates on how long it will take to restock your retail store, or to transfer stock across from another store. This kind of seamless connectivity is instantaneous, invisible to the customer and representative of the opportunities of a multi-store point of sale system.

Multi-store locations can also be managed remotely, from any device and at any time – all you need is an Internet connection. You may want to do stock item maintenance for all your stores from home in the evening, or arrive invoices for some of your stores while you head to a café for lunch. You can compare store sales data over breakfast, adjust rosters for each store’s employees from the backseat of a taxi and much more.

Our multi-store package has fixed, transparent pricing. While some other retail software platforms charge a monthly amount per terminal, we offer pricing per physical location – whether each of your shops has one computer terminal or three, our competitive pricing remains the same for that location. It’s also eminently scalable – if you have one store now, you can easily add another later.

Tower Systems’ multi-store functionality has been built from the ground up to link your stores and give you the best possible control. We want to help you grow your business.

More: sales@towersystems.com.au

Everything You Need to Know About POS for Small Retail Businesses

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Retail POS Software

In 2021, 30% of POS payments globally included digital and mobile wallet payments. If your business doesn’t have the hardware and software to easily accept a variety of payment types from customers, you could be missing out.

In addition to accepting a wide range of payment types, point-of-sale (POS) systems offer many other advantages to businesses as well. Retail POS software will make your business more efficient and can give you plenty of additional clarity into business operations and transactions.

If you’re thinking about investing in retail POS software, read on. Here’s everything you need to know about POS systems for small retail businesses.

What Is POS Software?

A retail POS system is a solution that is used to handle in-person retail transactions. A POS system allows retailers to easily ring up sales and process payments.

Modern POS systems do a lot more as well. This includes various things such as appointment scheduling, remote management, stock control, multi store management, reporting and analytics, and more.

When choosing a POS system for your business, it’s important to consider all of your needs as a business and to look for a system that serves its purpose well. This will allow you to make the best investment in a POS system and will help ensure that your business gets the features it needs both in the present and in the future.

How Are POS Systems Used?

There are many uses of a POS system. One of the main functions of a POS system is to ring up sales and to ensure an efficient and easy checkout process for both customers and employees.

On top of this, however, POS systems can do many more things that relate to running a business. The flexibility and features in a modern-day POS system are very beneficial for businesses and can go a long way towards helping your business become efficient and successful.

Managing Inventory

A POS system can do a lot to help ensure that all products are managed effectively. A system can be used to assist with label and barcode printing and offers inventory management features.

These features can allow businesses to track inventory, manage purchase orders, and plan for stock changes.

Track Business Health

Additionally, a POS retail system also allows you to track business financial information. POS systems include useful reporting and analytics features that will help you understand the health of your business.

Staff Management

On top of this, a POS system can also be helpful for managing and supervising employees. You’ll be able to set pay rates, schedule employees, and identify instances of retail theft.

Manage Customer Relationships

There are also great customer management features as well. With a POS system, you’ll be able to create and manage a loyalty program, create discount vouchers, and more.

How to Choose a POS System

There are a variety of things that you should think about when choosing a POS system for retail. Here’s what you should look for.

Consider Ease-of-Use

First and foremost, you should make sure that the retail POS software is easy-to-use and that it allows for the types of payments that you plan to facilitate in your business.

Small retail businesses will usually want to have a cash drawer and a credit card reader. You may also want to allow for contactless payment transactions as well.

Check for Compatibility

You’ll also want to ensure that the software system is compatible with any hardware you have and will be easy to integrate into your existing business.

If you run a small retail business that only uses an Android tablet or iPad for transactions, then you’ll want to ensure that the POS system will be compatible. In addition to this, make sure that the software meets Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance standards.

Customer Support

You should also consider the level of customer support that you’ll get from a retail POS system provider. Ensure that the provider will be available to help with system issues when needed.

They should work to make things easy for your business and should provide support via a variety of methods such as phone, email, or live chat.

POS System Costs

Finally, you’ll want to consider the costs of a POS system as well. Fees and prices can vary based on your needs.

Be sure to look for a system that offers all of the functionality that you’re looking for, but that also works for your budget.

Top Benefits of POS Systems

There are many benefits and advantages of using a POS system in your small retail business.

There are many benefits of using a POS system. All of these features can transform your business, helping to improve efficiency in both the short-term and the long-term.

Improve Efficiency

The best thing about using a POS system is that it will help save your business time and effort. It will allow you to provide service to customers more efficiently.

