EPOS solutions provide pubs with a convenient and quick method of carrying out sales transactions with the added benefit of recording, analysing and reporting essential business information. They can also be easily expanded with integrations to solutions such as integrated card payment, loyalty card schemes, cellar monitoring systems and Cloud back office management tools.
You therefore have the opportunity to start with a basic system and then enhance and improve it as your business grows. There are many things that can help you to run your pub with the use of EPOS solutions. Lots of pubs want to introduce EPOS systems, but aren't sure about the benefits it'll contribute to their business. Here are a few points to illustrate how EPOS systems can help you run your pub.
TRACKING AND REPORTING TO INFLUENCE IMPORTANT BUSINESS DECISIONS
Lots of tills offer the basics of recording sales and issuing receipts. But if you want to also find out how much stock of a certain product you have available, monitor the best and worst selling products, and track who is your best performing clerk — it can all be done with an EPOS system. These functions help when you're making important business decisions such as identifying the best sellers and monitoring stock levels to make sure there isn’t any wastage from perishable goods. Does a price need to be altered to boost demand or drive profits? These systems can also get rid of the guesswork and help you track your business performance efficiently.
SECURITY, OFFERING COMPLETE PEACE OF MIND
With the majority of EPOS systems, you can provide different access levels to different staff. For example, it can be programmed so that management are the only users able to make price or menu changes, ensuring that there is always clarity and security in the business. And when it comes to cashing up, there are modules available to manage the cash in your business by allowing the declaration of cash amounts. This module makes sure the declared amount and bank reconciliation is accurate, which can be easily verified by your online banking facility. EPOS systems help you make sure there aren't any discrepancies in the running of your business.
FLEXIBILITY IN ALLOWING BUSINESS GROWTH
EPOS systems should make your life easier, not be a hindrance. The brilliant thing about EPOS over traditional cash registers is that they can easily and quickly be programmed to take into account changes in the business. For example, they can allow for promotions or other special features such as meal deals and BOGOF’s. These discounted transactions can then be tracked for accounts and stock reports. There are a wealth of modules available for EPOS systems, allowing them to be tailored to specific customer needs. Whether it’s stock control, reporting, staff efficiency, a till should be able to grow with your business
happy staff, happy customers
Ultimately, an EPOS system can help with essential time-consuming management tasks and free you up to do what you do best – interacting with your customers, managing your staff, and maintaining service standards so that your customers return again and again. They get rid of the manual tasks that are dreaded by pub owners – counting stock and cashing up. But your staff will see the benefits too. A well-chosen EPOS system — used by a trained team — will increase your pub’s productivity by helping customers get served quickly, protect your stock cash and increase your profitability. And some of them are incredibly easy to use, which means minimal staff training. What’s that old saying? Oh yes — happy staff, happy customers!
so what's important to remember when purchasing epos?
- Make sure your chosen EPOS solution is customisable to your pub’s specific needs, so you're getting the most out of it. This, in turn, will contribute to your most important business decisions. EPOS isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution — what your pub needs from a till might be completely different to the pub down the street. Make sure you’re clear on your business goals and how an EPOS solution can grow alongside your business.
- Think about the future — don’t buy a till for today, but buy it for the long term. Ensure that your till has the flexibility to easily grow with your business as your priorities change. Don’t get caught out with a quick and cheap solution.
- An all-in-one-solution can make your life a lot easier. There are lots of EPOS products available in the marketplace, but only a few of this selection provide both the hardware and software together. This has multiple benefits — one major one being if anything was to ever go wrong, you can contact the same provider for help. Otherwise, it can get a lot more complicated. Irreversibly, they are each designed and made with the other in mind, ensuring everything is matched up accordingly. This should lead to a smooth and painless experience when getting familiar with the product features.
Find out more on introducing EPOS into your pub with this guide...
