The Benefits of a Cloud Based Cash Register

Normally, cloud based POS software is designed with the user experience in mind. Cloud based cash registers prevent loss of time and productivity and save money. Cloud based cash registers are safer than traditional ones. Yet, a lot of businesses neglect security when choosing theirs. Security is critical, in particular for small and average-size enterprises.
If you think you may have security problems with your current register, it could be time to make the switch to a cloud based one. When you’re looking, ask your prospective vendor about their security policy and details.

Table of Contents

Lower Cost

The cost is arguably one of the most vital issues for all business owners, particularly small business owners. Some companies tend to provide packages with confusing price structures. There are usually hidden fees and charges buyers don’t learn about until much later. Always check for costs in advance. In particular, look out for:

Integration fees
Support fees
Set up fees
Hardware fees
High credit card processing rates
Add-on fees
Cancellation fees

Cloud registers make it possible to take your store anywhere, be updated on your employees or coworkers’ work at all times, and share information seamlessly. Employees can access detailed overviews of project progress and collaborate irrespective of their geographical location. This will help them be much more productive in terms of demonstrating services and products to customers and managing work processes.

This is not just a matter of opinion, but of fact. Companies who use cloud-based technologies are up to 4 times more productive than those who don’t, recent studies show. Staff can access relevant documents and files from the office, home, or anywhere else. Cloud registers come with a collaboration system that makes it possible to access documents from a central location. This enhances efficiency and drives the bottom line.

The cloud’s financial model is predictable and feasible. It is easy to scale up if your company grows. Most companies charge only a flat monthly rate per user or device and there shouldn’t be any upfront costs. Making the switch to a cloud register saves time and energy, reduces IT support demand, and does away with the need for server refreshes. All this saves you money.

User-friendlier

Cloud registers are easier to use than traditional ones, thus reducing the risk of human error. Cloud tech is intuitive and limits risk by preventing loss of time and productivity. It also reduces the risk of unhappy customers who become such after waiting too long at the till. If they wait – they might lose patience and leave.

Access Your Data from Anywhere

Let’s say you’re on vacation, but you keep wondering how store sales are going in your absence. You can’t stop thinking about it. You tell yourself you’re trying to relax and you shouldn’t think about it, but you can’t. It’s who you are. If you have a legacy cash register, you’re left squirming. There’s no way of knowing how sales are unless you call to pester your employee. If you have a cloud-based POS system, you can log in and see this data anytime you want as long as you have a Wi-Fi connection.

You can expect this essential capability from any quality POS system. This way, you stay connected with your store all the time without physically being tied to it.

Streamlined Inventory

Your legacy register probably isn’t helping when it comes to managing inventory. It may be time to kick your register to the curb if being under- or overstocked on specific goods is a recurring theme in your store.

Customer History Access

You have a customer who’s been coming in twice a week for the past three years. You know them by name and appreciate their business, but you have quite a few regulars and don’t remember past purchases. This is another advantage of cloud-based POS over traditional cash register. All you need to do next time they come in is pull up their account on your iPad. If you know what they want and have bought repeatedly, you can upsell to improve their overall experience. This will make your business more profitable as well.

Integrated Sales Reporting

Monday seemed busy, Tuesday was a little slower, then there was a big rush Thursday morning. Sound familiar? Another thing we do in lieu of a cloud based register is a lot of guessing. By choosing a cloud-based POS system, we can track all of our sales data and review sales history. You can see when sales peak during the year or which items are consistently popular with your customers. You can even see specific peak times of day. It will be much easier to plan inventory when you can anticipate how many items you sell with accuracy.

Small businesses should know that to survive against online and big box stores, they should take customer engagement seriously. A traditional register won’t help. Your business’ survival depends on knowing what your customers want and figuring out how to provide it. It’s also about keeping in touch long after you’ve made a sale. Email marketing is one of the best and most efficient ways to do this.

Lower Technical Risk

Companies that invest in cloud computing can minimize technical risk because they can bring technical infrastructure down to the necessary minimum. How? You can eliminate almost all servers and extra storage software. You can cut expenses a great deal. What is more, this will not compromise your IT operations in any way.

Fast and Error-Free

Companies that don’t adopt cloud register suffer from slow checkout lines among other issues. We all know that no customer wants to wait in line. Cashiers can ring up customers as quickly as possible with cloud based tech, like a POS system in the cloud, limiting wait times and frustration. They also have much faster access to item details, which enables them to serve customers efficiently.