Smart cashier systems: save money and time

Do you still process payments manually in your accounts? Or are you not certain which articles you sold this week? There is an alternative approach. A smart cashier system automatically processes payments in your accounts and provides access to data on items you have sold. Discover the benefits – and what to watch out for – when choosing a smart cashier system.

“Many business owners are unaware of all the options of a state-of-the-art cashier system,” says Harry Groos of POS Specialist. As an expert in cashier systems, he has been advising business owners for more than 20 years on buying the right system. “Smart cashier systems are mainly about choosing the right software components and linking the cash register to, for example, a POS terminal, online shop, accounts, and stock management.” A growing number of shops and banks encourage customers to pay by debit card (in Dutch) and provide facilities for contactless payment (through QR codes) or a retail app. This is reflected in the appwiki.nl trends for options for smart cashier systems (in Dutch), such as an online receipt and cashier systems on smaller screens, for example tablets. 

For whom? 

While smart cashier systems are most common in the hospitality and retail industries, they are convenient for any business owner who would like to keep better track of their sales and stocks, especially if you employ staff and there are therefore multiple people working the cash register. Read the tips below and check if the benefits apply to you. 

Benefits of smart cashier systems 

Simply put, a smart cashier system will save you time and money. Groos shares three examples with us. 

1. Real-time access 

Groos explains that business owners want to be able to keep track of their sales in real time. “You are able to monitor your revenue at any time, for example, and how well a particular item is selling.  Real-time access also allows you to manage your stocks more efficiently and effectively.” Your smart cashier system will accurately alert you (often online) if you are about to run out of stock. To ensure you will never need to turn away customers again. Groos: “In addition, accountants are often looking for more information than a traditional cashier system is able to provide, for example a comprehensible, accessible, and verifiable overview of all payments. This is a standard feature of smart cashier systems.” 

2. Linking your POS terminal 

By linking a smart cashier system to your in-store POS terminal, you will save time and prevent errors. Groos: “Shop assistants used to have to enter the amount on the POS terminal manually: an additional operation which costs time and is prone to error. A linked cashier system displays the amount on the POS terminal automatically, while customers can pay directly.” 

3. Connecting to your online shop 

One significant difference between smart cashier systems and traditional cash registers is that you can connect smart cashier systems to other systems in your business, for example, your online shop. “Many business owners offer their products for sale online. If you link your online shop to your smart cashier system, the prices, product codes, and current stocks in your online shop are automatically equal to those in your store. That means you no longer need to update two different systems.” 

More links 

A linked system is also referred to as an ‘integrated cashier system’. Two additional examples of links: 

  • Staff planning: measure the average revenue per hour worked and automatically record the number of hours worked. 

  • Booking software: link restaurant or hotel bookings (for example) to your cashier system. Add food and drink orders automatically to the bill of the right customer. 

Choosing a cashier system 

Automated cashier systems always require a personalised approach. A restaurant, for example, might be looking to create a link to ordering platforms or to their delivery system, while a clothing shop will want to store highly specific product information such as colour and size. There is more to the process than simply buying the right hardware and software, Groos explains: “Your cashier system will only be operational once the software itself, as well as the links to, say, an online shop and peripherals, such as scanners, are fully integrated. This involves specialist work, just like repairing and updating your smart cash register. Hire the services of a specialist to help you make the right decisions for your business.” 

Costs of a smart cashier system 

Choose a smart cashier system with options you will actually use,” Groos advises. While it may be tempting to take advantage of all the options provided by a smart cash register, Groos argues this is not always necessary. A smart cashier system will set you back tens to hundreds of euros a month, depending on your needs and requirements. “You will need to keep track of anything new you might add, and obviously it does not come cheap. You should start by making an inventory of your needs, and determine on this basis which cashier system is right for you.” 

Inspiration 

Watch the video if you would like to see what approach others are taking. No English subtitles available yet - sorry.