You’ll be able to accept multiple payment methods easily and will be able to track transactions effortlessly.

Tracking Features

On top of this, you’ll get great tracking features that allow you to make sense of customer purchasing trends and habits. You’ll also be able to better manage employees, prevent theft, and create customer loyalty programs.

All of these features can help you to create a more secure business that works efficiently.

Understand Your Business

Additionally, you’ll also be able to understand exactly where your business stands financially and will get a fuller picture of your business. A POS system can help to give you a lot of data on inventory, employees, customers, and sales.

This information can influence your business in big ways while allowing you to make better decisions moving forward.

Making the Choice to Use Retail POS Software

If you want to build a stronger business, consider investing in retail POS software. Using a POS system will change the way you operate for the better and can allow you to get more done in less time.

Interested in finding a reliable POS system? Get your free POS software demo now.

Lottery retailer software in Australia

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Tower Systems is grateful to serve more than 1,700 newsagents with its POS software, and most of these retailers use the lottery sales management and tracking tools in the Tower Systems POS software.

This is good software for lottery retailers.

Lottery retailers can rely on this software to connect with the terminals run by The Lottery Corporation (TheLott, formerly Tatts etc). We are fed sales details that are processed through our POS software, quickly, accurately, seamlessly. This is a solution ideal for local lottery retailers.

Tower Systems is proud to be an innovator in this space of POS software for lottery retailers, helping them run more efficient, safer and more valuable businesses.

With our market share, as a percentage of the overall marketplace, we are the industry standard and we are thankful to be in this position.

Our POS software for lottery retailers connects with Xero for seamless bookkeeping and accounting management. It also connects with Shopify for businesses that want to sell products online. Plus, there is a link to MYOB for that platform. For EFTPOS there are several connection opportunities for easy and contactless processing of credit cards and EFTPOS at the counter – to reduce mistakes, ensure fast operation and ensure clean management in the business.

Using our POS software for lottery retailers, the business owners and managers have access to terrific reporting tools, which can guide data based business decisions.

Available to rent for a few dollars a day, this Australian developed and supported POS software is purpose build and able to evolve with the business as its needs evolve. This flexibility is important as we see more and more lottery retailers e=expanding into new product areas including online and others. Our specialty retail software can help businesses serve in these new areas.

The rental option helps lottery retailers preserve capital for other roles in their businesses. It is the best way to acquire access to POS software, especially lottery retail POS software.

The rental option allows the retailers to cancel at any time, giving them control over the extent of their IT software spend.

Useable from the sales counter or the shop floor, this POS software serves retail businesses where they have customers, which is very important in today’s changing retail experience.

POS software for lottery retailers is a thing. It is purpose built to serve these retail businesses as so many have shown already. Tower Systems is grateful to the support and commitment from so many Aussie small b business retailers already to help serve this channel.

Why asking What is the best POS software in Australia? is likely not the right question to ask

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What is the best POS software in Australia?

The short answer is there is no single answer to this. Our Tower Systems POS software is not the best? How could it be? No POS software is the best. Because … different POS software does different things, for different types of retailers, in different situations.

Big businesses have needs small businesses do not. High street retailers have needs shopping mall retailers do not. Jewellers have needs garden centres do not.

You can see our point we hope.

We’re asking g the question What is the best POS software in Australia? though because, unfortunately, it is the question some do ask without thinking through what it really means, without thinking through the ramifications.

And, to What is the best POS software in Australia? some software companies may say they are because to those companies a sale is a sale, which is likely not a good move for retailers.

What is the best POS software in Australia?

When you’re looking for a new piece of software for your business, it’s tempting to simply Google “what is the best (insert software name here)?” However, more often than not, this isn’t the most effective way to find the right software for your needs. Why? Because every business is different, and what works for one company might not be the best fit for another.

For example, let’s say you own a small retail store in Australia. You might be tempted to Google “what is the best POS software in Australia?” But the truth is, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to that question. The best POS software for your business will depend on factors like the size of your store, your budget, and the types of products you sell.

So, how do you find the right POS software for your business? Here are a few tips:

1. Define your needs: The first step is to sit down and think about what you need from a POS system. Do you need something that can track inventory? Accept credit card payments? Integrate with other software platforms? Once you know what your must-haves are, you can start narrowing down your options.
2. Do your research: Once you know what you need, it’s time to start doing some research. Read online reviews, talk to other businesses in your industry, and get quotes from different vendors. This will help you get a better sense of whichPOS system might be the best fit for your business.
3. Get a free demonstration for your specific business: Good POS software companies will do this, they will demonstrate their software for your specific type of business. Some might even include some of your business data so you can see how it works.

