The POS Software Blog

The POS Software Blog

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

Latest stories

Aussie made software for jewellers helps local independent jewellers compete with big chains

March 14, 2023
2 Min read
A

Local independent jewellers can compete with big groups and national retail businesses by offering good products backed by good service and supported by competitive offers.

The Jeweller POS software from Tower Systems helps them do this.

Our software for jewellers continues to evolve. Here are enhancements from 2023 already:

  • Smart Pay integration offers free EFTPOS.
  • Barcode lookup offers access to an international products database.
  • Our new Big Commerce integration opens selling online through them, joining our integrations with Shopify, Woo and Magento.
  • Image flow to e-commerce has been enhanced.
  • Easy and auto background remover for images now integrated.
  • Easy email marketing to customers based on purchases.
  • 25 new self-serve training videos have been added to our library.
  • A new dashboard offering visual insights into business performance, revealing easy win business decisions.

$185.00 a month (inc. GST) is the total cost. This includes up to 2 hours of our time installing the software. You can choose to access our self-serve training library, or purchase personal training time. It’s 100% up to you.

We don’t pay any marketing group a commission for endorsement.

We are grateful to serve hundreds of local independent jewellers today with our jeweller POS software, in Australia and New Zealand. This is a marketplace we have served for more than twenty years.

Using this software for jewellers, you have access to:

  • Loyalty facilities through which you can genuinely differentiate your business, … shoppers respond to the levers you can pull.
  • Sell online, easily. Our Shopify integration is seamless, official and easy to use and manage.
  • Special orders: sell in advance of having physical stock to sell.
  • Repair facilities through which you can track and manage repairs.
  • Secondhand goods. Easy accurate record keeping.
  • Colour / size / style: smart and efficient inventory tracking.
  • Event marketing through which you can create contact lists of customers based on anniversary, birthday and other life event dates.

The rental can be cancelled at any time. There is no annual payment.

Jewellers love that they have control over learning the software, that there is no mandated requirement as to training they must undertake. That they are in control demonstrates a respect between their business and the Tower Systems business.

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Indie retail advice: let’s not get sucked in by downcast sales forecasts by big retailers

March 13, 2023
3 Min read
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Some big retailers are predicting flat or declining sales through 2023 and into 2024 in the US and some here in Australia. There are forecast reports of comp (comparable) store sales, we tend to call these same store sales, of 3% to 5%.

The challenge is that journalists and news editors hear this and attach the downward forecast to all retailers.

I know plenty of independent retailers in Australia who are forecasting growth over the same period. Okay, not massive growth, but growth nevertheless.

In my own local retail stores, I am planning for 5% growth and hoping for closer to 10%. But more important than the sales revenue growth number is growth in business GP percentage achieved. Growing that several points is more important than revenue growth.

If you grow business GP% by, say, 3% and overall revenue by 1% the bottom line benefit to the business would be considerably magnified compared to no change in GP% and 1% revenue growth.

Retailers can think of GP% growth being achieved by buying better, which, for sure, is true. Often, there are opportunities for a small increase when pricing items to build in better margin.

The other opportunity here is stock turn. Working inventory to turn faster is a terrific bottom line benefit.

There are many growth opportunities in indie retail channels, many opportunities to achieve good growth in revenue and in gross profit percentage performance.

How do we achieve that?

Look at your current sales data, look for green shoots, indicators of opportunity for you. In a retail newsagency these are typically in cards, magazines and stationery. Sales in these departments can indicate opportunities outside of them, maybe in new areas for the business, better margin areas for the business.

Every retail business has green shoot indicator categories.

I know of many retails where this approach of data lead range review and gross profile percentage growth is successful.

Covid.

One of the consequences of Covid was that many shoppers tried local retail for the first time in years. We showed that we offered diversity in products and personal service. We can continue to leverage these differences. But we have to show rather than tell.

Big retail looks like big retail. Their displays tend to be blah and their differentiator tends to be price.

In local retail, displays that are more fun, appealing and enticing can work well. back this with shop floor knowledge and genuine personal service and price is a secondary factor. people want to enjoy shopping. They want to walk out of the shop feeling good. That feeling is currency, it pushes pure price to a secondary consideration as value is felt in other ways.

The economy.

