From the blog 10 Ways a Touch Screen Cash Register Helps You Expand
The next generation of cash registers is here. Traditional cash registers have dominated for decades. But there’s a newer, faster and more efficient choice
Touch screen cash registers.
This is more than a technology trend. Sure, traditional registers are clunky and stubbornly stationary while touch screen registers are sleek and portable. But touch screen systems aren’t exploding in popularity just because they’re stylish. Touch screen cash registers build on the strengths of traditional registers—and go even further.
Does this modern option make sense for your small business? Learn what’s included in touch screen cash registers and 10 reasons to start using them.
Touch screen cash register overview
In the payment industry, touch screen cash registers are usually called point of sale (POS) systems. These systems let you handle payments, inventory, staff and customers in one place.
Touch screen POS systems may or may not include the following:
- A POS computer, the hardware that runs the POS system
- POS display, like a touch screen or computer monitor
- POS software, the digital feature set you’ll use to manage sales and operations
- Credit card reader, also called a POS terminal, built in or added on separately
- Cash drawer, built in or added on separately
- Receipt printer, unless your system provides e-receipts
- Barcode scanner, wired or wireless
These registers might have built-in touch screen displays. More often, they’re an iPad or Android POS system. You can detach the tablet and take payments anywhere.
Touch screen cash register vs. traditional cash registers
Is the screen really the only difference between touch screen and traditional electronic cash registers? Not by a long shot.
What really separates the two is POS software. It’s the power behind modern touch screen cash registers.
POS software is a thoughtfully curated set of digital tools to manage your small business. Business management tools might include the following:
- Payments and sales tracking
- Cloud-based data storage
- Employee and labor management
- Digital marketing tools
- Customer relationship management
- Inventory management and reordering
POS software is centered around a dashboard.
Get a bird’s-eye view of how your business is doing at any time. From there, you can dive into specific areas of your business and understand performance.
Top 10 benefits of using touch screen POS systems
When you’re growing a business, you don’t need unnecessary distractions. Ideally, you want to reduce inefficiencies, eliminate manual tasks and streamline operations before things ramp up.
Discover 10 ways touch screen POS systems make it possible.
1. All the functionality of a traditional cash register without the size
You can still categorize sales by department and set up a clerk ID system for your employees. Run hundreds of price lookups for frequently sold items.
But counter space is at a premium in most small businesses. Get a toolkit you’ll recognize and the add-ons you need, minus the bulky equipment.
2. User-friendly for employees and customers
If someone has used a mobile device or app, they can operate a touch screen POS system. Scroll, tap and swipe your way through daily transactions.
The ease of use extends to setup and system training. Software vendors also provide a variety of technical support resources.
3. Accepts all payment methods
There are more payment methods than ever before. Luckily, you can easily craft an all-in-one payment system with touch screen cash registers.
Here are the most common types:
- Cash
- Magnetic stripe credit cards
- EMV chip cards
- App-based payments (like mobile wallets)
- Gift cards
Don’t forget to reevaluate your payment processing rates and fees when you’re expanding.
4. Increases how often customers tip (and attracts new employees)
Ditch the tip jar and include tips in the payment experience.
POS cash registers with tipping features are proven to boost the number of tips. That’s a huge selling point for potential employees in the tight restaurant labor market. Servers want to see the returns on their own top-notch service.
When you’re staffing new locations, the right POS system will set you apart.
5. Easier inventory management
Have you ever had to walk back a sale because you didn’t have a product on hand? Perhaps you told a customer you’d repair their car right away, only to learn you didn’t have the necessary parts in stock.
That customer may not return and might tell others to steer clear.
To avoid this, update quantities in real-time and streamline your SKUs and UPCs. Set up reorder triggers, too. For restaurants, ingredient-level inventory tracking helps you avoid common restaurant inventory mistakes.
6. Real-time analytics and operations oversight
About two-thirds of small business owners in the United States are responsible for three or more areas of operations. If that sounds like you, you’re not alone.
You need a POS system that’s discovering insights while you work.
See sales by payment method, top-selling items and peak sales periods. This unique feature can also inform how you set up your next shop. For example, look at the highest sales by employee and have that person train new employees.
7. Designed for scalability and growth
Touch screen cash registers are easy to scale. Setup can be as simple as buying or renting iPads and downloading an app.
Most systems are cloud-backed, so you can seamlessly update inventory, staff scheduling and payroll across locations. Marketing tools help you communicate with your larger customer base effectively.
8. Integration with tools you already rely on
Simplify your workflow. Many POS systems sync with other software you rely on.
Connect your accounting software, payroll software, email tool and more. This saves you time, helping you work more efficiently.
9. Lets you manage customer relationships easily
How quickly and accurately can you help customers? With a tablet-based POS system, it’s a snap.
Use your portable POS to meet customers where they are and provide a memorable, high-quality experience. Make suggestions based on your customers’ purchase history. Answer questions using the product and service details in the palm of your hand.
10. Personalized sales and discounts
Personalization in sales matters. Even if you aren’t familiar with using customer data, you can easily experiment with flash sales, discounted prices and seasonal promotions.
Monitor clicks, comments and responses to email and social media campaigns targeting key customer segments.
Examples of touch screen point of sale systems
As we mentioned, a touch screen POS system can be a hardware bundle with multiple pieces of equipment. It could also refer to just the display piece or to a few of the components.
Here are some examples:
- Talus Pay POS: A great example of a complete touch screen POS system that’s cloud-based and offers insightful analytics. Easily customize it for your specific business and inventory needs.
- POYNT Smart Terminal: The two built-in touch screens on this terminal make checkout a breeze. It works with a range of payment methods, traditional to modern, and a variety of POS software options.
- PAX A920: You can get up and running quickly with this smart terminal. Take advantage of the high-resolution touch screen, send digital receipts and follow real-time analytics.
How to get started now (and find a touch screen cash register)
As you can see, a touch screen cash register is a fantastic tool to shore up and simplify your operations.
If your business is expanding, the features included in touch screen cash registers aren’t just perks. And in customer-led industries like restaurants, retail businesses and auto repair, these systems are creating much-needed revenue opportunities.
To find your touch screen POS system, contact a payment processor and talk through your budget, priorities and long-term goals.
Searching for other ways to boost growth? We’ve got three more strategies for you to consider.