The POS Software Blog

The POS Software Blog

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

CategoryPOS Software

Book a free POS software demonstration

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Book you own free demonstration of the Tower Systems POS software. See it live, in a demonstration of POS software featured tuned to your type of retail business.

Click here for your free POS software demonstration.

One of our skilled POS software sales professionals does the POS software demonstration for you, enabling you own use of the software as much as you would like through the demonstration.

Ask as many questions as you would like.

Go into any part of the POS software.

Use the data you prefer.

In this POS software demonstration you can see for yourself in the detail you wish exactly how this software does what it does in the areas of an y business that are of the most interest to you.

This is what a free POS software demonstration is all about … you and your business needs. You are in control, looking at how the software addressed your questions and needs. Just as it should be, since you are the customer, the person relying on the right decision being made.

Sometimes, our POS software is not right for a particular business. We would rather discover this, know this, so we can say sorry we are not right for you. Achieving that depends on what we are told and shown about the needs of a business. This is where a comprehensive demonstration of the POS software is important and why the retailer needs to be in control of the POS software demonstration.

We demonstrate our POS software every day to business owners, business managers, counter stand, accountants and IT consultants. We will demonstrate the POS software as much as someone wants in their decision making process. We 100% leave this up to them as they need to be satisfied that they are making the right decision for their business. It is why we want them to be in control.

A POS software demonstration by Tower Systems is free every time. Book your free POS software sales demo online through our website and one of our sales professionals will get back to you and organise it to suit your schedule.

We’re here to help and an open and transparent demonstration is the start of a good relationship.

Xero connected POS software helps small business retailers save time and cut mistakes

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The Tower Systems POS software integrated with Xero is a solid and beneficial solution for small business retailers. And a tech partner of Xero, Tower Systems has delivered a best practice Xero POS software solution, offering seamless, safe and accurate data flow between the two tech platforms, for the time and data accuracy benefit of small business retailers.

Our Xero POS software solution is well proven in many different retail situations. Best of all, we use it ourselves, in our own retail businesses. This first-hand experience helps us help our customers not only with awesome software but with operational advice on how the get the most out of the opportunity.

Using our Xero POS software integrated solution, retailers are able to connect Xero and the Tower POS software for easy data flow of sales,  product invoices, credits and more, eliminating the need for data entry, saving time and curing expensive data errors. These benefits are real, they are loved by small business retailers.

While we offer connectivity to MYOB and some Quicken related accounting software versions, Xero is the standard we see used in more small business retail situations. Our Xero POS software link has already been taken up by many to streamline business operations, reduce accounting and bookkeeping costs and provide more accurate and timely business performance data through the beautiful Xero accounting reporting.

On our POS software help desk we have folks skilled to offer guidance on using our direct Xero integration, to safely and securely connect our POS software to Xero, to open that data flow. We provide the software, training its use and helpful advice on making it work for you. We do this in plain English terms – i.e. not tech jargon.

The Xero integration designed by Tower Systems, working with the folks at Xero, makes it easy for small business retailers to cut accounting paperwork and thereby tap into time and money saving benefits.

We use our Xero integrated POS software ourselves, in our own shops. This enables us to provide practical advice on how to benefit the most from Xero and our POS software working together.

We are grateful to help small business retailers to reduce business accounting overheads and to reduce data errors through the POS Software Xero link we offer here at Tower Systems.

Multistore retail POS software helps small business retailers manage their businesses

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Tower Systems has for years offered a multistore POS software solution. Using this, our retail business customers have been able to use our multistore POS software to manage multiple retail locations centrally, with consistency and with a whole of business view without distracting from a local store level performance view.

We have retailers with 2 shipping using our multistore POS software solutions. That’s at the smaller end of the multistore marketplace. We have retailers with 15 and more retail outlets using our multistore POS software solution at the mid-size end of the multistage marketplace.

Using our multistore POS software solution, small business retailers can add more stores as their business model grows. Each store, draws off common inventory data. The stores run in the cloud, making managing them from a tech perspective easy and safe and fast.

We have used this software ourselves in a network of gift shops we had for years and used this personal experience with the software to fitness what it does, how it works and its usefulness as a business management solution.

This personal use of the software set us up for beneficial changes that have helped more retailers in the multistore retail situation.

Our software is made for independent small business retailers in Australia and New Zealand. The multistore version of the POS software continues to evolve, to be better at serving the needs of small business retailers, more useful at helping them manage inventory, customers and other data points across multiple retail locations. This includes loyalty, gift cards and more as you see in multistore business situations.

But like any POS software use consideration, take your time to ensure that this multistore software is suitable to your needs. It keeps evolving and this blog post does not represent what it may do today. Take a close look, be clear about your needs and see for yourself whether this POS software is good software for your multistore retail business management needs.

To find out more about the Tower Systems POS software, please email the sales team at sales@towerystems.com.au or take a look at our website, www.towersystems.com.au, for a look through each of the niche retail products we offer, to see if we might serve your specific business needs.

Australian POS software MYOB Retail Manager alternative

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With MYOB Retail Manger POS software at end of life in terms of development, enhancement and extension, Tower Systems has been helping small business retailers move to its fresh and alternative platform.

