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Why is software company so important?
Well...
After you purchase software, you will rely on software company to supply updates, training, technical support, and possibly hardware.
Let me ask you a few questions to help you understand why company is so important...
- What if software company went out of business? (Dozens of POS software companies come and go every year!)
- What if they don't give you software updates when you need them?
- What if it takes 2 days to get your technical questions answered?
- What if software has a bug and they don't fix it?
- What if they didn't give you sufficient training? And as a result, your sales reports are showing wrong totals!
- What if you can't print and it takes 6 hours to get help from a support technician?
The truth is, level of service and financial stability of software company is very important. It's critical to evaluate software company; otherwise you could run into some frustrating and expensive problems.
They Pass The Buck
Too many owners give responsibility of choosing a POS system to an employee or a computer consultant that is not familiar with your industry. This is a huge mistake!
Top management and other key personnel must be involved in selection and implementation process. You should never rely solely on a consultant's recommendation or input.
The person that evaluates software must have in-depth knowledge about your business!
POS software is complicated. Not to mention it can make a huge difference in your businesses productivity. POS software is too important to pass evaluation process to someone else!
I see owners and managers make this mistake all time. Don't make same one!
They Overlook Important Features
Unless you are a retail POS expert, it's difficult to sort through countless POS systems and figure out what you need. What's more, it's difficult to understand "true" potential of your POS system. As a result, many retailers get confused and they overlook important features that would save them a lot of time and money.
Most people don't realize that every POS system is VERY different. Some are designed for large ticket items like tractors. And others are designed to work in fast moving retail environments like a grocery store.
As a result, it's common for retailers to end up with POS software that isn't really designed for them. That's why it's important to properly analyze needs of your business (even if you're a small retailer). Then you can create a list of features that are important. That list will help you compare and choose right system.
This might seem complicated, but with a little guidance, you can quickly find right POS system. You just need to know which mistakes to avoid, where to look, and right formula.
Jeff Haefner is the author of "The Point of Sale Software Buyers Guide -- How to Choose POS Software and Avoid Problems." It will teach you the secrets to choosing POS software for ANY retail business. If you'd like to learn how to avoid problems, save time, and boost efficiency then check out => http://www.possoftwareguide.com