CategoryProduce store software

This is a million dollar question…

How do you get the most from your POS software?

Many POS software companies leave this up to you. They may offer training and support, but outcomes you achieve are left for you to gain for yourself.

Here at Tower Systems we offer to be as engaged as you would like. If you want guidance, support, encouragement, training, hand-holding to achieve the best from the Tower Systems POS software then all of those things, and more, are available to you.

We want 0ur customers to run successful retail businesses. We want them to enjoy using our software. We want their investment with us to deliver for them valuable rewards. We want them to enjoy their retail businesses.

As retailers ourselves and using our POS software in our retail businesses we know what can be achieved, we know first-hand the rewards available. So, when help retailers it is as a retailer first. This changes the conversation. Were think it helps our retail customers get more from the opportunity. It sets us apart from other POS software companies. We like it.

That every one of our POS software customers has access to unlimited training is an excellent and appreciated differentiator. That this training is personal, on–on-one is appreciated, is live is a bonus and is based on the data in the customer’s business is real gold. This is just one way we help our customers get more from their POS software, just one way we unlock potential that may not be unlocked if we left them to themselves without encouragement and nurturing.

Tower Systems is an actively engaged POS software company, delivering personal service, tuned encouragement and small business targeted education … to show what can be achieved, to help our customers reach their potential through good use of the software, to be more valuable beyond what they hoped for.

We take this seriously, delivering outcomes for our customers that are commercial as well as personal. We take it seriously because what our customers want for their businesses we want for them too. Our energy and focus are absolute and consistent.

This is another example of the Tower Advantage.

With the reports last week at Smart Company about Neto POS software, Tower Systems reminds small business indie retailers that it is a well-established, debt-free POS software company offering solutions in specific retail channels.

Software user frustration with Neto was expressed following a reported significant price increase for users of the software, imposed on them by Neto. In the same article, there is also information about the financial status of the company:

In an email sent to Neto clients on February 28, seen by SmartCompany, Neto chief executive Ryan Murtagh said the business needed the extra money.

“We have to balance our current costs while investing in our future,” he said.

Murtagh separately told Kofoed over social media that Neto, which is majority-owned by Telstra, could “no longer endure significant losses” associated with its legacy pricing model.

Three separate clients said they weren’t consulted about the change prior to the February 28 email informing them of the restructuring.

However, the company has been considering the move for several months.

Select clients were informed and asked for feedback on the prospective changes earlier this year, while clients informed last week have just a month to prepare for the hike if they are billed monthly.

Asked whether Telstra pressured Neto into changing its pricing structure, Murtagh said the telecommunications giant holds various board positions as the majority owner of the business and is “party to all decisions the company makes”.

Here at Tower Systems, our view on POS software companies that rely predominantly on a low-price subscription model is that the cashflow from such models will not be sufficient to fund the necessary and expensive software development and support infrastructure that retailers require in the proper and successful use of POS software.

The Tower Systems model is a mixture, where customers can choose what works best for them: purchase, lease or rent, or a mixture of all three if they wish.

Tower Systems invests heavily in its future. This is evident already in 2019 with a major software update already released, delivering access to new facilities along with the announcement of the imminent release of Retailer Roam, a new product for pop-up, outpost, mobile and queues-busting retail. Retailer Roam is already in preview and feedback has been terrific.

The result of long-term investment, Retailer Roam will be a valuable opportunity step for indie retailers who want to themselves evolve what retail means in their businesses.

In our work with a range of retail businesses across multiple channels, too often we see retailers get fixated on a competitor, often a big business competitor, not realising that they are their own most important competitor.

In our experience, the most important competitor a business has is themselves.

Comparing how you are currently trading against the same time a year ago is the best measure of the impact you are having on your business.

Comparing revenue, transaction count, average sale value, average items per sale – these are all good overall business measurements to compare.

Comparing unit sales by department and by category within department are good measures.

Comparing unit sales and revenue by suppliers within each department are also good measures.

The Monthly Sales Comparison Report in the smart Tower Systems small business POS software offers all of these comparisons in the one report. This is the best everyday business analysis report we think. Indeed, it is the primary report we go to for the retail businesses we own ourselves.

However, let’s first up dispel some myths:

1. The report does not have to be monthly. It c an be for any period.
2. The report can focus on revenue, GP or unit sales.
3. The report can focus on product categories or supported or both.
4. The report can cover any periods you want.
5. This report is rated the most valuable by almost everyone who uses it and speaks with us.
6. We rely on this repot in the retail businesses we have owned for decades.

We urge you to use this report to compete with yourself. Look at the last three months of this year compared to the same period last year. See how you are tacking. Look at the parts of the business where you have concentrated most and see if you are having a positive impact.

We urge you to not be fixated on competitors outside your shop. Rather, look inside, see how you are doing now compared to a year ago or how you are doing this quarter compared to last. The Monthly Sales Comparison Report measures data points anyone in the business can understand. It shows you where work is needed and it shows you where there is good news on which to build.

