Produce store software Archives - POS software News

What’s the best Rural supplies business software for Australia produce businesses?

January 13, 2026

4 Min read

Most “best software” lists are just paid rankings. Instead of marketing hype, we lead with proof: a growing community of Australian rural and farm supply businesses that have switched to Tower Systems. Starting at $246/month, our specialty software solves the unique headaches of produce retail—like weatherproof labels and complex bulk ordering. We start with your specific needs, not our features. If we aren’t a perfect fit, we’ll be the first to tell you.

Now, let’s get into it.

There are many software products available for rural supply businesses in Australia. Plenty claim to be the best. Only businesses that have used multiple software products can say which is the best for their business.

Software companies themselves cannot say their software is the best since they don’t run rural supply businesses and they have not used all the products out there.

What’s the best Rural supplies business software for Australia produce businesses? We don’t know here at Tower Systems. What we do know, and what we are grateful for is that plenty of our rural supply business customers have switched to our POS software for rural supply businesses and farm supply businesses and stockfeed businesses from other POS software. We can connect you with customers who have switched from other software.

Priced from $246.00 (inc.GST) a month for unlimited terminals and packed with specialty facilities for rural supplies businesses, our POS software for rural supplies businesses delivers terrific value. We say that because customers tell us that. You can rely on:

Bulk material tracking: Easily track purchasing raw materials in bulk and the mixing and packaging of your own end products.
Local produce use and care information: Enhance customer experience by providing care information.
Flexible selling options: Sell products by weight, length, and even fractions, accommodating the diverse needs of your customers.
Bulk material management.
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.
Loyalty marketing: Engage and retain customers with a loyalty program that helps you build lasting relationships and increase sales.
Weatherproof product labels: Ensure your product labels withstand outdoor conditions, providing clear and legible details for customers.
Integrated roster options: Seamlessly integrate with Deputy, Tanda, and Planday, simplifying employee scheduling and management.
Digital receipts: Offer your customers the convenience of digital receipts through Slyp, reducing paper waste and enhancing the experience.
Comprehensive quote and invoice management: Streamline quote processes and nurture accuracy and efficiency.

Our produce / rural supplies business software is not right for everyone. We will tell you that if it becomes obvious to us in our discussions with you. We want you to be happy with your choice and if it’s not us we will wish you all the best for your business. Life is too short for us to win all business at all costs. We’re here for the long haul.

Let’s go back to the question. What’s the best Rural supplies business software for Australia produce businesses? We posed this as it’s what plenty of people type into search engines. We think it’;s the wrong question. You need to start with what would be the best software for your business based on your business needs. Start there. Start with you. Look for software that serves your needs. What other think of that software is irrelevant, especially if their business needs don’t match your business needs.

Also, answers to the question What’s the best Rural supplies business software for Australia produce businesses? sometimes will include results companies have paid for, rankings based on marketing spend rather than real customer feedback. So, be careful.

Choosing software is a decision you’ll have to live with every day. That’s why we don’t do high-pressure sales pitches or claim to be the ‘one-size-fits-all’ winner. We’d rather show you how our software handles a bulk order or a complex truck dispatch and let you decide if it fits your workflow. Take a beat, ignore the paid rankings, and focus on what your business actually needs. If you’re ready to see how a specialty-built system looks in action, let’s have a chat. If we’re the right fit, great. If not, we’ll be the first to tell you.

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The right POS system for any retail business depends on the specific needs of the retail business. Tower offers POS software made specifically for local small business retailers in a selection of retail channels. To see if we might help you…, request a free, no-obligation demo today.

Call 1300 662 957 in Australia or 0800 444 367 in New Zealand. Or, email sales@towersystems.com.au.

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What’s the best website platform for a small retail business Wix, Shopify, Woo Commerce or Squarespace?

November 25, 2025

6 Min read

We are often asked this question by small business retailers: What’s the best website platform for a small retail business Wix, Shopify, Woo Commerce or Squarespace?

We have years of experience developing websites for small business retailers using Shopify, Magento, Big Commerce and WooCommerce. The advice we provide in this article is based on our years of experience serving thousands of small business retailers.

The best e-commerce platform for your business will depend on your technical experience, your budget, your position in your online journey and the goals you have for your website. Each of these platforms offers different benefits. from the outset, though, in our experience, Shopify is the best solution for easy of use, ease of change without technical skills, the ability to scale and ease of winning shoppers from the already considerable Shopify customer ecosystem.

Wix offers easy drag and drop, which can see like a big time saver for the novice. In reality, Wix websites can often become messy, overloaded. It can be a good platform to figure out what you want but our experience is that it’s not ideal once you are up and running and building your online business. We think it’s unlikely you’ll find hero websites for small business retailers based on Wix. If you need a site up in an hour and want total freedom to drag things around the screen, Wix could be a good choice today.

WooCommerce is a plugin for WordPress. It’s made for use by technically skilled people. You do the work, and once you;’ve done that you will tend to have to do more work. This tech work can distract you from running your retail business. Woo is terrifically flexible, which comes as a labour cost for you or for the web developer you hire. If you already have a WordPress site and want to avoid monthly subscription fees, this offers the most freedom, provided you have the technical skills and truckloads of time to manage it.

Squarespace is offers beautiful looking websites with an easy to use back end for adjustment. It’s heavily image-focused. You can’t “break” a Squarespace site as easily as a Wix site because the editor forces you to stay within a grid. Squarspace lacks some of the finesse of Shopiufy for businesses that need more, especially when it comes to shipping flexibility. fI selling “the vibe” is as important as selling the product, Squarespace might be your answer.

Shopify is the best solution for local small business retailers in our experience. Shopify themes make it easy for you to change the look and feel of your website without hiring a web developer. Shopify integrates with terrific local shipping options (Sendle, My Post Business etc) and Shopify validates Australian addresses incredibly well at checkout, which saves you money on “return to sender” errors. It is the industry standard for a reason. If your goal is to grow, Shopify handles the “boring” stuff (hosting, security, checkout compliance) better than anyone in our experience.

We have years of experience using Shopify ourselves – when we offer advice to retailers on e-commerce, it comes from a place of personal experience as well as extensive technical experience and years building Shopify websites for so many different retailers.

Now, we’re not saying Wix, Squarespace and WooCommerce are bad. What you choose for your business needs to be what you want/need.

What we are saying is do your research – choose the ecommerce platform that serves your technical skills, budget, business plans and how you see your business living online.

Low cost websites may be low cost because of the work you have to do to manage and modify them.

Fast to setup websites may be fast because they don’t go as deep within your business.

Key to success is you knowing what it is that you want / need for yourself and for your business. Saying you want a website is not enough. What do you want from it?

Take your time. Figure out what you need, want and can afford. Look at examples of websites for your type of business. Consider web developers local to you, people who understand your business, people you can speak with. Ask why they recommend what they recommend.

We recommend Shopify for speed to launch, ease of change, non technical back end management, ease of scale, wonderful integrations and access to a huge ecosystem of shoppers. It’s what we use and what many of our local small business retail customers use.

Web development is unregulated. Be careful. There are some who know the words to say to dazzle less technically literate folks into spending money with them only to never deliver what the business wants / needs. Get any promises in writing – including delivery timing and website functionality.

Be sure you know the business you are dealing with. Often, we developers are not local as they may pitch.

Do your due diligence before you sign any contract or pay any money. We’ll say again: take your time.

This decision rests entirely on your business’s ultimate ambition. If you view your online store as a serious, scalable retail channel, one that you need to easily manage alongside your physical operations, integrates effortlessly with local logistics, and provides a reliable, secure foundation that won’t require a developer every time you want to make a change, then Shopify is our recommended investment.

While Wix and Squarespace offer beautiful simplicity for the start-up, and WooCommerce offers technical control, Shopify is purpose-built for the commercial rigor of a growing retail business, offering the best balance of ease-of-use, power, and a vast ecosystem of apps and support designed to help Australian retailers move more stock with less technical overhead.

