The POS Software Blog

The POS Software Blog

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

Latest stories

Good gift shop software backed by retail experienced support can help a gift shop business succeed

November 5, 2023
3 Min read
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Choosing software for your gift shop could be among the most important decisions you will ever make for your gift shop business.

It’s not about the price of the gift shop software. rather, it is about the value, what you get from using the gift shop software.

More expensive software might do more, way more, and deliver a better financial return than you get from cheaper gift shop software or even free software.

Our advice for local small business retail gift shop owners in the form of questions to ask when considering new POS software for their gift shop, and, indeed, every business decision:

  • Will it make money for the business?
  • Will it save time?
  • Will it make the business more valuable?
  • Will it make you happier?

Here at Tower Systems we make software for Aussie local gift shops, software that helps you make more money, save time, make the business worth more and make you happier.

More important, we back our gift shop software with training by experienced retailers and support from experienced retailers. Our retail experience and experience with gift shops helps local gift shops maximise the value they harvest from using our gift shop software.

We are grateful to already serve more than 3,000 local retailers. We’d love to serve you. Call us on 1300 662 957 or email sales@towersystems.com.au.

From sales to special orders to pre-orders, from Xero integration to digital receipt integration, from loyalty that works to easy shopper postcode tracking, from smart ways to pitch shop local to featuring locally made products … our gift shop software is made for gift retailers, made to help you thrive.

Yes, for sure, good gift shop software backed by retail experienced support can help a gift shop business succeed. This is our goal here at Tower Systems. We love seeing local independent gift shops succeed for when this happens, the owners benefit, those who work in the business benefit, those who supply the business benefit and the local community benefits. we understand this and do our very best to help everyone maximise the opportunity of the gift shop software.

This is a Tower Systems difference, a commitment, something we work on because we live, breathe and understand local independent retail.

We are not your average software company. We are local people ourselves, serving local retailers. This provides a level of understanding that is differentiating, something on which gift shop owners can rely.

Choosing software for your gift shop could be among the most important decisions you will ever make for your gift shop business. Here at Tower Systems we understand and respect this.

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Newsagents are changing the local Aussie newsagency into something you may not recognise

November 5, 2023
4 Min read
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Hey happy Sunday Afternoon. My name is Mark Fetcher. I own Tower Systems and, since 1996, I’ve also owned and run a few newsagency businesses. I guess you could call me a newsagent. But I see the terms newsagent and newsagency as loaded with assumptions in the minds of listeners. Too many people think they what they were decades ago.

They are not.

If you think the local Aussie newsagency is dead, dying or has no future, I am writing this for you. Please take a moment to see that the reality may not match your assumptions.

Oh, and before we get too far, my POS software company makes software for newsagents to help them run more successful and relevant Newsagency businesses. We’re good at it too with three times more newsagents using our software than any other software company.

Now, back to my thoughts about how newsagents are changing their newsagency businesses.

Sure, some newsagencies have closed. The channel remains the biggest independent retail channel in Australia with 2,500+ retail outlets.

Today’s Aussie newsagency is more of a gift and homewares shop than ever before. It offers fun and on-trend gifts from impulse items to collector pieces worth thousands. Yes, there are newsagencies selling items worth thousands of dollars.

You’re still likely to see papers and magazines somewhere, but they are not the traffic drivers they once were. Also, the margin newsagents make from these is paltry as publishers have not kept up.

Some newsagents are big in coffee, and often it’s the best coffee in town. Some are big in pop culture, often being the local go-to shop for licensed product like Pokémon, Harry Potter, Disney and more.

Some are big in self-care, often bringing new brands to town and offering ethically sourced products from small makers.

Some are bookshops more so than newsagencies.

Some sell clothing.

Some are the best toy shop around offering fresh new toys and traditional family-loved staples.

One I know is an awesome baby shop in country Victoria.

Many have online shops that often are not selling the same products as you’ll find in the physical shop.

The local Aussie newsagency has changed, evolved. It’s most likely not what you think. But it is sure to have the best range of cards in town, in the entire region. And, many of these cared are designed and printed in Australia, with words from Australian writers. This matters because the local Aussie newsagency continues to help local Aussies express themselves, provide a hug well into the future as those cards given are usually kept.