Yes, there is pressure in the economy because of rising interest rates. There is still plenty of money around for what people want. Want is a big driver for spending. It’s the emotional purchase where you have good opportunity. Especially as a skilled local retailer who is able to feed into the want.

You.

The reality is that there will be more tough economic news and negative reports about retail. You can choose to watch that and worry, or you can create the retail experience that is an oasis of happiness, a place locals enjoy and are happy to spend. Every day, choices you make in your business determine this.

If you do what you’ve done every day for years, your results will be what you are used to. I think indie retailers can do much better than that. 

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The Aussie newsagency has changed, it’s not what you might think it is

March 9, 2023
2 Min read
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The Aussie newsagency today in 2023 is a very different retail business than what you may have found in 2019 or earlier. The Aussie newsagency today often sells unique gifts, collectibles, sensory items and more. Some don’t sell lotteries. Some even don’t have papers or magazines.

Mount Lawley News in Western Australia is a small shop located a ten minute or so drive from Perth CBD. We mention that to reflect that this shop is surrounded by competition.

What was a traditional newsagency has been transformed by new owners Matt and the team over the last year. This is a good example of what I’d love journalists and other who talk or write about Australian newsagencies to think of.

What an awesome looking business.

A year ago this shop looked very different. Today, it is attracting new shoppers. New shoppers are the lifeblood of retail. Better still, the change in mix of products drives a change in the GP% of the business. These are factors that play into the strength and value of a newsagency, or any retail business for that matter.

We see too many stories about newsagencies closing. Sometimes, photos accompanying those stories do not reflect the best practice retail we are seeing from plenty of newsagents, like Mount Lawley News.

Tower Systems is proud to serve more Aussie newsagency shops than all other Aussie newsagency software companies combined.

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How our Aussie made and supported POS software helps charity shops, op. shops and community enterprises better help those they serve

March 8, 2023
4 Min read
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Tower Systems has been serving local charity shops, op. shops and community enterprises for years with POS software that serves a variety of retail needs in this broad charity shop space. the latest release of our software serves this space well.

We know from experience that charity and op. shops are unique and loved businesses, providing valuable service to the local community and to those supported by the charity. We are grateful to serve these community enterprises with our POS software:

  1. Easy shopper loyalty.  While the software offers a loyalty points system, we have found the cash-off approach in our loyalty tools works better in local retail. People understand money. A receipt showing an amount they can save on their next purchase gets, usually, at least 20% of people spending more that visit.
  2. Manage what you sell your way. You can sell by barcode, products code, department, category within department, price point. You can sell, measure and report at the level point appropriate to your needs.
  3. Easy to learn by volunteers. We have found that in community enterprises easy to learn / easy to use really does matter. Volunteer turnover makes this essential. We can record training specific to your needs and make these videos available for future volunteers.
  4. Secure for your peace of mind. You can lock down parts of the software to secure them for management access only.
  5. Check and balances. This software guides processes. It also provides hidden tracking so you can investigate should the need arise.
  6. Club / group marketing and support. Leverage clubs and community groups with offers and pricing just for them.

Our Australian made and supported charity / op. shop POS software does much more than what’s on this list. See it for yourself, live and obligation free, to see if it could serve you and your business. We’d be glad to show it to all involved in the operation.

While we serve many charity / op. shop retail stores in many different situations, we know this every shop is unique, with its own requirements. Our goal is to offer charity shop software that is as useful as possible, while being affordable for these tight budget businesses.

Here are answers to some of the questions we have been asked about our Charity / Op. Shop Software over the years.

When you are ready, we’d love to show you our Charity / Op. Shop Software and through that show you answers to other questions you have.

Does the software support community group member pricing? Yes.

We work on behalf of several local charities. Can we track purchases by their members as a fund raising tool? Yes.

We have a lot of volunteers, is the software easily learnt? Yes.

We report to a board, are there good checks and balances? Yes.

Do we have to barcode everything we sell? No.

So when we don’t sell by barcode how do we track what we sell? You decide the level of reporting you want and that determines the best sales tracking approach.

Can we compare the performance of different categories of what we sell? Yes.

Can we report on sales by product type so we can understand the categories that sell? Yes.

Does the software produce WAS / NOW price labels so we can show what something would cost in a regular store?Yes.

Our manager is off-site. Can they access the software from there? Yes.

