Multi-Location POS Inventory Systems

by Stewart Green

Need a way to keep track of your stocks, inventories in both warehouses, your stores, and even have to make sure that any products that are requested from the warehouse to the store or even store to store be tracked as well?

There are a few POS systems that can do this by itself. No need to use one brand of POS for the POS machines, another separate inventory software for the warehouses, another to keep track of the requests, and yet another software to tie it all up when you need to make reports.

You can buy one single POS system to do all of these. The biggest difference to other POS software is that these POS use only one database and yet, they are able to do the things you need to, in order to manage your business.

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These POS softwares can be used right in the warehouses where you need to keep tabs on the stock levels of your merchandise, they are also used in the stores where you keep track of the sales and the inventory, and at the same time, you can also track merchandises that have been requested from one party to another.

This means that if one store has requested products from the warehouse or from another store, you can easily see the request and more importantly, know exactly where the merchandise is at that particular moment. This feature of the POS software is indispensable when making reports in your end. You do not need to use any other software in addition to what you purchased to know where your products are being taken.

Other than these features, a good POS software also allows you to track any inventory easily without having to do actual tracing since any product that went through the system will eventually show up in your end. It would also show where it went, how long it stayed there and where it was delivered to.

Not all POS software that is commercially available has all these features. Most have good tracking softwares. Others have good POS capabilities but poor database management. Still, others have good report generation and product tracking, but not much of anything else.

It is important that you try to find the best all-around touch pos software with the budget that is available to you since the importance of inventory controls cannot be understated when it comes to your business. The less you worry about the ins and outs of inventory management and more on increasing sales, the more profits you will get in the end.

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POS System: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why can't I just stick with paper records?

It takes a considerable amount of time to record every business transaction by hand. And that doesn't even include the time to duplicate the information into a spreadsheet or database for further analysis! A POS system can keep track of all sales, returns, taxes, inventory, etc. so you can concentrate on other aspects of the business. While POS takes an investment to get started, the time savings and productivity increase more than makes up for the expenditure.

What equipment do I need to get set up?

POS customers need a phone connection, Internet access, and working electrical outlets. If you have these components, vendors can set you up with POS in a cinch! You don't even need to own a computer since most vendors provide one as part of the entire system package.


How can POS help prevent theft?

POS systems provide multiple tools to stop shrinkage before it eats into your profits. Various applications allow you to track every item in your inventory so you can estimate exactly how much profit you should realize for every sale and pinpoint problems with your margins. If there are discrepancies, it will raise immediate red flags so you can address the problem head-on.


I'm not that computer savvy. Will I be able to use POS and its functionality?

Absolutely. A vendor can help you set up the software to do the things that you want. You'll then be able to navigate through a series of menus that's easy to follow. When the vendor sets you up, they will provide full training with you and your staff for how to use it. And if you have a problem, a POS customer service professional is just a phone call away!

Can POS handle sales or manage inventory?

Both! You can enter your daily transactions AND check inventory…but that's just the beginning! POS software also allows you to track sales performance, generate different reports, set up reminders for inventory that's getting low, and plan future sales campaigns. You can use the customer data you collect to target effective sales campaigns and stock your shelves with the items they purchase the most.


When do I need wireless?

Business people on the go depend on wireless POS technology, particularly those that do trade shows, work in restaurants, or conduct any business where they want to enter transactions without having to walk over to a stand alone terminal.


Should I buy a flat-screen LCD monitor, or a less expensive CRT monitor?

There are too many benefits to LCD displays over CRT that you shouldn't ignore. They will last much longer, they don't require as much electricity, and they take up less space. Plus, they are far more attractive. CRT screens are fine for low volume sales and if you're not sure that POS is right for your business. But with the additional benefits afforded to flat screens, there will be little cost difference between the two.


What's better: a thermal printer or a dot matrix printer?

For most businesses, a thermal printer works best. There are less moving parts so it's less likely to break down. It's also the only option if you are going to work wirelessly. However, dot matrix printers are safer choices in hospitality kitchens since the heat from the ovens, grills, and fryers could warp thermal paper and ink.


What happens if my POS breaks down while conducting business?

