You’d be hard pressed to find a business these days without a dedicated EPoS system. They’ve almost completely replaced traditional tills, but many businesses still don’t know how to make the most of them, or which EPOS system is the right fit for them and their customers. When choosing a new EPOS system or upgrading from an older one, it’s important to look at what different systems are available and explore the many different ways they can be configured. A professionally installed EPOS system should make your business run smoother than ever before, helping with things like stock control, bookkeeping and the quality and efficiency of your service. In fact, one of the most overlooked advantages of having a professionally configured EPOS system in place is how much it can benefit your workforce.
Keep mistakes to a minimum
Whether you run a bar, restaurant or retail store, one of the trickiest things to deal with is human error. It happens to all of us from time to time, especially during long, busy shifts. While EPOS systems can’t actively stop somebody from making a mistake, they can dramatically reduce the chances of a mistake occurring. A well configured EPoS system will have products laid out logically and neatly in categories and folders, with quick and easy access to items that normally go together – like gin and tonic or a burger with a side of fries. As well as products being easier to find, discounts and complicated offers can also be implemented across all terminals at the same time, so your staff can apply them quickly and easily without any confusion or risk of overcharging the customer.
giving more ownership and responsibility to staff
With a professionally installed EPOS system, each staff member will have their own log-in for each terminal. This might be accessed through a magnetised key chain or a quick swipe with a card, or even a code they can use to manually log in each time. Such a system can let them start an order on one terminal and pick it up on another, and if something isn’t cashed off leaving you scratching your head at the end of a long shift – you know who to ask.
Increasing Productivity
A good EPOS system will help your staff to avoid mistakes and help you keep better control of stock and orders, but a great EPOS system will actively help your business to be more profitable by enhancing your productivity. For example, you could easily track individual staff members and see how many orders they’re putting through in a given hour on a shift. This might help you better prioritise their placement or organise shift patterns. What’s more, because staff are better able to find and process orders on the fly, their average service time should decrease – good news for your customers who won’t have to wait quite so long to enjoy their purchase.
When all is said and done, an EPOS system is there to make your business run smoothly and make it easier to manage, both on a day-to-day basis and when managing the bigger picture. If you want to make the most out of your workforce, there’s no better way than getting an EPoS system professionally tailored to the individual needs of your business.