The cloud backup service offered by Tower Systems to its small business retailer customers is best practice, offering the ultimate in protection for our customers.
The features of the service include:
Whole of PC backup. This is crucial.
Local copy storage.
Cloud based storage in a secure independent server farm location.
Speedy recovery back to a selected data.
Certainty over the management of the processes.
No user triggered backup activity required.
While there are free cloud based backup services, when it comes to protecting your business data a free service is most likely not the best.
Your business data needs to be treated with the respect it deserves.
Retailers using our small business POS software are voting on changes to the software. We launched this initiative, Software Ideas, years ago and remain as committed today as we were at launch. We appreciate the active engagement of our customers in suggesting enhancements and those in voting for enhancements.
Software Idease is unique, transparent and engaging for our customers. Every idea is responded to in a transparent way. We are thrilled to be able to do this for our customers and are grateful for the opportunity for this dialogue. The result is better, user driven, software.
This engagement focuses our attention.
It is hard work to create and manage a public facing portal for customer change suggestion. That we are still doing this years on and that it is appreciated by so many of our customers is a delight.
This is another example of Tower Systems living up to its promises. We appreciate the point of difference we are able to demonstrate.
Plenty of retailers using our Tower Systems POS software got together with us today at the Mercure Hotel for a POS software user meeting and networking session. In addition to covering new facilities and delivering appreciated training, we also connected with prospective users keen for a new solution.
From our side at the Canberra session we had our software development manager, COO, national sales manager and CEO all present and engaged in the session.
We had a terrific POS software user meeting in Sydney today, at the Novotel in Homebush. There was an excellent business building discussion around loyalty options – selecting what is right for your specific circumstances. This discussion was in addition to training on the latest release.
Having the leadership team of the company at these sessions is proving to be appreciated by our customers. It demonstrates our commitment to excellent customer service.
With the end of the financial year approaching in New Zealand, Tower Systems has schedule a series of EOFY training specific for our NZ customers. The idea was suggested by a customer a few weeks ago and we loved it so we put together content for a live online workshop and have now announced dates to our NZ customers. Click here to access these are other free online training sessions by Tower Systems.
This is another example of listening to customers and working with them to help them get more value from their IT investment in our POS software.
We have used MYOB, Quick Books and xero in retail businesses we operate. It is this experience with all three from a bookkeeping through to a finalized accounts perspective that has helped us reach a view that xero is the best solution.
Each professional position in our company agrees from bookkeeper to management to our in-house CPA. xero is the best accounting solution for small business retailers.
There is an ease of use backed by excellent support as well as an easy and direct integration between our POS software and xero that helps us save time and money.
Retailers using xero can see this for themselves.
So this is how we came to our preference, our recommendation, through our own experience on a range of levels.
While our software supports MYOB, Quick Books and xero, our experience with xero is roe complete and our integration more direct. It is an integration tested and endorsed by xero, something the company gives out only after it is satisfied.
The above commentary from us aside, xero don’t just connect with any POS software company. They check out the business and their software. They research whether they want to partner with a business. I am aware they say no, that they reject proposals of integration. That we are integrated is a valuable point of difference for us.
Wow! We had a terrific meeting with Brisbane area customers using our POS software today. There were plenty of questions that drove some terrific business discussions. The networking between small business retailers is certainly a valuable part of these sessions.
Free for all our customers, these sessions are wonderfully educational for customers and for us. Out of today we have picked up some terrific ideas for further enhancing the software.
Tower Systems is proud to be connecting with customers in this way. We are grateful to our customers for their support.
Today’s Brisbane sessions one of several for Queensland users this round as well as a range of online sessions for those in remote locations.
For many years the Tower Systems POS software has permitted security settings based on the role of an employee in the business. This approach gives the retail business owners complete control over who has access to what function or report in the software. It allows retail business owners to be as open or as locked-down as they wish.
While we provide advice and guidance on appropriate security settings, what retailers establish and the passwords they use are ultimately their choice.
When it comes to password advice, for security, we only provide this to business owners.
Our software is like any tool: capable of being used well or poorly depending on the choices made by those using it.
Early in 2016 Tower Systems added two new developers to its software development team. This has enhanced our capacity and our skill base and this is being reflected in what we are delivering for our customers.
This weekend at the Reed Gift Fair in Sydney we will be showing off new software, outside of the traditional POS software space, software that dramatically enhances the value small business retailers can harvest from their businesses.