This is one of the top reasons why it's important to back up your database frequently. System failures can happen for a variety of reasons – power outages, system crashes, viruses, natural disasters, etc. By implementing a backup solution (preferably offsite so your critical data is protected), you ensure the system is always up and running when you need it the most. More importantly, by backing up data, you ensure you can retrieve all customer information, sales figures, and custom reports you have saved prior to the crash.


What kind of customer support can I expect?

We'd like to give you a cut and dry answer. Unfortunately, there isn't one. Customer service policies will vary from vendor to vendor. While one might have round-the-clock telephone support and local repair technicians, others may only have phone support during normal business hours and can only schedule repair requests a full day in advance.

This is one of the key advantages to meeting with multiple vendors during your POS search. Since customer support is likely one of your most pressing needs, you can look into the offerings of different vendors and take your time before making a purchasing decision.


What if I need POS for multiple locations?

For large businesses that need several POS systems in various locations, you generally have two options. The first is each location operates independently with its own terminal and software. You can then send reports over to the corporate offices at the end of the day or week.

The second option involves connecting all terminals to a central server allowing reports and sales figures to be uploaded and downloaded in real time. The benefit of the second option is that it's available remotely. However, with several terminals working on the same server, backlogs are possible if all locations try and send information over at once.

With both solutions, it's imperative to have a robust back up solution since the central server connects all locations – if it fails, every location could be inoperable.


Do I need to license the software?

You typically need an individual license for each terminal hosted on your network. Vendors can offer volume discounts depending on the number of licenses you need.

Is it important to have a maintenance contract?

It's certainly worth the expense if you want to stay up and running at all times. Once you get set up with a POS system, you will use it for day-to-day operations and future business analysis. If the machine breaks down or you experience a disaster, you probably don't want to be without it for too long.

Depending on the vendor, a maintenance contract can cost a few hundred dollars per year and provide you with peace of mind so you can concentrate on running and growing your business.

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Needing for Credit Card Processing for One’s Restaurant?

Author: bobyzufk

If you’re in the restaurant business, you must already recognize just why it is essential that one’s establishment honors credit cards plus bank cards. The majority of dining patrons will want to pay using plastic. A quantity of restaurant owners have even claimed that as many as 90% of all customers pay with plastic. So if you are not configured to receive credit cards, the eatery is not likely to have much success.

However you really need to understand that not each and every online credit card processing providers are adequately outfitted to facilitate the success of your restaurant. If perhaps you’re thinking about opening a online merchant account, following are helpful hints to make certain you make a wise decision that is in the business’ better interest.

Initially, be sure the credit card processor that you’ll go for has familiarity working in other eateries. The clear-cut reality is that restaurants have far unique bank card processing parameters as opposed to most other types of businesses. A POS system or digital terminal that works well for any other type of retail enterprise most likely will not be a good fit for one’s restaurant.

The greatest charge card processors provide credit card terminals designed only for dining establishments. Those POS systems not only allow it to become much easier for one’s enterprise to safely honor credit cards or debit cards, but they additionally help you run your business much more smoothly, lowering order mistakes, improvements in food delivery times, and more.

Needless to say, you’ll always want to ensure you are getting a fair price on the credit card processing services. No dining establishment can thrive if it is drowning in costs due to accepting bank cards.

A good payment processor will promise to have absolutely no buried fees in the provider’s service agreement. They’ll additionally offer definite low costs.

Prior to executing an agreement with a CC processing company, study it thoroughly. Make sure that you are not getting into a long standing commitment or also that you will not be faced by high termination fees or further unfair prices.

You really also need to ensure that the system you decide on gives you 24/7 customer support. Emergencies might transpire at just about any time, and if they’re not taken care of in a quick way, the damage can be grim.

A first-rate service provider will offer 24/7 customer support services making sure that one’s matters will be resolved immediately. And most notably, they will not charge you any supplementary expenses for their support service. Surprisingly, various credit card processing firms do have customer service costs and that is certainly ridiculous. Really great customer service ought to at all times be standard.

To conclude, be certain that your merchant provider company can provide the latest in protection and records encryption. Seriously, if any client’s bank card details is not protected, they will discontinue visiting your establishment, and you’ll incur considerable deficits. One’s credit card processing terminals should be secure as well as up to date to guard sensitive details.

Make use of all of the information in this article to discover the right credit card processing options for your dining establishment or bar.