Shopify is a good small business e-commerce solution, which can grow as you grow. We had one customer using Shopify go from $50,000 in their launch year to $2.5 million by year four. The growth came from their smart business decisions. Shopify made it easy to manage the growth.

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If you are considering a website for your retail business, consider Tower Systems. Call 1300 662 957 in Australia or 0800 444 367 in New Zealand. Or, email sales@towersystems.com.au. If we feel we are not right for you, we will say so.

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Retail Automation: Why the Tower Systems & Xero Link is a “No-Brainer” for Business Owners

November 22, 2025

4 Min read

Okay, yes, for sure, we are biased. This is a blog post pitting our POS software Xero integration. We think it’s awesome. We made it to be awesome, for local small business retailers. We first made it back when we had our own shops and used our POS software ourselves and our in-house CFO needed to save time and gain access to accurate data. That was years ago. The Xero POS software link we have today are as good, as useful – and solely made for local small business retailers.

Running a retail business often means wearing multiple hats. One moment you are on the floor serving customers, and the next you are in the back office trying to make sense of spreadsheets. In a recent discussion between Mark and Michael from Tower Systems, they explored how the Tower Systems POS integration with Xero is changing the game for retailers—specifically by removing the headache of manual bookkeeping.

Here is why this integration is rated an “11 out of 10” by the experts.

1. Tested in the Real World

Michael isn’t just a software trainer; he’s a former retail business owner who managed his shop remotely from another state. He relied entirely on the data flowing from his POS to his accounting software to run the business.

For Michael, the integration wasn’t just a feature; it was a necessity. It allowed him to trust that the financial data being used for BAS and tax reporting was 100% accurate without him needing to be physically present to check the till every day.

2. Accuracy Over Manual Entry

The biggest takeaway from their conversation is the elimination of human error. When you manually enter daily sales figures, mistakes happen. By automating the flow of data between Tower Systems and Xero, you ensure that your books are pristine.

As Michael notes, “We didn’t have to pay someone else to input any of our data manually… it was just there”. This automation frees up business owners to make better decisions based on accurate, real-time data rather than fixing data entry errors.

3. It’s Included (Yes, Free)

A common pain point in the software industry is the “hidden cost” model, where essential features like loyalty programs or accounting integrations cost extra.

Mark highlights a key advantage of the Tower Systems approach: the Xero link is included at no extra cost. Whether you are a small startup or an established store, you get the same professional-grade integration without paying for an additional module.

4. The “Golden Rule” of Setup

If you are ready to set this up, Michael offers one crucial piece of advice: Wait until you have been trading for a week or two.

It might seem counter-intuitive, but it is impossible to test a data link if there is no data to export. By waiting a short period, you can perform a “catch-up” export for those first few weeks, ensuring everything lines up perfectly.

Furthermore, always bring your bookkeeper or accountant to the setup meeting. While the software is easy to use, having a financial professional present ensures that your tax codes, liability accounts, and ledger mappings are compliant from day one. As Michael explains, he can translate the “software speak” into “bookkeeper speak,” bridging the gap so you don’t have to.

Summary

If you are still doing your retail books manually, you are losing time and risking accuracy. As Michael puts it, why wouldn’t you use a tool that saves you hours of work and helps you sleep better at night knowing your data is correct?

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The right POS system for any retail business depends on the specific needs of the retail business. Tower offers specialty retail business software made for local small business retailers. To see if we might help you…, request a free, no-obligation demo today.

Call 1300 662 957 in Australia or 0800 444 367 in New Zealand. Or, email sales@towersystems.com.au.

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AI: Levelling the Playing Field for Small Business Retailers

November 3, 2025

3 Min read

You might have seen the news this past week that Coles is rolling out an enterprise-wide partnership with OpenAI. When we saw that story at Tower Systems, our first thought wasn’t about the competition. It was: “This is fantastic news.”

This move by a retail giant validates what Tower Systems has been focused on for some time: AI isn’t just a gimmick for the big end of town; it’s a genuine “competitive game-changer” for independent, local retailers, including jewellers, bike shops, gift shops, produce businesses, newsagents and other small businesses we serve. It’s leveling the playing field. And the best part? You don’t have to wait. While Coles is just announcing their plans, local, independent retailers are already using powerful AI tools every single day.

We recently made a video discussing this, where we highlighted how Tower Systems has been embedding AI tools from OpenAI, Google Gemini, and others directly into our point-of-sale software for a long time now. It’s not about “future tech”; it’s about practical tools that solve real problems for small business owners.

In the video, we discuss how our customers are already using AI to:

Save hours of admin by automatically analyzing and importing virtually any supplier invoice, with no special setup required.
Market smarter by generating unique product descriptions and blog posts that speak in their business’s authentic voice.
Boost profitability with plain-English reports that identify what’s not selling, what’s overstocked, and even potential theft, long before it becomes a major issue.
Prevent lost sales by getting alerts on popular items you’re about to run out of.

As mentioned in the video, we rely on these and more AI tools in our own retail shop – to save time, make better-informed decisions, and run a smarter, more efficient shop.

This technology is here, it’s accessible, and it’s already making a fundamental difference for local businesses. The Coles announcement is a great signal for the entire retail sector and all who serve it that AI is no longer an option; AI is an essential part of modern retail.

We encourage you to watch the video to see a full breakdown of what this means for local small business retail and how you can leverage this power in your own independent business today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwRHiHlWcVg

As you can probably tell, we’re excited about AI. It makes accessible to small business retailers opportunities for more effectively competing – as plenty are already finding. It’s a terrific opportunity for efficiency and growth.

And, when you’re researching AI, get to the facts. Some software companies say they have AI tools, when they don’t. It’s important you see for yourself what’s available today as this matters

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The 5 steps to finding the right software for your shop

October 30, 2025

5 Min read

Finding the right software for any shop is vital for the right software can add tens of thousands of dollars to the bottom line of your business. The wrong software, on the other hand, can cost a retail business tens of thousands of dollars.

The right software is the software that best serves your needs for a cost that is genuinely affordable and is flexible for you as the business evolves.

Here are our recommended 5 steps to finding the right software for your shop.

Step 1: be sure of what you need.

Make a note of everything you want to use the software for, with sub notes as to the detail. Make notes about the service expectations you have – for example, how easy is support to access, what are the hours of availability, what additional training options are there, is there a process for suggesting software enhancements.

The more detailed your approach before engaging any company the better the outcome for you. This is not something to wing.

Choose the software and the team behind it and not one individual.

Step 2: know your budget.

How much do you want to spend monthly all up for all terminals in your business and any additional facilities you want to use? Is the contract a lock-in or can you quit at any time? How do you pay? Are there any additional costs – some software companies require you to use a specific payments platform for transactions in the shop, which can have a cost beyond average.

Total cost of ownership is a thing – be sure you fully understand this for each POS software package you consider.

Good software companies are transparent about their pricing.

Step 3: see it for yourself.

Have the software demonstrated to you, completely to your satisfaction, covering every area of the software you request. Ask many questions. Get them to record the demonstration and give you a copy – their response speaks to their transparency.

If you are not sure, see it again. A good software company will welcome demonstrating the software to you again.

Each demonstration is an opportunity to learn more about the software company as well as the software itself.

Step 4: do it yourself.

Don’t outsource this. Do the work yourself. Treat it as the big decision it is. Take your time. Raise every doubt you have. Get every promise in writing. The more thorough your approach, the better the outcome for your business.

Consultants can be helpful. But, they are not the ones who will use the software, and, sometimes they can bring a bias to consideration that is not in the interests of your specific business.

Step 5: get to it.

Okay, you’ve made your decision. Now work it, get the most from it. Learn it well and make sure all in your business do too. Use it. Push it. Treat it as an asset that needs to deliver a return. Prove through your approach that your homework paid off.

