Time matters in any business but especially in small business retail and independent retail where staffing is usually tight. You want things done efficiently to benefit the business and the customers of the business.

In considering the right POS software for your business you need to consider the efficiency of each POS software package you look at as there is a vast difference in the efficiency of different systems in the marketplace.

Efficiency includes how things are done, the number of keystrokes involved, the ease of using a facility, the confidence of using a facility and more. Ultimately, efficiency is about the efficient use of labour in your business and the efficient flow of shoppers in your business.

Inefficient software will have you pressing too many keystrokes or have you process in a way that does not match best-practice workflow for a task.

Efficient software wills save time, improve shopper throughput and offer the business opportunities to cut labour costs without negatively impacting services.

Our suggestion is that you test efficiency by looking at several labour intensive parts of your business. Look at each and how you operate today. Put together several scenarios for each with real business data you use in each scenario and ask each software company you are considering to demonstrate how the software handles each. Assess each based on efficiency.

We suggest you consider looking at the efficiency of any or all of these:

1. Over the counter sales.
2. LayBy handling.
3. Arriving a new supplier invoice.
4. Undertaking a stock take.
5. The end of shift process.
6. Reporting on the comparison of two trading periods.

Judging efficiency requires you to look at the software. Not a consultant, not a friend, but you. You need to determine that the software is efficient to the needs of your business. Getting this right is a big win for the business operationally and financially.

Tower Systems in an Australian based POS software company serving more than 3,500 small business retailers in Australia, New Zealand and the broader pacific region. The company makes what it sells and it supports what it sells.

Tower Systems only sells to small business retailers. This ensures our focus is not drawn by the needs of one very large client over another. In our world, all our clients are equal.

Find out more about what we do: Visit www.towersystems.com.au.

Integrations in POS software are the facilities to which your POS software connects. These could be web based services, suppliers, hardware and more. All good POS software packages have integrations as no one system does everything itself. Integrations offer you flexibility.

A good integration can be far better than something home grown.  For example, some POS software companies want you to connect POS software to websites based on technology they have developed. The best practice approach is to connect (integrate) your POS software with websites developed in world class platforms such as Shopify, Magento and WooCommerce. Integrating to any or, preferably, all of these offer more flexibility to the retailer than an integration to a locally developed, and often little used, web solution.

Choosing POS software that is flexible with integrations and that offers a host of integrations is good for your business. Integrations such as:

1. EFTPOS handling through Tyro.
2. EFTPOS handing through any bank.
3. Linking to third-party loyalty tools for marketing group members.
4. Linking to third-party loyalty tools for broader loyalty option offerings.
5. Easy selling of fishing licences.
6. Easy selling of toll road access.
7. Easy selling of mobile phone recharge.
8. Scales, for selling by weight.
9. Web such as Shopify, Magento and WooCommerce.
10. Linking to multiple stock take devices.
11. Linking to multiple scanners.
12. Sales data feed to engaged suppliers for auto replenishment.
13. Inbound processing of supplier invoices to eliminate manual data entry.
14. Connecting to a business intelligence platform to facilitate officiate business performance analysis.
15. Fuel pumps for managing fuel dispensing.

It is important you come to your consideration of POS software for your business with knowledge of the integrations that are important to you and will be valuable for your business. Talk to suppliers and others to determine this list for you. It is far better to have this information before you start considering PO software than after you have installed a system.

Tower Systems in an Australian based POS software company serving more than 3,500 small business retailers in Australia, New Zealand and the broader pacific region. The company makes what it sells and it supports what it sells.

Tower Systems only sells to small business retailers. This ensures our focus is not drawn by the needs of one very large client over another. In our world, all our clients are equal.

Find out more about what we do: Visit www.towersystems.com.au.

Choosing the right POS software for your retail business involves you understanding your business needs and considering these in the context of what a software package will help with. This is a most important aspect of choosing POS software you will be happy with.

