POS IN RETAIL & HOSPITALITY
Straight to the point Customer expectations for their point of sale systems are changing, with greater desire for mobile solutions and increasing amounts of usable data – and this provides opportunities for resellers.
squareup.com
The retail and hospitality sectors have been through a rollercoaster in economic terms in recent years. With the ongoing cost of living crisis putting the squeeze on the discretionary spend of many people, businesses in these sectors have been pushing hard to become more efficient and deliver a better customer experience. Central to this has been the point of sale (PoS) systems they use in their retail spaces, and their demands have changed in recent years, which is something resellers should be alive to. “Customers in retail and hospitality are increasingly demanding speed, efficiency, and convenience from PoS systems,” says Jay Kim, managing director, Bixolon Europe.. “They are looking for solutions that minimise waiting times, especially during peak seasons such as Christmas. Mobile PoS systems paired with mobile printers allow for payments and receipt printing to happen anywhere in a store or restaurant, significantly reducing queues and enhancing the overall customer experience by reducing waiting times. “Customers are also increasingly expecting transparency in pricing and clear labelling, especially for product markdowns and discounts. For example, our XM7-20 label printer is being used extensively in this application, effectively addressing this demand.” A spokesperson for Square agrees that customers are increasingly expecting seamless
and convenient payment experiences. “This includes the ability to pay via various methods, such as contactless payments, mobile wallets and digital currencies,” they add. “As a result, PoS systems are now required to integrate with a wide range of payment options to cater to diverse customer preferences. “This is why offering multiple payment options benefits retailers by increasing sales potential and customer satisfaction. It provides customers with flexibility and convenience during checkout, leading to a smoother shopping experience and encouraging repeat business for retailers. “Our Future of Retail report highlighted that 39% of retailers plan to stay competitive this year by providing more payment options, such as contactless payments and services like buy now-pay later.” Easy integration The spokesperson adds that businesses are seeking PoS solutions that can easily integrate with other systems such as inventory management, accounting software and marketing platforms. “Scalability is also crucial, as companies aim to expand their operations without being constrained by their pre-existing PoS infrastructure,” they say. Alan Holcroft, Northern Europe country manager at Cegid, says that customers increasingly want a PoS system that can extend into other solutions rather than needing
Jay Kim managing director
bixoloneu.com
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