The POS Software Blog

The POS Software Blog

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

CategoryProduce store software

How our POS software helps small business retailers avoid expensive out of stocks

October 30, 2024
2 Min read
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Being out of stock can be expensive for a small business retailer. Not only do they lead to lost sales, but they can also damage customer trust and reputation.

Our Tower Systems POS software proactively helps small business retailers avoid out of stocks. Fu=irst though, let’s look at the real costs of being out of stock:

  • Lost Sales: The loss of revenue from missed sales. Customers who can’t find the products they’re looking for may simply go elsewhere.
  • Customer Dissatisfaction: Out of stocks can lead to frustrated and disappointed customers. This can damage customer loyalty and lead to negative reviews and word-of-mouth.
  • Increased Operational Costs: Dealing with out of stocks can be time-consuming and costly. Retailers may need to spend resources on expediting orders, providing refunds, or addressing customer complaints.

By proactively showing retailers out of stocks without having to go look for this can save considerable time. Using the POS software to order based on sales and tracking low in stocks can have a business ready prior to being out of stock.

There are indirect costs of out of stocks for small business retailers:

  • Damaged Reputation: Repeated out of stocks can tarnish a retailer’s reputation. Customers may perceive the business as unreliable or poorly managed.
  • Missed Marketing Opportunities: Out of stocks can disrupt marketing campaigns and promotional activities. For example, a retailer may be unable to capitalise on seasonal trends or limited-time offers.
  • Reduced Customer Lifetime Value: Customers who experience out of stocks may be less likely to make future purchases. This can lead to a decrease in customer lifetime value.

Tower Systems can also work with your suppliers, helping you to provide a sales data feed, which can leverage auto replenishment making the most of just in time inventory management to your benefit as well as to the benefit of your partner supplier.

These are some of the ways we help small business retailers eliminate the costs of out of stocks.

Here at Tower Systems we are focussed on helping local small business retailers thrive. We make smart POS software that helps our independent retailer customers run efficient and valuable retail businesses in-store as well as online.

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Cat Protection Society of NSW uses our portable POS Software for Cat Lovers festival

October 28, 2024
2 Min read
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We share here with permission details of how The Cat Protection Society of NSW used our Retailer Roam portable POS software at the recent Cat Lover’s festival at Olympic Park in Sydney:

We had a large stall for the Cat Lover’s Festival at Olympic Park last month.

We’d set up 3 counters, with a mini netbook, a laptop, and a Samsung tablet, each running Retailer Roam.

The netbook and laptop had Bluetooth scanners and the tablet was used for cash only purchases.

All the Roam sessions were linked to our Marrickville Rd retail store, which was closed for the festival weekend.

Staff were all very impressed with Roam, the last time we attended Cat Lover’s, we had one laptop accessing Retailer via a Remote Desktop Tunnel. It was a slower process with no scanner.

It all worked really well; people’s sales were processed promptly. We made over $20,000.00 over the two days and generated new membership and adoption inquiries.

We will definitely keep using Roam at future festivals.

We love hearing from customers and how they use our POS software.

The Retailer Roam product used by the Cat Protection Society of NSW is truly portable POS software, ideal for on the road selling, market selling and pop-up retail. We first released it five or so years ago. It has just gone through a major refresh with many new facilities and benefits added, helping retailers achieve more from their shop.

Retail is changing so much and rapidly. Retailer Roam is one of several opportunities we provide retailers to lean into these changes, to reach customers closer to where they are, rather than relying solely on business at a fixed location, like your shop.

Using retailer Roam, retailers can do more than transact sales (while online as well as while offline). They can also:

  1. Take product photos for use in an online store.
  2. Do a stock take.
  3. Order products.
  4. Process invoices for stock received.

Retailer Roam is a web service from Tower Systems. It’s smart, fresh and easy to use, a perfect tool for local small business retailers keen for expansion opportunities in and outside of their shops.

Tower Systems makes and supports POS software for local independent small business retailers across a range of retail channels.

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Free POS software commented marketplace find.com.au helps local retailers attract local shoppers

October 14, 2024
3 Min read
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FindIt is a free marketplace made for local independent retailers. It helps then be found by local shoppers.

This free platform, made here in Australia by Tower Systems, seamlessly connects local businesses with consumers seeking a unique and personalised shopping experience. It links with the Tower Systems POS software for a data feed.

Already local retailers are grateful for new shoppers arriving in their shops thanks to a free listing of their products on FindIt.com.au.

  • Retailers can effortlessly showcase products to a wider audience through a user-friendly online platform.
  • No website development or management required – FindIt takes care of everything. Linking is easy and fast.
  • Leverage the power of SEO expertise to ensure your products rank prominently in Google searches.

Streamlined local shopping for local customers: 

  • FindIt acts as a comprehensive online catalogue, allowing customers to discover from their phone, tablet or computer a diverse range of products from local retailers.
  • Enjoy the convenience of adding items from multiple stores to a single basket for a seamless research.
  • FindIt facilitates a direct connection between customers and retailers, fostering a sense of community and personalised service.

A free and sweet fit for Tower Systems POS software customers:

  • Retailers who utilise the Tower Systems POS software, automatically gain access to FindIt, extending your reach at no cost.
  • FindIt seamlessly integrates with your existing Tower Systems POS solution, streamlining your operations.

Supporting local Aussie retail businesses:

  • FindIt is a proud advocate for independent Australian retailers, empowering them to compete in the digital landscape. It was built to serve this purpose.
  • Together, we champion the values of local businesses – community engagement, personalised service, and unique product offerings.