Asking “what’s the best POS software in Australia?” is likely not going to give you the results you’re looking for. That’s because there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to that question—the best POS system for your business will depend on factors like budget, size, and needs. To find the right POS system for your business, start by defining your needs, doing some research, and taking advantage of free trials from different vendors.

In short , there is no definitive answer to the question “what is the best POS software in Australia ?” The answer depends on various factors , including the type of business , budget , and specific needs and requirements . With that in mind , we encourage small business retailers in Australia research different types of POS systems available before making their final decision .

What is POS software and will it help my retail business?

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POS software refers to Point of Sale software. It’s called that because it is software you run at the point of sale,, typically, at the counter where you transact sales.

Good POS software can be used to:

  • replace the cash register, to capture all sales
  • connect with your EFTpos terminal for credit can debit card payments
  • cut the time it takes for a stock take
  • help you reorder inventory based on what sells
  • stop doing less of what’s not working
  • doing more of what is working
  • make better quality decisions and make them faster than usual
  • let you see things in and about your business you are likely to miss without it
  • reduce your labour cost in business
  • help you enjoy your business more.

So, POS software is software that offers a more whole of business solution designed for retailers. Ideally, designed and supported in Australia for Aussie retailers. That’s important because retailer is different around the world. Terms used in retail differ, too.

Will a POS System Help My Business?
Now that you know how a POS system works, you may be wondering if it’s right for your retail business. The answer to this question depends on a few factors. First, you need to consider what type of business you have and what type of products you sell. If you look at the Tower Systems POS software website you can see the different specialty retail marketplaces the company serves.  On the other hand, if you have a small retail store with relatively stable inventory levels, a POS system can be a great way to save time and money.

Another factor to consider is the size of your business. If you have multiple locations or dozens of employees, a POS system can help simplify things like employee management and product ordering. However, if you’re a one-person operation or if your store is relatively small, you may not need all the features that come with a POS system. In this case, an simpler solution could work, and Tower Systems offers such a low-cost POS solution for a low monthly rental cost.

POS software can help you better understand your customers and what they’re buying. With features like customer loyalty programs and sales reports, you can identify your best customers, track popular items, and make more informed decisions about stocking your shelves and running promotions.
If you’re running a retail business, chances are POS software can help you save time and money while also providing valuable insights into your customers’ buying habits. However, with so many differentPOS software programs on the market, it’s important to do your research to find the one that’s right for your business. Consider your specific needs and budget when making your decision.

The decision of whether or not to invest in a POS system depends on several factors including the type of business you have, the products you sell, and the size of your operation. If you are a small business retailer with relatively stable inventory levels and fewer than 10 employees, investing in acan be acan be beneficial for tracking sales data and simplifying employee management and product ordering.

The best way to automate inventory management with a Shopify POS solution from Tower Systems

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Tower Systems partners with Shopify to offer an automated inventory management solution from the Tower Systems POS software, seamlessly through to Shopify for easy online sales.

This is a POS solution made for the local small business retailer selling in a shop and selling online.

Thanks to the seamless and direct Shopify integration, this POS software from Tower Systems can help local small business retailers save time, cut mistakes, and attract new shoppers online as well as in-store.

This is a solution that was created ion the shop floor by working retailers. It’s not a geeks solution. No, this is real world, a perfect Shopify POS solution we think.

Any small business retailer knows how important it is to keep track of inventory. That’s why a Shopify POS solution from Aussie Tower Systems can be such a valuable tool. With our solution, you can automate your inventory management so that you can always be sure that you have the products you need in stock. Here’s how it works:

Our Shopify POS solution integrates seamlessly with your Shopify store. That means that all of your inventory data will be automatically updated in real-time, so you never have to worry about whether or not your records are accurate.

In addition, our solution provides you with comprehensive reporting features so that you can always be aware of your inventory levels. With our reporting, you’ll be able to see which products are selling well and which ones aren’t moving as quickly. This information can be extremely valuable when it comes to making decisions about what products to restock.

Finally, our Shopify POS solution comes with built-in alerts that will notify you when your inventory levels are running low. That way, you can always make sure that you’re prepared for customers’ demands.