A bonus step: be in control.

Take your time. Make the decision when you are ready. Beware tricks and manoeuvres designed to get you to make a decision when you are not read.

This is your decision to make, when you are ready.

Choosing your software is not just a one-off purchase; it’s the start of a long-term relationship with the software provider. The company you choose will become a key partner in your business operations. Their approach to service, their culture of innovation, and their understanding of your specific retail needs will directly impact your ability to grow and adapt. This is why Step 1 (being sure of what you need) and Step 3 (seeing it for yourself) are so critical—you are not just assessing a product, you are assessing a partner.

The advice provided here will stand the test of scrutiny. Our approach here at Tower Systems is to provide transparent advice on which you can rely. If at any time in our discussions with a prospective customer we feel we are not the right fit for a business, we will say so.

Our ideal POS software customer is a local independent small retail business, a specialty retail business with no more than 10 retail outlets. Most of our customers have one shop. Our focus on small businesses gives us a customer community where all are equal.

As a company based in Hawthorn, Victoria, we are situated to serve Australian and near by businesses well. We are grateful to count plenty of shops in New Zealand as customers.

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While the right POS system for any retail business depends on the specific needs of the retail business, Tower Systems was built to serve Australian and New Zealand local small business specialty retailers. To see how we can help you…, request a free, no-obligation demo today.

Call 1300 662 957 in Australia or 0800 444 367 in New Zealand. Or, email sales@towersystems.com.au.

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An easy way for retailers to apportion the cost of freight across products on a supplier invoice

September 23, 2025

2 Min read

From Frustration to Efficiency: Simplifying Freight Cost Allocation

Handling the cost of freight can be a significant challenge for any retail business. For some, a substantial freight charge on an invoice can be a source of frustration. For others, the practical struggle lies in accurately apportioning that single cost across all the different items in the shipment.

Let’s start with the frustration. The simple truth is that every single item you receive has a freight cost associated with getting it to your store. Sometimes this cost is clearly itemised on your invoice; other times, it’s hidden within the cost of the goods themselves. But either way, it is always there.

The second challenge is the practical one: how do you accurately assign a portion of a $150 freight bill to hundreds of individual products on an invoice? This is where our Tower Systems POS software can help make the process easy.

In our software, you can take the total freight charge shown on an invoice and have it automatically apportioned across all items received. This ensures the landed cost of each product is accurate. The system is flexible, too. If you feel a specific product should carry more or less of the freight burden, you can easily adjust it manually. Plus, if your invoice has more than one freight charge, you can add them all in to be spread across the items.

Handling freight costs accurately and quickly is essential for maintaining healthy margins. Our software is designed to save you time on these crucial back-office tasks. We believe that every minute saved is valuable. Labour has a cost, and the more we can do to help retailers reduce this, the better.

Our software provides independent small businesses with a framework for consistency in their operations. By simplifying processes like freight allocation, we help you establish a reliable and accurate method for reflecting the true cost of your goods, paving the way for smarter pricing and better business decisions.

We love helping local small business retailers thrive. We do this for bookshops, sewing shops, music shops, garden centres, pet shops, toy shops, produce businesses, stockfeed businesses, jewellers, firearms dealers and more – all specialty retailers, all with unique needs, yet businesses with common needs when it comes to managing freight costs.

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We imported a PDF of a 16 page invoice with 480 stock items into our AI enabled POS software in no time at all with 100% accuracy

September 19, 2025

2 Min read

Manual data entry is the silent thief of productivity in local small business retail. Every business owner knows the feeling: a thick supplier invoice lands on your desk, and you know that hours of tedious, soul-destroying typing lie ahead. It’s a process prone to errors, where a single misplaced decimal or incorrect product code can lead to stock discrepancies, pricing mistakes, and ultimately, lost revenue.

We decided to put a definitive end to that.

We took a real-world, complex challenge: a 16-page supplier invoice containing 480 individual stock items with a freight charge and including some stock items not stocked before. The kind of document that would typically take a staff member hours to process, with a high likelihood of human error.

The result? Our AI-powered POS software ingested, read, and processed the entire document in moments. Not minutes, moments.

Pages processed: 16
Line items: 480
Time taken: Seconds
Accuracy: 100%

How is this possible?

This isn’t simple Optical Character Recognition (OCR). Our Tower Systems small business POS software AI has been trained to understand the structure of an invoice. It doesn’t just see text; it identifies columns and comprehends data, intelligently mapping product codes, descriptions, quantities, costs, and taxes directly into your inventory system.

What this could mean for your business:

Reclaim your time: Free up yourself and your staff to focus on what truly matters—serving customers and growing the business, not acting as data entry clerks.
Eliminate costly errors: 100% accuracy means your stock levels are correct from the moment goods arrive. No more pricing errors or chasing phantom inventory.
Get stock on shelves faster: The delay between receiving a delivery and having it available for sale is drastically reduced. In a fast-moving retail environment, this speed is a competitive advantage.
Improve staff morale: Removing the most tedious tasks from your team’s plate is a guaranteed way to boost job satisfaction.

The days of manually processing supplier invoices are over. Technology should work for you, simplifying complexity and giving you back your most valuable asset: time.

The Tower Systems AI enabled POS software is proving to be a game changer for local and independent small business retailers. Find out more at www.towersystems.com.au or call 1300 662 957 or email sales@towersystems.com.au.

We love helping local small business retailers thrive!

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The power of a $2 Discount: Unlocking bonus revenue you didn’t know you had

September 15, 2025

4 Min read

In a shop using our Tower Systems POS software the other day, we saw first-hand the valuable difference $2 can make. A customer completed their planned purchase and received a discount voucher on their receipt offering $2.00 off their next purchase. They glanced at the voucher, paused, turned around, and picked up a leather purse for $99.95.

“Why not treat yourself,” they said almost to themselves.

This single, small moment perfectly illustrates the powerful psychology of a simple, tangible reward. The $2.00 wasn’t just a discount; it was the permission the customer needed to indulge. It transformed a completed transaction into a brand-new, high-value sale.

This is something we have seen and heard about from retailers since we first launched discount vouchers in our POS software twelve years ago.

This powerful sales-driving tool isn’t a future feature or a costly add-on. Discount Voucher facilities are built into our Tower Systems POS software right now. They are easy to set up, effortless to manage, and continue to deliver bonus revenue for a minimal, often zero, cost.

Why these simple vouchers work so well

The effectiveness of this feature lies in its straightforward and honest approach. In a world of complex loyalty schemes, the direct discount voucher cuts through the noise.

Transparency is key: We all know what a dollar is worth. When you offer $5.00 off, the value is immediate and universally understood. This clarity is more compelling than abstract points systems. Who knows how much a point is worth? The customer has to do mental gymnastics, recall the rules of the program, and wonder about the true value. A dollar discount is instant gratification.
It feels like ‘found money’: A voucher printed on a receipt feels like an unexpected gift. This positive emotional response creates goodwill and encourages the customer to spend their newfound “cash” immediately, just as our purse-buyer did.
It drives immediate action: The voucher creates a compelling reason for a customer to either return to your store soon or, even better, to continue shopping right there and then. It turns a single purchase mission into a browsing and discovery session.

Putting vouchers to work in your business

Your Tower Systems software provides the flexibility to tailor voucher campaigns to your specific business goals. You can set them up in minutes to:

Reward every customer: Set up a simple “catch-all” voucher that prints on every eligible receipt, offering a small discount on their next purchase. This is a brilliant way to encourage repeat business.
Drive larger sales (spend & get): Configure vouchers to be issued only when a customer spends over a certain amount. For example, “Spend $100 and get a $10 voucher for your next visit.” This incentivises customers to increase their basket size.
Move specific stock: Need to clear out last season’s items or promote a new product line? Create vouchers that are only valid for specific departments or categories (e.g., “$5.00 off any purchase from our new giftware range”).
Re-engage lost customers: Use your customer data to identify shoppers who haven’t been in for a while and send them a targeted “We Miss You” email.