In determining your needs think not only personally, talk with others in the business, consider the software services, software facilities, which they consider important. While you are doing this, consider each need based on its importance for you will have to in some parts of the business compromise what you do to fit with what the software you choose does.

It is important you not assume anything. For example, you may have a need in your business to be able to manage a repairs facility. It would not be enough to ask if a software package handles repairs. You should take the time to assess the repairs facilities in the context of the services you provide as what the software does and what you need could be two different things.

You also need to contemplate how you work. For example, every POS software program helps you sell items at the counter. There is a considerable difference between POS software programs in terms of how they help you sell items at the counter. Some have counter services that are flexible, able to be tailored to different business needs while others are rigid in ways that could adversely impact counter workflow and thereby impact shopper satisfaction.

It is important to contemplate whether there is software already designed for your specific type of retail business. If so, this could be a better starting point.

While this process seems time-consuming, the result will be a choice for software that is better suited to the needs of your business.

What are the services you need covered in your business? Get this right early in your process and you will benefit immensely.

Tower Systems in an Australian based POS software company serving more than 3,500 small business retailers in Australia, New Zealand and the broader pacific region. The company makes what it sells and it supports what it sells.

Tower Systems only sells to small business retailers. This ensures our focus is not drawn by the needs of one very large client over another. In our world, all our clients are equal.

Find out more about what we do: Visit www.towersystems.com.au.

POS software support will often determine if you like the POS software you choose for your retail business or not. By support, we mean help desk services, additional training access, software updates and more.

Brilliant software backed by poor support can make that software worth considerably less in your business.

Brilliant support for average software can make that software more valuable in your business.

Brilliant software for excellent software can create a perfect situation for your business.

Here are just some of the factors where we think good support matters most for small business retailers:

1. Easy access to good help desk services. When you call, you want to speak to someone, not a computer. You want to speak to someone who knows the software., not a not taker working in an offshore call centre. You want to be able to call when you need help, not when an office here is open. Tower Systems offers a fully staffed help desk with IT professionals knowledgeable in the software, IT professionals who listen and engage with you without following a limiting script.
2. Easy access to personal training long after the software is setup. When you first install any POS software you don’t know what you don’t know. It is only after you use the software for a while that you discover needs, usually in areas in which you have not been trained. Tower Systems offers users of its POS software free access to one-on-one training long after the software us up and running in a business. A year, two years, three years down the track, Tower Systems customers love easy access to free training.
3. Regular group training. Learning from other retailers and how they use software is a valuable way to learn. Tower Systems facilitates this through free weekly online training workshops that connect retailers from anywhere in the world to learn about and discuss a specific part of the software. These sessions encourage retailers to talk with each other and learn through peer support.
4. Being human. It is important to know the people you deal with at a POS software company. We think it is reasonable to be suspicious of businesses that do not personalise contact points. Every Tower Systems customer has the direct contact phone number and email address for the leadership team of the company, every help desk team member uses their real name, all contact is thoroughly human and personal.

Tower Systems in an Australian based POS software company serving more than 3,500 small business retailers in Australia, New Zealand and the broader pacific region. The company makes what it sells and it supports what it sells.

Tower Systems only sells to small business retailers. This ensures our focus is not drawn by the needs of one very large client over another. In our world, all our clients are equal.

Find out more about what we do: Visit www.towersystems.com.au.

IT’S A NEW FINANCIAL YEAR.

New years provide an opportunity for a new start, a reset. As the 2018/19 financial year kicks off we want to help you reset your business. Here are our tips for an awesome start to 2018/19 using our POS software.

THE CASE FOR CHANGE. If you are not happy with sales revenue in your business change is the only option for doing the same this financial year will maintain your business performance trajectory from the last financial year. The advice below is all about change, for the better.