Does the software support a loyalty program? Yes, there are several loyalty options that work in different situations from infrequent shopper visits to regular shopper visits.

Can we set a quantity purchase price for items? Yes.

Can we bundle items together, like into a hamper, and easily sell that? Yes.

Can the software handle tracking sales to group members to calculate a rebate for the group?Yes.

Can I include product care instructions on the receipt? Yes.

Does the software track where I have stored a box for an item? Yes.

Does the software handle LayBys? Yes.

Does the software connect with my website? We partner with Shopify, Magento and WooCommerce and offer direct links to these.

Can I email receipts? Yes.

Can I track where my customers come from? Yes.

Do I have to pay for software on additional computers in my business? No.

Can I connect with my EFTPOS terminal? Yes. We have a direct link to Tyro and through Linkly we connect to all major banks.

Can I use my existing hardware? Yes, as long as your hardware meets our minimum standards.

Can I use my existing data with the software? Yes. We’d like to check your data to be sure. We will advise what can be safely brought across.

Does it integrate with Xero? Yes.

Find out more at www.towersystems.com.au/charity.

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Aussie made jeweller software that jewellers love

March 7, 2023
2 Min read
A

Here are some other benefits of the Tower Systems jeweller software:

  1. Jeweller stock management, including stone details.
  2. Club pricing: Helps you attract community group members.
  3. BOGO: Increase sales with buy this and get that bundling.
  4. Warranty: Track details and leverage this for customer service.
  5. Sell anywhere: Using our Retailer RoamTM sell anywhere app.
  6. Seasonal reordering: Reorder inventory based on seasonal sales.

Using this software for jewellers, you have access to:

  • Loyalty facilities through which you can genuinely differentiate your business, like seriously … shoppers respond to the levers you can pull, and your business benefits.
  • Sell online, easily. Our Shopify integration is seamless, official and easy to use and manage.You can pass images and data to the website. Sales come back into the Tower software.
  • Special orders: tools that enable you to sell in advance of having physical stock to sell.
  • Repair facilities through which you can track and manage in-house and offsite repairs.
  • Colour / size / style: smart and efficient inventory tracking.
  • Event marketing through which you can create contact lists of customers based on anniversary, birthday and other life event dates.

No extra cost for extra licences. No locked in contract. No locked in EFTPOS fees.

This software is made for local jewellers.

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Loving our latest POS software update

March 6, 2023
1 Min read
L

We share information on POS software update enhancements with our customers in a number of ways, including this 5 minute video outlining some of the highlights.

We have awesome colleagues here at Tower Systems.

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AI can’t compete with what sets small businesses and local retail apart – being personal

March 5, 2023
1 Min read
A

ChatGPT is being talked-up everywhere, Twitter, TikTok, Facebook and more. It and AI more broadly are being pitched as time-savers, new tools for business owners and leaders.

While, for sure, ChatGPT and other AI offer tools of interest, they cannot compete with what matters most in small businesses and local retail keen to differentiate.

People are what matter most. People are our difference. The in the moment experience based on human to human connection are what can make a business shine.

Big businesses see people as a cost, a burden. This is why they obsess more about AI. Profits matter more than people and if they can cut costs it’s the win.

So, yeah, I have played with ChatGPT since late 2022, and will continue to play, but the most important investment I make in my tech company and in my retail shops is in people. People are our difference.

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Beware comparison website www.compareposquotes.com.au since they have not compared anything

March 5, 2023
3 Min read
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The folks are at it again today, if you do a Google search for Tower Systems, an ad comes up for www.compareposquotes.com.au.

They are encouraging those searching for Tower Systems by name to look at comparisons. But, the www.compareposquotes.com.au business does no such comparison. You have to do that work.

Theirs is an ad platform that other businesses pay to be part of to be found when people are looking for a business, like Tower Systems.

We think it is lazy advertising to directly target us and to use our name or part of our name in their advertising.

The best way to research POS software is to do your own research, and not use a faux comparison website, like www.compareposquotes.com.au. Since it costs money to list with them, the businesses that do list with them have an advertising cost that they would surely want to recoup somehow. Businesses that do not pay to list with a comparison website may not have these costs.

