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Issue link: https://cpapracticeadvisor.epubxp.com/i/478549
POINT-OF-SALE SYSTEMS Reviews Point-of-Sale Systems Help Small Retailers Automate Processes By Mary Girsch-Bock W h e n I w a s still in high s c h o o l , I w o r k e d at W o o l - worth's as a c a s h i e r. I rem em ber being trained on the cash register, with training lasting most of the day. The cash register itself was fairly s t r a i g h t f o r w a r d , b u t i t w a s t h e cashier's responsibility to determine how much change a customer was due. Closing a shi f t was equal ly cumbersome, with cash counted out and balanced against a register tape. Now let's fast forward to the point- of-sale systems available today. Even the most basic system is head and tails above that old cash register system. With millions of retail businesses operating in the United States today, and more small retail businesses started each year, it's no wonder that products continue to evolve in their quest to grab the atention of retailers. I'm always surprised when I fre- quent a business and fnd they are still using the cash register system I learned years ago. But even a very small retail business would benefit from using modern point-of-sale sofware, which can process sales, track inventor y levels, record employee time, and easily track sales activity, all of which take up a retail business owner's valu- able time. So where to begin? Like any other software, there are varying levels of functionality with any point-of-sale product. It's unlikely that the neighbor- hood cofee shop would use the same point-of-sale system that the big box retailer does. Te good news is that it's easy for frst time retailers or those who still use a cash register to automate for the f irst time. For tunately, many point-of-sale systems take these dif- fering needs into account and ofer a product that has been designed spe- cifcally for that particular industry. Read the reviews below to see how they compared. • CA M Commerce Retail STA R / Retail ICE • Celerant Command Retail • Cougar Mountain Denali • Keystroke Advanced POS • QuickBooks Point-of-Sale Related Content: • AccuPOS ofers Integration with QuickBooks and Sage Another reason the cash register is becoming obsolete is that the fre- quency of making purchases with cash has dropped to its lowest level ever. Te majority of purchases today are made using debit or credit cards. And in an age of intense competition, many retailers have resorted to ofering loy- alty or discount cards to reward cus - tomers with special pricing and tar- geted sales ofers. What about retailers with a large online shopping commu- nity? Many retailers do the majority of their sales online, and customers will never set foot inside a store. But they still need point-of-sale sofware. Tis review looks at several distinct areas that should be considered when looking at point-of-sale sofware. Tese areas include: Basic System Functions – We looked at basic system functionality such as ease of use, customization capabilities, and set up options. It also looks at available modules that inte- grate with the point-of-sale system. Specialized Features/Services – Tis area covers everything from the availability of touch screen tech- nology, e-commerce support options, multiple tender options, tracking and monitoring of customer data, and whether the product contains the ability to set up and maintain loyalty and rewards programs. Tr a c k i n g / R e p o r t i n g – We reviewed the varying levels of reports that are available, including what reporting options are available with the system. We also looked at the whether the system track s things such as inventory levels, best and worst selling products, managing customer demo- graphics, and whether there is an audit trail system available with the product. Integration/Import/Export – In this area, we looked at the capability of the system to integrate with related products or third party applications. We also examined specifc point-of- sale features such as integrated ship- ping options, various import and export capabilities, and what hardware peripherals the product works with. Help/Support – While help and support is an important area for any niche software, perhaps it's most important for point-of-sale products. Afer all, if a store can't make a sale, it may as well close its doors. In this area, we look at help and support options available and the help features that are built into the system. All of the systems we looked con- tained some level of back ofce func- tionality. We also completed a brief write-up on a product that offers strictly point-of-sale functionality, leaving the accounting and back end functionality to other applications. While it's likely that the needs of your clients var y as much as the features, functionality and pricing of the products that we reviewed, only you and your cli- ents can make the final decision as to which product is best suited for your respective individual needs. ● REVIEW SECTIONS BASIC SYSTEM FUNCTIONS • Installation Ease • General Navigation & Ease of Use • Industry-Specifc Templates • Industry-Specifc Features • Platform Support CORE ACCOUNTING CAPABILITIES • GL/AP/AR Functionality • Sales Tax Functionality • Payroll Functionality • Audit Trail • Multi-Currency • Multiple Language Support • Multi-Location Support • Multiple Users DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS • Sales/Point-of-sale/Shipping • Customer/Vendor Employee Management • Inventory/Purchasing • e-Features • Remote Access MANAGEMENT FEATURES • Dashboard Overviews • Reporting • Security Features • Integration/Import/Export • Data Transfer • External Integration • Online Accountant Transfer Tool HELP/SUPPORT • Built-in Support Features • System Updates • Support Website/Documentation • U.S.-Based Support Mary Girsch-Bock Mary Girsch-Bock began her career as an accountant in the property management industry, later moving into the healthcare industry. She writes on business and technology issues, and is the author of one book, several HR handbooks, training manuals and other publications. She can be reached at mary.girschbock@cpapracticeadvisor.com . 6 March 2015 • www.CPAPracticeAdvisor.com