We can help you with this report.

The Tower Systems POS software link to Xero cloud based accounting software proves time and again to help small business retailers in myriad ways. From saving time to improving business planning to cutting expensive mistakes, the seamless integration delivers to small business retailers a whole of business benefit.

Tower Systems was an early partner of Xero, delivering access years ago, to its specialty retail customers using its POS software.

Without human intervention, sales data, incoming invoices and more is available from within Xero thanks to the integration between Xero and then Tower POS software. This lack of human intervention is key in that it delivers data to the accounting software without rekeying. When you consider that every keystroke is a potential mistake, eliminating these makes a huge difference.

In not going through a third party product, Tower is able to deliver seamless, better supported and more business suited solutions to its customers. The result is easy access to good and accurate data, the basis for better business decisions.

This is important in retail where there is pressure to be more competitive, leaner and more nimble. The POS software Xero integration facilitates these benefits and more for any retailer using the Tower Systems software.

Linking directly to Xero, as we do through our POS software, enhances the time-saving gained through the software as well as facilitating the accuracy of data managed by the software.

Our Xero link provides for a data feed of sales as well as purchases. This facilitates better management over creditors, which is crucial in and retail business.

With a CPA working full time in our business we are configured to provide a technical solution that has been overseen by our own Accountant, to ensure it is a viable solution for the small business retailers we serve.

INTEGRATIONS

Our Xero integration is one of many approved integrations provided by the software to serve the needs of retailers. Other integrations include:

1. Tyro broadband EFTPOS.
2. Links to all major banks through PC-EFTPOS.
3. Magento e-commerce. Magento is an excellent platform for website sales for small to medium businesses.
4. Shopify e-commerce. Shopify is an excellent entry-level solution for small to medium businesses.
5. FlyBys in New Zealand.
6. Transactor loyalty in New Zealand.
7. Scale integration for selling by weight.
8. Touch networks for vending event tickets, phone recharge, fishing licences and more.

In the Tower Systems POS software we offer facilities through which our small business retail customers can express gratefulness to their customers.

Expressing gratefulness is another way small local retailers can differentiate their businesses from big businesses … because small can be personal and in the moment whereas big is all about being systemised, structured and predictable.

But how can POS software help you express gratefulness when doing so is best done in personal, human, ways?

This is a good question, which we will try and answer here. The best and most personal answer, however, will be provided one on one to our customers, through personal help desk interaction. because, you see, being personal, indeed, being personally grateful, is key here at Tower Systems too. Our business serves only small business retailers. So, we understand about the need to be in the moment, to be personal with our customers.

In our software, the opportunity to be grateful stems from knowledge. The software can help retailers understand the value of a shopper and each shopper engagement. It can draw to the attention of the business owner or manager interactions with shoppers and these can be leveraged and appreciated, in personal ways.

The smart POS software can, for example, provide a list of email addresses or phone numbers that can be used for personal contact to express appreciation. These databases can be created based on a range of selection criteria, over which the software user has good control.

The Tower Systems POS software also offers prompts, reminders, at the counter that can encourage a team member to make a comment about a product. This additional information and lead to conversation, which opens the opportunity to express gratefulness.

Personal interaction across the counter in small business retail is critical in opening opportunities for appreciating customers. Software that guides and encourages personal interaction is critical to starting this, to making the opportunity available. We have built these opportunities into the Tower Systems software – way beyond the anecdotes shared here. We are n to going into details for competitive reasons.

We appreciate our small business customers and the advice they provide for it is this that has really helped us develop the ability for sharing gratefulness using our POS software as a tool.

Late last year we launched a new free service for our customers that involves us doing some business performance analysis work for them through our POS software and delivering our assessment to them.

Our customers are loving this service. They love the insights, the fresh eyes view of their business performance, the respect we show for accurate business data and the deeper understanding they get from the work we are doing.

In each case the interaction is personal, specific to the business. We deliver valuable outcomes on which our customers can rely.

This new service was tested first, honed, buffed and then pitched, a couple of months ago. This week, we have reminded customers as we are keen to help as many customers as possible to get more from their investment with us.

This is a unique service that leverages our own retail knowledge and experiences. It enables us to deliver to our customers practical business outcome focussed data they can use to make better quality business decisions without having to harvest data themselves.

What we are doing is outside the usual scope for a POS software help desk. It is a point of difference delivered by Tower Systems.

Giving our customers insights is a terrific way to demonstrate real value from proper use of our software and engagement with the data analytics and reporting tools available through and allied to our software.

From unit count data to basket size, shopper visit efficiency gross profit and other data point analyses, we are delivering to small business retailers insights of genuine and understood value.

Privacy is respected through the process.  Educational opportunities are embraced where we see opportunities to help our customers nurture better business data for their own insights. We are thoughtful and careful in how we approach this, ensuring we are dealing with business owners.