This new software is a game changer. If you are attending the Reed Gift Fair, ask to see the new software we are launching.
While POS software co Tower Systems has offered web store access through its smart POS software, the new direct Magento link takes the web store facilities to a new level.
The Tower link with Magento is direct, through a partnership link between the Tower software and Magento.
Prior to releasing the POS software / magento link on the market, Tower Systems created several-commerce sites using the Magento link and these have been running for more than six months. Today the company and has supports live direct link e-commerce sites in a range of retail channels covering a range of products and services. These sites are live commerce sites the company can take prospective clients to, to show the link live in action, so people can see this smart software working for themselves.
The link is powerful yet easy to setup and maintain. The Tower development team has ensured this as the focus user is the typical small business retailer with little resource or appetite to become an IT expert.
Retailers including garden centres, jewellers, bike shops, newsagents, gift shops, homewares shops, book shops, toy shops and produce stores can use this link to help their businesses transact accurately and professionally online. Tower Systems helps with terrific software for the brick and mortar retail business as well as the link to the website. The company can facilitate the whole of business service, as far as the retail customer may want.
It is our contact with Magento in the US well over a year ago that set the path for what we offer small business retailers in Australia and New Zealand today. By going our and undertaking research into best practice overseas, Tower Systems made itself aware of what retailers liked and what they wanted from website links from their POS software, the company then set about developing, testing and delivering this into the marketplace.
With plenty of reference sites now for the Magento link and even more for our mature web store facilities, Tower Systems is well positioned to help small business retailers establish professional and commercially valuable links with one or more inline presences.
Magento is owned by eBay, it is a worldwide popular webstore platform.
For years, retailers using the Tower Systems POS software have had access to multi-store POS software – the ability to run POS software across multiple locations of the same business.
This cloud based POS software solution allows retailers to open and close businesses faster and with greater flexibility. It also enabled group wide performance reporting and data tracking.
Based in the cloud, on a central server, the software is accessible from stores connected via the internet. Multi-store operation facilitates:
A common inventory file.
Common or local pricing as the case may be.
Easy transferring of stock between stores in the group.
less software update overhead.
easier enforcing of business rules.
Lower technology requirement at the store level.
Easy group wide performance reporting.
Centralised support.
Centralised data management.
Centralised backup.
Easier overall management.
But local tuning as required.
Good multi store POS software is important for groups and this is what Tower Systems delivers. Used by a variety of groups in different specialty retail niches, the Tower Systems software has a strong customer base in this multi store environment.
We have a group of 14 stores in Queensland using the software in shopping centre situations. Nationally, we have a group of 16 stores using the software for products and services – leveraging consistency across the full needs of the group.
In a variation to the multi store software option, we have a group of seventy stores linked with a common stock file, common pricing, common shopper terms. Again, cloud based, delivering an excellent flexible solution for small independent stores with a common banner or commercial objective.
Through the Tower Systems multi store POS software, retailers are able to evolve their businesses without the need to duplicate IT setup work. The time and capital savings and improved consistency help these retailers to achieve better business outcomes.
This really is an approach to retail IT infrastructure made for our times of pop up shops and other emerging and evolving retail situations we are seeing on the high street and in shopping malls. Tower Systems is well positioned to continue to evolve its multi store POS software solution to serve emerging needs in retail.
Small business POS software company helps small and independent retailers leverage the opportunity of the Tyro broadband EFTPOS solutions. We do this through a direct integration with our smart POS software as well as through the friendly small business focussed help desk service.
Serving retailers across a range of retail niches, we have experience from many channels and situations from which to draw when helping retailers save time, cut mistakes and benefit from a best-practice EFTPOS integration. This is an integration supported by tower for many years.
While the Tower Systems POS software works with a range of platforms, Tyro is featured by the company thanks to the relationship with the folks at Tyro, a relationship that benefits the Tower Systems small business retailer user community.
We use Tyro ourselves in our own retail businesses. This enables us to support from a basis of personal experience. It sets us apart.
POS software company Tower Systems is thrilled with the reaction to the leaves update to its POS software released on a rolling basis in recent weeks.
What a terrific start to 2016 – new software with new facilities and backed y a professional suite of training for the small business users of this software.
We are proud to kick off 2016 is such a strong way that is 100% focussed on the outcomes achievable by our customers.
