Tagretail tech

Selecting a point-of-sale system can be complex. The right decision can add thousands to your bottom line while the wrong decision can cost plenty.

Do your research,. Take your time. Choose based on the evidence, based on what you see for yourself.

At Tower Systems, we take a specific approach to comparisons with other POS software. We focus on developing our software and supporting our partners rather than monitoring the products of our competitors. We have not used Retail Express ourselves. To our knowledge, their staff has not used our software either. This is a deliberate choice. We believe the only comparison that truly matters is the one you make based on the specific requirements of your shop.

A Focus on Independent Specialty Retail

Our software is designed for a specific community. We serve over 3,000 independent specialty retailers across Australia and New Zealand. Our partners include garden centres, bike shops, jewellers, and newsagents. We also work closely with pet shops, toy stores, firearms dealers, and fashion boutiques.

Because we focus exclusively on local, small-to-medium businesses, we do not supply to large corporations or major franchises. This niche focus allows us to develop features that solve the real-world problems faced by independent owners. Our software is constantly evolving. The system we offer today is significantly different from the one we provided two years ago. This progress is driven almost entirely by suggestions from our retail community.

Transparency in Your Research

We believe that good business decisions are made in a calm, informed environment. Transparency is central to how we interact with potential partners. If you are curious about how our software functions, you can visit the Tower Systems YouTube channel at any time. We do not require sign-ups or email addresses for you to view these demonstrations. You can see the software in action at your own pace without any sales pressure.

If you want a deeper look, we offer personal demonstrations, where we focus on your specific needs and questions. During these sessions, we can walk through our system and focus on the areas most relevant to your operations. If you wish to conduct a function-by-function comparison with Retail Express, we are happy to sit with you and facilitate that process. This side-by-side review is the most effective way to see which platform aligns with your workflow.

Putting Your Needs First

A partnership with a software provider should be based on a genuine fit. From your first conversation with our sales team to your ongoing interactions with our help desk, our principle remains the same: your needs come first. We do not use hard sales pitches or high-pressure tactics.

Our goal is to support your success because that is the only way we succeed. If, during our discussions, we determine that Tower Systems is not the right fit for your specific business model, we will tell you so directly. We would rather see you find the correct tool for your shop than enter into a partnership that does not serve you well.

Finding an alternative to your current system is a process that deserves time and careful thought. We invite you to explore what we offer and see if our community-driven approach matches your vision for your business.

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

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

Selecting the best point of sale software for your shop can be a huge win financially and personally. Get it wrong and the costs can be high. The right system acts as the engine of the business, while the wrong one can be an anchor that drags.

Tower Systems offers a an alternative to Epos Now. 

We are biased, we are Tower Systems. Our perspective, however, is shaped by the retailers we have welcomed from Epos Now to our own platform.

We are not a perfect fit for every business though. If our software does not suit your specific requirements, we will tell you. But for specialty retailers seeking deep functionality and a genuine partnership, we believe our offering stands apart.

A Local Approach to Software and Support

Retail in Australia and New Zealand has its own unique rhythms, terminology, and requirements. Tower Systems is locally developed and supported. Many on our team have local retail experience. The tools our customers use every day are built with a cultural and professional understanding of your specific market.

The difference is most noticeable when you need help. We do not operate offshore call centres or rely on rigid, scripted responses. Our help desk consists of skilled individuals with actual retail experience. They understand the pressure of a busy shop floor because they have been there themselves. They know our software intimately and do not need to read from a manual to solve your problems.

Transparency in Pricing and Contracts

A significant differences here at Tower Systems is our approach to contracts. We do not lock our customers into a long-term agreement. We back our software and service every month. If you decide the software is no longer right for you, you can cancel your rental with 30 days’ notice. This flexibility removes the financial risk often associated with rigid, multi-year commitments.

Our POS software pricing is transparent and simple:

• No terminal limits: You can run the software on as many computers as you need in a single location for one fixed price.
• Included features: Standard requirements like Xero and Shopify integrations, loyalty tools, and e-commerce links for platforms such as WooCommerce and Magento are included without surprise surcharges.
• Payment flexibility: We do not force you into a specific EFTPOS provider. You are free to choose the payments gateway and bank that offer the best rates for your business.
• No transaction clips: We do not take a percentage of your sales. You keep 100% of your revenue.

Specialist Tools for Growth

Our software is not a generalised, “one size fits all” solution. It is built for specialty retail. This means the functionality is deep, offering genuine pathways to increase your efficiency and profitability. Beyond the code itself, we provide the training and customer service necessary to help you actually leverage these money-making tools.

We invite you to put our software on the counter next to Epos Now and compare them function for function. We are confident that a detailed analysis will demonstrate the extensive benefits of a system tailored to local specialty retail.