If you’re looking for a way to streamline your inventory management, a Shopify POS solution from Tower Systems is the perfect solution. With our solution, you can automate your inventory management and take advantage of powerful reporting and alert features. Contact us today to learn more about how our solution can benefit your business.

Too often, businesses rely on manual methods to keep track of their inventory, which can lead to errors and inefficiencies. The good news is that there are now automated inventory management solutions available that can take the headache out of keeping track of your stock. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at one such solution—the Shopify POS system from Tower Systems—and show you how it can help you streamline your inventory management process.

If you’re looking for a way to streamline your inventory management process and make your business more dependable, more valuable today and into the future, the Shopify POS solution from Tower Systems is definitely worth considering. With its real-time inventory tracking capabilities, integration with eCommerce platforms, and barcode scanner, it has everything you need to keep on top of your stock levels— freeing up valuable time to focus on other aspects of running your business.

We’re not a high pressure software company. Take your time. Watch any of our free and easy to access online demonstrations. Or, ask us for a one-on-one demonstration for your specific business. There is no obligation.

We love learning from retailers what they need. It helps us grow as a company.

How well does your POS software connect to Shopify?

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We won more new retail customers this week for our POS software because of our beautiful and trustworthy Shopify link.

Our software packages for jewellers, garden centres, bike shops, gift shops, sewing shops, toy shops, pet stores, firearms dealers, newsagents, produce and farm supply businesses, knitting shops, game shops, vape shops, adult shops, music shops, antique shops and charity / op. shops like to Shopify through a direst Shopify link.

It’s a two-way link.

We are a proud Shopify partner.

Our Tower Systems POS software manages the inventory, the text, the images, the videos. Plus, in-store, it transacts the sales. Shopify manages the sales online. And, Shopify and our tower Systems POS software sync – so you always have accurate stock on hand data.

Our Shopify connected POS software is helping many local retailers safely, efficiently and accurately sell online.

We won the business this week from the new clients once they compared the operation of ur link live to what they had using other POS software. This direct comparison resulted in quick decisions given the importance of online sales for their businesses.

I can’t believe how much better this is. You are going to remove a massive pain point for us. The time it’s going to save!

We were thrilled to hear this.

Okay, we know our POS software Shopify integration is good because we use it ourself in a couple of gift / homewares related retail businesses we also own. But it is wonderfully validating when someone using other POS software, well known POS software, shows us where we shine.

We felt pretty good.

But we’re not resting on this. We continue o tune there Shopify integration, just as Shopify themselves tune their own platform. This is what good software companies do. Change is daily, and important.

If you run a physical store and you sell online, the Tower Systems POS software and Shopify integration marriage could be the productivity and performance move you have been looking. We;’d be happy to show it to you free, without obligation. You can make up your own mind.

We are a no-pressure POS software company. Ask for a demo and we’ll give it to you. We won’t call or chase you. We trust local small business retailers to make business decisions in their own time. The last thing they need or want is sales people chasing them.

Now, if you have 50 minutes or so, you could watch this video from one of our Tower Systems POS software experts and one of our own Shopify experts. It’s packed with free advice you could find useful:

Discovering the beautiful Tufted Titmouse at our POS software company

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It’s fascinating what you learn working with specialty retailers. While we like birds, except swooping magpies, we’d never thought much about the Tufted Titmouse. That is, until we saw this adorable ornament in the Hallmark Keepsake range.

It’s a product item in our POS software and being sold online, too, through a website we created.

It caught our attention as our advice on keywords helped it be a Google page 1 find for people looking for the Hallmark Keepsakes as well as bird lovers interested in the Tufted Titmouse.

Bird lovers are especially interested since this is the 18th in the series of birds by Hallmark.

https://myornaments.com.au/products/the-beauty-of-birds-tufted-titmouse-hallmark-keepsake-ornament

We get pretty involved with our customers – as much as they want, with the usual POS software help and support as well as business advice on how to leverage the software at attract new shoppers and encourage existing shoppers to spend more.

It’s why we love working with local indie small business retailers. It’s personal. #Grateful #ShopLocal #SmallBusiness #Happy #Weekend

These Hallmark Keepsakes are beautiful Christmas ornaments. Crafted with care.

Our roles are to provide the software for the shop and there website for online sales. By providing both and ensuring they are seamlessly integrated we are able to help the retailer to sell in-store and online with surety and certainty. The two-way data flow between the website and Tower Systems POS software save time, improve data accuracy and offer a comfortable shopper experience.