The setup is simple, the impact is real

Activating this feature is straightforward. Within your Tower Systems POS software, you can easily define the voucher’s value, set an expiry date to create urgency, specify a minimum spend for redemption, and control when and how it is issued. The POS automates the entire process—from printing the offer on the receipt to tracking and redeeming it—ensuring it’s a seamless experience for both your staff and your customers.

Don’t underestimate the power of a small incentive. The story of the $2.00 voucher and the $99.95 purse is not an anomaly; it’s a repeatable strategy. We have seen this ourselves.

Explore the discount voucher facilities in your Tower Systems software today. Start turning every transaction into a compelling opportunity for your next sale.

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Are you looking for an alternative to Shopify POS?

September 14, 2025

6 Min read

If you are looking for an alternative to Shopify POS for your shop, our Tower Systems POS software could be worth considering.

Now, to be clear, what we are talking about there is POS software for a physical shop.

Shopify started life as an e-commerce platform and that remains the core focus of their business. The Shopify POS app or service is an add-on for the physical shop.

Like many POS software companies, years ago we went through an approval process with Shopify to be an approved integrated POS software solution for Shopify – to offer in-store POS that’s integrated with their e-commerce platform. we continue to offer this today with many of our POS software customers using this.

What’s different about our POS software offering and how we compare to Shopify POS is that we are an in-store first solution, a physical retail first solution. That’s our specialty. In our software we go deep into serving the needs of retail businesses, workflow needs, operational needs, business growth needs. We also go deep into the needs of specific vertical retail channels: jewellers, bike shops, music shops, bookshops, pet shops, firearms dealers, camping shops, gift shops, newsagents, produce businesses, farm supply businesses, garden centres and many more.

This deep specialisation in our POS software matters because it addresses unique, real-world workflows that generic systems cannot. For a bike shop, it means seamlessly tracking serialised inventory from purchase to sale and managing workshop repairs. For a jeweller, it involves handling intricate repairs, managing consignment stock, and tracking precious metals. For a garden centre, it could be integrating scales to sell bulk landscape supplies by weight or it could be managing price changes to products when repotting or it could relate to producing product labels on weatherproof labels. These are not edge cases; they are the core, daily operations for these businesses, and our software is built from the ground up to make them efficient and profitable.

The needs of a physical shop are different to online, especially a retail business in an area of specialisation.

We think that a physical shop will be better served by something made first for their type of business and that any online business they have will be better serves by software made for the online business. That’s why we see our Tower Systems POS software as a viable alternative to Shopify POS for a physical store.

Make your own decision though. Do your research. Be sure to test all of your business specific needs against any POS software you are considering, including Shopify POS. And when you are dong the research, talk to the company, see how they handle your queries – some POS software companies are hard to talk to, you can’t pick up the phone and speak to someone. If personal contact will matter to your and your business, the availability of it should be a factor in your consideration as to the best POS software for your business.

When looking for an alternative to Shopify POS be clear about any doubts you have re Shopify POS (if any) and ensure the software alternatives you are considering do adequately address these doubts.

If you are looking for an alternative to Shopify POS for your retail business, consider Tower Systems. Our POS software might fit your needs. We’d be grateful for an opportunity to do this.

Now, here are some features and benefits with our Tower Systems POS software that customers tell us they love:

The transparent approach to suggesting software enhancements.
Easy access to support.
Easy sales processing.
Smooth counter workflow.
Specialty retail functions for a range of specialty business types.
Built-in AI tools.
Loyalty tools customers love.
Easy customisation options.
The ability to sell anywhere, including on the road.
Theft mitigation tools.
Built in business insights.
Scale integration.
Selling by fractions.
Selling products in kits.
Comprehensive local delivery / dispatch tools.
Roster integration.
The ability to suspend sales.
Easy import of supplier invoices without needing to use some EDI tool.
Tracking and leveraging customer events.
Integrated with Xero for accounting.
No locked-in payment platform requirement.
No cost based on each transaction.
No lock-in contract.

Our POS software is about much more than this list.

Our extensive feature set is a direct result of our ‘in-store first’ philosophy. Functionality like direct scale integration for selling by weight, tools to handle fractional quantities for items sold by length, or the ability to seamlessly suspend a sale to serve another customer are born from decades of working directly with retailers on their shop floors. These are not just items on a checklist; they are robust solutions to real-world, physical retail challenges. While an e-commerce platform may eventually add such features as an afterthought, for us, they are foundational because the success of your physical shop is our foundational purpose.

Tower Systems in-store POS software solution integrated with Shopify for e-commerce gives you the best of both worlds with a single source of truth as to inventory and all transactions. While we integrate with Big Commerce, Woo Commerce and Magento, the majority of our online retail businesses integrate through our PSO software with Shopify for e-commerce.

We’d be happy to connect you with existing customers so you can talk retailer to retailer about the Shopify integration. We can also connect you with retailers who have switched from SHopify POS to our Tower Systems POS software. They can speak for themselves as to why and how it has gone for them.

If you are looking for an alternative to Shopify POS, Tower Systems might be a good choice. Let’s talk to explore that for you. No pressure. If there is anything you need that we don’t cover, we will tell you.

Before we go, here’s what we don’t have that Shopify does have when it comes Shopify POS – a huge marketing budget. We’re not paying to come first in search listings or to run billboard ads on social media. Most of our business is won by word of mouth – local small business retailers pitching us to their fellow retailers, for which we are sincerely grateful.

When we see someone ask the question what’s the best POS software for my business? or the question what’s a good alternative to Shopify POS?, we say: hey consider us here at Tower Systems. We will gladly show you what our software offers and let you experience the personal service we provide.

We’re not right for everyone, we know that. We might be right for your business. Let’s find out.

…

Call 1300 662 957 in Australia or 0800 444 367 in New Zealand. Or, email sales@towersystems.com.au.

#SmallBusiness #Retail #POSsoftware

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Your business, your POS, your way: flexible software for Aussie small business retailers

September 2, 2025

3 Min read

In the diverse landscape of Australian local small business retail, a one-size-fits-all approach rarely works. A boutique on a bustling city laneway has different needs and technical realities than a hardware store in a regional town, and different needs to a produce business in a rural setting. At Tower Systems, we understand this. That’s why our Point of Sale software offers genuine flexibility, putting you in complete control of how you run your business.

We believe your POS system should adapt to your business, not the other way around. Ask any of our thousands of local small business retail customers. They can speak to flexibility, the ability to conduct retail their way.

Love the Cloud? We’ve got you covered.

If you want the freedom to access your business data from anywhere, at any time, you can choose to run your Tower Systems POS software 100% in the cloud. This setup is perfect for the modern retailer on the move, allowing you to manage stock, run reports, and keep an eye on sales whether you’re at a trade show, at home, or on holiday.

Prefer to keep it local? No worries.

For many retailers, the top priority is rock-solid stability at the counter. If the internet goes down, you still need to serve your customers. We get it. That’s why you can run our POS software entirely on local computers in your shop. Your sales, stock management, and day-to-day operations continue seamlessly, completely independent of your internet connection.

Got sketchy Internet? We’ve built for it.

This is where our commitment to Australian small business shines. We know that internet reliability can be a challenge, especially outside of major metro areas. If your business operates with a less-than-perfect internet connection, our software provides the perfect solution.

You can run your core POS functions locally, ensuring the till is always operational, and have the software sync your data to the cloud, if thats’s what you want, whenever a stable connection is available. It’s the ultimate safety net, offering the resilience of a local system with the convenient backup and remote access benefits of the cloud. No more stressing when the internet drops out during a busy Saturday rush.

You choose.