If you are a happy Epos Now customer, we encourage you to stay with what works for you. However, if you are looking for an alternative that prioritises direct engagement, local expertise, and honest business terms, we would welcome the opportunity to chat.

Check us out, obligation free.

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

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

A Lightspeed customer recently reached out to us frustrated by a contact from Lightspeed about a change in their plan. The price increase for them will be $130.00 a month including GST. This is a price increase they had not budgeted for, a price increase considerably outside of other operational cost price increases.

While the messaging frames this as a necessary infrastructure upgrade to support more powerful tools, the practical outcome for many small business owners is a mandatory price increase. Although initial discounts are often provided to soften the transition, the long-term reality is a higher fixed cost for the business.

Our Tower Systems POS software is a alternative for Lightspeed customers, one that may be worth considering if you have received notice of a price increase and are frustrated with it.

For a local independent retailer, every overhead cost matters. Cost increases can be okay if they unlock significant additional commercial value for the businesss.

Why Tower Systems is a good alternative

We develop and support our software in Australia and New Zealand.

If you are currently reconsidering your relationship with Lightspeed, here is how Tower Systems operates differently:

• You matter: The email from Lightspeed to the customer that we have seen  does not name any person at Lightspeed. It offers no phone number. There is no individual email address. It makes contact difficult. Here at Tower Systems, every customer has direct contact details – phone and email – for our leadership team. We make sure our customers can easily contact us.
• Your say matters: our customers can easily suggest software enhancements and vote on these and suggestions from others. Our Software Ideas platform is a service loved by the retailers in our community.
• Payment independence: Unlike some competitors who push specific payment gateways or add per-transaction fees, we believe you should choose the merchant services that work best for your bottom line.
• Local, human support: When you need help, you talk to someone here in Australia or New Zealand who understands your business type—whether you run a garden centre, a jeweller, or a toy store.
• No lock-in contracts: We earn your business every month. We don’t rely on long-term contracts to keep our customers.

The notice we have seen that was sent to a Lightspeed customers included a clause regarding termination. If you feel this mandatory change is not the right fit for your business, you generally have the option to exit your subscription without penalty if you act before the change takes effect.

Software should be an investment that yields a return, not an unpredictable expense. If you are looking for a stable, transparent, and locally-focused partner to power your retail shop, we invite you to see what Tower Systems can do.

We don’t know if our Tower Systems POS software is a good alternative to Lightspeed. Only you can decide that by looking at our software and comparing it to Lightspeed. We’d love to find out about your business needs and personally demonstrate our POS software to you.

From serial number tracking to selling by fractions to awesome loyalty tools to Shopify integration to easy supplier invoice import, Tower Systems offers software designed for many different specialty retail channels.

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

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

Local independent retail is built on a foundation of genuine relationships, not merely the accumulation of transactions. This core truth is often overlooked by software companies, particularly those employing a percentage-based pricing model for their Point of Sale (POS) systems. Such an approach can feel less like a partnership and more like a regressive tax, revealing a significant disconnect with the operational realities and philosophical heart of indie retail.

Tower Systems does not charge a per transaction cost, a tax, for use of its POS software.

Consider the typical independent shop. It is often staffed by casual employees who might work only one or two shifts a week. These individuals are the frontline ambassadors for the brand. They are not technology specialists. Their priority is the customer standing directly in front of them. When a question arises, they need immediate, accurate answers. They require intuitive software that facilitates service, rather than hindering it. A delay caused by a cumbersome interface or a confusing error message directly impacts the customer experience. This is where the personal touch, the very essence of indie retail, can be eroded.

Large technology companies, in their pursuit of efficiency and scale, frequently focus on metrics such as “low cost per contact” for their support systems. This often translates into automated responses, lengthy wait times, or complex multi-tiered support structures. While these strategies might reduce operational costs for the tech provider, they exact a heavy toll on the independent retailer. A casual staff member, faced with a queue of customers and an unyielding automated system, experiences frustration that can quickly transfer to the customer. This impersonal approach clashes directly with the deeply personal nature of local retail.

The percentage-of-transaction pricing model exacerbates this issue. Every sale in an independent shop represents not just revenue, but the successful culmination of a relationship. It is the result of curated stock, personalised recommendations, and a welcoming atmosphere. When a software company takes a slice of each transaction, it implicitly claims a share in this relational success without contributing directly to its creation. This model can feel like a penalty for growth. As a business flourishes through its own hard work and community engagement, its core software costs increase disproportionately.

Furthermore, this pricing structure introduces unwelcome unpredictability into a sector that often operates on tight margins. Independent retailers require stable, forecastable overheads to manage their cash flow effectively. A fixed subscription fee allows for clearer financial planning. A variable cost tied to every sale, however, can turn software from a predictable utility into an erratic expense, making budgeting more challenging. It also creates a misaligned incentive, where the software provider benefits from increased volume regardless of the actual value or strain placed on their service by that volume.