If you think the local Aussie newsagency is dead, an old business or out of date, seek some out, see for yourself, and while you may find the odd one out of touch or challenged, most you visit will be vibrant, relevant, fun and appreciated. You’re likely to find businesses that challenge the expectations of the newsagencyshingle. That’s okay. What’s in a name anyway?!

Please don’t let your memory of years ago cloud what the local Aussie newsagency is today.

In other news, Tower Systems, has delivered more websites for newsagents. Here are some of the recent new websites:

In my own shops we have a number of websites doing terrific business:

All of these are connected to our newsagency software for syncing of inventory and sales between the physical and online shops.

See, the local Aussie newsagency has changed, often thanks to smart tech helping newsagents lead these changes.

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POS software Tyro payments integration helps small business retailers compete

November 5, 2023
2 Min read
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Close to 1,000 local small business retailers rely on the integration of Tyro payments with the Tower Systems POS software.

The integration Tower Systems delivers in its POS software to Tyro payments is secure, fast, safe and well proven over many years. Plus, it has been enhanced to be a current level tech solution for small business retailers.

This is an integration delivered without any penalty cost to retailers, without the need for additional software or a per transaction cost.

As a partner of Tyro from the outset of the Tyro business, Tower Systems has been at the forefront of Tyro advances, encouraging the company to innovate as Tower itself has innovated through its small business retail management POS software. The Tyro payments integration today benefits from the championing from Tower.

From the Point of Sale screen in the POS software, Tyro is instantly and easily accessible for contactless payments as well as chip and pin. Customers can also benefit from the Tower Systems entirely portable POS software where POS is taken on the road for out of store sales using a tablet or iPad to access the Tower software and through this Tyro EFTPOS payments platform.

Tower Systems small business retailers love Tyro EFTPOS for its speed, accuracy, ease of use and settlement options.

The Tyro EFTPOS payments / Tower Systems partnership is one on which small business retailers can rely as an alternative to the big bank approach. It’s fast, secure, safe and time saving. It is a solution for these times, an alternative to POS solutions that impose per transaction costs for payments processing.

More Point of Sale (POS) software companies have shifted focus to sourcing revenue from each transaction completed in retail businesses using their software.

Some even impose a penalty on retailers who choose to use payment methods that do not provide the software company the revenue share.

We think this is what makes the approach a tax. It’s a cost of business retailers using such POS software systems are unable to avoid, unless they switch software.

The integration delivered with Tyro payments is fine of plenty of payments platform integration from Tower Systems. We think it is vital that retailers get to choose the payments platform that works best for their business needs.

Tower Systems is a software company, not a tax collector.

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5 ways small business retailers can use POS software to help improve sales counter workflow

November 2, 2023
2 Min read
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Here are 5 valuable and easy to implement ways retailers use our Point of Sale software (POS software) to reduce labour costs in their local retail businesses:

  1. Sales counter workflow. Smooth. Easy. Smart. Accurate. Few keystrokes. Easy for even casual staff who are not in the business often. In our POS software it is smart, efficient, streamlined and labour cost saving.
  2. Match revenue and roster. Focussing on rostering to revenue and revenue opportunity is a challenge for small business retailers. Tools in the POS software from Tower Systems help indie retailers do this with ease and consistency. These are tools retailers love as they can drive revenue reduction and / or labour cost reduction.
  3. Smart stock control including reordering. By eliminating manual processes around placing orders for replenishment stock, retailers are able to, in one place and at one time, accurately create orders based on business performance data.  By ordering based on business activity (sales) the business do working based on success rather than gut feel. A business switching to ordering from within their Point of sale system can expect to free up cash by reducing non-performing stock. This process is further improved through digitally engaged supplier relationships.
  4. Customer management including accounts and loyalty. Through computer-based customer accounts and loyalty management, the retail business is able to transact with customers accurately, in a timely manner and in a way which puts customers first.  Generating monthly customer statements, for example, could take a few minutes whereas manual processes could take many hours and face challenges with accuracy.
  5. Fact assisted decision making.  Too many retail businesses spend too much time spinning their wheels pursuing decisions because they are not using business facts to feed these decisions.  All to often we see poor business decisions made based on emotion and or ignorance rather than historical business data.  Replace the error prone and fact-less approach with a fact-based approach and a business will soon find that decisions are more right than wrong.  Retail businesses can bank on the results.

