| Point of Sale software, or POS software as it is often | | | | provide the detail you require and offer the quality |
| known, is mission critical to any retail business yet too | | | | which is appropriate to your business. |
| often the selection process is insufficiently thorough to | | | | Ordering stock. Look at how you order stock through |
| uncover the best software solution for the business. | | | | the system. Make sure that the process suits your |
| Comparing Point of Sale software packages can be | | | | needs and that orders are placed based on criteria |
| difficult for someone who has never done this before. | | | | which is appropriate to you. |
| Follow this checklist to compare key software | | | | Documentation. Look at the documentation which |
| functions and key company abilities to help guide the | | | | comes with the system. See how easy it is to follow |
| right decision: | | | | for someone who have not used the software before. |
| Compare systems on your shortlist, ranking them, in | | | | Training. If the company offers training, review this and |
| your own opinion, in these areas: | | | | see if it makes sense. Too often, training is too |
| Ease of use. Use the system yourself. Too often, | | | | technical and not on a wavelength appropriate to your |
| software sales people glide over the keyboard quickly | | | | needs. Look at their video training, sit in on a group |
| and don't let you use the software yourself. Make sure | | | | training session and meet their one on one trainers. |
| you do use the software yourself. Make your own | | | | Software changes. Find out how you can make |
| judgement on how easy the software is to use. Put | | | | change requests for the software. Is it easy? How do |
| some sales in. Print a report or two, add some new | | | | you know they are looking at your change request? |
| stock items. See what business questions you can | | | | Beyond comparing the software and the company |
| answer. | | | | behind the software, talk to other businesses using the |
| Functionality. Look at all report lists, all functions to | | | | software. Have these conversations away from the |
| determine if the software gives you the complete | | | | software sales person, try and get an honest answer |
| facilities you need. Make sure that the software has | | | | of what the software is capable of. |
| the facilities you need in your business. | | | | This whole process is about you getting to your truth |
| Security. Look at how secure your data is, the level of | | | | about a system you are considering. While it may |
| passwords available and how you can control this as | | | | seem like hard work, the pay off is better software |
| the business owner and business manager. | | | | for your business. Additional investment up front will |
| Receipts. Print some receipts and compare these with | | | | certainly lead to a better quality business decision. |
| the receipts you issue today. Make sure that they | | | | |