One of the main drawbacks of using comparison websites like www.compareposquotes.com.au from Comparison Advantage is that they often only display a limited number of options. This means that shoppers may not be aware of all the options available to them, and they may not be able to find the best deal for their needs. Additionally, some comparison websites may only display options from certain companies or providers, which can bias the results in favor of those companies.

Another issue with comparison websites is that the information they provide may not always be up-to-date or accurate. Since the websites rely on the companies themselves to provide information about their products and services, there is a potential for bias or even misinformation. Additionally, prices and other details can change rapidly, so the information on a comparison website may not always reflect the most current situation.

Furthermore, using comparison websites can also be time-consuming and confusing. Consumers may have to sift through a lot of information and compare different features and prices in order to make a decision. This can be overwhelming, especially for people who are not familiar with the products or services being compared.

If you click on their ad it costs them money, which is something we suppose.

If you are looking for POS software for your retail business, take your time, figure out exactly what you want, search for yourselves for the software that serves your needs.

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We are enjoying Toy Fair

March 5, 2023
3 Min read
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Toy Fair is under way in Melbourne and it’s a terrific event, even though today is the first day.

It’s terrific catching up with old colleagues, and meeting plenty of new people.

We are here for our shops, in which we sell toys, our websites that offer toys and to pitch our toy shop software.

The software, including support, is only $155.00 a month, and you are not locked-in. The only other cost is for our one-on-one training.

Here are some questions we are asked, and our answers:

Can the software manage special orders for customers? Yes.

Can I report on past sales monthly for a year to guide what to order? Yes.

Does the software let me buy in bulk and break up to retail packs? Yes.

Does the software produce WAS / NOW price labels? Yes.

Does the software manage time-based catalogue pricing? Yes.

Can I pre-sell items? Yes.

I sell high-end toys with serial numbers. Can I track these? Yes.

I have multiple shops, does the software handle this? Yes.

Does the software handle club and group pricing? Yes. Attract community group and local club members and help them raise funds for their group.

Can I load electronic invoices and stock files?  Yes.

Can I sell gift cards for my business? Yes.

I sometimes sell away from the shop, can the software do this? Yes, our Retailer RoamTM option manages selling from anywhere.

Does the software have a facility for encouraging infrequent shoppers to spend more? Yes, it’s proven to work well at achieving this.

Can I include product use instructions on the receipt? Yes.

Does the software track where I have stored packaging for an item? Yes.

I have similar items from several suppliers. Can I compare suppliers? Yes.

Does the software handle LayBys? Yes.

Can you create and manage quotes? Yes.

Can you reach back out to customers based on past purchases? Yes.

Does the system handle account customers? Yes.

Does the system produce invoicing and statements? Yes.

I sell clothing, can I manage this by colour, size and style? Yes.

Does the software connect with my website? We partner with Shopify, Magento and WooCommerce and offer direct links to these.

Can I email receipts? Yes.

Can I track where my customers come from? Yes.

Do I have to pay for software on additional computers in my business? No.

Can I connect with my EFTPOS terminal? Yes. We have a direct link to Tyro and through Linkly we connect to all major banks.

Can I use my existing hardware? Yes, if it meets our minimum standards.

Can I use my existing data with the software? Yes. We’d like to check your data to be sure. We will advise what can be safely brought across.

Does it integrate with Xero? Yes.

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New Zealand retailers help make our POS software better

March 4, 2023
5 Min read
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Tower Systems is grateful to already serve many local specialty retailers in New Zealand, up and down the country.

These New Zealand based retailers cover the retail specialty areas of bike shops, jewellers, garden centres, pet shops, gift shops and more.

They use the Tower Systems POS software much in the way any retailer does, but there is a difference in NZ retail. It is more local, more engaged and more complete in their use of tools in our software to run more enjoyable businesses.

We are thankful to our New Zealand based POS software customers for their advice, and for their active participation in the constant evolution of our POS software.

From online POS software user meetings to local New Zealand user meet-ups, to trade show catch-ups (like the Auckland gift fair next week), to one on one contact, we offer many connection opportunities with retailers using our POS software.

And while we are an Australian company, our service of our NZ retailer customers is the same as it is everywhere. This is thanks to our extended operating hours and the comprehensive kit of resources we offer our POS software customers for learning, suggesting enhancements and  connecting with our help desk team.