These are just 5 of the ways in which our Point of Sale software helps 3,500+ small business retailers in Australian and New Zealand to improve the management of their businesses, streamline processes and drive more efficient allocation of labour resources.

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Christmas marketing tips for local small business retailers

November 1, 2023
2 Min read
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It’s November 1. The countdown to Christmas is well and truly under way. The next 8 weeks are probably the most important weeks of trade for most retailers.

Here are some free tips to help you make the most of the opportunities, to help you separate your business from the Christmas noise.

Over the next 8 weeks most retailers will pound hard Christmas products, sales and opportunities. Many will be loud, screeching for people to look at them. In local retail businesses it’s hard to compete with the noise of national retailers.

The best advice we think we can give local retailers is to have fun, enjoy yourselves, help customers enjoy themselves.

In your social media posts, focus on having fun and sharing joyful stories.

In your window, be local, shine a light on local talents from kids to retirees. have your shop software people want to visit to see their friends and neighbours and themselves reflected.

In your shop be sure to keep it light, relaxed and fun.

We could give you a list of things to do. Not this year. This year we think you’ll get more value from a relaxed and fun-focussed Christmas season. let the others do the heavy lifting with Christmas noise. In your shop let people relax and catch their breath.

Being calm and relaxing will separate your shop, get it known for being this place rather than the shrill and bustle of Christmas retail elsewhere.

Make it easy, too. People often talk about how hard Christmas is. Be the business that makes it easy. The ways to do this are have bundled gifts ready to go, pre-bagged or wrapped, with some card selections that are relevant, offer easy payment options including buy now pay later, free wrapping, better shop floor help, guide buying advice or tips on perfect gifts no one else will think of. Consider making Christmas easy as being a key part of your messaging.

You could also help your shoppers help others. Setup a whiteboard or sheets of butcher’s paper, yes keep it simple. Get customers to write gift suggestions under different age/gender groups. For example: Girls 18 – 25, Boys 55+. Encourage your customers to help each other.

Stand out this Christmas by being different, calm, relaxed, fun. Shoppers will notice this, and appreciate what you have done.

Have an awesome run up to Christmas!

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When is a software company not a software company?

October 30, 2023
2 Min read
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When they become a tax collector.

More Point of Sale (POS) software companies have shifted focus to sourcing revenue from each transaction completes in retail businesses using their software.

Some even impose a penalty on retailers who choose to use payment methods that do not provide the software company the revenue share opportunity.

We think this is what makes the approach a tax. It’s a cost of business retailers using such POS software systems are unable to avoid, unless they switch software.

The software companies imposing this charge, imposing the requirement that retailers use their payments platform, off of which the software companies profit, say they are doing it to fund software development, to make their products better.

Software companies used to fund development out of software sales and software rental. Plenty of us still do.

By disconnecting the revenue from the sale or rental of the software and binding it to every sale undertakes in a retail business using the software, a software company shifts focus, we think.

One thing local small business retailers hate is imposed fees. That’s what some software companies are doing with this demanded clip from each transaction.

We think better software is created when the success of a software development business depends on the continuous improvement of the software it offers.

Selling or renting the software is clean, neat, and what many of us went into business to do. Pivoting to being a tax collector may offer a revenue bump today, it won’t last.

Retailers will see the per transaction charge for what it is. Software companies imposing the tax will eventually hunt down another thing behind which they can increase revenue. They’d be better off backing themselves and making better software.

Just as local retailers are vital to the local communities in which they live and serve, our locally based POS software company is vital to the community of local retailers and local IT professionals.

Tower Systems is a software company, not a tax collector.

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

Jewellers, garden centres, bike shops, toy shops, produce businesses, farm supply businesses, fishing shops, pet shops, charity businesses, landscape gardening businesses, antique shops, sewing shops, haberdashery businesses, newsagents and more benefit from this software.