We help with new and fresh POS software that is being updated regularly, often based on customer suggestions and taking into account marketplace changes.

We also help with the transition from MYOB retail Manager to our POS software, bringing across the data we can, to facilitate seamless transition from MYOB retail Manager as much as possible.

Tower solution offers MYOB Retail Manager users an accounting software familiarity with back office accounting in its POS software integrated solution, through the OZBiz platform.

Retailers looking for a complete change to the accounting and retail business management solution cold consider the Tower Systems Xero POS software integration. Tower directly integrates with the Xero cloud based accounting solution. This is an integration that we use ourselves in our own retail businesses.

We have been told that Retail Manager by MYOB is approaching end of life – that is, no future development enhancement planned. This has led to a rush of queries from MYOB retail Manager users looking for a POS software alternative.

If this is the case, the Tower POS software solution is an alternativePOS software solution that we submit for consideration in any of the specialty retail channels in which we are well established. Like jeweller, garden centre, bike shop, toy shop, gift shop, newsagency, homewares shop, produce business, farm supply business, pet shop and more.

In terms of a small business accounting solution choice, Tower Systems walks an agnostic path, leaving that choice to retail business owners and those who advise them on accounting software requirements. That said, in our own shops, we use Xero.

Tower Systems offers stable, proven and respected POS software solutions for small business retailers. Stability is at the heart of our offer and day to day operation.

We offer MYOB retail Manager POS software customers a path for the future, POS software on which they can rely for in-store accounting, inventory and operational management in partnership with core accounting software.

We are happy to show our software to anyone considering this change, this transition from MYOB Retail Manager.

POS software for baby shops helps in-store and online sales

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We are grateful to offer POS software for baby shops, to help them run more enjoyable and successful businesses and to help them maximise online sales.

Using our POS software, baby goods retailers able able to serve their shoppers professionally, leveraging their knowledge and experience in a way that genuinely differentiates the business.

This is a win for local retailers and good news for suppliers who support local retailers.

Embedded in our baby shop POS softer are tools that help retailers to pass on information key to showing off their level of specialisation, that which differentiates them from big businesses.

Tower Systems serves baby shop retailers with POS software as well as with websites that are connected to POS software. We also work with baby shop suppliers to help them to bring to life digital connections between retailer and supplier, to reduce mistakes and improve the foundation of better business management.

Thanks to our work with a range of specialty baby goods suppliers and our experience connecting our baby shop POS software with baby goods websites, we can being to life for a local independent baby shop in-store and online sales experiences that help the business find and serve new customers.

Using our software, baby shops can offer a range of tools, through leveraging benefits such as these in the software:

  1. Baby shop stock management, including stone details.
  2. Club pricing: Helps you attract community group members, groups like new mothers groups and family groups.
  3. BOGO: Increase sales with buy this and get that bundling. This is perfect for maximising aunt, uncle and grandparent purchased gifts.
  4. Warranty: Track details and leverage this for customer service.
  5. Sell anywhere: Using our Retailer RoamTM sell anywhere app.
  6. Seasonal reordering: Reorder inventory based on seasonal sales.

For a few dollars a day:

  • Get rid of manual books at the counter for LayBys, special orders, stock you need to order and more.
  • Cut dead stock and re-order based on data facts.
  • Cut theft by knowing what is being stolen.
  • Eliminate LayBy and get you paid sooner with buy now pay later.
  • Make price comparison harder with bundled packs.
  • Easily and consistently pitch locally sourced products.
  • Drive community group member engagement with group pricing.
  • Get one-time-only shoppers spending more with loyalty tools.
  • Bring customers back with reminders on dates important to them.
  • Save money on bookkeeping by integrating with Xero.
  • Leverage your knowledge on receipts and elsewhere. Sell you.

We are grateful to help local and independent baby shops thrive.

POS software for key cutting businesses in Australia and New Zealand

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Our POS software is used in many unique retail and service business situations. We are grateful to discover its value as software for key cutting businesses.

We discovered this when a key cutting business looking for software discovered us by searching online. They looked at our POS software, tested it and installed it in their business. Their experience became our experience. We have learnt through them. And, now, we appreciate more key cutting businesses using our POS software.

It turns our that in our POS software that make it good POS software for key cutting businesses. From tracking customer orders, to handling special orders, to managing jobs, to inventory control to offering an online sales integration through Shopify and more, our software works for key cutting businesses.

Here’s a video we shot last week where we touch on some of the facilities in our key cutting software that serve these businesses well.

We especially like the integration of shopper engaging request details on a copy of the receipt, to bring structure to that request and thereby provide a job card for what is essential a simple and rapid-fulfil service.

By being able to track the mix of products and services sold and to report on this based on time, day, occasion and more, the key cutting business can adjust business settings to maximise the opportunity. This software offers terrific reporting to enable this.

Being a personal service, key cutting businesses benefit from sound business process structures. Our software can help encourage this, especially in small businesses where labour costs can be high. We can help a business manage this to be more beneficial for the business.

