PoS IN RETAIL
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being quick, easy and smooth but also fit for purpose with a contemporary feel. A clear and uncluttered counter is also important with undercounter and mounting solutions facilitating this. Having the right PoS for the right opportunities is essential given some customers prefer to use self-service kiosks whereas others prefer a more personal service. Good stock control with live feeds for a range of different selling channels is vital.” Integration Retail customers are also demanding that PoS systems integrate with other systems they may operate. “Integration is now critical,” says Peter. “A PoS system can no longer operate as a standalone platform. “Retailers expect seamless integration with inventory management, ERP systems, eCommerce platforms, loyalty programmes, payment providers, workforce management and customer analytics tools. The reason is simple: retailers want a unified operational view across all channels while reducing manual processes and administrative overhead. “This becomes even more important in self-service environments. Kiosks and self-checkout systems rely heavily on real-time stock visibility, pricing accuracy and centralised management to operate effectively at scale. “Without integration, retailers lose efficiency – and efficiency is now one of the biggest drivers behind retail technology investment.” Nick says many retailers are turning to cloud native applications that are modular. “These enable them to bring together their physical and digital systems as well as adapt and scale depending on their business,” he says. “Cloud connected hardware that can integrate with existing PoS systems but also has the flexibility to handle cloud applications as retailers adapt is therefore becoming essential. “PoS integrations, options and partner integrations are particularly important in
an omnichannel world. Utilising key large partners in areas that link to PoS provides significant benefits in terms of sales and customer service.”
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A PoS system can no longer operate as a standalone platform... ...Retailers expect seamless integration with inventory management, ERP systems, eCommerce platforms, loyalty programmes, payment providers, workforce management and customer analytics tools.
Influence of data One of the most valuable outputs of modern PoS systems is data, and resellers must factor this into their thinking too. “Retailers are no longer just processing transactions – they are using transaction data to optimise operations, merchandising and profitability,” says Peter. “Insights around peak trading times, basket composition, customer flow, product affinity and self-service adoption rates are all helping retailers make faster and smarter decisions. “However, increasingly the focus is not only on customer buying habits, but also on operational efficiency metrics. Retailers want to understand how many transactions can be automated, where staffing can be reduced, which stores benefit most from self-service, and how technology impacts labour costs. “In many cases, the operational data generated by kiosks and self-checkout systems is becoming just as valuable as traditional sales analytics.” Nick agrees that data is becoming increasingly important. “Tracking customer purchasing habits across different channels can help to increase loyalty,” he says. “AI is vastly enhancing and making data analytics more efficient for retailers, which in turn allows them
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