Seeing a business make good business decisions based on their own business data is terrific and then seeing them nurture even more valuable business data in pursuit of growth is wonderful. that is what this free service from us guides for our small business retailer customers. It is a point of difference that is 100% is support of small business retail.

Not all POS software sold in Australia is made is Australia. Plenty are not supported in Australia.

While we are biased on this, Australian designed and supported POS software is best for Australian business needs.

But how can you tell if your software is from Australia? Easy, call the company, call their local office and ask. Better still, if possible, visit their local office and see for yourself.

Small business retailers more than most in business understand the importance of shopping local – for local communities, local employment and local funding of infrastructure.

If this is you, if you pitch shop local in your business, shop local for your own POS software. That positions you better to influence the software and to benefit from the local Aussie connection.

Do your homework. Look at the terminology used in the software, the design aesthetic, the accessibility of support, the tuning of training to your business, the opportunity for face to face in-store training. Do all this research and we think you will soon see the value of shopping local for POS software for your small or independent retail business.

Here Are reasons why Australian designed and supported POS software is better for Australian retail businesses.

1. Local business knowledge is vital.
2. Accessible support is essential.
3. Specialty retail channels are different elsewhere.
4. It is made for you and not a global market.
5. You are close to the company and therefore more able to influence product direction.
6. It is more likely to work with your suppliers.
7. It is good for the country, good for your local community.

In looking for software, we suggest you start with your needs. Be clear and concise. Know what is not negotiable for you and stick to that.

We suggest you don’t get suckered into a free trial as that is how some companies get you, thinking you will become invested and not want to switch. Do your research and make a better decision to start with, a researched decision based on your needs.

Australian POS software has an excellent reputation. You can rely on having terrific options available to you.

Our help desk team have been busy these past fe weeks writing, editing, peer-reviewing and publishing new advice sheets for retailers using our POS software. Here are some of the new articles already published following thorough peer review…

1. Processing a Sale using Zip Pay/Zip Money
2. Processing Sales and Refunds Using Oxipay
3. Troubleshooting Report Mapping
4. Setting Up Report Mapping
5. Woo Commerce Integration Information
6. Shopify Integration Information
7. Magento Integration Information
8. Magento 2 Link Installation / Configuration
9. Zip Pay/Zip Money setup guide
10. Sales by Time
11. Daily GST Cash Accounting report
12. Weekly GST Cash Accounting report
13. Monthly GST Cash Accounting report
14. Supplier Sales Analysis Report
15. Supplier Stock Listing
16. General Stock Listing
17. Valuations

These advice sheets reinforce our personal in-store training, our over the phone one on one training and our group training workshops.

By providing multiple, fresh, POS software use touchpoint we make learning easy for existing and new customers, especially retailers who buy businesses with our software installed.

In the Australian designed, developed and supported Tower Systems POS software, independent retailers  can easily to pitch that you are locally connected business.

This is a key mission of the Tower Systems POS software company. It is something on which we have focussed for years and something we deliver in our POS software, customer service, train ing, management advice and more as we go about business every day.

being local, serving local, engaging local matters. It is what Tower Systems helps retailers do through its POS software regularly, systematically and in a structured way. We are proud to offer this local focus and support.

For example, you can serve, on receipts, local information relevant in your area:

1. A garden centre could provide advice on plants for local conditions.
2. A fishing business could provide advice on local fishing spots that are hot.
3. A pet store could include information about local dog parks and events.
4. A toy shop could list local collector and game clubs to foster community.

We can help you do this, we can help you show through the software how your business is better for the local community than any big business competitor.

BEING LOCAL BEYOND THE SOFTWARE.

Here are four ideas you could consider to show off a local connection. This collection of ideas is all about things you could do that are newsworthy for the local media:

1. Tell the town’s story. Invite a school class to create a diorama telling some history of the down in your shop window.  This will be educational, topical, newsworthy and something that gets people connected with those involved to your shop to see the window.
2. Famous and infamous people. Get your customers to nominate famous people form the area from back since when the area was first settled. Again, educational and newsworthy.
3. Sports heroes. Invite all schools and clubs in your area to submit a photo and a brief description of their sporting winners from this year. The display could be your way of holding the winners up for another moment of glory.
4. Where we come from. get a school class to create a map of the word for your window and get your shoppers to place a flag showing where they come from. Maybe the could have a place to note a story of how they got there.

While none of these ideas is about you selling product, each does better connect your shop with your local community and that is vital.

Here are other tips on boosting the local connection:

1. Be knowledgeable about local activities, events, issues and places.
2. Talk about local matters on your social media outlets. Help publish local news.
3. Support local groups with knowledge, prizes and attention.
4. Encourage local groups to use your business.
5. Serve your community in practical ways such as volunteering.
6. Help even the groups you cannot help financially – with an events noticeboard and supporting them on your Facebook page etc.
7. Talk local across the counter.
8. Be visible at local events and activities.
9. Encourage your employees to be visible at local events and activities.