Our POS software for key cutting businesses will continue to evolve as we add more of these businesses to our customer community. With each new customer we learn more. We are grateful for this.

This year alone, in 2021, we have released five software updates. Each has enhancements suggested by our customers. They are inspiring as to the changing needs of retail.

Tower Systems is an Australian POS software company serving 3,500+ small business retailers across several specialty retail channels in Australia and New Zealand.  We only serve small businesses as their needs are specialty and we are a specialty POS software company.

Call or email to connect with one of our skilled sales people: sales@towersystems.com.au.

We’re not your usual POS software company…

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We’re not your usual POS software company. We own and run retail shops as well as online retail businesses. We are grateful and proud to share this video of part of the Christmas display at our newsXpress Southland store. This was live over a week ago. The shopper reaction already has been wonderful.

Having retail shops where we can experiment with the intersection of POS software tech enology and physical retail is helpful to our software business and our retail businesses.

POS software for kitchenware shops, made in Australia for local retailers

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We are grateful to serve plenty of kitchenware retailers with POS software for kitchenware shops. This software has evolved out of our specialty retail POS software in a range of other retail channels.

We discovered that their software makes for ideal POS software for kitchenware businesses.

A couple of days ago, we shot a short video in-house to explore some of the areas of this software for kitchenware businesses that are popular in that retail channel:

Kitchenware shops do have specialty needs beyond traditional retail. These unique needs are not well served by everyday basic POS software and that’s why specialty POS software is ideal for serving the needs of these specialty retail businesses.

Embedded in our kitchenware POS software are facilities they can leverage such as the loyalty tools that feed into the unique nature of what they sell and the frequency with which those items are purchased. Using the right levers, kitchenware retailers can bring shoppers back to the business more frequently than may be usual.

The software also helps kitchenware businesses to track occasions, another important part of the kitchenware shop shopper mix. Tracking engagement, wedding, anniversary, new home and other life events enables the businesses to serve these needs, learn what is selling and to invite those shoppers back for more specifying opportunities.

Our POS software is loaded with tools like these that local kitchenware shops can leverage, to differentiate their businesses and to deliver value to the business and those who rely on the business.

This software is about bringing stocking and certain management to the business through proven business practices supported by the software.

More broadly, the EDI tools are terrific for helping retailers to easily and accurately import electronic invoices and electronic stock files from suppliers. This saves time and cuts mistakes. Add to that, the data feed to Xero through a partnership integration whereby sales data flows – also eliminating data entry and cutting mistakes.

Tower Systems is grateful to serve kitchenware shops with this POS software. If you would like to see the software, please call or email: sales@towersystems.com.au. We can do this one-on-one or with your team, including those you rely on for advice. We can also record the demonstration so that you can see it again, after the demonstration to be sure of what you have seen.

POS software for audio businesses including car audio

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Here at Tower Systems, we are grateful to offer POS software for audio businesses and POS software for car audio businesses.

We have found that our specialty jeweller and bike shop POS software solution serves the needs of audio businesses, offering a sweet audio shop software solution.

Using our audio shop POS software, audio shops have access to a range of facilities that were developed;oped for other specialty retail but have been found to work for these unique businesses in the HiFi / audio retail and service space.

Here is a short video that we shot 2 days ago in which we discuss some of the specialty facilities in our software for audio retailers.

Using our POS software, audio and car audio businesses can track sales, facilitate online sales through the Magento and Shopify links and manage the repairs services that may be offered in-store as well as outside of the business.

It is the ability in the software to price and sell bundles of products, the capacity to sell things in fractions as well as the options for connecting with suppliers electronically for invoice and stock files.

All these and more facilities in the Tower Systems POS software for audio businesses are part of the software. By that we mean they aren’t through external tools we connect to. The software itself is rich in function and tools that we are thrilled to discover serve the needs of audio, car audio and HiFi businesses.

Being an Australian company, we are thrilled to be able to serve local Aussie businesses. We believe in local retail, especially small business local retail as it is these businesses that best serve the needs of local communities.

Our audio business POS software is capable thanks to its specialty nature. The video we share here in the blog post covers a small amount of the features in the software. The best way to discover more is for a comprehensive demonstration that is tailored to your specific business needs.

Tower Systems serves 3,500+ retail businesses around Australia and New Zealand. We make what we sell. This is our software, self-contained software. We also like to wonderfully useful tools, too, such as Xero, Tyro, Shopify, Magento and more.

To consider is we might be a solution for your business, please contact out sales team. You can call or email: sales@towersystems.com.au.

Australian made and supported POS software for baby shops

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Tower Systems is grateful that more baby shops are choosing its POS software. This Aussie made and supported POS software is proving to be ideal for help baby shop owners and managers run their businesses.

The baby shop POS software has what people running these businesses are looking for.

Here is a video we shot a few days ago in which we look at this POS software for baby shops and consider it along with the Shopify website connection for easily selling baby clothes and gifts online. Take a look at the software and hear us talk about how our POS software for baby shops can serve this specialty retail need.