What's New in Point of Sale Software - Your 2011 Shopping List

By Derek Meade


When it comes to sourcing out point of sale systems, there’s no question that restaurant and hospitality operators have become much more tech savvy in recent years. Not only are they more comfortable when choosing POS software, they’re also demanding a bigger bang for their buck when it comes to POS technology. Thinking of upgrading your POS system? Here’s what you should be looking for in 2011.

It doesn't seem so long ago that hospitality operators were excited to see Remanco POS Systems hit the marketplace. Does anyone out there still remember the original Remanco POS System? You had a sleek looking keypad, a little black plastic “key” and a bible of PLU codes to memorize. You punched in your food and beverage orders, and miraculously, your beverage orders printed out at the bar while your food orders printed simultaneously in the kitchen. It was exciting, sleek, and revolutionary. In many restaurants, the main Remanco terminal was proudly located next to the Pac-Man machine. Enough said.

The world of POS system technology has come a long way since those early days. Today’s restaurant and hospitality operators are much more tech savvy than they’ve ever been, and the point of sale industry is slowly responding to this fact. With this said, here’s the top features you, as a hospitality operator in 2011, should be looking for once you’ve decided to invest in a new POS system.

Data Reporting
The top two issues every hospitality-based business wants to get a handle on are food cost, and labor costs. Keep those things in check, and your chances of succeeding in such a competitive market are greatly increased. Modern POS systems will help you get a handle on these profit killers by allowing managers access to important, easy to understand data on demand, and in real time. A POS system with state of the art data reporting capabilities will allow you to forecast business volumes, which gives managers the information they need to fine tune scheduling and avoid unnecessary labor costs. Time and attendance can be precisely monitored. Real time and instant access to data also allows managers to spot problems quickly and make snap decisions to address discrepancies in cash flow and adjust inventory levels. The POS system will pay for itself many times over if it can help you get a handle on these two issues alone.

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Back Office Management & Database Integration
Having all your POS terminals linked together, combined with the ability to run reports, make menu and pricing changes on the fly, check inventory levels and consolidate payroll at one central location is crucial to running your business efficiently and profitably. Your POS system should allow you to do this quickly and easily, all from the back office. Database integration and back office management capability should be at the top of your shopping list.

Customer Relationship Management
Effective promotions can go a long way in boosting profits. Determining if your coupon or gift card program is working as it should, however, can be difficult. POS systems that can quickly help you evaluate which promotions are working and which ones aren’t, can save you time and money in spades. Having a POS system that can keep track of customer histories, their likes and dislikes, comments, etc. can give you valuable insight into what future promotions to put in effect, and which ones should bite the dust. Effective customer loyalty and points programs keep your customers coming back. When it comes to CRM, let your POS system do most of the thinking for you.

Wireless Mobile Computing & Handheld Devices
Wireless point of sale is imperative for businesses that operate outside of traditional, brick and mortar locations. Venues such as ski resorts, theme parks or even stadiums can greatly benefit from wireless POS systems (think concession stands or private suites for instance). In a more traditional environment, such as a restaurant, the benefits of having wireless, at the table ordering capabilities through handheld devices are many.

With wireless handheld units, serving staff save time by not having to line up to get access to the POS terminal, and therefore are much more productive. Managers can reduce staffing levels by scheduling just a few skilled staff, give them larger sections, and make their primary focus greeting customers, taking orders and up-selling. Non-serving staff can then be hired (at significant payroll savings) to dispatch food and clean sections. When serving staff are able to remain on the floor, the result is a superior customer service experience for your patrons and increased sales for you through up-selling and faster table turns. Also, waste is cut down considerably, since placing orders at the table greatly reduces errors.

Wireless handheld devices have been greatly refined in recent years, with increased battery life for handheld units and improved ease of use for staff. The time indeed has come to embrace wireless POS technology.

Payment Security & PCI Compliance
Payment security is crucial in today’s marketplace. With the incidence of fraud and identity theft reaching epidemic proportions, safeguarding the safety of your client’s credit card data is vital. The PCI Security Standards Council is an open global forum for the ongoing development, enhancement, storage, dissemination and implementation of security standards for account data protection. It's imperative that POS systems today follow this standard. Is your POS system secure and PCI compliant? If it’s not, it needs to be.