Across plenty of our specialty retail channels we serve New Zealand customers. These include: charity and thrift shops, garden centres, bike shops, toy shops, gift shops, jewellers, farm supply businesses, repairs businesses, magazine retailers, pet shops and more. Versions of our POS software are tuned for these types of businesses.

We have done New Zealand specific integrations to enable our POS software to better serve New Zealand business needs. The Smart Pay EFTPOS integration was one such project. This was delivered free to our customers once we passed the rigorous certification and in-field testing. There are other examples like this – New Zealand retailer let integrations with our POS software.

Our New Zealand customers have toll free access to our help desk and support services. Training is delivered at no telephone costs too – making it easy and low cost to access us when you need help or assistance.

Tower Systems is committed to the New Zealand marketplace. We are thankful to have served local retailer customers for more than 20 years and appreciate that we serve more customers now in early 2023 than we did in 2022.

Across at our Tower Systems POS software YouTube channel you can see more about what we offer, and how we serve our customers. You can also see recent demonstrations of our software. You’ll note that we offer easy access to these demonstrations of our POS software without capturing your retailers. That is an example of the transparency we offer.

We’re a no pressure POS software company. Take your time. Research various POS software solutions. Compare what you want and need with what we do. We will be here to help when you are ready.

Ours is not a company of computer geeks using tech-speak. No, most of us have retail experience.

Our training is one on one. This is backed by a wonderful up-to-date video training library.

Our help desk offers real human-based help, so you get the most from our software tools.

Our business advice and mentoring is available at your call to help you see new opportunities in your business.

But this is not about us, it’s about you and what you want from your business.

We help retailers turn around their businesses by saving time and by providing access to accurate data to guide better quality business decisions.

The ultimate goal is that when you come to sell your business you get a better price because of the money it’s making and the ease with which the business can be run.

Using g our POS software you can leverage benefits including:

  • Attract new shoppers. We have several smart loyalty options that help drive word of mouth and word of mouth drives new traffic.
  • Increase sales. We show you what to put with what, what smart product adjacencies get shoppers spending more. Front-end loyalty helps get today’s shopper buying more today. Getting rid of dead stock and buying what actually sells helps drive sales. Employee sales tracking helps you coach employees better.
  • Reduce costs. Tracking sales by time helps you create a more cost-effective roster. Making less stock buying mistakes reduces costs. Streamlining the sales counter, credit card processing, Lay-By, customer accounts, product pricing and product reordering can cut labor costs and cut management time.
  • Make your business worth more. New business purchasers want a business that is easy to run. We can help make your business easy to run. They also want a business that is successful. We will help you drive your success.

We have been helping retailers for many years and are grateful to serve more than 3,000 today.

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Tower Systems helps independent retailers to expand and find new shopper traffic

March 2, 2023
4 Min read
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Efficiency is the name of the game in local independent retail today.

Efficiency of retail space. Efficiency of inventory investment.l Efficiency of tech infrastructure. Efficiency of labour.

While specialisation is important in retail, finding allied specialty areas that expand the appeal of your business is important today, as that can address efficiency opportunities like those noted above. Through our POS software we help with this and through our business management support and advice we can reveal allied product and category reach opportunities.

We are grateful to help local independent retailers with this. We use the data we can access and share this with retailers.

In the big retail, mass retail, spaces we see fresh examples of expanding into new product categories.

Two stories in recent days reinforce the extent of change in retail and remind all of us in local indie retail to consider change as well.

Bunnings announced the addition of 1,000 pet related lines.

Bunnings gears up to be dog’s best friend with expanded pet range
Emma Koehn

Hardware giant Bunnings is hoping shoppers will add dog food and toys to their shopping lists when heading in store as the retailer launches a significant expansion of its pet merchandise business.

Bunnings will throw down a competitive challenge to specialty pet retailers, which have boomed since the COVID era, when it expands its range from a couple of hundred items to close to 1000 products from late March.

This is a smart move because the majority of pet related purchases are habit based and habit based shoppers are tremendously valuable. Their regular shop is valuable in the context of what else a business operates.

It’s kind of I told you so but around 5 or 6 years ago we suggested the pet category to another retail channel.

The other move in by Chemist Warehouse, into optical.