FindIt is unique in that it is not about making money for Tower. Retailers can list products at no cost whatsoever. The goal is to encourage shoppers to find shops near them that have products being sought out. This really is all about nurturing local in-store shopper traffic. We think we’re pretty unique in that regard.

Learn More:

  • Explore the capabilities of Tower Systems POS software at https://www.towersystems.com.au/.
  • See FindIt here: www.findit.com.au.
  • Witness the user-friendly interface and comprehensive features through readily available online demonstrations.
  • Tower Systems exclusively caters to local independent retailers in a range of specialty retail , fostering a strong partnership with the local business community.

FindIt is evidence of the practical support Tower systems offers local independent retailers in Australia and New Zealand. We are grateful to have the resources to deliver this for our customers.

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Kitchen docket printing now available in Tower Systems POS software for small business retailers

October 1, 2024
1 Min read
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With more retailers moving into hospitality in one form or another, Tower Systems is making the change easy thanks to the release of support for kitchen docket printing from within its well-established POS software for local small business retailers.

Here’s a new video from our COO on how retailers can engage with this:

Cafes, garden centres, produce / farm supply businesses, bike shops and plenty of other retailers have a business case for this kitchen docket printing solution as it enables printing the dockets in a place other than or in addition to the usual sales counter.

Developed with retailers already using our POS softwares the kitchen docket printing tools are another enhancement delivered by our awesome POS software development team.

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Empowering Retail Team Members: Seamless POS Software Training with Tower Systems

September 27, 2024
2 Min read
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At Tower Systems, we understand the importance of a skilled and confident retail team. That’s why we’ve designed our POS software with user-friendliness at its core, complemented by a comprehensive and easy-to-access training resources. This empowers local small business retail staff to become POS software experts quickly, maximising its potential to streamline your retail operations.

It also helps retail staff remind themselves of parts of the POS software easily.

Our training resources offer flexible learning options tailored to individual needs and preferences. Staff can access a library of up-to-date video tutorials covering a wide range of topics, from core functionalities to advanced features. This allows them to learn at their own pace, regardless of prior experience and regardless of their situation.

This easy access to POS software training for retail staff is vital for any retail business, especially so in local independent small retail businesses where staff have to multi-task, where they need to help the business be efficient so the it may compete with bigger and better resourced retailers.

For those seeking a structured approach, we offer a subject-matter focussed curriculum that guides them through the software functionalities step-by-step. Alternatively, staff can dive right into specific topics by choosing individual video tutorials or in-depth articles from our extensive and up to date POS software knowledge base.

All these resources from Tower Systems are freely available and accessible 24/7, making them a valuable addition to your existing training regime. Additionally, they seamlessly integrate with our POS software help desk service, which provides further support for any questions or challenges your staff might encounter.

Helping local retailers thrive is core to what we offer at Tower Systems, through our POS software, and through the training resources provided with our POS software. The training assets are enhanced regularly, to ensure genuine value for our small business retail customers.

With Tower Systems, you can rest assured that your retail team is equipped with the necessary skills to leverage the full potential of our POS software. This translates to increased efficiency, improved customer service, and ultimately, a competitive edge for your business.

To learn more about Tower Systems’ POS software and our comprehensive training resources, visit our website at www.towersystems.com.au.

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See our Tower Systems POS software for produce and rural supply businesses

September 25, 2024
3 Min read
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The needs of produce and rural supply businesses are not the same needs of many traditional retailers. Traditional POS software is unlikely to suit their needs.

The Tower Systems POS software for rural supply and produce businesses is widely used in these types of businesses. This considerable customer base helps to continue to evolve the software to meet the ever emerging needs of the channel.

We have collaborated closely with many businesses like yours, who have helped us refine and enhance our software. Here is some of what we have developed based on their valuable feedback:

1. Dispatch management tools: Effectively manage multiple trucks and deliveries per truck, ensuring smooth logistics for your business. Integration with Allotrac takes dispatch management to the next level.

2. Loyalty marketing: Engage and retain customers with a loyalty program that helps you build lasting relationships and increase sales.

3. Bulk material tracking: Easily track purchasing raw materials in bulk and the mixing and packaging of your own end products.

4. Local produce use and care information: Enhance customer experience by providing care information.

5. Flexible selling options: Sell products by weight, length, and even fractions, accommodating the diverse needs of your customers.

6. Weatherproof product labels: Ensure your product labels withstand outdoor conditions, providing clear and legible details for customers.

7. Integrated roster options: Seamlessly integrate with Deputy, Tanda, and Planday, simplifying employee scheduling and management.

8. Digital receipts: Offer your customers the convenience of digital receipts through Slyp, reducing paper waste and enhancing the experience.

9. Comprehensive quote and invoice management (refreshed in January 2024): Streamline quote processes and nurture accuracy and efficiency.

Using the Tower Systems POS software, AIRR members need never enter an invoice again. Our POS software accepts AIRR and other major supplier electronic invoices. We offer plenty of other time saving integrations too.

Thanks to support from close to 200 produce / farm supply / stockfeed businesses using our software, we have released a major update with significant enhancements in the quotation area of business.

This is on the back of a huge update months ago in dispatch management.

Our software handles so much: tracking inventory in ways unique to produce / farm supply businesses, managing delivery within the software or integrated with Allotrac, importing supplier invoices, repairs management for those that organise this, sell by fractions, sell by length or weight, track product variants, special customer orders, tracking customers purchase history, reducing employee and customer theft and more.

