“Do I need a credit card terminal, tablet POS or a full-blown POS System?” This question comes up in the minds of business owners all the time. Whether you’re just starting your business adventure, thinking about downsizing, or expanding your current business. The question of what system to accept payments typically comes into play and whether or not you should choose a more comprehensive smart POS.
Businesses come in many different shapes and sizes; so does the payment processing equipment that they use. Getting set up with the right credit card terminal or POS solutions for your business can be a real pain in the neck, and because of that, we wanted to provide you with a “Buyer’s Guide to Smart Point of Sale Systems”.
Understanding Your Unique Business Needs:
Every business is different and specific in its operations, and with the advancements in technology, a Smart POS system can cater to the specific needs of any business type. The initial step in selecting a POS system is identifying your business’s unique requirements and the functionalities you desire.
The term “credit card terminal” has become sort of outdated. Since there have been incredible advancements in the world of payment processing the standard for any business is having a POS machine. In the past, the term POS was really only used in the restaurant industry. Since POS systems offer a wide variety of features and solutions, they are the ideal choice for every business type. But finding the right one for your business does take some research.
Key Questions to Ask Yourself when Choosing a Smart POS:
To guide you in this process, consider asking yourself the following questions:
- What type of business do you have?
- How do you manage your employees?
- Do you provide a service, sell products, or both?
- How do you track your inventory?
- Do you need to conduct transactions in a mobile environment?
- How many transactions will you conduct daily?
- Will you need to process EMV, credit, and/or debit cards?
- How many stations (lanes) will you need, and do you have a network to link them?
- Will you need to manage reservations or appointments?
- Do you need multiple stores to be linked together?
- Will you need to sync data with external applications (e.g., accounting software)?
- Do you have a smartphone?
- Will you use Ethernet or WIFI to connect to the internet?
Determining Your Requirements:
Understanding how you’ll be using the POS system and the functions necessary to manage your business will help pinpoint the best Smart POS for your specific needs. Whether you are a retail store, a restaurant, or a plumbing company, tailoring the system to your unique processes is key. Clover offers different POS machines that work well in any business. Their options make it easy to figure out which device will work best for your business.
Clover Devices:
Here is a quick overview of all the different devices Clover offers, to give you a better idea of which one may work best for your business.
Clover Duo:
The Clover Duo comes with a merchant-facing screen, a receipt hub, and a Clover Mini that acts as a customer-facing screen. This device will work for essentially any business type. It is ideal for businesses that prioritize customer engagement and desire a user-friendly yet powerful point-of-sale system. Retailers, restaurants, and service-based businesses can benefit significantly from its dual-screen setup, creating a smoother transaction and providing better customer service.
Clover Station:
The Clover Station comes with everything the Clover Duo has, except it includes a cash drawer. This is better for larger operations or businesses that prioritize cash payments. If your business is set up with a Cash Discount program. You should definitely consider this option. It is the most robust option out of all the Clover devices. The Clover Station is an ideal choice for businesses that require a comprehensive, streamlined point-of-sale solution.
Clover Mini:
The Clover Mini is a compact version of the Clover Duo. Instead of it just being used as a customer-facing screen to complete payments, it will now act as your entire POS machine. The Clover Mini is perfect for businesses that prioritize space. Despite its smaller size, it still performs everything the larger models do. It is an ideal solution for businesses such as cafes, food trucks, boutiques, or any other small to medium-sized businesses.
Clover Flex:
The Clover Flex is a versatile and mobile POS solution designed for businesses on the move. Its compact, handheld design combines the power of a full-fledged POS system with the convenience of mobility, making it an excellent choice for businesses that want flexibility in accepting payments and engaging customers beyond the traditional checkout counter. It can be used as your sole POS device, or it can be linked to any of the other Clover devices to act as a sidekick. Pay at the table has been becoming very popular at restaurants. With the Clover Flex, your restaurant can now get rid of pen and paper or going back and forth with customers’ cards and have orders and payments all taken care of at the table with the use of the Clover Flex.
Choosing the Right Device
Choosing the right POS system is crucial for the smooth operation of your business. If you have further questions or need assistance, feel free to speak with our live specialists. They can go over each device and also explain all the great apps that are available for download that will maximize your business’s efficiency. Give us a call at 888-902-6227 or visit www.getvms.com We are here to help you make an informed decision and enhance your business’s efficiency with the right Point of Sale system.