Why the future of retail after COVID-19 demands a new POS approach
Running a small retail product or retail service business can be hard work, right? We feel your pain and loudly applaud your efforts, especially given the pandemic. But one thing that should never be hard is serving your customers, taking their payments and making them happy.
Right now, how you do all of that is changing, as the demands, habits and attitudes of consumers shift massively because of COVID-19. The pandemic has transformed the way people want to buy and shop, moving from in-person visits where they take time to browse and choose from rails, racks and shelves to making advance orders that can quickly be picked up through click and collect. And, as we’ve all experienced professionally and personally, so many of us are now buying far more online for delivery straight to our homes.
It’s clear that moving forward, the thriving retail businesses of the future will be those who are able to simplify their processes and their accessibility, not just for their customers but for their employees too. Retail is working now to a fast-changing set of new rules and boundaries and the only way to keep up with this is to let technology ease that strain.
That may sound daunting, especially if you’re a small retail business relying on manual processes that have served you well for years, maybe even decades. However, it doesn’t have to be as frightening as it sounds.
One major transformational tool for both single stores and chains is the introduction of a cloud-based Point of Sale (POS) system – delivering efficiency, productivity, cost-savings, less shrinkage and waste and more profit. What retail business owner wouldn’t want that? ExtendaGO offers all of these positives, and much more, and crucially it will bring your retail business in line with today’s key consumer demands for speed and convenience.
For example, cafe owners can take pre-orders for coffee and bagels with payment made in advance from a customer’s smartphone, with the hot drink and fresh food ready and waiting to pick up. The request is received directly to an employee’s iPad, which is using the ExtendaGO system, allowing them to quickly send the customer an order confirmation too.
Other customers could pay using a self-checkout function, through a QR code they scan from their mobile handset’s camera while waiting in line, preventing the need to rummage in pockets for cards or cash.
A cloud-based POS system will also manage remote orders, instantly know what’s in stock and what isn’t, ensuring customers are clear when they log on about what is available and when – and it will also link itself to stock reordering too, making it simple for the business owner to replenish items, ingredients or packaging.
In today’s uncertain world, where Coronavirus still rumbles on, customers want retailers to move faster. ExtendaGO empowers them to do just that with state-of-the-art technology which also delivers digital receipts or loyalty point campaigns.
Employees, as well as business owners, will also be empowered through real-time data and analytics linked to sales and inventory to show the number of customers buying from them, the daily or weekly turnover – it can even make managing returns from customers and to suppliers quick and easy.
Would you believe us if we said all of this could be set up in just 30 minutes using an iPad you may already own? There’s even a free 30-day trial to get you started!
In a post-COVID-19 landscape, top-class customer service will matter more than ever, and implementing a cloud-based POS system could increase sales by 40%.
So what are you waiting for?
It’s time to get ready, set, ExtendaGO!