Your business is unique, and your POS software should reflect that. Whether you want a pure cloud, strictly local, or a hybrid setup that gives you peace of mind, Tower Systems provides a flexible solution that is appropriate for your specific needs.

We empower you to run your business, your way.

Now, if all this sounds a bit shiny, let us show you. We love talking one-on-one with local small business retailers. We’d also love to connect you with some of our customers.

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Your voice, our code: how our small business retail customers shape our POS software

September 1, 2025

4 Min read

Having the right tools is crucial for success, especially in local small business retail. At Tower Systems, we believe that the best people to help us shape our Point of Sale (POS) software are the ones who use it every day: our customers. That’s why we’re proud to showcase our groundbreaking Software Ideas platform, a revolutionary tool that puts you in the driver’s seat of our software development.

Back in 2009, inspired by Jeff Jarvis’ book What Would Google Do?, we embarked on a mission to open up our software development process. The result was the launch of Software Ideas, a proprietary platform we created that empowers our Tower Systems POS software customers to suggest and vote on software changes. This world-first in the POS software space continues today in 2025 to be a cornerstone of our commitment to genuine and transparent cooperation with our small business retail customer community.

The Software Ideas platform is a simple yet powerful tool for collaboration. Here’s how it works:

Suggest: Have an idea for a new feature, function, or report in our Retailer software? Submit it through the Software Ideas platform.
Vote: Browse the ideas submitted by other users and vote for the ones you’d like to see implemented. Each customer has one vote, making every voice heard.
Collaborate: Add your own notes and comments to existing ideas, fostering a community of innovation.

Our software development manager reviews every submission, combining similar ideas, contacting customers for further input, and putting them up for public voting. This transparent process allows us to prioritise the features and functions that are most requested by you, our valued customers.

We are proud to say that every update to our POS software includes enhancements suggested by our customers through the Software Ideas platform. In fact, our latest update, currently in the final stages of quality assurance, contains eight enhancements that originated from this very process. We make sure to identify these user-suggested enhancements in our update notes to demonstrate the power of your engagement.

Every idea is thoroughly costed and evaluated, and the list of live ideas is considered for each software update package we create. This is not just a suggestion box; it’s a dynamic and influential part of our development cycle.

The Software Ideas platform is more than just a feature; it’s a testament to our belief in a two-way partnership with our customers. It’s a unique service that encourages retailers to join our community, knowing that their voices will be heard and their needs will be met.

We are committed to acting on the will of our customer community, within the development budget funded from support fees and sales revenue. We are also committed to complete transparency. If a change request is not feasible for technical reasons, we will explain why.

Sixteen years on from its launch, we are proud to point to the valuable success of Software Ideas. It has not only enriched our POS software but has also strengthened our relationship with the retailers we serve. We want our customers to tell us what to do, to help us make our software better. The launch of Tower Systems Software Ideas is a direct result of trusting our customers to help us innovate and grow.

If you have an idea for how we can improve our software, we encourage you to visit our website and become a part of the conversation. Together, we can continue to build a POS system that is truly by retailers, for retailers.

Thank you to our customers for their ideas and encouragement – their engagement is the heart of Software Ideas.

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Is changing your POS system worth the effort for a small business retailer?

August 28, 2025

3 Min read

It is easy to feel handcuffed to a POS software, especially if the company you are using makes it hard for you to switch systems. Some software companies make it difficult to export your sales, product and other data. Some charge heavily for this and related services. Some even make talking about switching software difficult.

Here at Tower Systems we think the extent of difficulty in switching from a POS software solution could speak to the confidence that software company has in their product and service.

Some POS software companies actively make it hard, and expensive, to switch thinking that keeps you their customer for longer.

Recent experience tells us that the bigger the push-back from a company, the more motivated some small business retailers are in switching POS software.

Here at Tower Systems, we see your data as valuable asset, and it belongs to you. Our commitment is to provide easy access to your own information, without hidden fees or intentionally difficult processes. Our confidence lies not in providing a solution so valuable and a service so responsive that you won’t have a reason to. For us, the freedom to leave is the most compelling reason to stay.

Our belief in freedom is backed by our commitment to delivering tangible value every day. From specialist features designed for unique retail channels to our accessible, Australian-based help desk support, we focus on providing the tools that actually help you run a better business. We are confident that by empowering you, we build a partnership you will choose to be in for the long term.

Retailers should use the software that best serves the needs of their business, that helps the business succeed. Sticking with software because switching too hard could be a bad decision, encumbering the business with costs that hold the business back.

if you are using POS software that is hard to switch from, research the cost of staying with what you have versus the cost of switching. next, consider the benefits of making the search, and place a value on this. This simple exercise may show that short term cost has a longer term gain, or not. The key is that you do the research, so you can make an informed decision.

We will say it again: the extent of difficulty in switching from a POS software solution could speak to the confidence that software company has in their product and service.

…

While the right POS system for an retail business depends on the specific needs of the retail business, Tower Systems was built to serve Australian and New Zealand local small business specialty retailers. To see how we can help you…, request a free, no-obligation demo today.

Call 1300 662 957 in Australia or 0800 444 367 in New Zealand. Or, email sales@towersystems.com.au.

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What is good POS software to connect to Xero?

August 21, 2025

3 Min read

Our Tower Systems POS software connected to Xero. For many years we have been a partner of Xero, listed on their website, with a direct to Xero POS software integration that meets the Xero requirements as well as the requirements of the small business retailers we serve.

We are grateful to Xero for listing us as a POS software integration partner and for the opportunity to reach more local small business retailers through this.

What’s the best POS software to connect with Xero? That depends on your needs. We think our Tower Systems POS software is worthy of consideration for jewellers, garden centres, bike shops, pet shops, newsagents,. toy shops, games shops, fashion shops, fabric shops, haberdashery businesses, landscape businesses, music shops, firearms dealers, bookshops, health food shops, organic goods shops and plenty more.

Our POS software is made for local, independent specialty retail shops. Our POS software Xero link saves time, reduces mistakes and helps local retailers run more efficient and successful retail businesses.

Our powerful Tower Advantage Link platform allows Tower Systems’ specialist retail software to connect directly to Xero, one of Australia’s most popular and streamlined accounting services. Linking Retailer to Xero saves you precious time by completing the majority of your day-to-day accounting for you. We are experts at bringing independent retail businesses and Xero together and pride ourselves on connecting business owners with such an innovative, useful service.

If you are in Australia or New Zealand, select a POS software solution that is equally local like Xero. Our Tower Systems POS software is made in Australia and supported in Australia and New Zealand.

Save time, eliminate bookkeeping costs, cut mistakes and make better business decisions sooner with the Tower Systems POS software Xero integration.

The direct connection between your Tower Systems POS and Xero provides a live, accurate snapshot of your business’s financial health. Sales data, inventory adjustments, and customer payments flow seamlessly, eliminating delays and giving you the clarity needed to make informed, strategic decisions on the fly. This real-time visibility is crucial for agile specialty retailers, and our local support team is on hand to ensure your connection is set up smoothly, so you can leverage these powerful insights from day one.

So, to the question What is good POS software to connect to Xero? we think our Tower Systems POS software solution is good POS software to connect to Xero.

Call 1300 662 957 in Australia or 0800 444 367 in New Zealand. Or, email sales@towersystems.com.au.

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Omnichannel, or unified commerce, helps independent retailers thrive

August 13, 2025

3 Min read

Unifying a bricks-and-mortar store, a high street store as some call it, and a Shopify website for that same store can be a challenge. Not all POS systems make this unification easy.

Historically, software businesses have referred to this unification of as omnichannel. IT people love a buzzword.

The label doesn’t matter: unified commerce or omnichannel. They mean the same thing. What matters is that retailers have the toolset necessary to meet their customers where and when they want. This is the flexibility that retailers need from their POS system.