Our POS software manages the images and product information – allowing these to flow to the beautiful Shopify site that we created. It saves so much time for the retailer.

If you go too the My Ornaments website you can see a large range of products – the data for which flow from our POS software. Look at the data that flows across for the Tufted Titmouse product:

Add nature’s splendour to your holiday celebrations with this handsome Tufted Titmouse Christmas tree ornament. Gem details and metallic gold embellishments pair with a dangling holly branch, sure to delight bird enthusiasts.

  • Key Features: 18th in the Beauty of Birds Keepsake Ornament series.
  • Additional Details: Artist crafted by Edythe Kegrize and Emma Leturgez-Smith. Plastic Christmas tree ornament.
  • Includes: One 2022 Keepsake Ornament in gift box for easy gift giving, preservation and storage.
  • Ornament Size: Approx. 3.57 x 7.07 x 9.16 cm
  • Product Code QXR9063

All this, plus the photos, and videos too if that is available for any product.

The integration between the Tower Systems POS software and Shopify sites is something we are proud of and grateful to provide to many indie retailers.

Why locally made POS software is a better solution for local retailers

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If you choose POS software for your business that is made overseas, sold by an overseas company or supported from overseas, how will that go when you want to talk with someone about your situation?

Local businesses, like local POS software companies, understand local needs. They have local context. they are more likely to be easily contacted. They serve your local business needs.

We had a customer recently contact us with a business question that was not directly related to our software. One off the folks in our company with recent retail experience was able to have a conversation with them, live and in the moment, that helped our customer make progress on an issue worrying them. This type of off-book service and help is what local POS software companies can do.

But, most of all, a local POS software company is likely to care more about your business and this is what matters most … that they care. caring flows from understanding.

No offshore POS software company can understand your needs or care about your business in the overall context of their business.

We had a customer switch to us last month because they were tired of their support queries not being responded to. They had to put each query in writing, which did not work if the query was urgent and business impacting.

Here at Tower Systems, we are local. Our customers can call us, email us, send a message through our website or contact us via the socials. We are here, real, contactable and accessible. We are also available to our customers through Zoom meetings and other group chat platforms – making ti easy for our customers to connect with us where it suits them the most.

Whole comparing software products is important, comparing the contact points and methods of contact are important. You need to go with a tech partner that can prove themselves as reliable in the way you need them to be. If could be that an overseas company ticks those boxes. The key is to know what you want and then go with the company that best serves your needs.

Point of Sale Systems for Small Business Australia

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retail pos

More than 97% of all Australian businesses are small businesses. The number of small businesses continues to rise despite recent challenging conditions.

Many of these businesses are in the retail sector. Small and medium-sized enterprises make up 96% of the retail sector in Australia.

Retail in Australia is highly competitive. One way you can give your business an edge is with your point of sale (POS) system. Retail POS can help you manage your inventory, employees, and customers more effectively.

Learn more about retail POS and how to choose the best system for your company.

What Is a Retail Point of Sale System?

A point of sale system is the hardware and software that let you process transactions and accept payments. Modern POS systems go beyond managing payments, though. They can help you analyze sales, manage inventory, and store customer information.

The newest point of sale tech provides a single source of truth across many facets of your business.

Retail POS Hardware

To accept payments in a retail store location, you’ll need POS hardware. Hardware can include:

  • Computer monitor and/or tablet
  • Cash register
  • Barcode scanner
  • Card reader
  • Receipt printer
  • Cash drawer

Your business may also need specialized hardware. This could include a scale for selling products by weight or a label printer for ticketing items for sale.

Look for a system that accepts many types of payments. Your business is more competitive if your customers have payment options beyond the standard cash, credit, or debit cards. Gift cards and mobile payments like Apple Pay are some other choices to consider.

If you’re planning to use hardware and software from different vendors, check to ensure they’re compatible.

Retail POS Software

POS software is the operating system that lets you process sales. It helps you manage your store, products, customers, and staff. A modern POS system for retail optimizes your ability to sell in-person and online.

On-Premise POS vs Cloud POS

Retail POS software can either be installed in-house or cloud-based. An on-premise system works through your internal network. This type of legacy POS stores your data on your local database.

It doesn’t rely on the internet. However, it can be expensive to implement. It’s only accessible from the terminal(s) where you installed it.

A cloud-based system uses remote servers. You can access the software over the internet from any compatible device. The system can sync your data in real time.

Cloud solutions are scalable as your business grows. They can be more cost-effective. They rely on the internet, though, so a stable and reliable internet connection is essential.

