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We have been told by Lightspeed POS customers they have received an email advising higher costs if they do not wish to use the Lightspeed Payment platform.

Tower Systems does not retailer its POS software customers to use specific payment processing, EFTPOS processing platforms. There are no charges with any platform chosen.

Here is what one Lightspeed POS customer in Australia said a few days ago:

We have just spoken with LS regarding their new, unfair charges if you opt out of their payment platform, and when we asked what they were offering for this $240 fee, they could not actually provide an answer….despite the disruption it will cause, we will probably move to another POS system. We have also taken this to the ACCC here in Australia as I’m sure they will see this as the simple money grab that it is.

Here is another example from a Lightspeed POS customer in Australia:

The customer received an email from Lightspeed noting that the terms of the contract have changed. They’ll now be paying $700 per month extra if they continue using Tyro (and don’t switch to LS payment).

Retailers are unhappy with the email from Lightspeed outlining new charges should the retailer choose to NOT use the Lightspeed Payments platform.

Tower Systems stands ready to help retailers if they want to partner with a POS software company that does not force such a move.

Of course, it is critical retailers ensure they choose the right software for their business in terms of functionality. we are happy to demonstrate this, answer questions, learn more about your business and demonstrate the functions that are critical to you.

If, based on the information you share, we feel our POS software is not a good fit for you, we will say so.

Lightspeed has to own the decision they have made about Lightspeed Payments. We do wonder if the decision is a representation of what they look for in customers. Their May earnings presentation outlined for about what the ideal Lightspeed POS customer looks like.

Here at Tower Systems we love service locally owned independent small retail businesses in a variety of specialty retail markets.

Here are our POS software marketplaces:

• Bike shops. $195/month.
• Fashion retail. $195/month.
• Gift shops. $165/month.
• Garden centres. $165/month.
• Produce / farm supply businesses. $210/month.
• Fishing and outdoors businesses. $165/month.
• Jewellers. $165/month.
• Pet shops. $165/month.
• Toy shops. $165/month.
• Health Food shops. $165/month.
• Newsagents. $195/month.
• Firearms dealers. $195/month.
• Game shops. $165/month.
• Sewing shops. $195/month.
• Pool Supplies and Maintenance. $195/month.
• Charity / op. shops. $105/month. (Giving back)
• Doll / Bear / Collector shops. $165/month.
• Antique Dealers. $195/month.
• Music shops. $165/month.
• Mobility Scooter businesses. $195/month.
• Computer Shop / repair businesses. $195/month.

Here’s what’s included: software licences for unlimited computers in the location, help desk support (phone or email) 6 days a week (incl Saturday), access to a knowledge base, after hours support call access for urgent support, Shopify, Xero and other integrations, access to our supplier invoice import tools.

Again, there is no payments related cost – we encourage retailers to choose the payments solution that is best for their needs.

Embracing cutting-edge technology is no longer just a choice; it’s a necessity for businesses to thrive. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionised numerous industries, and local small business retail is no exception. By harnessing the power of AI tools, local retailers, small business retailers, can save time, gain a competitive advantage, and provide exceptional service to their customers.

Crafting compelling product descriptions can be a time-consuming task for retailers. However, with the integration of ChatGPT AI into Tower Systems POS software, this process has become a breeze. Simply input a few keywords, and within seconds, you’ll have ready-to-review description texts. This AI-powered tool not only saves time but also allows for creativity and customisation, enabling retailers to present their products in a unique and engaging manner.

Managing customer queries on a shop’s website can be a resource-intensive endeavor. Enter AI-powered chatbots, which can handle simple to moderate customer inquiries without incurring additional labor costs. These chatbots provide quick and accurate responses, ensuring customers receive prompt assistance while freeing up staff to focus on more complex tasks. There are already good examples of this in big and small retail businesses.

Composing effective emails or letters is an essential aspect of running any shop. AI can generate well-structured emails or letters for various purposes. From requesting refunds for underperforming products to negotiating rent reductions, AI platforms like ChatGPT can create compelling content by leveraging contextual prompts and relevant business information. With AI-generated drafts in hand, newsagents can swiftly review, edit, and send them, saving valuable time in the process.

Writing disposable social media content. If you have a product image and some keywords, AI could generate cohesive sentences for you in seconds.

Giving employees broader experiences and thereby making working in the shop more interesting. Let them show you what could be possible.

Finding new product category opportunities. Staying ahead of the curve is crucial. AI can be an invaluable tool for discovering untapped product categories and identifying trends. By leveraging AI algorithms, retailers can uncover hidden opportunities and expand their product offerings, catering to evolving customer demands.