We help you target market to customers based on past purchases.

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Local Small Business Retailers Get Weekly and Monthly Business Insights Delivered Straight to Your Inbox

September 10, 2024
2 Min read
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This video showcases how the Tower Systems POS software empowers small business retailers with valuable insights into their business performance. Through a weekly or monthly email, retailers receive a comprehensive overview of key metrics such as gross profit, revenue, average basket value, year-on-year trends, day-by-day performance, customer foot traffic, busiest times, top-selling departments, and product trends. This user-friendly approach eliminates the need for manual report generation and provides retailers with actionable information to make informed decisions and improve their businesses.

The email is all about data, represented visually, to guide better business decisions.

  • Where You Stand Today: Get a quick overview of your current sales and liabilities.
  • Identifying Underperformers: Easily see which products aren’t selling well (dead stock). This empowers you to make strategic decisions, such as discounts or stock reductions, to free up tied-up capital.
  • Missed Opportunities: Pinpoint instances where popular items have sold out, potentially leading to lost sales.Restocking strategies based on these insights can ensure you capture future revenue.
  • Unlocking Upsell Potential: Gain valuable insights into customer basket analysis. See which products frequently sell together, allowing you to develop targeted upsell strategies, co-location opportunities, and promotions.
  • Addressing Theft Concerns: The dashboard provides a visual overview of staff audit logs, helping you identify potential theft or training issues that require attention.
  • Optimise Your Staffing: Understand your busiest and quietest times with visual data displayed by hour and week.This allows for optimised staff scheduling to ensure you’re adequately prepared for customer influxes.

The Tower Systems insights from this weekly and monthly email is a game-changer for local small business retailers. It has been built with real local retailers, to ensure it is of service to them and all who rely on their business.

In addition to the email sent automatically, Tower POS software customers can access these and more insights from the Insights Dash card in the software as well as from the cloud based Visual Deck product includes with access to the POS software.

This is Tower Systems delivering to retailers tools and facilities in its software for no extra cost, making the Tower solution cost competitive for many local specialty retailers.

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Business performance insights from POS software helping local small business retailers shine

August 30, 2024
1 Min read
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Local small business retailers are often time poor and struggle to wade through reports looking for data needed to guide business decisions. Tower Systems has made it much easier for them.

The Visual Deck with our POS software sends an email weekly and monthly outlining business performance across a range of key performance indicators for the business. The visual representation of performance makes understand the health of the business easy and the decision opportunities even easier.

We have dramatically cut the time needed by retailers to access data, understand it and make decisions based on it. The emails weekly and monthly is another way our Tower Systems POS software is helping small business retailers run more enjoyable and valuable local retail businesses.

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How is Australian made POS software better for Australian retail businesses than overseas POS software?

August 25, 2024
3 Min read
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We were asked recently How is Australian made POS software better for Australian retail businesses than overseas POS software? Here’s our answer.

Australian made means local and local matters to local small retail businesses. The software is more likely to serve local business needs, to use terminology that is local, handle local regulatory requirements and have a local aesthetic. Offshore businesses can’t be local no matter how much money they spend trying to look, feel and sound local. Each of these points matter for ease of use, relevance and enjoyment in using the POS software.

Australian made means local access. You are more likely able to talk to someone local about the software any queries you may have about its use in your business. Offshore software companies push you to a call centre tens of thousands of kms from your business. In these call centres they follow a rigid script. Calling a local Aussie call centre means you are likely to start with a conversation. Small business retailers understand conversations.

Australian made means more competitive. A small local competitor will be more agile, smarter and capable than a large and maybe bloated offshore software company where you are barely noticed. You will be far more important to a local POS software company. Pick up the phone and ask to speak to someone from the senior management team and see for yourself. Offshore, you will struggle to get a human to answer. Locally, you can get to someone immediately. (0418 321 338 by the way)

Australian made means local economic benefit. All of us in local Aussie businesses rely on the local economy and the local economy benefits when more money is spent locally – in our businesses and local businesses like ours. Sure, a business can donate to a local charity to feel local. A local business itself, however, hires local and contributes local and this is what makes for better education, health care and infrastructure locally.

The software you choose for your retail business should be the software that best serves your specific business needs. Take your time. Consider not only functionality, consider support, ability to engage with software enhancements and how the software company helps you achieve with the software in and for your retail business.

In local small retail businesses every day local matters. Locally made and supported POS software has this advantage over offshoot POS software. It’s an easy win for the retailers.

Disclaimer: Of course we are biased. We are an Australian POS software company serving retailers in Australia and nearby.

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Fixed price web development done in Australia for local small business retailers

August 22, 2024
3 Min read
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Tower Systems, www.towersystems.com.au, offers Australian based website development for local small business retailers based in Australia.

Being Australian based matters because our web developers understand Australian retail, local retail, we understand the Australian language and style. We get you and you’ll get us. This matters in the all important client / web developer relationship.

We know retailers love that they can call us. Since we are local we work on local time. They ask our advice and since we live and shop locally we can provide advice and feedback that makes sense to local business retailers. Since we develop POS software we can make the connection smooth, easy.

With our website development done on a fixed price basis with a comprehensive list of inclusions, our customers can go into this knowing exactly what is included and that they an expect a beautiful and useful website connected to their POS software. This is what we have done for hundreds with delight and joy. We have many reference websites we can provide, including some for our own retail shops that we run.