A unified solution is a POS system directly integrated with Shopify or one of the other e-commerce platforms like Big Commerce, Woo Commerce or Magento. This integration provides the business with robust deep retail management features in the POS system as online tools and flexibility in the Shopify platform. each has their area of specialisation.

The best approach is for the POS system to own and manage inventory and to feed sales and other business data through to an integrated accounting solution. In this world, Shopify captures online sales and these are reported real time to the POS system. The POS system, likewise, provides inventory data such as pricing, images and product descriptions to Shopify. This is all done non the background, seamlessly.

This unified approach to a bricks and mortar store and a Shopify website beings to the business the ability to manage inventory in one place, to accurately share sales transactions and to capture sales where it is mist suited by the customer,

A good POS system will make the link easy, seamless, with appropriate data flowing in both directions to avoid duplication of labour. This is where you need to research POS systems to ensure that you only consider those with the dynamic live link described, that works the way you want it to work for you.

If you have a question about whether a POS system does deliver a seamless Shopify integration it’s best you ask the question, ask them to show this to you. See it for yourself. This is vital. Make sure the connection works how you want it to. Not all POS systems link with Shopify in the same way.

Unifying a bricks-and-mortar store with Shopify is easy with the right POS system partner and with the right approach, mindset and business processes on your side.

With the right POS system, local small business retailers can easily sell in-store and online. Tower Systems solves this challenge for Australian and New Zealand local small business specialty retailers. To see how we can help you…, request a free, no-obligation demo today.

Call 1300 662 957 in Australia or 0800 444 367 in New Zealand. Or, email sales@towersystems.com.au.

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Locally made POS software is more suited to local retail needs

August 8, 2025

3 Min read

POS software made offshore is less likely to serve local retail business needs in Australian and New Zealand. And, for sure, local small business retailers in Australian and New Zealand have needs unique to their situation.

How’s a developer in India, Russia, Indonesia or Bulgaria going to understand and serve local retail needs. It’s unlikely they will since they are more likely developing software for the world market.

Oooh, the world market. It feels grand and something to lean into. In reality, the world market is generic, safe, average.

Local retail serves the local community. It is unique, local. It has local language and supports sharing local insights, such as product care information relevant to locals

If you look at your needs as a local retailer and then at software that may suit you, we are sure that you will find locally made and supported POS software more financially beneficial for your business than something made offshore, far away from your business and likely not tuned to the local needs of your shop.

Local software developers have an intimate understanding of market nuances. Locally developed POS software is purpose-built to address these.

Locally based software companies have an ability to provide more responsive support and quicker updates to address local market shifts, regulatory changes, or customer feedback.

When you choose a POS software, you are choosing a partner for your business, a partner for your business. The choice is It’s about a business that understands your business and its needs and the way you do business.

By supporting a locally based software company, you’re investing in a partnership that will grow with your business and the local economy. So, before you commit to a generic, one-size-fits-all solution, take a moment to consider how a truly local software can empower your shop to thrive.

Local retail businesses like yours are unlikely to be generic, so why go with generic software.

Take your time. Understand what matters to you. Look around. Don’t be pressured. Consider whether your localness matters to the future of your business.

…

While the right POS system depends on the specific needs of your retail business, Tower Systems was built to solve these exact challenges for Australian and New Zealand local small business specialty retailers. To see how we can help you…, request a free, no-obligation demo today.

Call 1300 662 957 in Australia or 0800 444 367 in New Zealand. Or, email sales@towersystems.com.au.

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Buying a business with POS software? Here’s advice on how to get the most out of this in-place asset

July 15, 2025

2 Min read

If you are buying a retail business that has POS software there are steps you can take to leverage the asset already in place, to easy your tradition into the business an to find early and easy wins for the business.

We see new owners sometimes want to change the POS software to something they know. What that can make sense, it could be that learning the POS software in place provides a faster pathway to making the business your own, to leverage for you a quicker return on the investment you have made in the business.

Learning the existing software makes it easier for you to make money from the existing data in the business – even is the data is not as well looked after as it may have been.

Our advice is to assess the software, and the data. Make an informed business decision as to whether they are good for how you want to run the business and what you are looking to achieve with and from the business.

Here at Tower Systems we offer new business owners with easy access to wonderful self-serve training resources as well as access to personal one-on-one training. Training is the key to unlocking the best value possible from any POS software. We know that someone trained by us will get far more utility of our POS software than someone not trained by us.

The FREE option is our library of 150+ training videos. These are organised by topic, making it easy for your to learn different parts of the software at your own pace and in your own location and without spending any money.

Our POS software for local small business retailers has many cool business building opportunities cities. Leveraging these takes knowledge of the software tools. This is where good training comes in.

The POS software you inherit could be a treasure chest of business intelligence waiting to be unlocked. It holds the secrets to your customers’ buying habits, seasonal trends, and most profitable product lines. Proper training acts as the key, transforming this raw data into actionable strategies. By investing a little time in learning the system, you empower yourself to not only continue operations seamlessly but to also quickly identify and act on these valuable insights, driving growth and ensuring your new business venture is profitable from the outset.

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What is scanned based trading and how does it help retailers, especially small business retailers?

June 23, 2025

2 Min read

Scanned based trading in retail is where a supplier supplies product to a shop based on sales of the product in the shop. The POS software in the retail shop feeds sales to the supplier and the supplier triggers a top-up order based on settings agreed with the retailer.

Scanned based trading is a time saver for retailers. This is useful in today’s retail settings where retailers are time-poor.

With popular items being out of stock too often, scanned based trading can help retailers to not be out of stock of items they need.

Our Tower Systems POS software has the data feed necessary to supply suppliers with sales per store, thereby feeding into suppliers ready themselves to engage in scanned based trading with local small business retailers.

In some scanned based trading models, retailers only pay for inventory they sell.

Reduced inventory costs: Retailers don’t have to tie up capital in inventory that might not sell.
Lower financial risk: They are not stuck with unsold or expired products.
Increased product variety: Retailers can experiment with new products without significant upfront investment.
Reduced shrink (loss of inventory): While the exact split of shrink liability is negotiated, SBT can reduce losses from operational errors as suppliers have more incentive to manage their inventory effectively.
Improved cash flow: Payments are made only when sales occur.

These are just some of the benefits that POS software facilitates scanned based trading has delivered from our experiences in retail.

While the benefits for retailers are clear, scan-based trading offers significant advantages to suppliers, fostering a closer and more aligned relationship.

Suppliers gain real-time visibility into sales data, enabling more accurate forecasting, optimised production, and efficient inventory management. This direct insight allows them to better understand consumer demand and tailor their offerings accordingly, ultimately leading to increased sales and reduced waste from overproduction.

By taking on the inventory risk, suppliers often secure broader distribution channels as retailers become more willing to stock a wider variety of their products, even new or niche items. This collaborative approach, where both parties benefit from shared data and aligned incentives, transforms the traditional buyer-seller dynamic into a more strategic partnership focused on mutual growth and efficiency.

Retailers love scanned based trading because of less out of stocks, increased revenue and time saves.

Suppliers love scanned based trading because of increased sales and more value from retailer relationships.

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While plenty preach you to pursue scale, staying small may be more profitable

June 6, 2025

3 Min read

Everywhere you look, the message for small business owners is the same: bigger is better. Business gurus applaud “scalable” and “replicable” models. Influencers celebrate follower milestones and encourage everyone to join the race for numbers.

It’s as if size is the only yardstick of success.

It’s not.

Sure there are the headline stories of small business owners who have made it big. The thing is, for each one of those there are hundreds, thousands, who did not make it, and not for lack of trying.

Who benefits most when you chase this endless pursuit of “more”? Often, it’s the very people telling you to do it – consultants, gurus, and influencers who profit from your participation in the game. Their goals might not align with yours, and their interests might be served far more than your own.