Where more benefits will flow is in areas like buying where, too often, emotion gets in the way of good business decisions.

While there will be some in local small business retail who resist a greater reach of AI, soon enough it will be like the fax machine was a year or so after launch, an everyday part of business.

While, for sure, there is plenty to worry about with AI, especially in military and policing settings, there are so many other uses, like in local retail businesses, where we can benefit and improve what we offer our customers.

Lightspeed Vend which is owned by Lightspeed, is an overseas POS software product. They are spending up big to try and attract Aussie retailers to their POS software.

Their focus is on revenue from transactions. They want retailers to use their EFTPOS payment gateway.

Tower Systems does not preference any EFTPOS payment gateway nor do we charge fees associated with this.

We are focussed on making our money from POS software rental. W are a software company after all, not a bank.

So, when it comes to EFTPOS fees and payment gateway requirements and preferences we think your ill see a difference between Tower Systems and Lightspeed Vend and Lightspeed themselves.

We also compete with them is value, functionality and service. We think we compete well with each of Lightspeed and Vend which is owned by Lightspeed. on these important points.

Our service is Australian based, building and supporting here the software we offer. There is no offshore call centre, no contractors helping you out. Call us and it’s us you speak with.

Good service starts with local knowledge and marketplace specific knowledge.

Our price is a per month price. It’s not a price pitched that requires you to pay for a full year up front to get. Also, our price is all inclusive. There is no extra cost for more registers or for functions like advanced reporting, loyalty or some integrations. We know that price transparency is important. There is no lock in contract.

What our software does, its functionality, is considerable, deep, and regularly evolving. Serving 3,000+ retailers in a diverse mix of specialty retail marketplaces has seen us develop functionality that is comprehensive and useful in many different business sectors. This depth sees us stand up well in comparison to other products.

We make specialty retail POS software for specialty retailers. While we cannot match the advertising spend of Lightspeed and Vend which is owned by Lightspeed, we think we do match where it matters.

Choosing Tower Systems POS software, for the monthly rental cost, you have access to:

• Unlimited registers. No extra cost.
• Integrated accounting link. No extra cost.
• Integrated e-commerce links. No extra cost.
• Integrated payments. No extra cost.
• Loyalty programs. No extra cost.
• Advanced reporting. No extra cost.
• Customer marketing tools. No extra cost.
• Visual analytics dashboard. No extra cost.
• Special customer orders. No extra cost.
• Sell by fractions, sell by weight. No extra cost.
• Integrated LayBys. No extra cost.
• Customer gift vouchers. No extra cost.
• Customised onboarding.
• 24/7 support.

To go further, here’s what’s included in the monthly rental cost: software licences for unlimited computers in the location, help desk support (by phone or email) 6 days a week (including Saturday), access to a comprehensive support knowledge base, after hours support call access for urgent system down queries, access to our Shopify, Xero and other integrations, access to our supplier invoice import tools.

We are proud of this list, and our POS software, and our customer service. We are grateful to our customers who enable us to do this. They make us better at what we do.

Shopify is a terrific e-commerce platform that is made better for retail businesses thanks to an integration with smart POS software.

While we don’t know the best POS software for Shopify, we do know that our Tower Systems POS software is used by many local independent retailers who also run Shopify websites.

Our POS software is integrated with Shopify. we are Shopify partner.

The best POS software for Shopify is the POS software that best serves your specific business needs. This is what matters most – that the POS software serves the needs you have in your retail business.

Not all POS software integrates with Shopify. Some connect, but not direct.

Using the Tower Systems POS software you manage your inventory through our software and this inventory data, including images, flows to Shopify, and sales achieved through Shopify flow back to the Tower Systems POS software.

This is what good integration looks like: efficient, clean, stable and reliable.

We suspect that businesses that claim to offer the best POS software for Shopify do so as a marketing pitch only, and not with any evidence as to whether it is the best. How can they know? have they tested everything? Probably not. We haven’t. But, we are invested in delivering a good Shopify POS software solution integration.

Not all POS software Shopify integrations are the same. This is why we advise customers to be careful, to research thoroughly and to see first hand how it works.

Shopify is the website platform we recommend to most retailers we develop websites for as it is a platform anyone can manage after the new website is handed over. It is attractive, smart, intuitive and easily managed.

Tower Systems develops beautiful Shopify websites for small business retailers.  As the web developer and the POS software maker we can provide a solution tailored to your needs.

Our Shopify websites are developed to your needs, following a structured process, focussed on an outcome for you and your business.