Our local Aussie made websites come with all this and plenty more:

  1. Homepage. Including text and images (which you are to provide), and site navigation. We would also recommend including a business location map as this is important so local people can find your store (Google account needed).
  2. Navigation. Creation of the menus that drive your site.This is as important as the look and feel and should be carefully considered.
  3. Social media links to your: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.
  4. About page. Your text, describing you and your business: 150 – 350 words. Well written, clear as to what you and your business are about.
  5. Shipping, returns and other policies. We can use yours or you can edit ours and use it.
  6. Contact us page showing your contact details as well as an enquiry form.
  7. Configured Product Pages. Creation of up to 2 different product template pages, these pages show the images and details about products.  If additional product templates are required, then these are charge at $440 per page.  Examples of template pages are
  8. Pre Order Product Pages.
  9. Enquiry Only Product pages.
  10. Messaging on Delivery or Pickup only products
  11. Shopify Inbox setup, if you want chat turned on.
  12. Blog feed. A blog allows you to publish your own news.
  13. Flat Rate shipping based on Shopify’s inbuilt shipping profiles and your advice after consultation.
  14. The setup of loading of products into the site via a live link to the Retailer software. We would need you to have this data in Retailer ready for export.
  15. Interfacing to standard gateways: Shopify Payments and Paypal. In addition to credit card payments, Shopify Payments can also connect to Shop Pay, Apple Pay and Google Pay. Please note that depending on required site functionality it may not be possible to use the express checkout options. We will advise if this is the case.
  16. Interfacing to Humm, Zip and Afterpay and other Shopify supported payment methods incur an additional fee of $220 per payment method.
  17. Training: so you can get live and maintain the website.

There is much more to the opportunity, so much more we do to help retailers bring their websites to life.

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Why Australian made and supported POS software is more useful for Australian retailers than software from an overseas company

August 13, 2024
2 Min read
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Local small business retailers are spoilt for choice when it comes to POS software. There are many software packages out there from which to choose. Plenty of these software packages are from overseas companies, companies with massive customer bases, companies with staff located in low labour cost countries.

Tower Systems is an Australian POS software company. Of course we pitch shop local. Shop local is good for the local Australian economy, it is good for us and our families. It is good for the families of those who work in local Australian retail.

If there is Aussie made and supported POS software that suits your type of business, go with that ahead of any software from an offshore company. The Aussie economy will thank you.

There are other reasons to choose software from a local POS software company:

Local support. They understand your situation better than someone in a cubicle in a low labour cost country given a couple of Aussie keywords to put about.

Local software. Local Aussie retail businesses do have local needs. A local Aussie POS software company is more likely to serve these in their software than an offshore software company with many times more customers.

Local understanding. Local real business is local. If being local is an important point of difference you will want to use software that understands the value of local and can help you leverage local.

Local connections. Local retail does not live in a vacuum. You have banking, supplier, community group and other connections. Local POS software is more likely to help you with these important local connections that software from offshore.

Tax. We suspect a local Aussie POS software company will pay more from every dollar they make in tax in Australia than any offshore POS software company. Tax paid in Australia to Australian governments funds local Aussie schools, hospitals, roads and education. It matters to us.

Australian made and supported POS software is more useful for Australian retailers than software from an overseas company because it serves the Australian community better and that should matter to anyone in local retail. It is what being local is all a bout after all.

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Free Insights Dashboard in Tower Systems small business POS software helps local retailers thrive

August 9, 2024
3 Min read
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The Insights Dashboard in our Tower Systems POS software for small business retailers 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?

This new video is a discussion between our CEO, COO and a senior customer service specialist. It’s a training video we made for our customers and shared free.

Seeing where you are making money, losing money, missing opportunities, experiencing theft and more can be easy money in the bank for any retailer. Packaging these insights in this way help time-poor retailers have better control over their business.

We also talk about EFTPOS surcharges in retail and show how any retailer can apply an EFTPOS surcharge in their POS software for immediate effect. Importantly, we go into the why, explaining the decision making of some retailers.

In our POS software, retailers can apply an EFTPOS surcharge as a percentage, a fixed amount or auto-calculated based on the specific card presented by the customer. Best of all, the calculations are done quickly and seamlessly at the sales processing time.

Using our POS software, charging and EFTPOS surcharge is easy. We are proud to not charge our POS software customers based on transactions they do in their business.

By providing retailers with flexibility on EFTPOS surcharging we give retailers complete control. It’s their business after all.

These two topics – charging an EFTPOS surcharges and using the Insights dashboard are part of another in our series of customer service videos through which we seek to add value to our relationship with our small business retailer customers.

The two topics in this one video speak to our focus as a POS software company: helping small business retailers make better business decisions sooner and helping them run more valuable and reliable retail businesses.

Tower Systems is a small business focussed POS software company developing, and supporting POS software for niche specialty retailers. Jewellers, garden centres, bike shops, toy shops, produce businesses, farm supply businesses, fishing shops, pet shops, charity businesses, landscape gardening businesses, antique shops, sewing shops, haberdashery businesses, newsagents and more benefit from this software.

Find out more at www.towersystems.com.au

Our pricing is transparent: https://www.towersystems.com.au/pricing

Call 1300 662 957 or email sales@towersystems.com.au

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Hidden gems for independent retailers: Tower Systems’ Insights Dashboard Empowers Local Retailers

July 22, 2024
2 Min read
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Running a local retail business can feel isolating at times. It’s easy to get bogged down in daily tasks without a clear view of the bigger picture.