Find out more at www.towersystems.com.au Call 1300 662 957 or email sales@towersystems.com.au

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Tower Systems is grateful to welcome Wild Cards & Gifts shops

October 26, 2023
2 Min read
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We are thrilled to have welcomed a bunch of locally owned Wild Card & Gift shops to our Tower Systems POS software community in recent weeks.

Serving so many Wild Card & Gift businesses enables us to help them individually and as a group, to thrive in their local communities and beyond.

Wild shops are lovely by folks seeking our cards and gifts for loved-ones. Our software will help them fine tune their businesses as they evolve serving locally and beyond. Our gift shop software has terrific tools for serving businesses like Wild Card & Gift businesses.

Here are some of the benefits people in businesses like yours tell us they love:

  1. Say goodbye to LayBy With our buy now pay later options.
  2. Customers will love your product use and care instructions on receipts.
  3. Make more money offering special orders that you can easily track from the counter and notify shoppers by email or text when the goods arrive.
  4. Get one-time-only shoppers spending more with an awesome and differentiating loyalty facility.
  5. Sell online easily, direct from your POS software.
  6. Bring customers back with reminders on dates important to them.
  7. Save money on bookkeeping by integrating with accounting software.
  8. Make more money from the one time only shoppers.
  9. Save time, load electronic invoices from suppliers.

Here is what we think really matters about what we do and what we offer Australian gift shops like yours:

  • This awesome gift shop software is developed in Australia.
  • It has been designed specifically for gift shops.
  • Our customer service team is Australian based. If you call, email, text, Facebook message or visit us, a human, with a real name, responds.
  • Our software is regularly enhanced, based on user suggestions.
  • You have access to unlimited one-on-one training.
  • We offer business growth training, providing business context for cool things you can do with the software.
  • Easy access to a fantastic knowledge base – like a searchable manual.
  • Easily link with your website to sell online.
  • Easily link to Xero – save time, cut mistakes and cut accounting costs.

In serving Wild Card & Gift shops we are grateful for the opportunity to help them as we also help other local gift shops to serve their local communities. Retail is personal aft5er all, and local, and this is where we thrive.

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Tower Systems first with next generation Linkly Cloud POS software integration

October 25, 2023
2 Min read
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Tower Systems is grateful for the opportunity to work closely with EFTPOS solutions platform Linkly to deliver the first every POS software integration with their next-gen platform: Linkly Cloud V2.

Tower Systems completed formal certification almost 2 weeks ago, the first software company to do so.

In undertaking our software development work for integration with Linkly Cloud we blazed a trail, developing knowledge and assets from which those who follow us will benefit.

This Linkly Cloud integration enhances facilities and options for local small business retailers. It is a beautiful solution that will assist retailer efficiency and business performance.

The POS software / Linkly Cloud integration is available for Tower systems POS software customers for no cost. nThe company funded the development as part of its service of delivering genuine value for its retail business customers.

Tower Systems continues to innovate in the local independent specialty retail space in Australia and New Zealand. This integration with Linkly Cloud V2 is the latest in an evolving series of integrations from the company as it serves retailers with connections that benefit local retail businesses.

Regardless of marketplace, our software is integrated to varying degrees with the following external platforms and opportunities:

  • Tyro broadband EFTPOS.
  • Slyp – digital receipts.
  • Linkly – major bank EFTPOS through this interface.
  • MX51 – links to two major banks currently.
  • Quest.
  • SmartPay.
  • Windcave.
  • Shopify, Big Commerce, Magento and WooCommerce e-commerce.
  • OzBiz accounting software integration and through this to MYOB.
  • AfterPay buy now pay later.
  • Humm buy now pay later.
  • Zip buy now pay later.
  • Message Media text messaging.
  • Message Net text messaging.
  • Govt. approved scale integration.
  • Postec / fuel integration.
  • Epay voucher phonecard sales.
  • Indue CDC (Cashless Debit Card) – product level blocking.
  • DTI – Digital Transaction Intelligence. Electronic receipts.
  • Booksellers book title integration.
  • ChatGPT – for product descriptions.
  • BG and Removal.AI. Image background removal.
  • Deputy, Tanda and PlanDay. Roster services.

This is not the complete list of integrations for our Tower Systems POS software.

Linkly is clear in their mission: Obsessed with creating smooth payment experiences, Linkly delivers superior in-person, online and phone payment moments for all businesses.

