Say goodbye to traditional cash registers — they are quickly becoming a thing of the past as more restaurants turn to iPad point-of-sale (POS) systems. One such restaurant chain, Smoothie King, loves the iPad system for its security, according to a recent feature in The Wall Street Journal. If you are thinking of switching your POS system to an iPad system, here are some tips that you can use for setting it up.
Finding the right iPad POS system
Select a System that Can Go Offline: Most iPad POS systems promise to improve transaction speeds, but this comes with a problem. They are always syncing with data storage centers, and can slow them down. Even though cloud storage is important for keeping your data secure and backed up, you may not always have a reliable connection.
Select a System that Helps with Inventory Checks: Most businesses lose profit and money by paying staff to count stock. One of the best things that you can look for in an iPad POS system is one that will allow restaurants to check inventory and automatically place another order. This can be done because systems can be set up to calculate quantities and types of items that are needed for filling orders. Some of the managers who have restaurants with these systems say they’re even able to take vacations because of the time saved.
Get the Amount of Data You Require: The biggest reasons that restaurants and other retailers keep existing POS systems is that most iPad POS systems can’t give them the same amount of detail. For example, restaurateurs have to know the time when the items were ordered and what items were ordered together. That kind of information would help owners know their customers’ spending habits, when and which menu items are sold, and which menu items to discount.
Look for Diverse Hardware Compatibility: It’s not always possible to determine whether you’re going to work with an iPhone or tablet platform, and POS software that is tablet based isn’t the best solution for all restaurants. Therefore, you’ll want to choose the system that lets you use hardware you want to use. It may be that you’ll want to branch out to other things eventually, so choose a POS system that lets you grow.
Look for Many Payment Options: Many people are starting to use cash a lot less. Therefore you want to be able to accept a lot of different payment options. Look for an iPad POS system that lets you accept a lot of payment options so that you don’t to turn away sales.
Choosing the right iPad stand
Now that you know what you should look for in an iPad POS system, you’ll need to buy an iPad stand. There are a lot of stands that you can choose from, so keep in mind the following three criteria when choosing the right one for your business.
Robust and Secure – Even though your iPad is the main component of your POS system, your iPad stand is just as important, particularly when it comes to security. When you are choosing a stand that’s secure, it’s going to ensure that the iPad will stay on your countertop. This will also deter theft. You also should make sure that you are choosing a stand that is robust so that it doesn’t easily break when you use it often. It should be able to be used daily and not break.
User friendly – Your iPad POS system is meant to make processing payments convenient and simple, so you should select a stand that allows this. Choose a stand that is easy for your staff to use that rotates and turns smoothly so that employees are able to process payments, enter sales, and ask the customers for signatures without issues. Customers will also be able to provide signatures for a digital receipt when the stand conveniently swivels.
Attractive – Most people find iPads to be sleek and attractive, so you’ll want to choose a stand that is equally attractive. Having a stand that is aesthetically pleasing will be beneficial to your store.
If you are searching for a place where you can buy your iPad POS system along with a good iPad stand, you’ll find a lot of options. A great place to start is POS specialist Shopify, which has a lot of POS systems and accessories.
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