As the video demonstrates, our POS software is flexible and capable. Thanks to advice from retailers, we know it works as POS software for baby shops. Also, it continues to evolve with many enhancement suggestions coming from customers sharing their experiences and helping us see new opportunities for the use of the software.

Given the journey young parents embark on, it is the tracking and follow-up opportunities served by the software that can help a retail business leverage the value of a longer term relationship with their shoppers.

In offering our POS software for baby shops, we are helping to bring commercial focus and certainty to these locally owned and run retail businesses. Our goal is to help them be more successful and competitive, especially against big businesses and offshore businesses selling into our local communities.

The more we in small business can work together to deliver better outcomes for local small retail businesses the better for the community and all who rely on our businesses. There is no doubt that local retail businesses are able to deliver a more useful and nuanced local product and service experience through which they can differentiate and grow. This is where we can help local baby shops using our POS software.

Our POS software for baby shops is capable and suitable, able to help these specialty retail businesses to serve well, professionally and thoroughly. This is what specialty POS software looks like.

Tower Systems serves more than 3,500 small business retail shops around Australia and New Zealand. We only serve independent small businesses. This keeps us focussed in service of local small business retail.

POS

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POS stands for Point of Sale. It’s an acronym. Computer people love acronyms.

POS, or Point of Sale, usually refers to POS software, Point of Sale software, software used in retail … you guessed it, at the point of sale.

Some people call it Point of Sales, but they are mistaken, it’s Point of Sale.

Tower Systems is a POS software company. We make POS software for specialty retailers in Australia and New Zealand.

Our POS software integrates with Shopify for seamless online sales.

Our POS software integrates with Tyro for seamless fast and safe EFTPOS processing.

Our POS software integrates with Xero for easier and more accurate bookkeeping.

Our POS software integrates with Magento for easy online selling.

Our POS software integrates with WooCommerce for low cost easy online selling.

Our POS software integrates with Linkly (PCeftpos) for EFTPOS with the major banks.

Our POS software integrates with OzBiz that connects stores with MYOB.

Our POS software integrates with with many suppliers and many other useful tools that serve small business retailers.

Using our POS software, small business retailers can transact sales at the point of sale. They can also manage their businesses through data gathered by the software, they can. plan, make decisions and look to the future.

Tower Systems offers POS software that goes beyond the POS, software that helps small business retailers compete locally as well as online.

We only sell to small businesses because we prefer to work with them, to strengthen them, that big businesses.

Being a local POS software company matters to small business retailers because it means that their support for us supports the local economy. It also means that our people will understand their local business needs. Offshore help desk people will struggle with local retailer needs and local nuances.

So, we like to support local retailers because local retailers support us. This is the circular relationship that is good for the local economy, of which we are a part.

Our POS software does not stand still. It is updated regularly, often every 6 to 8 weeks, with our customers in control as to when they update the software. They are iin control,. which small business retailers like.

We are grateful for our customers and the opportunities they present us with.

POS software for sewing shops and haberdashery shops

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Tower Systems is grateful to offer its Australian designed and made POS software to sewing shops and retailers of sewing machines and supplies for sewers … POS software for haberdashery businesses.

Several sewing goods retailers have shown us how our POS software is suitable for the needs of these businesses. From handling special orders, to serial number tracking, to repairs management to selling by fractions, it turns out our POS software is good for sewing businesses and sewing machine and goods retailers.

Here is a video we made last week in which we discuss our POS software for sewing shops and demonstrate some of its facilities.

It is our work in similar specialty retail channels such as bike shops, jewellers and similar that has seen us develop tools and facilities in our POS software that works for sewing shops. We are so happy to be able to serve these businesses.

Since we make our own POS software, we are able to evolve the software to serve evolving needs, and we are able to fine-time our support of the software to ensure that it serves the needs of sewing shops and related businesses that decide the software is a good fit for their needs.

Take the selling of items by decimals or fractions. This is how fabric is sold. We make it easy and accurate. We even handle pricing that can vary based on the length of a fabric purchased. In other words, play less per metre the more you buy. This is handled by the software based on the settings created by those running the sewing shop.

Plenty of POS software solutions do not handle selling items by decimals or fractions.

We are not saying that our software is perfect for any sewing shop. That decision must 100% be up to those making the POS software decision in the business. We will demonstrate the software and answer questions, so that the necessary assessments can be made, to determine if our Tower Systems POS software is a good fit for the needs of a sewing business.

Our POS software for sewing shops and sewing machine businesses is already in use. We have people to whom we can refer. It is their innovation that set us on this path. Hence, our gratefulness.

To see the Tower Systems software first hand, please contact us direct. Email is good at sales@towersystems.com.au.

We make, sell and support our POS software.

AC/DC box coin set from the Royal Australian Mint going off!

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We built the Mint Coin Shop for newsXpress to sell coins from the Royal Australian Mint online. Today, they launched a very special AC/DC commemorative box set, which includes an exclusive mint coin. here is a video showing off what is in this AC/DC coin box set.

We are grateful for the role we have played in bringing the AC/DC coin set to Aussie AC/DC fans and to do so through a Shopify site connected with our POS software.

newsXpress partners with the Royal Australian Mint with more than 100 locally owned newsXpress stores selling coins, including the AC/DC box set.

