Article Mobile POS Systems Streamline the Customer Experience
Innovative retailers are taking market share away from challengers by pivoting to mobile devices.
By Steve Solomon / 9 Oct 2018 / Topics: Customer experience Devices
When it comes to contactless checkout experiences and a need for faster transactions, retailers can rely on Point-of-Sale (POS) devices to increase customer satisfaction and business performance.
What is a mobile POS system?
A mobile POS system is a device used to process electronic payments anywhere within a retail location. The unit reads the information from a customer’s credit or debit card, checks available funds, transfers funds from the customer’s account to the seller’s account, records the transaction and prints a receipt. POS technology combines both software and hardware to complete the transaction.
Plus, the portability and affordability of mobile POS devices have made them a valuable option for many retailer companies of all sizes.
More than a cash register
If you’re looking for simple ways to improve customer relationships, you’ll want to consider these benefits of handheld POS systems:
- Analysis: POS systems help flag sales patterns. Employees can quickly access a wealth of timely data and respond to customer demands.
- Networking: Handheld POS devices may be networked to other terminals or to a remote server. This versatility allows managers to track a wide variety of operations and customize devices to adapt to changing needs.
- Inventory management: POS systems track the highest product sellers and provide an automatic reorder reminder to replenish low stock. The devices can also provide real-time inventory reports.
- Minimal user errors: Hitting a wrong key is always a risk when ringing up a sale, but POS devices have built-in checks to ensure accuracy.
- Customer engagement: Retailers have easy access to customer loyalty features that inform valued shoppers about sales and other offers.
- Employee satisfaction: Shorter customer lines and greater POS efficiencies minimize employee stress. That, in turn, could improve employee retention.
Room for growth
By providing these benefits, handheld POS devices can help you create a competitive advantage and long-lasting customer relationships. How do you get to the data? Just plug in a POS device to a computer that connects to the back-office system. You can download results from every store device — consolidating, monitoring and monetizing the information in the format that suits you best. The immediate flow of detailed information about daily sales enhances the effectiveness of tech-savvy managers.
A study by Intuit also revealed that 68% of small-to-midmarket businesses use an average of four apps to run their businesses. POS systems can be helpful in this area by consolidating these applications for ease of use.
Additional advantages of cloud-based, handheld POS systems include streamlining the entire sales process by automating previously cumbersome sales reporting, analytics and inventory management information. Mobile POS devices free managers and employees to focus on other important issues, such as improving customer service.
Improving customer engagement with mobile POS systems
When it comes to competing against digital businesses and other brick-and-mortar stores, the customer experience is more important than ever. Technology can be the differentiator that helps companies stand out in a hyper-competitive marketplace. What are you doing to cultivate customer relationships? If you haven't already done so, consider implementing handheld POS systems into your workplace.
These small, powerful devices have a proven ability to streamline, automate and improve the sales experience by providing you with instant access to shopping resources, inventory data, deals, trends and more. When it comes to emerging technologies, mobile POS devices may be the best place to start.
