Should your company switch to a cloud POS system? — Unfolding the benefits and drawbacks

Since retail technology is snowballing, the fast pace of the niche stands for drastic evolving with it. Each time your clients pick up an item from your stand or booth, check out online or walk up to your checkout counter, they are at the point of sales. How do you increase the chance of purchase and expand the number of loyal clients? With the help of point-of-sale systems, businesses can accept clients’ payments and trace their sales. They usually work like this:

• Clients can use a bar code scanner to find the item’s price when they decide to purchase your product or service. Some systems may enable users to scan items visually with the help of your device’s camera. 
• The system calculates the overall cost, including any sales tax, and updates the inventory count. 
• To finish the process of buying an item, a client has to use a credit card or other payment type; the bank then has to authorize the transaction. 
• After finishing the transaction, a digital receipt is created. 

Retail stores, restaurants, healthcare providers and many others use POS systems in their businesses. The development of POS applications is an opportunity to create special solutions compatible with all devices of POS terminals. In this way, the business is most adapted to the consumer. Custom software development for POS covers the needs of any business.

1. Billing, processing orders by means of any payment method;
2. Sales reporting and data analysis capabilities;
3. Data management of multiple sales points;
4. Solution of inventory and inventory tasks;
5. Integration of CRM solutions.

This post will dwell on cloud-based POS solutions, particularly their essential features and function sets. But let us start by weighing the pros and cons of this type of service. 

Cloud POS systems: benefits and downsides

Retailers can utilize cloud POS systems to improve sales brand visibility, enhance customer service and keep an overview of stock. However, there are some risks related to POS implementation — to let you know how to handle them. We have prepared a brief overview of the pros and cons below:

• Hardware-independent

Cloud solutions work right on the browser — so your company does not need to spend costs on new, specific equipment. It also means no platform limitations and a chance to choose the most suitable options: PC, tablet or phone (the latter provides users with more flexibility). 

• Subscription pricing

Usually, SaaS has subscription pricing with a monthly/annual fee, which covers data backup and future upgrades. You don’t need to start investing and can easily calculate which type of subscription fits you the most. 

• Constant updates

Cloud-based POS Systems imply constant updates of infrastructure. Moreover, your vendor deals with all snags, freeing up some space for you to focus on your current business space. It is also beneficial to work remotely, access sales, place orders, and update prices worldwide. 

Retailers can utilize cloud POS systems to improve sales brand visibility, enhance customer service and keep an overview of stock. However, there are some risks related to POS implementation — to let you know how to handle them. We have prepared a brief overview of the pros and cons below:

• Hardware-independent

Cloud solutions work right on the browser — so your company does not need to spend costs on new, specific equipment. It also means no platform limitations and a chance to choose the most suitable options: PC, tablet or phone (the latter provides users with more flexibility). 

• Subscription pricing

Usually, SaaS has subscription pricing with a monthly/annual fee, which covers data backup and future upgrades. You don’t need to start investing and can easily calculate which type of subscription fits you the most. 

• Constant updates

Cloud-based POS Systems imply constant updates of infrastructure. Moreover, your vendor deals with all snags, freeing up some space for you to focus on your current business space. It is also beneficial to work remotely, access sales, place orders, and update prices worldwide. 

Cloud-based POS systems’ indispensable features 

What features and solutions are embedded in cloud POS development? It is Web-independence, security, scaling, adaptability, and support services for POS systems.

• Offline Functionality. First, you should consider how many features you retain in case of a service interruption (will you be able to access inventory or make a sale then?). The challenge is solved if your vendor stores some data locally on the browser. Our solutions enable companies to retain access to the point-of-sale software, notwithstanding the network’s quality. You are free to process sales as usual—information will sync to your cloud as soon as internet service becomes available. 
• Data Security. Your data is an asset, and keeping it safe has to be a priority for any IT vendor. At PNN Soft, we maintain cloud services and create cloud solutions for various companies worldwide. Our developers are careful about cloud security. Each hosted service has proven security protocols and robust key card protocols at its core. We also strongly encrypt passwords for accessing the cloud platform. 
• Scaling Capability. The demands and capabilities of your cloud system are closely tied to your business growth process. When formulating requirements and suggestions for your future solutions, emphasize adaptability, a wide range of functionality, and solid server space. For structuring cloud platforms, we utilize retail integration API, so clients gain multiple platforms for streamlining workflow: expanded eCommerce, warehousing solutions, stock replenishment services, and so on. 
• Out-of-the-box functionality. Previously, we already mentioned the significance of implementing various features in line with customers’ needs. However, here comes the question of how you can define your clients’ current preferences. You can get insights from Customer Relationship Management software, allowing businesses to track customers’ behaviour and create marketing campaigns accordingly. PNN Soft experts are skilled in adopting built-in CRM for loyalty tracking and analysing purchasing history. 
• Support. Last but not least, the support options for your customers: your vendors should provide the platform with a database for prompt self-help. Consider whether clients require a comprehensive level of consulting by a live person, or if intuitive tutorial videos would be enough.

Tailor-made cloud solutions by PNN Soft

Our team is experienced enough to provide our customers with reliable and scalable cloud-based platforms. PNN Soft has been creating web, desktop and mobile solutions for 20 years; we keep honing our skills and track the latest technologies applicable to particular business branches. We have frequently collaborated with the retail sector —that is why we know which features set spell success for your industry today.

PNN Soft takes advantage of RAD, Scrum, and Agile methodologies to ensure constant customer communication and build a flexible manufacturing process. Establishing cooperation and sharing ideas is key to creating highly efficient programming products and services. Our Agile teams of professionals include software developers, testers, GUI designers, technical writers, and managers. 

If you are considering going with cloud solutions or services, fill in the form below.