Self Service Technology
Self service technology has created quite a buzz in recent years. Having moved beyond kiosks, POS systems now offer self serve options that give restaurateurs’ the ability to delegate the food ordering process to customers themselves. Touch screen terminals are now intuitive and easy to use, and offer add on/up sell items items instantaneously, which boosts average check totals. The traditional “Server” is replaced by food runners, or counter staff, who can also do quality checks. Even the payment process can be taken care of by the customer, allowing for quicker table turns and increased cover counts. Self service technology may not be appealing for patrons looking for a fine dining experience, but it certainly is attractive for those who operate fast food or quick serve/casual dining establishments.

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Enterprise POS & Multi Location Capability
For those who operate large and multi-location operations, choosing the right POS system has never been easy. Due to logistics and a host of other obstacles, businesses with multiple locations were forced to be creative in how they coordinated the collection of cash and data. Businesses such as these require enterprise wide POS systems that offer features such as client recognition capabilities, hospitality and retail sales, gift card processing, quick and easy debit and credit options, and more. They also require a POS system that can get around cabling and network issues, and preserve precious data in case of a system or network failure. If your company fits in this category, a reliable and flexible enterprise POS solution is a must.

Cross Platform Compatibility
Is the system you're looking at cross platform compatible? Does it run on your choice of Windows, Linux or Unix? Linux POS solutions can be very cost effective in regards to licensing, installation, administrative and support costs. Make sure you're not closing the door on that option.

With the above points in mind, restaurant & hospitality operators should feel even more prepared when looking at new POS systems. If the POS software you're looking at doesn't offer the features mentioned above, move on. In today's economic times, you can barely afford not to. However, if worse comes to worse, I guess you could always sell that Pac-Man machine.

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Why Your Restaurant Needs a POS System

by Matt Krautstrunk

Long gone are the days of those 400lb cash registers with hundreds of confusing buttons. If you are a restaurant owner in the market for a restaurant POS system, look no further! POS systems, also known as “point of sale systems,” are computerized programs that help your food service business record transactions. You may be thinking, “well I already have a cash register to do that, so why would I need a POS system?” I’ll put it this way, people who worked on typewriters asked the same thing about computers 30 years ago. The answer is simple, POS systems can do everything. They record transactions, print checks, send command orders to your kitchen, process credit cards, and much more.

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Benefits

POS solutions give you the ability to monitor and control almost every function of your restaurant business, in-house or remotely. You are able to access better data on your business faster, and that may free up other areas of business like inventory control and marketing. For example, if you understand your inventory in real-time you will be able to push the sales of item nearing expiration.

For full service restaurants, POS systems touch screen displays that make managing your wait staff assignments as simple as a few touches. Managers are able to operate multiple restaurants directly or remotely with real time reporting. Giving you the ability to modify pricing, monitor inventory, keep track of employee time and attendance, and marketing initiatives from a web hosted software.

On top of this your staff will be more efficient, especially in full service restaurants because POS systems can be programmed to provide step by step order entry guidance to ensure everything is included and processed in a customer order.

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What to Look For:
Order and Go- Order and go restaurants, like deli’s, coffee shops, bakeries, or any other restaurant without a wait staff want a solution that speeds up transactions. If you own a quick service restaurant you may be able to improve customer experience by speeding transactions up to 44%, according to an IBM study. The main purpose of these systems is to reduce order errors and reduce wait times. Basic Features to look for are:

* Large buttons with instant checkout capabilities
* Inventory information
* Credit card processing and cash register capabilities

Sit Down Restaurants- require a more integrated solution. These systems typically must include features for :

* Specific chain and fire kitchen commands
* Customer data tracking
* Check splitting
* Time and attendance systems
* Managerial reporting data and information systems

A restaurant POS system is a big purchase decision, requiring extensive research and price quote assessments. If you want to read more on POS systems, consult our Restaurant POS System Buyer’s Guide.

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Liquor store POS systems and wine point of sale systems

Written by: Eisla Sebastian

Traditionally, liquor stores and wine shops have used a punch key cash register as their point of sale system (or POS). While registers once served their purpose, these machines are now outdated and hinder the efficiency of your sales staff. In response to the changes in technology and money exchange trends, modern POS systems for liquor stores need to have specific components to make them effective. When you buy liquor store POS systems for your business, you need to ensure that they have these basic components, as well as the other components that interest you.


