A point of sale system, more commonly known as a POS system, is more than just a machine that scans items in a store and does the math when a customer pays in cash — or at least, that’s what it should be. If you own a small, independent pharmacy and you’ve been using the simplest, most generic point of sale system on the market, then your business has probably been suffering for a while (even if you haven’t realized it). That being said, buying a brand new point of sale system can be a big decision for any small business to make, simply because it can be a pricey investment. So, if you’re having trouble deciding whether a new POS system is worth the cost, here are three simple reasons why industry-specific retail pharmacy POS systems are absolutely essential for the success of small pharmacies today:
- With all of the security system threats that have taken over big chain stores recently, customers are more concerned than ever before about the safety of their personal information — and considering how much info your system stores, from credit card numbers to medical histories, you should definitely be concerned about security too! New POS systems often come with featured like encrypted card swiping and electronic signature capturing, and a good POS provider will also offer regular software updates.
- Something else customers are concerned about? Time. Quite simply, no one seems to have enough of it. You need to make sure that your customers can get in and out as quickly as possible, and an old POS system that processes transactions at a turtle’s walking pace is not the way to keep your store free of long lines.
- And finally, even though most retail pharmacy POS systems don’t address issues related to prescription drug inventory or drug interactions, they will handle tasks regarding items in the front end of the store. Most systems provide great sales monitoring features, letting you know when it’s time to re-order products, and helping you figure out which products your customers want (and don’t want).
Now we’re asking you for some help: if you own a small pharmacy and you haven’t upgraded your POS system yet, what’s holding you back? Feel free to share all of your questions and concerns with us in the comments section! Find out more here.