Included in the update is facilities fresh for small business retailers including additional e-commerce platforms supported, offering retailers more flexibility in how they transact online compared to their high street business operation. This flexibility is a hallmark of what Tower Systems beings to the marketplace for its customers.
In addition to new facilities created by the company through its commitment to leadership based on best practice, the latest update also delivers enhancements requested by users and voted on by many publicly at the Tower Systems Software Ideas site.
With more than one hundred enhancements, this update is chunky in scope and therefore valuable to users keen to see the software continue to evolve. It reflects solid commitment from Tower Systems to continue to evolve the software and deliver good outcomes to customers committed to the company.
REPORTS
One of the most important part of any software, especially small business retail management software, is business performance reporting. the Tower software update provides access to new reports that enhance the value of the software to any user business. These new reports extend the reach of what the software delivers, they make using the POS software more valuable, they provide greater flexibility. That this is being done extends the scope of the software itself, making using it more rewarding to the small business customers.
In addition to new reports, this update delivers enhancements to some existing reports, making them more valuable. We understand the importance of professional and elegant representation of business data. good reports feed good business decisions. We are proud of what we do in this way.
RETAILER HELP
To help retailers get the most from the software the company provides access to video, text and other training resources, allowing retailers and their employees to learn at their own pace. These facilities are backed with personal one on one service.
Too often we hear stories of POS software companies threatening small business retailers either through deliberate use of technology jargon or through threats of costs being imposed that were not part of the original contract.
As many small business retailers are not experienced when it comes to technology and not used to dealing with technology companies, they can become confused and think this is how it works, this is normal.
It is not normal.
Small business retailers deserve to be treated with respect, using terminology they understand and with business contracts that are clear and straightforward.
Any POS software company engaging in overt or covert threats ought to be ashamed of themselves. If this is what they have to do to win or keep customers then shame on them and shame on those who work for the company and support such approaches.
Tower Systems is a safe haven for small business retailers looking for an empathetic POS software company, a place where any question can be asked, where regular free training is offered, where business advice is freely available beyond what is usual for a POS software company help desk.
We go into relationships for the long-term rather than a quick sale. This is reflected in our approach to initial training and on-going training, much of which is provided to our small business retail customers for no additional cost. We make this investment knowing the value of a happy customer, especially in small business retail circles where retailers network with colleagues in their retail channel, talking about supplier experiences.
If you are experiencing fear or anything close to fear in your dealings with your POS software company, get out, quit that software as a relationship based on any such fear is an unhealthy relationship for you personally and for your business.
Seek out a professional, respected and trustworthy POS software companies where fear has no place, where small business retailers are communicated with as a peer and not as someone to mock or confuse.
We are writing about this today as we have recently seen a stream of communication between the owner one Australian POS software company and a customer. It is appalling: unprofessional and unnecessarily aggressive. No wonder the retailer experienced fear. The threats in the communication give all software companies a bad name.
Don’t let fear rule your relationship with your POS software company.
At Tower Systems we develop and support our specialist retail software through interaction with you, our customers. Independent retail businesses are our passion. We’re here to help. Interaction is key. here are some examples:
Outbound calls seeking advice and guidance.
A transparent approach to voting on software change requests.
Outside of inventory cost, labour is the #1 or #2 cost of business. Retailers using our smart POS software have access to a range of facilities through which to cut and manage labour costs. These facilities include:
Employee roster management.
Cloud based roster management – a second and unique facility.
Tracking sales by employee.
Tracking sales by time.
Tracking basket value by time.
Viewing business performance by day of week.
Managing employee tasks.
These and other management tools in the software make it easier for retailers to make strategic decisions on employee management with a view to ensuring the most efficient use of this high cost labour investment in the business.
This is good POS software helping retailers run more efficient and successful businesses.
Tower Systems is a proudly Australian POS software company. We develop software in Australia for small and independent Australian retail businesses.
Our software focus is local.
Our customer service team is local.
Our installation team is local.
Our business planning is focussed on local.
We offer locally focussed facilities and services in our software.
Retailers wanting software to support their local focus ought to look at local POS software companies.
We have built a good strong business by being locally focussed. Yes, today we serve more than 3,500 retail businesses.
We are proud that in many of our specialty retail channels, we are the only locally developed and supported software. This makes us more fit for purpose for those businesses that care about living and supporting local.