Tower Systems serves 3,500+ small business retailers with specialty POS software.

Practical advice for small business retailers in going online with a POS software connected website

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We received an online order recently in one of our shops at 1:33pm worth $800.00. It was one of 12 online orders for that business that totalling $1,800 in value.

Each one of these orders was a pre-order – fully paid for up front for stock that is another week away from arriving in-store and two months away from being paid for by us.

The specific products are not relevant as what we share below could apply to plenty of products and product categories. What we have done in this two and a half year old suburban high street business is what anyone could do and what we know some retailer colleagues are doing to win online sales.

  1. Create your online presence as a start-up business. Our recommendation is that you not take your existing shop online under your existing shop’s branding.
  2. Choose a product niche or category that is sought after, that is being searched for. This could be a brand, a licence, an end use or some other segmentation that makes sense to the shopper.
  3. Look for brands and categories people could be loyal to for some time.
  4. Source key suppliers. Preference suppliers who might work with you on geographically exclusive items.
  5. Register a domain and business name that speaks to the shopper for the chosen category.
  6. Develop your approach to packaging and shipping, remembering that this process has to be delivered as a brand extension. Add value here and you will bring them back.
  7. Create a site that serves the shopper.
  8. Include on the website unique knowledge / information that lifts you up as an expert in the product category field.
  9. Include a chat facility on the site, so you can answer questions from people who do not want to email or call with their queries.
  10. Create a separate Facebook page to support the website. Regularly feed contact to that page, content specifically for that page.
  11. Ask your suppliers to link to your website and appreciate them for any promotion they offer on their social media pages.
  12. Search out other social media pages that reach your target shopper and engage with those communities.
  13. Email shoppers, appreciating their business. Find ways to remain connected with them as this connection can help bring them back.

The first step revenue goal with online for any business entering that space has to be 5% (or less) of total revenue. Once there, the next goal is 10%, then 15% and so on. Goals are important.

Treat your online business as a start up. Manage it as such. Embrace mistakes and failures as they are the foundation bricks to success – cliché yes, but true.

  • Do you have to stock in your shop products you sell online? No. We say this as many retailers think the answer is yes. Seriously, think of your online business as a start up – doing this frees you to be more open to what you sell.
  • Can I put my existing shop online though? Of course. It’s 100% up to you.
  • Isn’t shipping hard? Offer what enough people want and shipping can be resolved by building it into the price or you looking at online as cream sales, sales from which you can give up some margin.

Our POS  software company develops websites for small business retailers. While what we have written here does relate to the online success at my high street shop, it is the same advice we provide all retailers who contact Tower Systems querying about website development.

Tower Systems helps small business retailers who are working from home

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We are grateful to be able to continue to help small business retailers who are working from home or who have some of their team working from home.

Due to compromised health situations, local movement restrictions and other factors, there are still many people working from home.

The help we are providing in these circumstances varies from free, no cost, access to additional software licences, easy access to an awesome cloud based data insights platform from us as well as access to our Retailer RoamTM sell from anywhere POS software solution.

Add to these tangible software benefits our on-going unlimited training offer, we are helping small business retailers where they are, helping them to run successful businesses without having to leave their businesses. We are thankful to our own team members for the work they do every day to hell our customers in these ways, to run their businesses remotely, thereby minimising the impact of Covid on their businesses.

Helping small business retailers work from home also includes helping them to sell online. We are doing this through a beautiful and seamless link to Shopify and the creation of beautiful Shopify sites on a fixed price basis. Our POS software connected Shopify solutions have seen small business retailers connect with more shoppers from outside their usual catchment area. It is a thrill to see.

Other help we are providing small business retailers who work from home is easy access to our local help desk resources. This is through our expanded help desk team – we have added two more people to this team, two new hires in the last 2 months. We are grateful to be in a position to need to too this – thanks to terrific growth in our customer base.

We think the work from home situation is here for the long term. Our support for it is long term. We arenhelp to help small business retailers to work from home, and their team members.

Our small business POS software is flexible in this regard, helpful to these businesses with people working from home.

2020 has been a wonderful year of learning for us, delivering wonderful insights and providing excellent opportunities. Working from home is one of them. We appreciate being able to help.

Tower Systems releases POS software update

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We have move to beta an update to our POS software for small business retailers. This latest update has been made available to customers following comprehensive testing, including beta release, to ensure it is stable and capable.

Developed in consultation with many of our POS software users, this latest update includes enhancements suggested and voted on by them – through a transparent process in which all customers can engage.

The update also releases Tabcorp Connect, a platform for connecting our POS software to data collected through the sale of lottery products on behalf of Tabcorp’s TheLott. This integration work has been delivered as another integration solution from Tower Systems. It is in addition to direct integrations already delivered by the company for:

  • Tyro.
  • ZipPay.
  • ZipMoney.
  • Humm.
  • Specialised. FlyBys NZ.
  • PayPal.
  • All major Aussie banks.
  • Xero.
  • Shopify.
  • Magento.
  • WooCommerce.
  • Scales.
  • Fuel dispensing.