At Tower Systems, we understand this. That’s why we developed the Insights Dashboard, a powerful tool within our POS software designed specifically for independent retailers like you.

Actionable Insights, Delivered Simply

The Insights Dashboard caters to all levels of business experience. Regardless of your background in financial or management skills, the dashboard presents insights in a clear, visual format. We’ve done the hard work of extracting valuable data, so you can focus on making informed decisions.

Uncover What Matters Most

The dashboard provides a snapshot of key performance indicators (KPIs) critical to your business success, including:

  • Where You Stand Today: Get a quick overview of your current sales and liabilities.
  • Identifying Underperformers: Easily see which products aren’t selling well (dead stock). This empowers you to make strategic decisions, such as discounts or stock reductions, to free up tied-up capital.
  • Missed Opportunities: Pinpoint instances where popular items have sold out, potentially leading to lost sales.Restocking strategies based on these insights can ensure you capture future revenue.
  • Unlocking Upsell Potential: Gain valuable insights into customer basket analysis. See which products frequently sell together, allowing you to develop targeted upsell strategies, co-location opportunities, and promotions.
  • Addressing Theft Concerns: The dashboard provides a visual overview of staff audit logs, helping you identify potential theft or training issues that require attention.
  • Optimise Your Staffing: Understand your busiest and quietest times with visual data displayed by hour and week.This allows for optimised staff scheduling to ensure you’re adequately prepared for customer influxes.

Knowledge is Power: Unlocking Your Business Potential

The Tower Systems Insights Dashboard is proving to be a game-changer for local retailers. We consistently receive positive feedback, with users surprised by the depth of insights revealed. Our goal is to empower you with knowledge you may not have known existed, ultimately propelling your business forward.

Ready to take control and unlock the hidden gems within your business? Contact Tower Systems today to learn more about our innovative POS software solutions.

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Catching sneaky staff: How the Tower Systems POS system can stop employee theft

July 18, 2024
3 Min read
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Running a small business is tough hard work every day. Someone stealing from the business can be heartbreaking. Employee theft is a problem for Australian small business retailers, costing them around 75% more than shoplifting!

That’s where the Tower Systems POS (point-of-sale) system comes in. It’s not just about ringing up sales – it can be a powerful tool to catch sneaky staff. While much of what our POS system does is hidden and not discussed publicly, here’s how our system helped Harry and June, who run a local shop:

Something fishy was going on

Harry and June’s accountant noticed their business wasn’t making the money it should. They called us thinking there was a problem with the software, but a deeper look revealed something shocking. Our system has hidden, encrypted records that helped us track unusual sales patterns. The data pointed straight to their niece, a trusted employee!

A difficult truth

We met Harry and June for coffee, but they were convinced it was a mistake. It took a whole year before they finally installed hidden cameras and confirmed the theft. Sadly, they never got their money back and the family rift was too big to pursue charges.

Don’t let this happen to you!

Here our advice on how to stop employee theft before it starts:

  • Track everything: Make sure all your stock is logged in the system and every sale is scanned. Don’t use department keys – they make stealing easier.
  • Employee ID: Give each employee a unique code to track their sales. Change these codes regularly.
  • Cash control: Regularly check your cash register and reconcile it with your POS data. Spot checks can catch small-time thieves.
  • Schedule shuffle: Change up your roster to make it harder for people to work together and steal.
  • Theft policy: Have a clear policy against theft and make sure all staff read and understand it.
  • Keep it clean: A tidy workspace makes it harder for people to steal and easier to spot suspicious activity.
  • No staff bags: This eliminates a hiding place for stolen cash.
  • Beware of notepads: Some staff use these to track “unrung-up” cash.
  • Police checks: Consider requiring police checks for new hires. It shows you take security seriously.
  • Lead by example: Don’t take cash out of the register in front of staff – it might seem tempting to them.

We can help!

At the start of each year, review your POS data to see if anything looks suspicious. Our team of retail experts can help you put these tips into action and keep your business safe. Don’t let employee theft eat away at your profits!

Tower Systems is committed to helping local small business retailers reduce the impact of employee theft on their business.

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Ditch the Points, Boost Sales: How Discount Vouchers Are Winning Aussie Shoppers to Local Retail

July 17, 2024
3 Min read
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Tired of the same old points programs that leave your customers confused? No wonder. The major supermarkets and other retailers have all od us confused as to the real cash value of a point.

At Tower Systems, we know Aussie retailers need a loyalty strategy that packs a punch, that is loved by local shoppers. That’s why our discount voucher program is a favourite among our thousands of small business retail POS software users.

Forget fancy names, you call them what you want! We’ve got customers calling them “Thank You Gifts,” “Bonus Bucks,” or even “Customer Rewards.” The beauty is, it’s your program, your name!

Discount vouchers are sales superstars! We saw a whopping 12% sales growth during Christmas and New Year for businesses using our vouchers actively.

Blokes vs. Girls? It’s all about instant gratification for guys – they tend to use their vouchers straight away, while girls tend to save them for a later treat (but before they expire, of course!). Oh, and retailers control when these vouchers expire.

Setting up your voucher program is a breeze! Our retail-experienced support team can have you up and running in minutes, and making changes is just as easy. Plus, you get fantastic control over your program and clear reports to see how your customers are engaging.

