The point of sale terminal is where the majority of business takes place. It’s where money is collected and where are generated. As such it is among one of the most important places in a store from a marketing perspective. Integrating a specialized point of sale terminal is not a new development. However, older point of sale terminals and the associated software were usually hard to operate and in the event of a malfunction, could cost quite a bit to repair. Enter the affordable solution: Apple’s iPad. This little processing powerhouse allows for seamless integration with applications that turn the tablet into a very effective point of sale terminal all on its own. The change to iPad-based point of sale terminals is of great benefit to businesses for a number of notable reasons.
Database Section
For any retail business, security of the company’s database of inventory and prices is a priority. The iPad integration uses Apple’s Cloud service to backup data online. This ensures that a copy of the database is always available in the case of a corruption. In fact, the backups have the option to keep a number of redundant copies of itself online, in case the database’s corruption lasts across several successive backups. The benefit of having a safe copy of the system backed up online is that in the case of some calamity, the business’ data remains secure and available for retrieval.
Remote Streamlined Operation
Quite a large number of retail chains have locations in geographically disparate areas. This is necessary because you don’t want a retail chain having to compete against itself. However, the downside of this comes from a logistics-based perspective. Far flung retail locations used to require trips out to these places to gather information, receipts, cash rolls and other information that was pertinent to keeping the location running efficiently. Now, with a cloud-connected iPad running a point of sale system, things like inventory management of remote locations is a breeze, since this info is regularly updated and a physical trip out to the distant locations is not needed, saving both time and money in the long run.
Constantly Connected
From a managerial perspective, one of the largest disasters that can occur to a company that runs multiple outlets is a server crash. A downed server can lead to snarls in the flow of information that could take weeks to sort out manually. This doesn’t even take into account the havoc it wreaks with the existing database and the disconnect between it and the physical movement of goods. Servers are also complicated and expensive pieces of machinery to buy, install and maintain. An iPad by comparison, is simple, easy and efficient in getting tasks done. The cloud connection ensures that a downed server is never a problem as the data from each point of sale tablet is logged online. Backing up server information has never been as seamless.
The Cost-to-Value Argument
When the costs of an iPad-based point of sale solution is compared to a custom point of sale system, there is an obvious difference in price. The long term benefits of the iPad point of sale cannot be dismissed. The costs of setting up and maintaining a point of sale system, together with the costs of maintaining a server as well as paying for system upgrades can quickly cut wide swathes into whatever profit margin you might be seeing from the company’s current operation. The major cost benefit of having an iPad-based system is not only in the purchase of relatively low-cost hardware. The amount of money that would be saved in server costs, hardware upgrades and lost business due to downtime puts any cloud point of sale system head and shoulders above the competition.
Point of sale systems have changed their look and feel since they first entered the retail market. Companies such as Shopify have entered the market competitively with their point of sale systems. The use of a tablet for the purpose of point of sale transactions is the next revolutionary step in the evolution of the point of sale system. The simple benefits combined with the ease of operation and the low cost of entry makes it an attractive technological edge, not just for large chains but for smaller, more localized businesses as well. More and more retail owners that have had experience with servers and their pitfalls have started looking towards the iPad as the future of their business in the point of sale department. As emerging technology, it will face a long road to gain full acceptance, especially by traditional point of sale users. However, the benefits that it brings to a business as far as the bottom line is concerned are far too numerous to ignore. In the end, a point of sale terminal that does more while costing less is by far the best choice for any business intending to increase its presence and growth
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