POS Payment Processor

A retail point of sale system includes the hardware and software to help you accept payments from customers. The actual payment processing is a separate service.

Some retail POS systems bundle payment processing into their service package. You may also have the option of adding it as an extra feature. Otherwise, you’ll need to find a third-party processor compatible with the system you want.

What to Look for in a Retail POS System for Small Business

Every retail business has its own specific requirements for a POS system. Before you start looking at POS for retail, take some time to determine your company’s needs. This will help you avoid paying too much for a system with features that aren’t relevant to your operations.

Ease-of-Use

Retail businesses often have high employee turnover. Choosing a POS system that’s intuitive and easy to use is especially important. Employees should be able to use the software effectively soon after training.

Sales Reporting

Retail POS can generate sales analytics to help you make better business decisions. The software can create reports based on factors like:

  • Products sold
  • Employee sales
  • Total retail amount
  • Net profit or profit percentage

A POS system that presents data in an accessible way will be more useful. A finer level of detail can give you better insights.

Inventory Management

Robust inventory management capabilities help you track products more efficiently. You know when you need to order a certain product or if a product has excess inventory on hand. Retail POS should have features like:

  • Digitally scanning and counting products
  • Creating product variations like size or color to manage stock
  • Identifying items with unique serial numbers
  • Tracking inventory levels in a multi store environment

Good inventory management helps you meet your customers’ expectations. It helps combat retail theft.

Customer Relationship Management

A retail POS system can help you track your customers’ data with customer relationship management (CRM) features.

For example, you can attach a transaction to a customer and track the customer’s purchase history. CRM capabilities simplify your email marketing. Some retail POS systems let you create a loyalty program.

The right POS system lets your store associates personalize the in-store experience for customers.

Employee Reporting and Staff Management

Your employees have a very large impact on the success of your store. Retail POS software lets you see who your top performers are. You can see any employees who may need extra coaching.

Other staff management features include:

  • Creating and modifying employee schedules
  • Emailing schedules to employees
  • Tracking employee hours

You can stay on top of this important part of your business activity more easily.

Integrations

Point of sale technology should integrate seamlessly with your other business systems, like accounting and marketing. It should integrate with your e-commerce site. Integration ensures that your applications share data automatically.

Retail POS integration with your enterprise resource planning (ERP) program is a high priority. It lets employees access back office functions like replenishment and inventory reports.

For example, an associate could see that an out-of-stock item is due to arrive in two days. The associate can put the customer’s information into the system, set the product aside when it arrives, and notify the customer that it’s ready for pick-up. You can capture more sales.

Customization

You can tailor retail POS to meet your needs. You can set limits on what data store associates can access. You can restrict employee access to certain tasks. For example, you may decide that only store managers have authorization to give refunds.

The top retail POS systems will give you customization options regarding system features as well as employee access within those features. These types of controls are another tool for combatting retail theft.

Tower Systems Retail POS

Retail POS can bring many benefits to your business. You can better manage your inventory. You have a better management system for customers and employees.

A retail POS system from Tower Systems is a personalized solution for your business. We specialize in helping small and independent retailers in Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. We design our retail POS systems for the specific needs of your industry and your company.

Schedule a free demo today to see if Tower Systems POS software is the right fit for your business. We look forward to getting to know you!

Always look at the POS software you are considering prior to making the decision to go with it

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There is a trend among POS software companies to get you signed up without looking at the software, their chasing a rooftop without first ensuring that the software and the retail business are a good match.

Here at Tower Systems, our preference is to demonstrate the software to you – once we understand your business requirements and what you personally want to achieve from POS software. It really does start with understanding your needs because it’s possible we are not a good fit for you.

Every one of our prospective customers has access to a personal live demonstration of the software. We do this at a time to suit. And, we record the demonstration and provide a copy of the demonstration to the prospective customer for them to share with others in their business.

We also offer access to pre-recorded demonstrations of the software. These are on our website and can be watched by absolutely anyone – without the need to login.

But, it’s the personal one-on-one demonstration that works best, that offers conversation about business needs and the exploration of these needs through the software itself. It is best to show an answer to a query rather than telling – anyone can tell, showing shows the real solution.

Anyone considering the Tower Systems POS software has access to a live demonstration without obligation or cost. Indeed, they have have 2, 3, 4 live demonstrations because we want to ensure that anyone choosing Tower Systems POS software makes an informed choice, a choice based on certainty that our POS software is a good fit for the needs of their business.

if you are considering POS software and the supplier is not keen for a live demonstration with you, if their approach is sign up and see if you like it, we suggest you pause and consider whether this approach serves your needs.