… and more.

Tower Systems customers can choose when they want the update.

Rent POS software and reserve cashflow in small business retail

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Retailers are loving that they can rent the POS software from Tower Systems without having to pay to own the software.

Tower Systems introduced rental as an option over a year ago, in 2019, with the daily cost sitting at a few dollars a day for most marketplaces.

POS software gently is every 30 days with no long-term contract lock-in. Customers can end their rental through the month, prior to the start of the next month.

This provides small business retailers flexibility and ease of access.

There is no finance check, no debt check, no finance agreement. POS software rental is easy and fast to organise. Rental can be stopped. It can also be paused in the need arises.

This is a cash flow beneficial solution for small business retailers, enabling them to preserve capital for other purposes in the business.

By renting the Tower Systems POS software, small business retailers have access to, at no extra cost:

  • Software updates. These are released regularly and offer an evolutionary path for the software.
  • The opportunity to propose software enhancements. There is a public forum through which this is done, where all users can vote on suggestions.
  • Software help desk support. This is office based and staffed by humans who know the software well.
  • After hours support. This covers you for those urgent situations.
  • An online knowledgeable with more than 600 articles advising how to use the software.
  • Software training videos. Our top subjects are covered on easily accessed videos – learn at your own pace.
  • Group training workshops. These are on topics our customers suggest.
  • One on one training after the system is installed and initial training provided.
  • Theft check service.
  • Backup check service.

All of these facilities as well as the software itself are bundled into the low 30 day rental cost.

Making POS software rental even more appealing is that there is no cap on the number of terminals on which the software is used in a business. A shops cold run 7 terminals and the low cost per day is the same as it would be if they were running it on one terminal. This is another differentiator for Tower Systems and its POS software rental arrangements.

Tower Systems is grateful to serve customers in a diverse spread of retail business channels. It only services locally owned independent small business retailers.

5 unique ways the POS software from Tower Systems helps small business retailers

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Not all POS software is the same. Thank goodness for that! There are companies, like Tower Systems, that invest in creating unique POS software to serve niche needs of specialty retailers. In doing this, for example, for jewellers, we have created facilities that serve the needs of other specialty retail channels.

No, not all POS software is the same. There is generic, off the shelf and, then, there is specialty POS software for specialty retailers.

Here are 5 unique ways the POS software from Tower Systems helps small business retailers to run more successful and enjoyable businesses:

  1. A no overhead, easily understood and sales driving loyalty solution that you can turn on in seconds and have delivering sales results today. This is smart loyalty, innovative and designed for today’s shopper. It does not leverage legacy loyalty that shoppers are sick of and that supermarkets continue to use.
  2. Seamless online with easy flowing inventory detail and image data between the POS software and Shopify thanks to smart and engaging integration for in-store, online and click and collect sales supported by many payment options including several buy now pay later options.
  3. Sell anywhere thanks to Retailer RoamTM, the on the road POS solution from the shop floor, at local markets, from a truck or from the roadside. This innovative, cloud based, solution is smart, engaging and ready for the new normal of 2020 and beyond.
  4. An access from anywhere insights platform that is your own personal business insights tool, shining a light on a pathway of data that reveals insights into your business andkopens you to considering opportunities ahead.
  5. A leverage-me platform that allows you to leverage intellectual property unique to your business, through which you can pitch your knowledge to shoppers and thereby differentiate your offer over the offers of others operating in a similar marketplace. This is a genuinely differentiating opportunity as it is about you.

In the POS software from Tower Systems retailers have access to many opportunities, many more than the 5 listed here, opportunities through which the businesses can more efficiently operate and can reach more new traffic shopper opportunities.

It’s all about business growth for growth is the lifeblood of any retail situation. Pursuing this consistently and professionally through the POS software is key to success in 2020 and beyond.

5 steps guaranteed to cut theft in any retail business

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Theft in retail costs more than money or goods taken. There is an emotional cost, which can play into an impact on business management.

In our work with thousands of independent retail businesses we have tuned a list of actions that we see work well in cutting theft in retail.

  1. Spot stock take. Allocate time daily to spot check stock on hand. We suggest 15 to 20 minutes a day to different areas of the shop could reveal customer theft challenges. Spot stock takes are fast, easy and guide data accuracy. Most important, they reveal theft.
  2. Track everything you sell. The moment a retailer does not track stock that comes in and goes out of a business is the moment the retailer takes their eye off the ball and allow people who till steal to steal. While it sounds boring, managing stock is key early identification of theft, especially employee theft.
  3. Eliminate manual handling of data. Every time data is handled manually you create a weakness that a thief can exploit. For example, if sales data do not flow automatically from your POS to your accounting software, there can be an opportunity for someone handling cash to skim prior to banking. From receiving inventory invoices electronically to scanning everything you sell to a direct connection between your POS and your accounting software, like Xero, every keystroke eliminated is potential theft avoided.
  4. Look under the hood at keystroke patterns. Smart POS software will maintain, in a secret location and under appropriate security data that could reveal misbehaviour by staff as part of a systematic theft program. This type of analysis has uncovered the deletion of sales to enable the removal of cash from a til by an employee stealing from the business.
  5. Surprise moves like roster changes, spot checks in-store, mid-day cash-outs and more can break a pattern and make it difficult for anyone who seeks to leverage a consistent pattern to engage in theft. We know of one case where the rubbing bins were emptied an hour earlier than usual and by someone who does not usually do this work and in doing so a roll of notes was found, which led to long-term theft discovery.

