7 Essential POS System Features for Your Retail Business

If you’re looking for the Best POS System in Kenya for your retail store, make sure it has these features.

A feature-rich point-of-sale (POS) system is one of the most valuable tools for a retail business. This one piece of software can fill many needs. It can track inventory, process credit card payments and provide unique insight into how your business operates. Being able to accomplish all of these tasks from one system not only helps streamline how your business is being run, but it can also save you some money.

A good POS system can integrate multiple areas of a business into one interface, but what other components are vital to retail businesses? Here are eight essential features you should check for before you choose a system for your retail business.

1. Inventory management

One of the top features best POS System in Kenya offer is their ability to track inventory in real time. By integrating business orders with online and in-store purchases, business owners can track their supply levels quickly and efficiently.

By tracking inventory in real time, businesses can save money and avoid making mistakes when ordering from a supplier.

For many small businesses, managing employees and closely monitoring sales creates a more reliable and efficient workplace.

2. Employee management

In addition to managing and monitoring the supply flow and finances of a business, some POS systems offer the ability to manage worker productivity.

“Cashier productivity is a feature we like to use,” she said. “We monitor our cashiers’ sales, scans and items per minute, and voids. It also assists us in loss prevention.”

Tracking productivity can be a valuable function to maintain a secure and financially sound working environment. For many small businesses, managing employees and closely monitoring sales creates a more reliable and efficient workplace.

The best POS System in Kenya also feature built-in timeclocks, employee sales information and security management geared directly toward employees. Some even allow business owners to set permissions for different employees based on role, store or individual. By managing a worker’s access to different areas of the business, owners can ensure that their operations run smoothly and safely while avoiding micromanagement.

3. Third-party software integrations

A POS system that integrates with other programs can add a customer management aspect to your business without you introducing an entirely new production process to accommodate a new program.

Integrating with third-party software can enable you to adopt new functions such as recording customer information, maintaining loyalty programs and offering targeted promotions. The best POS System in Kenya have built-in CRM features, and some offer a series of readily integrated software.

4. Reporting tools

Reporting tools are important features for retail POS systems. Retailers need to see not only their sales, but also which products are their best sellers (top margins) and worst sellers (low margins). Seeing hourly transactions and product movement will enable you to adjust your purchase orders accordingly.

Reporting tools also allow you to see how effective your promotions are, your top salespeople and consumers, and customer buying trends. You can identify what days, times, and seasons are busy and slow, helping you optimize staffing levels. Many reporting tools let you apply different filters, like a timeframe, so you can narrow down exactly what you are looking for.

Retailers need to see not only their sales, but also which products are their best sellers (top margins) and worst sellers (low margins). Seeing hourly transactions and product movement will enable you to adjust your purchase orders accordingly.

5. Mobile Money / Credit card processing

Mobile Money e.g. MPESA and Credit card processing is another vital feature to consider when choosing a POS system. You have the option of a POS system that is compatible with a processor or a POS system that offers in-house processing services.

Both options are more convenient and accurate than having your credit card processing as a separate system – where you ring up the customer’s purchases on the POS system and then manually enter the total on the credit card terminal. By ensuring that your retail POS system has integrated real time Mobile MONEY and credit card processing ability or compatibility, you will be able to successfully and quickly  accept customer payments.

Mobile Money e.g. MPESA and Credit card processing is another vital feature to consider when choosing a POS system.

6. Mobility

Mobile POS systems are becoming common in retail, with customers beginning to expect it. Consumers hate waiting in line, and the mobility aspect reduces this problem. The best POS System in Kenya can also run on Mobile devices albeit with limited functionality. This gives customers a more personalized experience and lets them skip the line altogether.

You can use the mobility feature in other ways as well. Stores with a traditional countertop checkout station can add a mobile tablet to the system to use as a “line buster” when they get busy. In some instances, mobile POS systems can be set up as self-service checkouts. Businesses that go to farmers markets and trunk shows greatly benefit from mobile POS systems as well.

7. Scalability

If you are opening a small retail business for the first time, you might not initially need all the extra widgets and features available. However, as your retail business expands, it is essential to have a POS system that can expand with it. This can be the difference between seamlessly upgrading your POS system to fit your new needs and having to move your information to a completely new platform.

Bottom line

Retail POS systems come with many features that are beneficial to your business. The key is to analyze your business’s needs and prioritize the features that are most important to you before choosing a system. Regardless of which POS system you use, an omnichannel platform that can easily integrate with third-party software is a must. In addition to those features, reporting tools and inventory management go a long way to increase productivity.