There is, however, a bit more to it than that; hence the advent of POS software.
What is POS software?
Basically it's all the nuts and bolts at checkout used to transact the sale itself. The good old clunky cash register was once the staple of POS, but computerised transaction inputs have mostly silenced the ka-chings and demoted them to the realms of retail nostalgia. Computerised POS systems now allow transactions to be immediately recorded against inventory levels.
POS too XOS?
There's no doubt that the latest POS software systems streamline transactions and give business operators real time access to sales and stock figures wherever they are. And there's no doubt they give sales teams and warehouses fast and furious interactions - an order can, quite literally, be taken one minute and despatched the next. But a lot of small businesses don't have the capital to buy such sophisticated systems with PCs, laptops and mobile phones linked across a POS network. Enter cloud-based POS systems.
Putting POS on a cloud
If your business can't afford to buy a complete POS system outright, you can tap into a cloud-based one for a fraction of the price. This will give you essentially the same tools with real time transaction recording across your office, warehouse, factory and sales force via mobile phones and computers. No matter where you are you can access sales data any time of the day or night. The only real difference is that all your data is stored in a secure online cloud. Cloud-based POS systems are the way of the future and are far from a small business option; large chains like Adidas run very successfully on a cloud.
Usability
The key to a workable POS software system is its usability; your employees need to be able to find their way around it and operate all the main features with a minimum of support. Online POS systems are generally user friendly and easy for even your less technical staff to master.
