How POS Systems Can Help Businesses Through COVID-19 Lockdowns and Beyond

The COVID-19 pandemic caused major upheaval for businesses across all sectors. This is especially true for retail and hospitality businesses relying on brick-and-mortar sales.

Although COVID-19 will pass, many of the new business practices it has sparked are here to stay. Now more than ever, businesses need to be adaptable, efficient, and, most importantly, COVID-conscious. The question is: how do you balance these things?

POS systems provide a range of tools for pandemic-proofing your business. Beyond just offering contactless payment services, the latest POS technology can enhance your online operations and reduce health risks.

Here’s how POS systems can help your business through COVID-19 lockdowns and beyond.

E-commerce Integrations

In light of lockdown closures, many businesses have had to pivot to an e-commerce strategy. Physical retailers scaled up their online stores whilst restaurants partnered with meal delivery apps. In Australia, the food delivery sector enjoyed huge growth in 2020.

The pandemic has hastened the rise of e-commerce. It’s now crucial for businesses to have an online presence, and POS can go a long way to making this process as easy as possible.

With a sophisticated POS system, you’ll be able to process online orders in a simple, streamlined way. For example, if your business cooks and delivers food, POS hardware can print automated order labels so there aren’t any mixups betweens your cooks and couriers.

POS systems also synchronise in-store sales with e-commerce orders. This means that inventory updates automatically with each new order, irrespective of the customer channel it came from.

Whether you’re already up and running online or yet to delve into e-commerce, POS systems can drive digital sales in your business and reduce its reliance on in-store transactions post-COVID.

Floor Plan Solutions

Prior to the pandemic, a free-for-all approach to table allocation wasn’t uncommon in many indoor venues. Now, however, your floor planning needs to be carefully managed to maximise space between guests. In smaller venues, you may even have to impose a maximum capacity.

By integrating your floor plan with your booking system, POS simplifies this process and allows you to manage the flow of customers in a simple and safe manner. Crucially, POS hardware provides clear readouts on specific table occupation and overall venue capacity.

Having an interactive table management system enables staff to make informed decisions in line with distancing regulations. For instance, where to place new customers or whether guests without bookings can be permitted onsite.

With a POS-supported floor plan, your hospitality business can keep customers as safe as possible and, consequently, boost return rates.

Contact-free Interactions

Another trend accelerated by the pandemic has been the growth of contactless payment, including mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Android Pay. These payment methods help to keep staff and customers safe by reducing the risk of viral transmission.

In fact, they’re now a must-have tool for businesses. In Australia, the total transaction value of purchases made with digital payment is expected to grow by over 15% by 2025. Fortunately, POS systems make your business’ transition to contact-free payment seamless.

In retail environments, self-checkout machines are one example of POS hardware that eliminates contact between employees and consumers. Mobile payment stations can also be placed around the store to minimise crowding at the main checkout area.

In restaurants, paying at the table is already the norm, but the latest POS software goes even further. With web-based integrations, customers can pay on their personal smartphone devices without ever having to face staff members.

Reducing physical contact with the latest POS systems will generate goodwill from your customers and maintain your favoured status amongst competitors.

Loyalty Schemes

Whether it’s a favourite restaurant to order food from or a comfy clothing brand for lockdown lounging, most consumers have found new commercial comforts during the pandemic. In testing times, businesses have depended on these repeat buyers more than ever. It’s only right that they are rewarded.

POS systems can contribute towards your customer retention efforts and help to leverage sales from your big spenders. Firstly, integrated customer reports enable you to identify your repeat buyers. You can then apply these insights to your CRM strategy by sending out targeted coupons and discounts to ‘VIP’ customers.

Such promotions cost little for the business and they demonstrate to customers how much you value them. By deepening your relationships with customers now, you can count on them to remain loyal even when other businesses have reopened post-lockdown.

If you’re interested in upgrading your POS system, contact us for free quotes today!