CategoryPOS Software

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.

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.

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 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.

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, 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 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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Helping local retailers, independent retailers, small business retailers shine is core to our mission here at Tower Systems. We love seeing local retail businesses thrive for when they thrive their community thrives. This is what local small retail is all about: community.

Our Tower Systems POS software helps local retailers shine in a bunch of ways including:   

• Tailored for specialty retail: Our POS software is designed specifically for independent and specialty retailers, offering features relevant to various retail niches like fashion, gifts, toys, and more.   
• Empowering tools: The software provides tools and training to help retailers thrive, focusing on profitability and efficiency.   
• Streamlined processes: It simplifies time-consuming tasks like stock management, ordering, and sales tracking.   
• Enhanced customer experience: Features like self-checkout options and loyalty programs help retailers compete with larger businesses.
• Accessible support: Tower Systems offers one-on-one training, a comprehensive knowledge base, and easy access to human support.   
• Focus on local: The company prioritizes serving local businesses and understands the importance of community.   
• Continuous improvement: Tower Systems regularly updates its software based on customer feedback and industry trends.   

Best of all, we help local small business retailers be local by sharing local knowledge, helpful product information considering the local situation, supporting local community groups and being personal in service in the business, through the POS software.

This ability for retailers to support local community groups is a differentiator for us. Imaging leveraging all the members of a local community group to support your retail business and to support their community group all at the same time. This is a true engagement with and for the community, through your local retail business. And, this can all be done through our POS software.

By focusing on these areas, Tower Systems helps local retailers improve their operations, enhance customer experience, and ultimately shine in their communities.

We believe that technology should empower local retailers to strengthen their connections within their communities, and that’s what we strive to deliver.

The best way to encourage local retailers to support your local business is to actively be local. In our POS software we offer plenty of ways you can do this, genuinely, for mutual benefit.

This video is on a customer meeting we hosted yesterday at Tower Systems. See the latest AI tools integrations in our POS software and watch as we engage with customers and prospects answering quetsions and exploring the benefits of AI tools in our POS software.