Conducting business this past year through the COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenge for many small business owners. Local restrictions, issues with suppliers, and lower customer volumes have many entrepreneurs looking for answers. For many of you, shifting your dependence from in-person interactions and towards contactless options have done wonders in easing the sting. But any of these will be an incomplete solution without having a cashless POS system supporting all of your transactions.
Why Is Having Cashless POS System Support So Important?
The ability to go cashless is important in a number of ways:
- Cashless transactions decrease germ transmissions from handling paper and coins and allow customers to pay online via an app, helping everyone to maintain a safe distance.
- Cashless transactions are faster for in-person payments and will help keep the line moving in retail, QSR, or cafe businesses.
- Cashless transactions make the accurate counting of the cash drawer at the end of the night a thing of the past.
Since cashless goes hand-in-hand with technology and security concerns, having a POS solution in place that can securely process card-based or digital sales is a must. Some of the backbone features of a cashless POS system, such as cloud-based data storage and mobile support, have been well established and matured. However, there are some additional POS features that should be looked at before taking the plunge into a cashless business strategy.
1. Touch Menus Allow for Checkout and Order Precision
Simply saying the word “cashless” will invoke visions of accuracy and precision in everything that you do. This also means that a customer’s expectations on the quality of service you provide will raise the bar a notch, making it imperative that every transaction is mistake-free but without sacrificing speed or the experience. In online ordering scenarios, this can be especially important, especially if your customer base is still warming up to a cashless concept.
A cashless-supporting POS solution will provide you with mobility options, such as the use of tablets and an online ordering website. Combining these will present customers with an enjoyable online ordering experience while presenting staff with easy to read touchscreen menus that make the checkout process highly efficient and accurate. These lower the risks of mistakes during a transaction, and makes it much easier to void a purchase or provide a customer with a refund.
2. The Ability to Distribute E-Receipts and Invoices
Providing a customer with proof of purchase after a transaction is an expected action. But doing so after a cashless transaction can become a valuable service in a number of ways if the right POS features are in place. The ability to use cloud-based tools, such as integrated web-based invoicing software, contactless payment terminals, and the ability to leverage your POS vendor-provided web template to take payments, will help you to maximize the business benefits of cashless transactions.
It makes sense to digitize your receipts and invoices after you have digitized your accepted methods of payment. Doing so provides customers with proof of purchase that follows them everywhere, and can be instantly called up when needed. Giving customers the option to receive their invoices or receipts in a digital format, such as through email or SMS message, gives them an added element of control over their experience and add convenience to enjoy.
You will find tedious, time-consuming tasks, such as processing returns, exchanges, or computing customer reward points, are all greatly simplified using digital receipts. During in-person interactions, a customer can quickly call upon the appropriate invoice or receipt on their mobile device. Even better, you will be equipped with the ability to locate and review the same information, speeding up these now formerly slow-moving processes.
3. Mobile Payment App That is Built for Card and Digital Transactions
All of the social distancing rules and Plexiglas shields out there cannot completely help customers and staff be distant during the transaction process. Well, except for one innovative and powerful POS tool: a mobile payment app. Mobile payment apps allow for a quick, automated checkout in a number of ways. The most effective of these apps are simple, secure, and quickly get the customer in and out so they can be on their way in a heartbeat.
A mobile payment app is an integral part of any cashless-supporting POS platform. The most effective of these can be easily used within your business without the fear of incurring additional hardware or software costs. You will want to select a mobile payment app that is fully integrated into your POS system and supports multiple cashless payment options. Also, the app you choose should allow your staff to easily view your catalog or menu and to quickly apply discounts as necessary.
Possessing a mobile payment app that can check all of these boxes presents you with some exciting cashless, contactless, options. Kiosk-type payment stations can be set up to further limit contact between the customer and the employee, allowing customers to both order and pay at the same time. QR codes can be deployed to strategic places in your business, letting customers simply scan and pay when they are ready.
Let a Valued POS Expert Help You Choose Your Ideal Cashless POS System
The potential benefits of using cashless POS technology are nearly limitless. The powerful blend of mobile, cloud-based POS technology and the ability to accept almost any payment type from anywhere creates an attractive borderless business model. This allows customers to design their own safe experience with your business while affording you and your staff the same level of safety protection while aiding in keeping the focus on providing superior service.
In a period of change, talech has a number of POS solutions that can help your business adjust operations smoothly. From reaching new audiences to engaging with your existing customers more often, we give you the tools to adapt quickly and with confidence.