Here’s why discount vouchers are a game-changer:

  • You’re the boss! Name your vouchers anything you like, and change it whenever you fancy.
  • Set the rules! Decide how much the voucher’s worth, what it can be used on, and when it expires.
  • Transparency is key! Unlike confusing points systems, customers see the voucher as cash-in-hand. They love the simplicity and feel valued with a direct reward.

We’ve seen it work firsthand! In our own shops. Customers tell us they love the vouchers. We have seen them used. We see the impact in the business, the happiness experienced by customers.

With Tower Systems’ discount vouchers, you can:

  • Boost spending per visit – Customers love a good deal, and vouchers encourage them to splurge a little more.
  • Bring back those loyal customers – Vouchers are a great way to entice customers to return sooner and keep them coming back for more.
  • Attract new faces – Stand out from the crowd and grab the attention of new shoppers with enticing voucher offers.
  • Spark impulse buys – Vouchers at the counter can turn a browse into a purchase in a flash.

Ready to win the hearts (and wallets) of Aussie shoppers? Let Tower Systems’ discount vouchers be your secret weapon!

Our discount voucher solution is exclusive to us, the settings opportunities, the control levers you have, the benefits you can leverage in your business.

Discount vouchers are one of the most recommended facilities in our small business retail POS software.

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It’s true: Shop Local and Find Gems at FindIt.com.au, the Free Marketplace from Tower Systems

July 15, 2024
3 Min read
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In our busy and always connected online world, it’s easy to forget the amazing stores we have right on our doorstep. But shopping local isn’t just about convenience, it’s about supporting the heart and soul of our communities.

That’s where FindIt comes in, a free online marketplace created by Tower Systems. FindIt shines a light on our amazing local, independent retailers. We have been serving Aussie communities for decades and are grateful to work with over 3,500 local retail businesses!

FindIt bridges the gap between local shoppers and local retailers. It brings local stores to local devices. It’s like a treasure chest filled with goodies from independent retailers across Australia. Whether you’re looking for the perfect birthday gift, a one-of-a-kind homeware piece, or a treat for yourself, FindIt lets you browse and discover hidden gems from local businesses – all from the comfort of your couch!

What makes FindIt special? It’s all about ease!

Here’s what makes FindIt great for both shoppers and shopkeepers:

For the shopper:

  • Support local legends! FindIt makes it easy to find and support businesses in your neighbourhood. You’ll be putting money back into your community and helping it thrive.
  • Discover unique finds! Unearth a world of special products you won’t find on big online stores. From handcrafted jewellery to locally-grown produce, there’s something for everyone on FindIt.
  • Shop in your PJs! Shop from the comfort of your home and choose between picking up your goodies in-store or getting them delivered (depending on the shop).
  • Know who you’re buying from! FindIt gives you clear information about each shop, including their location and contact details.

For local retailers:

  • Free to join! If you use Tower Systems POS software, you can sign up for FindIt at no cost. This saves you the hassle (and expense) of setting up your own online store, making it easier to compete in the digital world.
  • Reach new customers! FindIt exposes your products to a wider audience of people who are looking to shop local.
  • Sell smarter, not harder! The platform works seamlessly with Tower Systems POS, making sales a breeze and saving you time on admin.

FindIt’s a win-win for everyone!

You get fantastic local products, and retailers gain a platform to showcase their goodies and reach new customers. It’s a brilliant initiative that strengthens Aussie communities and supports the backbone of our commerce – our amazing independent retailers.

Getting your product info (text and images) onto FindIt is a breeze thanks to the Tower Systems POS software integration.Tower even helps retailers with advice, training, and support to get connected.

The ultimate goal? To get more people like you walking through the front doors of our fantastic local shops! So, what are you waiting for? Discover the hidden gems at FindIt.com.au today!

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Advice from Tower Systems on how to choose the right POS software for your business

May 27, 2024
3 Min read
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The best advice on choosing the right POS software for your retail business is that you do it yourself. This is not something to outsource, not something to use one of the comparison (marketing) websites for. Do your own research.

Choosing POS software is an important decision, a decision for the long term, a decision directly connected to the financial viability of your retail business.

Take your time.

Start with what you want and what you need. These are different things. Write lists. yes, write them down for the more organised you are the more likely you are to make the best decision for your retail business.

Choosing POS software is not something to rush. Beware of the POS software companies that put limited time deals in front of you. Those companies likely offer POS software that is not ideal and they try and make your choice about price so as to distract you from your lists of needs and wants.

The decision is about what you need and want and each of the POS software companies that you consider. It’s not about what representatives of those companies think about software from other companies. Asking them to comment on competition is not ideal. If you do ask though and if they bag a competitor, ask them how they know this, ask them for evidence.

Be sure to gather evidence in writing. If a representative of a POS software company makes a claim that they will do this or that or that their software does a specific thing you need be sure to describe your need fully and to get their response to this in writing – it could be you rely on this later.

If being local is an important part of what you pitch for your business, think about the local situation of POS software companies you consider. Find out how local a company you are considering is, how local their people are, think about whether their answers factor into your decision making.

See, don’t hear or read. See the software for yourself. Come to the demonstration with unique sales scenarios you see play out in your shop. See how the software handles these. Ask for a recoding of the demonstration so you can share it with others in your business who will use the software for if they feel they are part of your decision making they are more likely to support the decision you ultimately make.

No marketing company, so software comparison website, no consultant can substitute for what you invest in considering POS software for your retail business. Invest the time, your time, and it will reward you with the best decision for your business, you, people who work in the business and the customers of the business.