Theft hurts retail businesses in many ways. Independent retailers can cut the cost of theft by following steps like those outlined here.

Tower Systems works with small business retailers using its POS software to help them cut employee and customer theft. We have provided expert help to police and prosecutors. We have people in our business who have been used as expert witnesses in court cases.

We are committed to helping small business retailers cut employee and customer theft. Every Tower customer has access to a free theft check service.

It’s great to see small business retailers growing revenue in Covid impacted 2020

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Many small business retailers are enjoying double-digit growth in their businesses, in the middle of the challenges of Covid, contrary to the negative reports we are reading and hearing from plenty of media outlets.

We are heading about the growth from small business retailers using our POS software. Not all are growing, but many are.

The growth in small business retailers is happening in a range of retail channels: newsagents, garden centres, pet shops, toy shops, produce businesses and more.

The retail sales growth is especially evident in small business retailers located on the high street as well as in rural and regional locations. 

Shopping centre businesses are certainly challenged, due to traffic issues.

We mention this, again, today to reflect that there is plenty of good news in the small business retailer world right now, good news that speaks to businesses that are growing – some because of fortune, some because of good moves by the business owners and some that are a mixture of these two and other factors.

The challenge for retailers that are growing in the middle of Covid is whether they discuss this. Retailers we have spoken with are reluctant to speak about it because they do not want to come across as gloating about their good times compared to the awful times others are experiencing.

We’d love more retailers who are experiencing good times to share their good news stories as this could help show others paths that they could take. The good news could also push back against the news media narrative that is, we think, too much based on stories of doom and gloom.

There is no doubt that being online is key to success in this Covid world. Being online representing your existing business as well as representing new product opportunities through which you are seeking to attract shoppers you have not served previously through your business. This is the Covid pivot people speak of, the turn a business makes to attract people they have not attracted previously.

Tower Systems itself has evolved trough Covid, working online more, being more connected through Zoom, Microsoft teams, using our CRM system and leveraging other commercial tech. platforms through which we can be with our customers every day in ways that are useful for them, serving their needs in a timely and professional manner.

POS software helps small business retailers through COVID-19

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The POS software from Tower Systems is helping small business retailers through COVID-19. It is doing this through flexible facilities, which are backed by easy access to training.

Retailers are leveraging the POS software to help them pivot in response to what they are seeing in their communities as COVID-19 impacts are better understood.

Small business retailers are using the POS software to pivot in myriad ways including:

  • Moving online.
  • Taking on new product categories.
  • Adding more services.
  • Offering safe click and collect.
  • Offering home delivery.
  • Bundling products for more efficient shop[ping.
  • Including COVID-19 care and advice information with products.
  • More carefully tying the business needs to match changed shopper engagement.
  • Dealing with suppliers remotely and ordering based on sales history.
  • Trading contactless.
  • Operating a secondary business online that leverages the physical space in a different product category.

COVID-19 has challenges many retail businesses and those that have done best have embraced change, embraced opportunities revealed through change. The POS software from Tower Systems has tools and facilities that help small business retailers with this.

If we have learnt one thing from 2020 it is that what you think may happen is unlikely to happen. hence, the need to have POS software that allows the retail business to respond to change, to pivot.

Tower Systems backs these facilities up with personal one on one training for its POS software customers. We help them understand their options and then to implement these through the software, to help retailers make the most of the road in front of them.

This is smart POS software but for specialty retailers in the independent small business retail space.

We see the changes continuing, into 2021, with retail being different, forever changed in some areas and in some marketplaces. This is where the flexibility of our software, from our service across multiple marketplaces, comes into play. It is what helps us help the retail business today be a cafe tomorrow and something else down the road. We can do this without the business having to purchase additional software.

We are grateful to serve small business retailers in this way.

While 2020 is challenging;loenging, it is also exhilarating and exciting for what we have learned and how we have evolved.

DOS POS software died many years ago

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We used to develops sell and support DOS POS software. For many years, in fact. However, it is more than twenty years since we last sold it. Yes, DOS POS software was dead in the late 1990s.  It was old tech enology then, out of date, flawed and not suitable for modern businesses then.

We can’t imagine any retail business using DOS POS software today, not in 2020 with so many smart business needs, interconnectivity needs, integration needs. DOS POS software could not keep up with the needs of today.

From 1981 through to the mid to late 1990s our DOS POS software was terrific, suitable and evolving. However, in the mid 1990s when we started building our Windows based POS software, we knew that ur DOS POS software mould end, that it would be sold no more. Such is the evolution of software development.

Knowing when to lay softer to rest is a skill, important to software companies and important to users of POS software.