Tower Systems is clear in its mission: our purpose is to empower local retailers to thrive.

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Retailers loving POS software easy to access training

October 24, 2023
1 Min read
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The library of training videos available for our local retailer focussed Tower Systems POS software is helping more retailers and retail business employees make better use of our software.

Organised in a comprehensive curriculum covering key day to day aspects of our POS software, the videos make learning operational threads of the software easy, even for those with no software experience.

Customers love that they can jump in, engage with training, and watch it over if they wish.

We are grateful to our customers for feedback as this helps us in future content production for our video training library.

Any one of our customers can access this library, and benefit from deeper understanding of how to use our POS software.

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Owning and running a local shop is a calling

October 21, 2023
1 Min read
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Owning and running a local shop is often more of a calling than a pure business decision, for local shops play active and vital roles in supporting local communities.

This is what happens when the owner of a business lives among those they serve. They want the local community to thrive because they live and feel the joy of a thriving community.

No big business can compete with this personal local connection, no matter how much they advertise or promote local support. Nothing beats living alongside those your own business serves.=

It’s this connectedness of local retailers to their local community that inspires us to make software that is genuinely useful in helping local retailers to serve, and to thrive themselves.

We are grateful to only make software for local independent retailers. As locals ourselves, we understand the role our software can play.

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What does your Point of Sale software cost?

October 20, 2023
2 Min read
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Here at Tower Systems, our POS software pricing is transparent. It starts at $175.00 a month, or $105 a month if you’re a community or charity owned enterprise.

There is no payments fee per transaction. Big overseas software companies are doing this now.

There is no requirement on the EFTPOS platform you use. We direct link to Tyro, SmartPay, Linkly (the big banks) and more.

There is no charge for extra terminals. They’s all included in the price.

There is no penalty charge for paying monthly. Some companies quote a low monthly cost that you need to pay 12 months in advance to get.

No extra charge for e-commerce integration: Shopify, Magento, Big Commerce or Woo.

The pricing page on our website has the details.

We offer an awesome library of fresh training videos.

Best of all, our help desk is locally based and run by humans who do not follow a rigid script. Call us, and we answer.

We understand the importance of local human-delivered support.

Price should not be the only factor in choosing POS software for you business. It is worth researching though, to understand the total cost of ownership of the POS software you have or are considering.

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Local retailers in Australia could benefit from engaging with Halloween

October 19, 2023
2 Min read
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I am back from a quick trip to the US – New York, Wisconsin (several small towns and Los Angeles).

It was fascinating to see the total embrace of Halloween, in all retail sectors: jewellers, garden centres, bike shops, pet shops, toy shops, homewares shops, fabric shops, gift shops, landscape businesses, bookshops, fashion stores.

While I have seen Halloween in the US plenty of times before, this time I paid attention to the range of retail businesses engaged.

Retailers in every category embrace Halloween as an opportunity for fun. They also use it as an opportunity for in-store events to reconnect with the local community.

What I saw was much more than candy and trick or treating … it was a seasonal embrace with fun at the heart. There were events, sales, photo opportunities and plenty more. Most were very local, and engaging.

Many retailers use it as an opportunity too ease into Christmas with Halloween prep starting in early September.

I like the idea of Halloween right after Father’s Day and as something prior to Christmas being put up in store. While we have done Halloween in our shops previously, in 2024 I think we will take a more US local retail approach and create something quite different for here.

I mention it today because events in-store, in any type of retail business, are vital to helping to be noticed, and attract new shoppers, and new shoppers are vital to all of us in retail.

This photo is from a bike shop / coffee shop in Lake Geneva Wisconsin. I saw people crouch down for a photo. Simple. Effective. Engaging.

There are so many opportunities local retailers can embrace with Halloween beyond what we have seen as common locally.

Bike shops, jewellers, garden centres, toy shops, pet shops, bookshops, gift shops, homewares shops, newsagents and even farm supply businesses all have opportunities in the Halloween space and I saw plenty of examples in the US recently.

In our POS software it’s a season we can help you track, too.

I am grateful for what I got to see. It was heaps fun.