No software is perfect, and doubt anyone who claims it is. Software that is the best will not be perfect. best is good though. This is why controlling the consideration process yourself is vital, it helps you find what you decide is best.

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AI generated content can show why a business is not worth doing business with

May 15, 2024
3 Min read
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Plenty of AI generated content online is junk put there to try and drive the position of a website. Often, it offers little genuine value. It’s text written for the tech bots, and not for humans.

You can see it on plenty of company blogs: boring content with the same bubbly emotions, similar lists and the ever present use of bold text.

There is a sameness to AI generated content that shows it for what it is – filler put there as a marketing exercise.

Here at Tower Systems we serve local small business retailers, independent retailers. Their point of difference is their product knowledge, their local knowledge and their ability to share this. An AI engine is unlikely to capture the knowledge of those in the business and share it in a meaningful way.

Our advice to our customers is: the more you share your knowledge in ways that are genuinely useful to your customers the more they will trust you, the more your business will grow. Retail is human at its core. AI content is unlikely to add value to the human contact. While it will save time, it is unlikely to add appreciated value.

We get that local small business retailers are time-poor and looking for ways to do more in less time, using AI to generate content about your business and what you do is not the saving you think it might be for your AI generated content joins data centres full of AI generated content. It’s value is limited.

We think a local small business could get more value from one authentic and genuinely useful blog post than ten AI generated blog posts on the same topic for in that one human-generated blog post you can share genuinely new information or insights that add real value to what is know about the product or service of which you write.

AI cannot replace you, it cannot replace your innovation. This is your point of difference, it is what you need to share so people see the value of you and your business. It’s what helps you stand out.

With the advent of more tools available for identifying AI generated text and image content, it is easier to rank content, to determine the authority of it. AI generated fodder will be seen for what it is, and we think this is a good thing. By all means use AI tools as a springboard or to treat a thought drought. For the content you publish in your name or the name of your business, give of yourself for that is what matters the most.

We sometimes play a game here at Tower Systems: spot the AI junk. It’s fun for a while and then it makes us sad that businesses feel it’s okay to publish what they publish, thinking that something is better than nothing, except that it’s not.

Our difference is us, each of us here in this business. We interact with our customers authentically, one-on-one. What we publish here reflects that. Retail is human after all.

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Retail advice: we created a website for our shop in 2 weeks and did $800+ in sales in the first week it was live

May 14, 2024
2 Min read
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We’re a POS (Point of Sale) software company, and we run retail shops. We do this to walk in the shoes of our customers … not completely but as much as we can.

We learn so much doing this.

Recently, we came across a couple of retailers stuck getting websites live for their businesses. So, we decided to create one for one of our shops to revisit the advice we provide others.

This video shows the results we saw for the website we created for our own shop after 24 hours of time invested and a week of trading.

We followed exactly the advice we provide to others, relying on data from our POS software to populate the website. It was vital for us and for our customers for us to experience what our customers experience.

Websites evolve based on your experience with them. This is one reason launching early is critical – get the experience and adjust.

Here at Tower Systems we are all about understanding our customers to ensure that the advice we provide is useful, valuable. This is why projects like this matter. We ned to test our advice, and to adjust it if our own experience is not up to what we hope for in working with our customers.

When it comes to websites for retail businesses, too often we see websites that are a monument to the web developer and of little value to the retail business for which they have been built. This is wasted money, something the retailer discovers long after the web developer has moved on.

Investing in a website is emotionally and financially considerable. For small business retailers it is vital that you achieve a commercially satisfactory outcome. That’s why we ensure the advice we provide and the work we do serves the needs of local small business retailers.

Tower Systems is a small business focussed POS software company developing, and supporting POS software for niche specialty retailers.

Jewellers, garden centres, bike shops, toy shops, produce businesses, farm supply businesses, fishing shops, pet shops, charity businesses, landscape gardening businesses, antique shops, sewing shops, haberdashery businesses, newsagents and more benefit from this software.

Find out more at www.towersystems.com.au

Call 1300 662 957 or email sales@towersystems.com.au

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Free FindIt marketplace from Tower Systems helps local shoppers find local retailers

May 6, 2024
3 Min read
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In today’s world of online shopping giants, it’s easy to forget about the fantastic array of shops right on our doorstep.Supporting local businesses is about more than just convenience; it’s about investing in the lifeblood of our communities.That’s where FindIt, a free online marketplace from Tower Systems, steps in.

Only serving local independent retailers, Tower Systems has a track record of shining a light on this most vital of retail sectors. It’s work on FindIt drawn on decades of service and a community of 3,500+ retailers served.

FindIt bridges the gap between local stores and shoppers like. It’s a platform offering products from a wide range of independent retailers across Australia. Whether you’re after that perfect birthday gift, a unique piece of homeware, or something special for yourself, FindIt allows you to browse and discover hidden gems from local businesses, all from the comfort of your couch.

But what makes FindIt special is its focus on ease and accessibility. Here are some of the key benefits for both shoppers and retailers:

  • For Shoppers:

    • Support Local: FindIt makes it easy to find and support businesses in your area. You’ll be putting money back into your community and helping to create a vibrant local economy.
    • Diverse Range: Discover a treasure trove of unique products you won’t find on mainstream online retailers.From handcrafted jewellery to locally-sourced produce, FindIt offers something for everyone.
    • Convenience: Shop from the comfort of your home and choose between in-store pickup or home delivery (depending on the retailer).
    • Transparency: FindIt provides clear information about each retailer, including their location and contact details.