What is it you want? That is what matters most to your business. Signing up and using software through trial and error makes it harder for you. It makes you discover for yourself. It shows you what to expect from the POS software company down the track.

Here at Tower Systems we prefer a more personal approach, an approach that is rooted in the personal service we provide.

POS software helps to sell cuddles, which bring joy and happiness

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Through our POS software for toy shops, POS software for newsagents and Shopify connected POS software we help retailers sell many products, including these fun and joyful Squish-A-Boos from Ty.

These soft, cuddle and squish toys are a treat that plenty are loving right around Australia.

Howe the Tower Systems POS software helps sell these Squish-A-Boos is a story about software integration and software smarts that help the retailers to do better at serving the needs of customers, through serving product use and care information.

The link between the POS software and multiple Shopify websites as well as though to a professional and multi retail business connected Magento website makes these plush and squishy toys easily available right around Australia.

It’s our smart technology that enables this for retailers.

In addition to developing and selling POS software, we offer a tech. bridge to websites, awesome websites for immediate and easy selling by local small business retailers.

What’s key here is that we make it easy for people to find products and to purchase them, saving retailers time and hassle – by using best practice tech. like Magento and Shopify, platforms far superior to other platforms out there. More cost effective too.

Some software businesses think that selling online is all about putting products online, and that’s it. They are wrong. It’s about the words, the flow of data on a two-way basis, the ease of navigation of the website, the speed and accurate transacting of the purchase and the post-sale followup, through to fulfilment. This is where a smart POS software integration matters considerably to retailers.

We are often asked by retailers about POS software connected websites. here are some common questions, with our answers:

  1. What’s the typical cost for a website? Tower offers a fixed price of $6,600.00, or $550.00 a month paid for 14 months.
  2. How long does it take to get we website setup? If your data (stock descriptions and images) is all setup, it could be live in a few weeks.
  3. Do I have to sell online or can the website show what I have in the shop? It’s easy to have the website show what you have in the shop but not sell online. Plenty of retailers do this.
  4. Do I have to sell online what I have in the shop today? No, you can sell anything you want online, as long as it is legal.
  5. Why Shopify? It’s easier to use ands maintain than WooCommerce and other platforms. But, WooCommerce developers will disagree as they make money maintaining sites. With Shopify it’s that easy that you can do it yourself.
  6. How can I get my website to be ranked high in Google? Hard work, consistent hard work. There is no shortcut.
  7. How much can I expect to make online? That all depends on your niche and the time (and money) you invest. We know retailers making $300,000 a year online, others easily making $50,000 a year and others making nothing.

Retailers selling cute online, like the Squish-A-Boos mentioned here, can find it easy and accurate with our smart webstore integration.

Kudos for major POS software update

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Retailers are loving the latest POS software update from Tower Systems. Here is some of the announcement email sent to customers weeks ago:

Insights Dashboard.

This new dashboard focuses on 6 critical areas of retail to assist you on making key decisions by representing data in a graphical & easy to understand format. We think these 6 metrics are among the most important metrics that Retailer should be focusing on to import the profitability of their businesses.

Where Are We Today – Gives you a snapshot of the overall sales & liabilities as it stands Today, this powerful tool can also be expanded to a desired time period.

What’s Not Selling – This gives you a visual understanding of what is not performing in your business.  Deadstock in any business is lost cash.  This report gives you the ability to make decisions on this underperforming stock whether it be discounting or other stock reductions strategies to unlock this lost cash.

What Am I Missing Out on 
– This give you a list of items that have sold out and potential missed opportunity. The visual sales history will assist in ensuring the right items are restocked to ensure future revenue is not missed out on.

What Sells With What – This gives you an insight to consumer basket analysis. Through this you will see exactly what stock items sell with other stock items and from this you will be able to leverage upsell opportunities, co-location and promotion opportunities.   This also shows the sold alone percentage so you can see item upsell efficiency.

Is Theft An Issue – This provides a in-depth visual overview of all the retailer audit log records by reason, number of occurrences by time day. This will assist in identifying staff theft/training issues that may need to be addressed within the business.

When Are We Busiest & Quietest –   This is a visual overview detect any quiet or peak times in your business by displaying over the week as well as detailed by hour

Reports Enhancements

As part of our upgrade to reporting we have significantly increased the performance and added addition properties to the following reports.