Ultimately, the most effective POS software for independent retail should operate as a supportive, almost invisible, infrastructure. It should empower the person behind the counter, making their job easier and allowing them to focus on what truly matters: the customer. When pricing models become punitive or create friction, they cease to be tools for empowerment and instead become barriers to genuine connection. It is time for the technology supporting indie retail to truly understand and uphold the personal essence of the retail experience.

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

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

In a rapidly evolving retail landscape, many small business owners feel overwhelmed by the fast pace of technological change. It’s common, and it’s okay.

At Tower Systems, we understand that software and artificial intelligence can seem daunting, especially when the inner workings are unfamiliar. However, our goal is to bridge this gap, transforming complex tools into practical assets that empower independent retailers to thrive alongside larger competitors.

A Personal Approach to Technology

We believe that no business should be forced to adopt technology before they are ready. Every retailer must move at a pace that suits their specific needs and comfort level. Our role is to provide clear, plain-English explanations that demystify how point-of-sale systems and AI function in a real-world setting.

By using actual business data, we demonstrate the tangible benefits of these tools, making them accessible even to those who do not consider themselves technically minded. Whether you are a seasoned retailer in your eighties or a young entrepreneur starting out, our resources are designed to ensure you can master the software with confidence.

Comprehensive Support and Training

A significant part of making technology accessible is providing the right support structure. We offer a variety of training materials, including:

• Extensive Online Resources: A wealth of information is available at any time to help you navigate the system.
• Instructional Videos: Visual guides provide step-by-step walkthroughs of key features.
• Human-Based Customer Service: Our team is dedicated to providing patient, ongoing assistance for as long as you need it.

Our commitment to training has no set time limit; we are here to support your learning journey until you feel completely comfortable managing your digital tools.

Competing on a Level Playing Field

The ultimate purpose of integrating AI and advanced software is to provide independent shops with the same advantages enjoyed by big-box retailers. Our AI tools are developed to deliver reliable, useful results that build confidence and drive more successful business outcomes.

By making these high-level tools accessible to local, family-owned businesses, we help create a more balanced retail environment. Technology should not be a barrier to success, but a catalyst for it. If you have been hesitant about the digital future, we are ready to partner with you to make that transition smooth, practical, and rewarding.

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

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

For a local specialty retailer, transitioning into eCommerce can feel like an overwhelming hurdle. It is no longer enough to simply have a website; modern retail requires a digital presence that works in lockstep with in-store operations. Achieving this synergy requires a partner who understands the complexities of inventory management, margin control, and the unique needs of the Australian retail landscape.

It’s risky. Web development is unregulated and there are people out there scamming business owners. Take your time. be careful.

Based in Hawthorn, Victoria, Tower Systems provides a specialised Shopify development service designed specifically for independent retailers. Whether you manage a newsagency, a garden centre, a toy store, or a boutique, the goal is to create a professional digital storefront that is fully integrated with your point-of-sale software.

The value of local expertise

A significant challenge in the current market is the prevalence of web development firms that outsource their work. While these options may appear cost-effective initially, they often result in cultural gaps or technical solutions that are not tuned to the Australian market.

The development work at Tower Systems is performed entirely in-house by a team based in Melbourne. This ensures clear communication and a deep understanding of local consumer behaviour. By keeping the process local, the focus remains on quality and commercial effectiveness. You work directly with people who are personally invested in the success of your business.

A transparent, fixed-price approach

Transparency is vital when investing in technology. To remove the guesswork, the service is offered on a fixed-price basis. This means the costs are clearly defined from the outset, allowing you to plan your budget with confidence. The process begins with a comprehensive consultation to scope your requirements and ensure the solution is a genuine fit for your needs.

This service is structured to empower retailers rather than to profit from the build itself. The standard package includes the selection of a premium Shopify theme, full POS integration for seamless data transfer, and a personal two-hour training session. To ensure a smooth transition, the service also includes three months of post-launch support and a detailed handover guide for ongoing management.

Practical steps for eCommerce success

Launching a successful Shopify store requires more than just technical setup; it requires a retail-first strategy. Here are several principles to guide your journey:

Define your primary goal: Determine if your focus is on attracting new customers, growing total revenue, or providing better service to your existing local base. This clarity will dictate your design and marketing decisions.

Curate your inventory: You do not need to list every item from your physical shop online. Start with a curated selection of best-sellers or unique products to make the site easier for customers to navigate.

Prioritise original content: Search engines reward unique descriptions and images. Avoid generic supplier content and instead write your own titles and descriptions that reflect your brand’s voice.

Simplify logistics: Start with a straightforward, flat-rate shipping structure. You can introduce more complex freight options once you understand your online customers’ buying habits.

A website is a living asset that requires regular attention through social media engagement and customer emails. By partnering with a local team that understands both the software and the strategy, you can build a digital storefront that truly supports your long-term growth.

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

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