1. DECLUTTER.
   1. Stand out the front of your shop. consider reducing the messages you pitch to people who walk past. Fewer signs and promotions could increase the attention you get. Less can be more. We have retail specialists who can help. Send photos and we will provide feedback.
   2. Quit dead stock. Stock that is not selling has no value in your business. In fact, it is likely holding you back as it takes space and reminds you, your team and shoppers that you are a harder and have out of date stock. We have a report that can tell you what is dead.
   3. Change your counter. Your counter should be about easy and valuable impulse purchases. Clear it off and rebuild with fresh offers.
2. RESET LOYALTY. Think carefully about your loyalty offer. If it is not encouraging the level of loyalty you want, consider changes. In our POS software we have multiple types of loyalty for different situations. These can be used individually or mixed together. Right now could be a good time to reset your loyalty offer.
3. ORDER WHAT WORKS. Too often we see retailers buy what they like or from people they like ahead of what business data indicate they should buy. We can help you use data in your software to buy more of what works.
4. CHECK FOR THEFT. We can do a deep dive in your data, looking for data patterns that could indicate theft. This is a confidential owner-only service.
5. DISRUPT YOURSELF. While there is great comfort in consistently following business processes, it could be that they are a barrier to you finding new shoppers and a nice revenue bump. Sometimes, you have to shake yourself up and take a left turn when you would usually take a right turn to find growth. In our POS software there are opportunities for self-disruption. We’d love to help you leverage these.
6. BE LOCAL AND ON MESSAGE.  Our POS software has facilities through which you can pitch your local credentials. On receipts. Even with individual items you can include local specific care instructions. This personal information  from you can separate your business from local and online competitors. We can show you how to use these facilities.

We are keen to help you grow your business in 2018/19, to make it more enjoyable and valuable. Our motto is We’re here to help. We are serious about this and appreciate opportunities to do this with and for you.

For the best small business POS software solution, check out Tower Systems.

FREE POS SOFTWARE WORKSHOP from Tower Systems.

Join us for a practical, jargon-free, workshop where we show the value of our Aussie developed and supported POS software and website solutions. See awesome POS software and successful websites for your type of business.

1. Perth – August 20.  10am. Click here to book.
2. Sydney – August 21. 8am. Click here to book.
3. Brisbane – August 22.  8am. Click here to book.
4. Adelaide – August 23. 9am. Click here to book.
5. Canberra – August 24. 9am. Click here to book.
6. Hobart – August 27. 10am. Click here to book.
7. Melbourne – August 28.  10am. Click here to book.
8. Newcastle – August 29. 9am. Click here to book.

At this free workshop we will…

1. Show how a good website / POS solution can land more shoppers in your physical shop, more than you think, and help you sell 24/7.·
2. Explain how to get to the top Google results, and stay there.·
3. Show how to use Facebook to drive online and in-store sales. We will share invaluable free social media advice.
4. Talk you through key steps to website success through live examples.
5. Share practical experience on order fulfilment using Australia Post and others and how to handle freight costs.
6. Explain payment options and how to leverage them for more sales.
7. Work through the commercial implications.
8. Explain photos, descriptions and things web experts often miss.·
9. Answer all your questions.

We promise a valuable and insightful workshop.  Book now.

1. Perth – August 20.  10am. Click here to book.
2. Sydney – August 21. 8am. Click here to book.
3. Brisbane – August 22.  8am. Click here to book.
4. Adelaide – August 23. 9am. Click here to book.
5. Canberra – August 24. 9am. Click here to book.
6. Hobart – August 27. 10am. Click here to book.
7. Melbourne – August 28.  10am. Click here to book.
8. Newcastle – August 29. 9am. Click here to book.

We offer solutions for retailers in these channels: gifts, jewellers, bikes, toys, fishing/outdoors, garden centres, pet shops, produce, firearms, adult shops and newsagents.

Call now if you have questions, the account manager for your state / territory can help:

1. WA / SA/ VIC: Tim Batt. 0401 833 917.
2. NSW / ACT / TAS: Nathan Morrison. 0417 568 148.
3. QLD / NT: Justin Randall. 0434 365 789.

In addition to owning Tower Systems, we also own and operate retail businesses and through these seven different public-facing websites.

This session leverages our personal web connected retailer experience to help you navigate in-store and online opportunities.