Mark Fletcher
CEO. Tower Systems
mark@towersystems.com.au 0418 321 338

PS. Retail is personal and Halloween leans into this opportunity.

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Not all gift shop POS software is the same and why that can make a difference to a local indie gift shop

October 17, 2023
2 Min read
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There are plenty of gift shop POS systems on the market. They tend to spruce the same things: ease of use, helping you to grow your business, easy online sales etc. etc.

We know the pitch.

We are a local Aussie based POS software company that develops and supports POS software for gift shops.

We are different in that we only provide support to and support local retailers, small business retailers, independent retailers.

We’re stop interested in selling to big retailers, big franchises, groups with 50 or 100 shops. We understand the importance of local retail and are committed to helping local retailers, like local gift shops, to more successfully compete.

We pack our gift shop POS software with facilities made for local retailers, to help them run more efficient and valuable businesses, to stand out and to attract more shoppers.

One example of our difference are the loyalty facilities in our software. Sure, we do the points thing. But big retailers do those. Surely as a local retailer you want to stand out, to be seen to be different. In our gift shop software you have tools that allow you to be different, loyalty tools through which you can promote your business differently to your big competitors. Our loyalty tools are designed to nurture local shopper stickiness.

Another example of how our gift shop POS system helps local gift shops is the ease with which you can share local knowledge, differentiating knowledge. This is all abut selling you and your expertise. We have seen it work a treat at helping retailers more meaningfully connect with local retailers.

A third way our POS software for gift shops helps local indie gift shops is by helping you to encourage your suppliers to follow practices that save time in your business. We have helped many suppliers provide retailers with electronic invoices that reduce mistakes in the shop and save huge time.

We are an engaged POS software company serving only local small business retailers in selected retail channels. Our difference is this focussed and local connection. We’re like you and this makes us closer to you.

You can count on Tower Systems.

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We’re looking for local Aussie wholesalers keen for a better relationship with retailers

October 16, 2023
2 Min read
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Local small business retailers are time-poor.

Too often, wholesalers steal more time with old-school practices, and then they complain when they don’t achieve the sales they want.

Our POS software company, Tower Systems, helps local wholesalers and retailers to work together for mutual benefit.

  • Retailers love electronic invoices for their accuracy and time saved. They also love loading stock files and product image files – saving more time.

  • Wholesalers love the reorder trigger. Retailers love this too when they see revenue lost by not reordering sooner based on projected sales.

  • Wholesalers also love the sales data feed, providing faster feedback on product performance.

  • Retailers love being able to compare supplier performance, side by side.

  • Retailers love loading a catalog without having to key in each item and the special price for the timing of the catalogue.

  • Retailers and suppliers love automation around product returns.

While there are plenty of POS software products in the marketplace, few offer deep and mutually beneficial connectivity for suppliers and retailers.

Here at Tower Systems we understand the value of both sides of the supplier / retailer transactional relationship.

We love helping suppliers grow business from retailers using our software.

We love helping retailers cut suppliers who are not paying their way in the business.

This is all about business after all.

If you are a supplier to local indie retailers, think about your processes and the time commitment you expect from retailers.

If we can help, reach out. We are proud to serve 3,500+ local retailers in Australia.

If you do not provide electronic invoices or an electronic stock file with images, you are costing retailers time. We can help you create electronic invoices to world class standards for not only our POS software but other POS software too.

How retailers feel about a supplier goes beyond the success of the products they supply. The ease and cost of doing business is a key factor. It’s vital you work on that, to make your business more useful, more valuable to retailers.

We own shops and know these things from our own experience. We pursue efficiency and accuracy, hallmarks of local retail success.

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The number of clicks and the amount of information you have to provide in order to watch a POS software demonstration says something about the ease of access to help with that software

October 12, 2023
1 Min read
T

At our website, www.towersystems.com.au, once you choose your marketplace, you can watch a recent software demonstration immediately, without providing any of your details.

Alternatively, you can, with one click request a personal demonstration lead by the needs of your business.

We believe in easy to access customer service, pre sales, and post sales.

Just as retail is personal, POS software support is personal.

The number of clicks and the amount of information you have to provide in order to watch a POS software demonstration says something about the ease of access to help with that software. See for yourself.

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