– Sales – Detailed Takings Report

– Sales – 10 x 10 Stock Item Analysis Report

– Sales – Stock Listing Report

– Stock – Supplier Stock Listing Report

– Stock – Write off Report

This update is the result of many man-months of software development work, testing, tracking results, adjusting, testing some more. It is a time consuming process that is rewarded with joy from our customers.

Friday advice for local small business retailers

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Making POS software is one thing. Helping local small business retailers leverage this for success in their businesses is another.

Tower Systems does this every day by going beyond the usual POS software training, by providing context for why this or that is done, bu explaining the business reason for data points and how they may or may not serve the needs of a business.

The new Insights Dashboard released recently in our POS software is an example of merging our business advice and support with awesome POS software to provide local retailers with easy and ready access to visually represented data they can leverage.

Showing a retailer opportunities lost could make a massive difference in a retail business. 

The Tower Systems POS software does this. It shows what a shop could have achieved has they had access to the stock that might have sold.

Showing a retailer possible theft situations could be revealing.

Too often small business retailers don’t catch theft early because they do not want to see it, they do not what to, for a second, think it could happen to them.

What’s not working?!

Stand in your shop and look around and ask yourself that question, ask what’s not working. What you see could be constrained buy how you view your business, by what you want to see. Software will not edit what it sees. The Tower Systems Insights Dashboard shows good and bad, it shows the truth, revealing what you need to know about the business. The what’s not working tab is revealing to the businesses we tested it on. Some were truly shocked to discover what they did not know about their business.

Good retail management is about making the right decisions for a business at the right time. This needs to be done without emotion, without fear, without bias. There is where good POS software can play a role and where the new Insights Dashboard is a true help for local retail businesses.

So, what’s our Friday advice for local small business retailers? Use your software, work it, leverage it, feed of the insights it provides. Revel in the facts is provides access to and make business decisions based on these facts. Doing this, rem moving emotions and feelings from plenty of the decisions you make in your retail business will make a difference.

How important in Australian made POS software to Australian retail businesses and Australia more broadly?

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Of course, we are biased. As an Australian POS software company we want to see Australian businesses thrive over overseas competitors, especially if their tax arrangements do a disservice to everyday Australians by minimising their contribution to government revenue.

But that aside, here is why we think Australian made POS software is important to local Australian retail; businesses and Australia more broadly

  1. Software is like storytelling. It helps retail businesses craft and serve their narrative. Local Aussie businesses craft and serve an Aussie narrative. Our software, being Australian made and supported, does this well, with focus. Software made overseas with have that focus – from simple terminology used through to retail strategic focus. retail is different country to country.
  2. Retail in Australia is different, especially small business local retail. Software from a big US company is less likely to have the focus a local retailer will want, less likely to care about that shop turning over $300K – $500K a year when the software company itself counts its revenue in hundreds of millions of dollars. Local retail is about personal service. here at Tower Systems where we only focus on local specialty retailers, we understand personal service too.
  3. Be heard. Retailers using the Tower Systems POS software have direct and easy access to our leadership team, to the top. It’s rare any POS software company offers this and even less so for big overseas POS software companies.
  4. Retail is changing. And, the nature of change and pace of change varies country to country. This further reinforces that the needs of Aussie retailers will vary to those of overseas retailers.
  5. Your voice matters. if you use software from a local Aussie software company you will matter more to them than if you use POS software from a massive overseas company. With the local company you can make suggestions that are more likely to make their way into the software.
  6. Local software companies support local skills development. Software programmers flourish from real world experience and there is nothing like a local Aussie software company for gaining this. We have seen this at Tower Systems many times over the years.
  7. Aussie taxes pay for education, health and infrastructure. Every dollar of revenue sent offshore diminishes the resources of federal and state governments.
  8. Because you care. If you want your shoppers to shop local, it starts with you and the purchase choice you make for your business.

We could go on since there are many reasons for local Aussie and Kiwi retail businesses to use local Aussie and Kiwi made and Aussie and Kiwi supported software in their businesses.

Tower Systems makes world-class specialty retail POS software for selected marketplaces. We are not offering POS software for everyone. If we’re not right for you, we will say so and wish you all the best. If we feel we are right for you, we will make an offer and 100% leave the choice to you to make, in your own time.

We are proud to be a local Aussie POS software company with our supported locally by people who understand d local Aussie and Kiwi retail.

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