  • For Retailers:

    • Free Listing: Tower Systems POS software users can sign up for FindIt for absolutely no cost. This eliminates the need for expensive individual online stores, making it easier for smaller businesses to compete in the digital marketplace.
    • Wider Reach: FindIt exposes your products to a broader audience of potential customers who are actively seeking out local businesses.
    • Simplified Sales: The platform integrates seamlessly with Tower Systems POS, streamlining the sales process and reducing administrative headaches.

FindIt is a win-win situation for everyone involved. Shoppers get access to fantastic local products, while retailers gain a valuable platform to showcase their offerings and reach new customers. It’s a fantastic initiative that fosters a sense of community and strengthens the backbone of Aussie commerce – our independent retailers.

To have product data – text and images – flow to FindIt is easy thanks to the integration with the Tower Systems POS software. Tower helps retailers with advices training and support to get connected.

The goal really is to encourage more local shoppers to want through the front door of local retail businesses.

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POS software from Tower Systems tracks product weight for easy online sales management

April 18, 2024
3 Min read
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Knowing what a product weighs is key to accurate calculation of freight costs for online businesses. It’s not been so important for brick and mortar businesses. But online, product weight is key. It can also inform the choice of the method of shipping an online order as some freight businesses may offer better services based on product weight parameters.

The Tower Systems POS software allows retailers to record product weight by product and it shares this information with the retail business website thanks to its integrations with Shopify, Big Commerce, Woo Commerce and Magento.

The recording of weight by product has been covered in the POS software from Tower Systems for years.

Unlike brick-and-mortar stores where customers handle products themselves, online businesses rely on freight services to deliver their goods. This is where product weight becomes a crucial factor, something that can have considerable financial benefits for a retail business.

Tracking weight in the POS software has a range of benefits for a retail business including:

  • Accurate Shipping Costs: Imagine a customer adding a seemingly lightweight product to their cart, only to be surprised by a hefty shipping fee at checkout. This can lead to cart abandonment and lost sales. By knowing the exact weight of your products, you can calculate accurate shipping costs upfront, setting clear expectations for your customers and avoiding unpleasant surprises.

  • Competitive Shipping Options: Some freight companies offer tiered pricing based on weight. Knowing your product weights allows you to explore different shipping options and choose the most cost-effective service for each item.

  • Informed Shipping Decisions: Weight isn’t just about cost; it can also influence the shipping method you choose. For delicate or heavy items, you might prioritize slower but more secure shipping options. Lighter items might be suitable for faster, budget-friendly methods.

Tower Systems offers weight-aware POS software for retailers selling online and where freight is a factor on managing cost-effective online sales. Our point-of-sale software allows retailers to record the weight of each product directly within the system.

Tower Systems POS doesn’t operate in a silo. Thanks to its built-in integrations with popular e-commerce platforms like Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, and Magento, the product weight information you enter in the POS automatically syncs with your online store. This eliminates the need for manual data entry I the online side of the business, saving you valuable time and minimizing errors. Your customers will always see accurate shipping costs displayed at checkout, fostering a smooth and transparent buying experience.

By leveraging Tower Systems POS, online businesses can gain a significant edge in today’s competitive landscape. Accurate weight data translates to accurate shipping costs, informed shipping decisions, and ultimately, happier customers.

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POS software integration for international barcode lookup saves time for small business retailers

March 20, 2024
3 Min read
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Retailers are loving the international barcode lookup integration in our POS software. This connects with a respected worldwide database of product barcodes and provides excellent access to descriptions and much more: improving data accuracy, saving time and enhancing in-store and online product engagement.

Here is how we train our POS software customers on how to use the POS software integrated international barcode lookup facilities:

Like all of our POS software customer training videos, we also provide a transcript for those who prefer to read. It is time coded to match the video. here is an example:

0:00 My next favourite integration with Retailer is Barcode Lookup. Barcode Lookup is an online database of barcodes, their descriptions, their web descriptions or extended descriptions, images, classification information such as brand, manufacturer, dimensions.

0:15 It’s massive. Now over the time that we’ve integrated with Barcode Lookup, it’s grown from 100 million records right through to today at time of publication nearly a billion records.

0:26 That’s massive. So, what can it do? Well, Retailer can integrate with it and pull data down when you create a product or choose to update a product with data from that website.

0:37 Let’s have a look. The very first thing you’d want to know is how to sign up and how to get it working.

0:41 So, you should always read our knowledge base articles. Which will be linked to this video down below and it goes through the entire sign up process and how it works.

0:49 So, just follow the article and go from there. If you want to have a look at the website, we even have a link to the website and this is it here.

0:56 So, you can see right now 978 million people products exist on this site. to give you an example, I’ve got a few items here.

1:05 I’ve got a package of um electrical tape and a box of glasses cleaners to clean my glasses. I’ve done a little search on those and believe it or not, here’s my glasses cleaners and this is the description that it’s going to pull down from the site.

1:17 It will pull down the menu. Manufacturer information and it’ll also pull down this extended description and put that where I choose to put it.

1:25 There’s only one attribute to go with it, which is an MPN or a manufacturer’s product number. And these are all the images that it will pull down with it.

1:33 If we go look at this. The electrical tape pulls down this description one by three meter PVC electrical tape and has a much better description to explain what it comes what it’s all about no classification information with this one and then I’ve got my three pens so we’ve got the the blue tip which

Be sure to watch the video and check out the transcript to the right side of the page.

This video is another from our growing library of training videos for retailers using our POS software.

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