Buying point-of-sale (POS) software isn’t as simple as it used to be. Though technology is an enabler for many great advances, it has also made the decision-making process much more complex. Retailers must consider their future needs & also anticipate requirements that may be beyond their control.

With the size of the investment in both software and hardware, it is a major decision for retailers in terms of time & money coupled with ROI to choose the right POS. You as a retailer wants to end up with a solution that’s antiquated before it’s even installed!

So what do you as a Retailer, need to consider before they buy POS software?

1: Open Hardware

Remember to investment in hardware that lasts a long time. It no longer needs to be upgraded every time there is a software change or upgrade.

2: Interface Capability

Normally, POS is a category of software that is chosen separately from back-office & accounting systems, hence extremely critical that all the different systems be able to interface with each other, in a seamless manner.

3 Flexibility

Flexibility, means being able to respond to business requirements & changes instantly. You should be able to adapt the head office information immediately to store needs.

4: Operating System

Whilst windows NT is highly recommended, it should be kept in mind whether the store requirement of an operating system is essential & only after necessary evaluation should one decide.

5: Scalability/International Operations/Multiple formats; classes

Retail is extremely dynamic. You may introduce a new format. Or a merger/acquisition may take place, giving a completely different strategic direction. Hence it is imperative that the POS should be able to scale to accommodate a variety of changes.

6: Off-the-Shelf Usability

Whilst, it’s a good idea to buy off-the-shelf POS software than try to develop customised systems. This offers substantial cost & effort benefits; also vendors do a better job with support. But do not be satisfied with a “one-size-fits-all” solution. It should be easily customizable by the retailer, without the need of source code.

7: Vendor Reliability

Do not Experiment. Choose a vendor with a proven track record of installations and a large enough organization to be credible. Ensure that the vendor will be around for the long haul, and would be willing & able to respond to needs quickly/provide custom development services as & when necessary.

Happy  Buying!

Anaggh