Chemist Warehouse and Peter Larsen join forces to ‘disrupt’ optometry industry

MYLES HUME
February 15, 2023, 3:18 pm 847

The first store in Melbourne is the start of a mass rollout to take place in the coming years.
Australian pharmacy retailer Chemist Warehouse has entered the optometry market, opening its first store in the Melbourne suburb of Malvern and appointing prominent industry figure Mr Peter Larsen as its managing director.

On 15 February, Optometrist Warehouse announced it had opened its first location at 120 Glenferrie Road, with plans to “disrupt the industry” in the coming years.

“Initial expansion plans include the opening of a handful of stores in 2023, followed by a mass network rollout which will see Optometrist Warehouse become a household name and the go-to optometry service provider within the Australian market,” a press release stated.

We noticed the Chemist Warehouse move as one of their first locations is two doors from one of our shops.

These are thought out moves, designed to reach new shoppers, to strengthen existing, well-established, businesses. In each case they target product / service categories served by vertical businesses, specialty businesses focussed only on these niches. It’s those narrow-focussed businesses that are at risk.

This is why we think it is vital that any local indie retail business draws shoppers for many different reasons, and not just the usual 3 or for product or service categories that we see are typical in a newsagency business.

So, our question today is what moves are you making to attract new shoppers? You have to have made or be making moves because you need new shoppers, especially new shoppers who would not usually shop your shop.

It’s not too late. There are plenty of opportunities. The moves by Bunnings and Chemist Warehouse should wake some local retailers up, and help them see the opportunities out there.

Retail is changing in 2023 at a faster pace than in recent years. We need to change.

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How we help retailers deal with increased rent and other occupancy costs

March 1, 2023
2 Min read
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Retail occupancy costs are on the rise and try as retailers might to negotiate them down, in this property marketplace it is challenging to achieve the level of reduction or management that you may want.

This is why it is valuable to leverage your POS software to help you better deal with an increase in rent, an increase in occupancy costs.

In our Tower Systems POS software and in the training, advice and support that we produce our small business retailer customers, we help deal with the matter of retail occupancy cost.

We do this by helping the retailers buy better, turn inventory faster, drive more value from each shopper visit and manage business overheads, such as labour costs, more efficiently for the business.

Combined, following the advice and using the support that we offer, retailers can position themselves better for rising occupancy costs.

The occupancy cost of a business is the combination of all costs associated with leasing retail space. It includes the actual lease cost plus all outgoings plus GST. GST is included because of how the occupancy cost calculation us used, as a percentage of revenue, including GST.

Occupancy cost is typically the top one or two operating costs for an average local retail business outside of inventory cost. Labour being the other top cost.

Recommended Occupancy cost benchmark: between 9% and 11% of revenue where revenue is product revenue. This can vary by business type.

Explanation. The 9% to 11% suggested band is based on the margin we see as common in local retail businesses businesses.

Location and situation are a big factor in this benchmark. For example, a large shopping centre business will have a higher cost than a high street situation. However, the 9% to 11% band is recommended.

It is vital to the health of any retail business to manage the lowest possible occupancy cost. It is for this reason we recommend a low and viable base rent and a fair annual increase.

So, managing the business to pursue efficiency in inventory, space and labour usage is key. This is where our Tower Systems POS software can and does help thanks to the business training and the practical retail business support that we provide.

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Small business retail advice: beware the total cost of ownership of your POS software

February 28, 2023
3 Min read
S

What the POS software you choose for your retail business actually costs your business is not always clear or transparent. There are situations where retailers do not discover the actual cost until they are locked in to a particular POS software company.

Here are some examples of things we have seen recently, things we do not do:

  1. Quoting a monthly cost that is actually a prepaid annual cost divided by 12 and where the actual monthly cost if you pay monthly is considerably more.
  2. Charging an EFTPOS fee for your use of an EFTPOS directly linked to that POS software where the EFTPOS fee is considerably higher than the competitive market price.
  3. Signing what you think is a monthly contract only to find that you have a minimum commitment period of 24 or 36 months or more – meaning it is not a monthly contact at all.
  4. Being told that the software can go to the new owner of the business when you sell only to discover that the new owner is asked to pay up front a fee to actually access the software.
  5. Being told that your price is the standard price only for you to discover later that friends get a special price that is much lower than you are paying.
  6. Being told one price only to find a different price in the contract.