As a famous song once goes so beautifully: we’re all in this together.
Here at Tower Systems we serve real people working in real businesses. They are the heroes, small business owners and team members, working to build local communities and make a stronger economy. This is why we use real people on our website and in our marketing collateral. It is easy to buy photos of pretty models placed in retail situations. We don’t do that. This helps build trust with our customers and those contemplating becoming our customers using our smart POS software.
We are thrilled to be a long term development partner with the Xero cloud based accounting software and listed as this on their website.
The Australian Financial Review recently published a terrific article about Xero, reporting how the company is primed for growth in Australia. We have seen this for some time through our work with Xero and retailers using Xero and their accountants. It is excellent accounting software.
Our experience is Xero is on the move. We are grateful to be part a small of the Xero story.
Being local in retail is more important than ever.
Local can mean different things to different people – it does not necessarily mean proximity. Being local could be about the level of care and attention you provide customers, the additional advice you provide, that you live locally, that you source locally or that you serve the local community personally.
Locally sourced products could be products made in Australia. For example, detailing where a product is made and the family behind it pitches local compared to a similar product imported from overseas.
You can use your Tower Systems POS software to pitch local in a range of ways:
Include notes on receipts. Add product care instructions, use instructions or other useful information automatically on receipts – making your receipt a useful information platform.
Tell people where you source products. For a product made by a family or small business in Australia, include details on the receipt. Shine a light on this local product – provide extra information so your shoppers can feel more locally connected.
Include a SHOP LOCAL pitch. Add an image of a poster or some other promotion of the benefits of shop local to every receipt, reinforcing the value of shopping local. Tower Systems has images you can use for free – in the downloads section of our website.
Thank your customers. Include text personally thanking customers shopping with you. Put our name to the message. Include your mobile. Big businesses do not do this.
Track local product sales. Be aware of suppliers of locally made products and report on the performance of these through various reporting tools.
Thanks for shopping local vouchers. You can use the discount voucher facilities in the software and call them Thanks for shopping local or Local shopping reward. This reinforces a value for shopping with a local business – offering $$ discount off the next purchase based on rules you establish.
It is not enough to tell people to shop local, you need to demonstrate the value of this, you need to live it transactionally in your retail business. The best way to do this is through systems and processes in your Tower Systems POS software.
Tower Systems has released the latest update to its popular POS software. This commercial release followed a comprehensive in-0house quality assurance process and then an extended beta release process.
Our customers can know that the commercial release now announced is at the end of a thorough development, testing and documentation process – resulting in excellent quality software packed with enhancements suggested and voted on by users as well as enhancements developed by us as a result of what we have learned by looking at retail trends overseas.
Tower Systems customers were advised about the commercial release of the software last week – in a formal and thorough announcement with details of the enhancements.
A team from Tower Systems further benefited from participating in the Atlanta Gift Fair last week, networking with small business gift and homewares retailers as well as their suppliers – including suppliers from Australia. Thanks to contact since the show, the benefits are being realised quickly.
This large gift fair – representing 7,300 brands – is attended by thousands of retailers. It is the gift and homewares retailers the industry’s largest event featuring the most comprehensive collection of home décor, furniture and gifts. The venue spans multiple buildings and multiple floors in each building – it is many times larger than the largest gift fairs in Australia. This is what makes it an exciting event for us – a real eye-opener.
The range of products on show is more diverse and the types of businesses attending is equally diverse. This is why attending has been beneficial for the Tower Systems team as they have been able to expand their horizons as to how our POS software can better serves the needs of growing gift and homewares businesses.
We are not detailing takeaways here for obvious reasons.
The National Retail Federation Big Show in New York – their national conference for 2016 – is proving to be an excellent event for our team in attendance.
In addition to valuable networking with suppliers, we are meeting retailers we can serve with our POS software and developing relationships with allied companies we can each support.
The small business sessions on Sunday were right on point for what we do at Tower Systems. The insights and case studies were terrific – a pleasure to absorb and learn from. The trade show, too, has been enlightening and a wonderful opportunity for comparison.
For years Tower Systems has participated in this event along with tens of thousands of retail professionals and every year we gain new insights that are reflected in what we do in the year ahead. The value of mixing with peers from around the world is reflected in the whole of our business.
We appreciate the support of our hardware partner HP towards the cost of attending this wonderful event.
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