This pressure to chase size feels a lot like the relentless societal push to be slim, have perfect white teeth, or a full head of hair. It’s as if being content with what you have simply isn’t an option.

But what if the true goal isn’t endless expansion, but happiness? Happiness for you, the business owner; happiness for those who rely on your business for their income; and happiness for your customers.

A profitable small business can often generate more money for its owners than a business relentlessly pursuing scale, especially if that pursuit involves significant financial risk. Think about the emotional toll of taking on a hefty loan to fund growth. Compare that to the peace of mind that comes with a small, debt-free, self-sustaining business. It’s a different kind of wealth, one measured in peace of mind rather than balance sheet zeroes.

In our experience, small businesses are inherently more nimble, innovative, and efficient than their larger counterparts. They’re often more profitable too.We suspect this is because in a small business, everything matters, and nothing goes unnoticed. Inefficiency simply can’t hide. In big businesses, it can easily get lost in the noise.

Today, technology makes it easier than ever for us to achieve more with less in our small businesses, and with less risk.

Another significant benefit of being small is easy differentiation. Your people, their knowledge, and their personal approach to transacting business are your unique selling points. In a big business, this kind of personalisation is often systemised into something average and, ultimately, lost.

If you genuinely value your independence and understand the power of differentiation through personal service, you’re likely to find more happiness and fulfillment running a small to mid-size business than perpetually chasing scale.

So, don’t let anyone dictate your path or your definition of success. Reach your own conclusion about what’s truly right for you and your business.

Here at Tower Systems we serve local small business retailers, independent retailers. We made that decision long ago. It keeps us close to our customers, focussed on their needs and not beholden to one huge customer. Local matters to local communities. As cliche as that sounds, it’s what we believe. We are grateful to serve local small business retailers.

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We are grateful for Retail Fest 2025

May 31, 2025

3 Min read

We enjoyed our time at Retail fest on the Gold Coast this week. We got to meet colleagues in the POS software space, be introduced to some new retailer prospects, talk with the payments specialists at Tyro and learn from the retail specialists at Retail Fest. It was an inspiring, engaging and relaxing few days, a perfect trade show we think.

A significant emphasis at Retail Fest on the Gold Coast this week was placed on leveraging AI to automate, optimise, and scale retail businesses. This includes using AI for demand forecasting, inventory planning, streamlining support, and enhancing customer experiences. The thing is, Tower Systems has already delivered embedded AI tools for its small business retail customers, tools that are already helping deliver cost savings, revenue growth and improved profit experiences.

AI is here for local small business retailers in the Tower Systems POS software.

Our advice to retailers looking for AI tools to help serve their business goals – make sure that the AI tools are real and not other tech wrapped to look like AI. make sure, too, that the AI tools are easily accessible within your existing tech desk. Going outside may have a cost and an operational speed-bump that may not serve your needs.

While some at Retail Fest spoke about scale, here at Tower Systems we serve local small business retailers for whom scale is usually not top of mind. We know of many instances where a successful local small retail; business delivers more profitability than a scaled business as the scaled business is often built to perpetually scale whereas the stable local small retail; business is built for profit.

Retail Fest prides itself on being a “community-driven event,” providing extensive networking opportunities to connect with peers, industry leaders, mentors, and potential partners. We experienced this first-hand, for which we are sincerely grateful.

This focus on community and practical application aligns with our Tower Systems philosophy. We believe that the true power of AI for small businesses lies not in abstract “scale” but in tangible, embedded tools that deliver real-world benefits. Our presence and experience at Retail Fest reinforced our commitment to providing accessible, effective AI solutions directly within our existing POS software.

For many local retailers, the goal isn’t just about getting bigger, but about getting better – more efficient, more profitable, and more connected to their customers. That’s why our AI development continues to prioritise the specific needs of independent retailers, ensuring they can harness the power of artificial intelligence to thrive in an increasingly competitive market, all while maintaining the community focus that makes their businesses unique.

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Low-cost fast-track Shopify web development opportunity for local small business retailers

May 14, 2025

3 Min read

If you want a website for your business, and fast, this is for you:

LIMITED TIME OFFER: Low-cost fast-track Shopify web development offer.

Fixed price $3,990.00 (inc. GST)

If you know what you want to sell online; have a logo; have straight forward requirements; offer reasonably easy to ship products; want to go live within a month. This proposal is for you.

In the pre-start assessment, we will assess whether you meet the above requirements. If you do not, we reserve the right to not proceed.

The goal of this project is to deliver you a website you can use to start selling online, to gain experience and that you can maintain with minimal technical knowledge. This is a fast-track option, to help you get online quickly.

The terms and conditions at www.towersystems.com.au apply.

Here’s what’s included in the $3,990.00 fixed price:

Qualification meeting (up to 30 mins): Bring to this over the phone meeting: your logo, about us text, contact text, home page text/images, details (including images) of the products you want to launch with.
1hr consultation & planning including theme selection.
1hr support training & Tower Systems Retailer POS software setup to train you on setup of products with product descriptions and images in Retailer for linking to the website.
10 hours of Shopify store setup by our specialist web developer: Setup pages using the content you supply: Home – you provide images and text. About Us – you provide the text. Contact – you provide the details. One standard product page layout. Blog – you to write about the products you sell, to drive traffic.
Setup structure using your available product feed: Up to 25 menu links.
On completion – up to 2hr Shopify handover training

Costs not included in the quote.

Domain & Email – you’ll need to set these up. It’s straightforward. Register with Crazy Domains or similar.
Theme purchase – if you prefer to not use a free theme.
Shopify plan & transaction fees.
Website plugins you require.

Limits to the proposal.

Our goal is to have your website live in 2 weeks. This depends on how ready you are. We will hold the project for no more than 2 months total. If either additional time is required, or if unresponsive, the site is handed over, as is.

Important note.

A website is a hungry beast. It requires work almost daily to drive traffic and win sales. It will only be as successful as the attention you provide it. This proposal offers you a website that is a good starting point.

Interested?

Please email: sales@towersystems.com.au. They will want to see that you have a logo; have straight forward requirements; offer reasonably easy to ship products; want to go live within a month.

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POS software embedded dispatch management tools tailored for Australian small business specialty retailers

May 8, 2025

3 Min read

Successful dispatch management is important for local specialty retailers. Getting the right products delivered on time at the best price and with all paperwork in order is challenging. Garden centres, produce businesses, feedstock businesses, landscaping businesses – all of these and similar businesses with dispatch needs understand the challenges.

We are grateful to the many local small business retailers with dispatch needs who have helped us evolve the dispatch management tools in our POS software.

The dispatch management tools in our POS software empower retailers to manage the dispatch of sold products within their business efficiently and effectively, all in one place.

Retailers can easily manage the scheduling of their in-house vehicle assets, ensuring optimal utilisation and resource allocation. The system allows for the straightforward allocation of specific dispatch jobs to designated vehicles, providing clear accountability and organisation. Furthermore, the software enables real-time tracking of dispatch completion, offering valuable insights into delivery progress and potential delays.

Beyond vehicle management, our tools facilitate comprehensive management of dispatch orders at both the individual customer level and other relevant organisational levels. Retailers can gain a clear and consolidated view of dispatch activities by vehicle, allowing for efficient route planning and workload balancing. Additionally, the system provides the ability to view all outstanding orders for a specific customer assigned to a particular vehicle, enhancing customer service and delivery coordination.

To ensure a smoother and more accurate dispatch experience for customers, and to maximise operational efficiencies, our software incorporates robust address validation capabilities. This feature helps to minimise delivery errors and associated costs. Recognising the dynamic nature of local deliveries, the system also offers dispatch route options for use by drivers. Importantly, it empowers drivers with the flexibility to manage their dispatch sequence based on their invaluable local knowledge and other pertinent factors, optimising delivery routes in real-time.