These are some of the things going around at the moment. It’s frustrating because here we are in 2023 writing about real things that are happening this year that tarnish the reputation of software companies. we don’t like it. The is why we are calling it out here and elsewhere.

Here at Tower Systems, our prices are transparent, as is what is included in the monthly rental price.

Our monthly price is our monthly price. There is no need for a year up front payment to access it.

And, for all of our customers, 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.

Simple. Clear. The same offer to everyone.

From a sales perspective, there is no rush, no pressure. Our sales professionals are just that, professional. They pride themselves if being clear if they think our business is not the right fir for you. They also are under no pressure themselves to close a certain amount of business each month. That’s whey they will not harass or pressure you.

Take you time when considering POS software. Move at your pace. Be driven by what you want and need for your business. We are here when you need us.

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Small business retail advice: beware the payment redirection scam

February 27, 2023
3 Min read
S

The emails of one of our customers was recently hacked on their business computer.

The hacker saw that we had quoted of supplying a new laptop a month ago. The hacker pretended to be us in an email to our customer and convinced the them to direct deposit money into a bank account they provided.

We only heard about it weeks after the deposit, when our customer contacted us asking where the laptop was. By then, the money, and the hacker, were long gone.

Hackers are sophisticated and clever. They make themselves look legitimate for people uncurious about emails and calls they receive.

In this instance, there were 3 indicators in the email from the hacker that it was a hack, 3 indicators we saw the moment we saw the email they had sent to our customer:

  1. The email named one of our staff members but had a dodo mail email address clearly visible.
  2. The grammar was poor – much worse than our usual typos (sorry for them). For example: all program has been loaded as well. The singular program is the giveaway here.
  3. We never ask for direct bank deposit by email.Our customers can shop with us online through a secure platform, or we issue an official invoice with payment details. Our invoices have a secure payment link.

What happened to our customer was what is called a payment redirection scam. We have provided our customers with advice on reasonable steps they could take to pursue what has happened to them, even though the chances now of resolution are slim.

For more, read about the payment redirection scam: https://asic.gov.au/about-asic/news-centre/news-items/asic-warns-small-businesses-to-be-vigilant-about-payment-redirection-scams/

While the advice from the ASIC and other government agencies is straightforward, it comes down to being vigilant, careful and questioning, especially before you part with any money.

For our customer, the hack was before they received the email. It could have been days or weeks before. Protecting against this involves the most basic of care – clicking only on links you absolutely trust and being careful as to the websites you visit from the business computers.

The Australian Cyber Security centre run by the Australian Signals Directorate offers excellent advice on protection against email hacks. We share this link with our customers as they are the experts. It’s best to share government provided expert advice rather than write our own. This way we are sure the advice is current and best practice. We particularly like:

  • Consider introducing an approval process for requests that ask to change payment details or make a large transfer.

  • Verify any such requests by calling the sender. Call them on a known and verified phone number (not a phone number from the email, as this could be operated by a cybercriminal). Speak with the sender over the phone to verbally confirm the request or change.

  • Ensure workers have clear guidance to verify account details and to think critically before actioning unusual requests.

  • Have a reporting process to report threatening demands for immediate action, pressure for secrecy or requests to circumvent protective business processes.

In terms of what we do at Tower Systems, we never ask our customers to transact with us insecurely. Payment is always through a secure platform, a trusted platform that protects our customers and protects us.

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Free POS software training videos help new retail employees learn

February 24, 2023
2 Min read
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Our growing curriculum of POS software training videos and resources are helping new staff in retail business where our POS software is in play to learn the software and be of more assistance to the business.

Every one of our customers has access to these and our other POS software user training resources.

Created by our POS software training and support team, our new customer training video library has more than 40 new videos added in recent weeks, providing a valuable resource for businesses keen to learn what their software is capable of.

The library of training videos continues to grow.

Each video is short, self contained and practical, designed to provide easy and useful learning opportunities for users of our POS software.

The POS software training videos not only help new users of our software, they are a resource existing customers are using for a refresher, to remind them of our recommended best practice approach.

Our customers are providing wonderful feedback that is most encouraging as we further invest in this latest set of training resources for them. Their feedback as well as viewing data inform us as to investment we make in training materials.

Our personal approach to customer training is a differentiator for Tower Systems. We are grateful for the team members who create our training materials that enable this point of difference.

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