Liquor store POS systems: common applications

Most liquor store POS systems are going to have the same basic features. This may include things like a touch screen monitor, credit card scanner, check reader, and inventory database module. Add-ons that you can request from your POS software manufacturer include quality control check systems, bar code readers, special reporting and tracking programs, and special pack quantity options.

Other features that liquor store POS systems and wine point of sale systems have that can be very beneficial to those businesses are tools for inventory management and tracking as well as communication. Inventory management tools that come with liquor store POS systems allow you to quickly identify what products are in inventory storage, what products are on your shelves, and what you need to reorder. You can even set up your POS system so that you can place new orders directly through your POS system.

Tracking tools can be used to determine which liquors are selling well and which are difficult to move. This can help you better manage your available stock so that you're moving the products you stock quickly. It can also help alert you when orders need to be placed or when you need to rotate your stock.

Finally, communication tools offered by POS systems allow you to network your liquor stores' POS systems. This allows you to monitor what is selling or not selling at each store if you have multiple locations, check the inventory at any store you own, and update the POS systems for all of your stores from your main server. The networking process is usually accomplished via a modem communication setup.

Wine point of sale systems and customer loyalty programs

Even a family-owned wine shop can have a competitive advantage over chain store wine retailers by using a liquor store POS system. Liquor and wine POS systems allow for customer loyalty programs such as House Accounts for loyal customers -- think about inviting your customers to be a part of a Wine Club for a new wine each month! You can also offer gift cards, track deposits for casks of wine, receive notifications when a special label is almost sold out, and provide credit accounts for frequent customers. There are even marketing features on some liquor store POS systems that allow you to store shopper information for a future email newsletter about wine tastings, wine sales, and special events for exclusive customers. These are features that are only available with liquor store POS systems, so make sure you request a liquor store POS system price quote if you'd like these features.

Finding the right liquor store POS system

When you're shopping for a liquor store POS system, it's very important that you understand what features your store needs. For example, if your store deals with a rotating inventory of seasonal items and liquors, then you'll want a POS system that is easy to update or comes with a large database of products.

Next, you'll want to look at how easy your POS system is to use. If you have a staff that is made up of both native and non-native English-speaking employees, then you may want to select liquor store POS systems that have graphics on the touch screen in addition to the written product description.

Regardless of what features you want your liquor store POS systems to have, it's critical that you request free price quotes from a number of vendors. This will ensure that you are not only getting what you want but that you are also getting the best deal on the POS system. Requesting free price quotes will also provide you with the information that you need to negotiate a better deal with the vendor that you decide to work with.

Both Traditional and Online Businesses Need Merchant Services

Merchant accounts that allow business owners to accept a variety of customer preferred payment methods have become commonplace in traditional business settings. Even small businesses, such as fast food providers, convenience stores and kiosk sized retailers have accepted the fact that allowing for multiple popular payment options is a wise decision. Far few consumers are carrying cash these days, and even those who are often prefer the safety and security of paying via credit card or check, if for no other reason than to have an accurate, detailed account of each purchase. Slowly but surely, online vendors are realizing this as well.

The popularity of Paypal, a service which requires consumers to set up accounts similar to an online banking institution, kept many online businesses from opening merchant services for the benefit of their customers. Disadvantages to using the Paypal system were soon evident, however, as bad experiences with the system were publicized by both merchants and consumers. The stigma of a flawed system was not the only consideration for Internet shoppers and online businesses, however. Many consumers were unwilling to use a system that required setting up an account, memorizing yet another password and using a third party to transmit credit card or bank account information.

The level of convenience available to consumers declined sharply as a result of having to navigate a completely new and often confusing separate web site in order to make a simple transaction. On the merchant side of the equation, the realization that Paypal offered no additional fraud protection and charged rates very similar to and often higher than merchant services providers has caused many to second guess it’s usefulness. Of particular concern is that there is simply no way to determine the amount of lost sales due to consumer hesitation aimed at opening a Paypal account.

Consumers generally feel more comfortable using payment formats that mirror those used by their neighborhood retailers. When purchasing small items especially, many will not go through the trouble of spending an additional five to ten minutes online in order to purchase an item that only costs a few dollars. While the prices of these items may be small, the losses incurred by business owners who don’t offer a tried and true merchant account system can be substantial.


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