The 3 Mistakes You'll Make When Implementing a New POS System
1. Not setting aside time for training
Owners, managers and staff all need to schedule time to train during the point of sale installation process. Most solutions offer on-site training, but many times, the staff is unorganized and the training is only heard in part and by a few people.
A well-oiled point of sale, used by competent employees can be the decisive factor in a retailer’s success. Take care to consume and share to your employees the online training available by your vendor prior to launching. Most companies offer online videos, training courses, online manuals, message boards and the like.
2. Buying your POS as your last major decision, and basing your purchase on a budget
Your point of sale drives your entire business. It is the hub between receiving payments (profit!), interfacing with customers (marketing), and managing your back office (payroll, scheduling, product mixes, ordering, theft, etc). If you expect to only use your POS as an order entry tool, you may be missing the boat!
Knowing your audience and how you expect your internal systems to function allows you to dive deeper into a point of sale offering to see how to further automate your business. If your POS can automatically synchronize with your accounting package, or send off payroll for processing, or send a marketing message to a small targeted customer segment, the savings and increased revenue will most likely far outweigh the alternative.
Most point of sale providers are more like retail consultants. Let those providers help you tie together your business so that you can spend more time with your staff and customers and less time connecting your organization together.
3. Not engaging the expertise of your staff
Your staff has worked in other restaurants. Many have most likely used the systems in which you’re considering investing. Use these people to better understand the needs of your organization, and more fully build out automation to allow them more effectiveness. These conversations are also a great way to get your staff onboard with your plan. As change occurs, so does apprehension – including your staff in this discussion will go a long way to ensuring a smooth implementation or transition.