The dispatch management facilities embedded within our Tower Systems POS software are robust, field-tested solutions that have been embraced and lauded by our valued customers. We deeply appreciate the collaborative journey we have undertaken with these retailers, whose invaluable feedback and insightful suggestions have directly shaped the evolution of this software, ensuring it truly meets their on-the-ground needs.

It is not commonplace for POS software to delve so deeply into such a specific area of operational need. However, for businesses such as garden centres, farm supply stores, produce retailers, landscape businesses, and others with in-house delivery operations, these integrated dispatch management facilities offer a workflow management solution and time-saving efficiencies that are genuinely appreciated and impactful.

Developed entirely from the ground up by our dedicated in-house POS software development team, these dispatch facilities represent true innovation for specialty retailers with mid-sized dispatch operations. We are, understandably, very proud of what we have achieved in this domain for our local small business retail partners. This is comprehensive software tailored to address the very specific and niche requirements within selected specialty retail channels. This focused approach embodies the very essence of Tower Systems’ mission – to serve the unique needs of these specialised marketplaces.

At Tower Systems, we take pride in creating and supporting the software we offer. We are committed to providing our retailers with an ever-evolving POS solution that meets their current needs and anticipates future demands in the specialty retail marketplaces we serve. Our integrated dispatch management tools are a testament to this commitment, providing a powerful and tailored solution for Australian specialty retailers.

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Artificial Intelligence embedded in POS software helps local small business retailers move smarter, faster

May 5, 2025

2 Min read

Here at Tower Systems we are seeing Artificial intelligence embedded in POS software help local small business retailers move smarter, faster.

We released our first POS software embedded AI tools in mmid 2022 with our most significant Artificial Intelligence advances released earlier in 2025.

I am shocked at what I can get done in a day now, one retailer told us. This is a game-changer for my shop, another said. I am discovering opportunities I’d have missed previously, another said. I love it, a retailer in their mid seventies said.

The Artificial Intelligence tools now embedded in ur Tower Systems POS software are practical and success outcome focussed for our local small business retail customers. Using them is like choosing the pen you wish to write with, they are everyday tools designed to save time and to get you to the best possible decision for your business.

Leveraging the very latest LLMs from OpenAI and Google, the AI tools in our POS software provide our retailers with options hitherto unavailable.

Our AI POS software empowers retailers to optimise their online presence by generating compelling product names and Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) ready descriptions. They simplify administrative tasks by effortlessly converting PDF supplier invoices into import-ready electronic formats. Retailers can also leverage AI for price comparison, identifying opportunities to improve profitability and stay competitive.

One customer told us recently that they now do in five minutes work that previously took them three hours. This is work they had to do twice a month, delivering a saving a at least six man-hours a money. This is senior staff work that costs $38.00 an hour. The business is saving $228.00 a month or $2,736.00 a year from this one Artificial Intelligence facility alone. That’s real money in the bank for the retailer.

The core advantages of our AI tools are time savings, improved decision quality, and faster decision-making. We are committed to ongoing research and development, with exciting enhancements on the horizon.

We love hearing stories from our customers on how they are benefitting from the AI tools embedded in our POS software and we are excited for the stories that will come as we deliver more in this space.

Helping local small business retailers efficiently run profitable businesses is our goal here.

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We are grateful for mums in local small business retail

April 29, 2025

1 Min read

As you’re out shopping for Mother’s Day, it’s likely you’ll encounter a mum working in or running a shop, juggling work, the business, family, home and more. Plenty of mums we see in local retail are mentors to others in their business. Plenty are champions in their local community. See them. Celebrate them. Appreciate them. #Local #SmallBusiness #retail #grateful

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Small business retail advice: specialty software matters to specialty retailers

April 28, 2025

3 Min read

One thing to love about local small retail businesses is their focus on being specialists, being focussed on a product or service niche. People are more likely to trust a specialty retailer for ethic rout, their uniqueness, their specialisation.

It stands to reason that the needs of specialty retailers are best met by software designed for eerie area of expertise.

Jewellers benefit from software designed for jewellers. Big shop businesses benefit from software made for bike shops. Bookshops benefit from software made for bookshops. Produce businesses benefit from software made for produce businesses. Garden centres benefit from software made for garden centres.

You can see where we are going with this.

If you want plants for your local garden a local garden centre will be more helpful than a general retail shop that sells all manner of things.

We understand and appreciate the value of the specialist.

The same is true of software.

Anyone can say they have software for this or that type of business. Only some software companies actually make software for some specialty retail channels. Take jewellers. Right now, at the time of writing this post, Tower Systems is the only company developing software in Australia for Aussie jewellers. And, yes, Aussie jewellers have unique needs, needs serves by our specialty jeweller POS software.

Specialist retail software made for your type of business is more likely to help more in the running of your business, assisting productivity and nurturing profitability.

Generic software can only go so far. It is certainly unlikely to help you shine a light on the specialty nature of your business, what makes you unique.

If being a specialty retailer matters to you, taker a moment to consider software made for your type of business.

This laser focus on specific industries allows Tower Systems to build in features and functionalities that directly address the unique challenges and opportunities within each of the retail channels we serve. For instance, a point-of-sale system designed for a jeweller might include features for managing valuations, custom orders, and intricate inventory tracking of precious metals and gemstones – functionalities that would be irrelevant and cumbersome in software designed for a bookstore. By catering to these niche requirements, specialist software empowers small retail businesses to operate more efficiently, serve their customers better, and ultimately leverage their unique expertise for greater success.

If you are a specialty retailer, we’d love to see if we can serve your needs.

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POS software made for equestrian businesses

April 26, 2025

2 Min read

Australian made. Australian supported.

Here’s what our equestrian POS software offers:

Feed Management:
– Bag feed into smaller packs with accurate stock tracking.
– Track bulk material purchases, mixing, and packaging of your own products.
– Sell by weight, including fractions.

Sales & Customer Management:
– Streamlined quote and invoice management for accuracy and efficiency.
– Provide local produce care information to enhance customer experience.
– Flexible trade pricing profiles.
– Professional customer account management.
– Customisable pricing profiles based on customer types.
– Detailed tracking of colour, size, and style variations.
– Informative, customisable receipts.
– Pre-order and special order management.
– Powerful loyalty programs.

Inventory & Ordering:
– Seasonal reordering for efficient stock management.
– Weatherproof label printing.
– Electronic supplier invoice support to reduce errors.
– International barcode database lookup for quick product addition.
– Logistics & Delivery:
– Dispatch management tools for efficient delivery, including multi-truck and multi-delivery support.
– Integration with Allotrac for advanced dispatch management.

Marketing & Customer Engagement:
– Loyalty marketing to build lasting customer relationships.
– Free integration with FindIt.com.au to drive local shopper traffic.
– Flexible Selling & Integrations:
– Flexible selling options: by weight, length, and fractions.
– Portable “sell anywhere” solution.
– Integration with Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Xero, and more.
– Shopper self-checkout option.
– Digital receipts via Slyp.

AI Enhancements:
– ChatGPT and Google Gemini AI integration for product descriptions, blog posts, and price comparisons.
– Auto background removal for product photos, suitable for online platforms.
– Additional Features:

Our software is designed for local, independent equestrian businesses. We are committed to helping local businesses thrive.

Key Benefits:
– Save time on daily tasks.
– Increase sales and profitability.
– Enhance customer relationships.
– Streamline inventory and logistics.

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

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CategoryProduce store software

1. Tested in the Real World

2. Accuracy Over Manual Entry

3. It’s Included (Yes, Free)

4. The “Golden Rule” of Setup

Summary

Step 1: be sure of what you need.

Step 2: know your budget.

Step 3: see it for yourself.

Step 4: do it yourself.

Step 5: get to it.

A bonus step: be in control.

Why these simple vouchers work so well

Putting vouchers to work in your business

The setup is simple, the impact is real

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You choose.

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