All of our web development is done by our own team members, working in Melbourne, Australia. Being local web developers matters as they understand local retail better than offshore developers working through an Australian agent as if often the case.

If you are looking for the best Shopify POS software solution, take your time. Making the right decision is worth it.

Thanks to an integration in the Tower Systems POS software, our retail partners are able to enter correct and verified street addresses for customers. It’s easy, and accurate, as we have shown our customers:

Our approach in providing advice to customers is show, don’t tell.

It’s a question retailers often ask: what’s the best POS system in Australia.

The answer, of course, will be subjective as there is no one who has used all the POS systems in Australia, there is no one who could speak authoritatively to answer the question.

There will be people who can nominate a POS system they like over another, but that does not make their recommendation the best POS system in Australia.

The question itself is too general for a jeweller, for example, will want to find the best jeweller POS software while a garden centre owner will want to find the best garden centre software.

Specialist retailers want, in fact the need, POS software, a POS system that offers facilities for their type of business.

It is interesting to see the number of POS software companies in Australia that advertise for the keyword, best POS system in Australia. We suspect they do that because they know people are searching for that keyword. What people want, though, is an answer.

No one can honestly answer the question for the reason we outlined at the start of this post.

What plenty of us can say, though, is that we offer good software for specialty marketplace needs. That’s what we do here at Tower Systems. We have software made specifically for a range of specialty retail channels, and in some of those marketplaces, we dominate more than any other POS software company. That endorsement by retailers is an indicator of best.

Instead of asking what’s the best POS system in Australia we think a better question is what’s the best POS system for my business. It’s your needs that matter most here. That’s what our advise is to start with you, what do you need from a POS system and what value do you place on having that need served to your satisfaction.

Answer the question with your own question. Get that right, get a list of your must-have needs right, and know the value of satisfying them and you are on your way because you know, for sure, what you are looking for.

The best POS system for your business will be the one that satisfies your needs for the price you are prepared to pay. It’s as simple as that. Oh, it is possible that the company that matches your needs for the price you want is not advertising for the best POS system in Australia  keyword, because companies that spend a ton of online advertising may not have the investment in software development that you need to make the best POS system for your type of business.

When someone contacts us about our POS software, we like to start with questions, because we want to understand the needs of any prospective customer. It could be that our software does not serve your needs. We will say so if that is the case, as we should.

Simple and cash beats points when it comes to loyalty marketing.

A customer spent $87.97 in a shop in suburban Melbourne last week. They were an infrequent shopper there. On their receipt, they received this auto generated voucher for $4.40.

They looked at the $4.40 amount and then looked back into the shop. A few minutes later they purchased $165.00 worth of products saying they might as well get these things here and save money.

They live an hour from the shop and were shopping locally with a friend they were visiting yesterday.

The $4.40 voucher was enough to encourage them, to give them permission, to spend the additional $165.00.

While our POS software offers integrated (and to no extra cost) points based loyalty marketing, it also offers what we have shown here. It’s a fresh approach loved by hundreds and hundreds of retailers in Australia and New Zealand.

It’s easy to implement. You have complete control over the settings. It’s backed with insightful management reporting.

Differentiating your business in your loyalty pitch can encourage shoppers to spend more, and to come back more often.

This facility also has offers a wonderful local community group engagement and fundraising opportunity.

Tower Systems is not your average POS software company and here is another reason why. In addition to creating the POS software and providing our customers with training, we provide business context, the burg between purpose, function and why. The why is what matters as too many businesses just copy others without understanding the why.

The loyalty offer we have described here goes into the why, as well as the value of differentiation for local indie small business retailers.

The story is real, the value already banked by the retailer. And, it’s a story we hear regularly from our customers, bonus value harvested from this very simple and self-funding opportunity embedded in our software.

Every version of our software has this facility. There is no extra charge to use it. It’s so easy. Customers can be reaping value after a minute or two.

We are grateful to our customers who share their feedback on how they are using our POS software in their specialty retail businesses. It helps us learn, it demonstrates to us and to prospective customers value.

In this video, we show you how to use our POS software Repairs and Jobs module for a grooming business.

Although we don’t offer any designated facilities for managing grooming, we can use Repairs and Jobs to track what was done for a client, what service was provided, the cost of that, whether any goods were used, and allocate images.

We give you a run-through on how it works, including adding a new job, choosing a customer, assigning staff members, printing job cards, allocating parts and images, and finalising payments. You can customise fields and set reminders for customers.

This is another example of the flexibility, in our POS software, another way retailers are able to use something designed for one type of business, in another unrelated business.