We knew in the mid to late 1990s that DOS POS software had no future given the then emerging opportunities for small retailers beyond the traditional. That is when the generational shift of Windows POS software for small business retailers came into play.

While we supported the old DOS POS software and never forced anyone to shift, the software itself did not evolve. It had reached end of life in that sense. We helped our customers and made sure they were protected and we offer an easy path to the new Windows based POS software.

Today, we look back on the days of DOS with a fondness, just as we look back on our Apple II+ days and our old CP/M days. These are nostalgic thoughts. But, our focus is on what 2021 and beyond bring for our software as well evolve into new areas, delivering to retailers facilities built with new technology.

This year has been exciting. Next year will be even more so for reasons people will see emerge.

In the meantime, we are thankful for the DOS POS memories and grateful that we left that world when we did.

5 things any small business retailer can do to today increase the value of their business.

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We are not your usual POS software company. The advice in this email is an example of advice we provide beyond what’s usual for a POS software co. Here are practical ways we help small business retailers…

5 things any retailer can do to today increase the value of their business.

  1. Quit dead stock. This topic is considered by many to be a snooze. In our POS software we make it easy to identify dead stock. Helping one business, they thought they had around $5,000 in dead stock. We listed for them the $17,500 in dead stock. They were shocked and acted immediately, freeing cash and space for innovation.
  2. Cut the cost of theft. Cutting theft starts with detecting it. In a hidden part of our software we have tracking tools that let you see what is not obvious. We have worked with police and prosecutors on employee theft cases. Business owners can access these tools too.
  3. Offer real loyalty rewards. While many retailers jumped on the points bandwagon, supermarkets and others ruined them for everyone. One of our customers implemented this advice and added $15,000 in gross profit in the first year for no capital investment. Our discount vouchers (you can call them whatever you like) change the conversation, they actively drive shopper visits and purchases. You can bank on the results. Setup takes less than 5 minutes. Customer engagement can be immediate.
  4. Sell you. Often in specialty retail businesses it is your knowledge that separates you from others. You can encode that in your POS software, for products, so that your advice is provided to customers when they purchase. Your knowledge can bring people back to your business.
  5. Cut overheads. Every activity eliminated can save time and cut mistakes.
    1. Electronic invoices from suppliers can be loaded in seconds.
    2. Linking to Xero eliminates bookkeeping activity and provides faster access to an accurate P&L.
    3. Linking to Shopify or your website cuts double handling of data.
    4. Integrated EFTPOS customers mistakes.
    5. Sell anywhere improves efficiency.

Small steps matter.

The most sustained success in small business retail is the many small steps you can take that combine to provide for valuable sustained success.

The five suggestions in this email are small steps, low cost steps, they can be a valuable foundation for making a business more valuable.

Beyond these 5, there are many more benefits for small business retailers using the Tower Systems  specialty POS software for speciality retailers.

Our software is made locally for local retailers.

See our software live.

See all this and more in an obligation-free demonstration via video link. Email us at sales@towersystems.com.au.

POS software for organic produce businesses

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More and more organic produce retailers are choosing the POS software from Tower Systems for managing their organic produce businesses.

The organic business POS software from Tower Systems has facilities that serve the needs of organic produce retailers well. Using this Aussie developed and supported POS software, organic produce businesses  can easily:

  1. Sell by weight thanks to government approved scale integration.
  2. Sell by fractions.
  3. Sell by bundles: singles, 4, 8, 8, 12 or a box – you choose.
  4. Bulk food sales are easy.
  5. Managing making your own goods is easy with multiple raw materials combining to create new product.
  6. Include product use and product care information on receipts.
  7. Reorder based on sales – tracing current sales to inform tomorrow’s purchases.
  8. Include product source information on receipts and product labels.
  9. Focus on locally sourced products and shine a light on this consistently.
  10. Sell on the road, at markets and elsewhere easily using our Retailer Roam App.
  11. Link direct for fast EFTPOS processing.
  12. Link to Xero and reduce bookkeeping costs.
  13. Receive electronic invoices from suppliers.
  14. Link to Shopify for online sales.
  15. Leverage local community groups with club and similar pricing.
  16. Special customer orders are easy with the software letting customers know when your order is in.
  17. Sell by scanning items or using a touchscreen – that you lay out to your needs.
  18. Use TAGS to easily group items by sales season, special interest and other criteria that could be useful to you in managing the business.

This organic business POS software is flexible beyond traditional thanks to the Tower Systems work across a range of specialty retail channels. We leverage knowledge and experience from them to create better software for each.

We are grateful for opportunities to demonstrate our POS software for organic produce retailers, to show as much detail as wanted, to offer the opportunity for retailers to determine for themselves if our software serves their needs.

Tower Systems serves more than 3,000 specialty retailers in Australia and New Zealand. We only sell to independent retailers, maintaining our focus on the small business end of commerce.

We make what we sell. This gives us control over the product and through this we continue to evolve the software and the services that support it.

With organic product businesses growing, Tower Systems is grateful for the opportunity to serve and be part of this growth.

See this software made for toy shops in a live online demo: please call 1300 662 957 or email sales@towersystems.com.au.

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