3 Reasons to Use Tablets as POS Terminals

Businesses interact with technology on a daily basis. However, as technology progresses, some businesses aren’t when it comes to their point of sale (POS) systems. Some business owners aren’t willing to invest in an expensive new system when their current one still works. According to Phil Beauregard from Boston-based Objective Logistics, the entire culinary industry tends to be about five to seven years behind technology trends. Even if you don’t run a restaurant, staying current with technology can benefit your business. Here are three reasons you should consider using tablets as POS terminals in your business.

Cost
Tablets are often a much cheaper option for businesses than a traditional POS system. Brand-new businesses should consider taking a hard look at the cheap and portable nature of an iPad or Android tablet solution. A traditional POS system can range from $1,000 to $3,000 for each workstation as the system is programmed, customized and installed. With retail prices ranging from $99 to $500, tablets are a much cheaper option.

• Fast Stat: According to research conducted by Gartner, worldwide mobile payment transactions will total $171.5 billion in 2012, a 62% increase from $105.9 billion last year, and could reach $617 billion by 2016. [Tweet this stat.]

Convenience
Businesses on-the-go or who keep their staff mobile may seem some benefits that come with the convenience and mobility of a tablet POS system. Take a look at what Square Register offers. It has the ability to turn an iPad into a POS system that is a great option for small businesses, where all that is needed is the ability to make transactions and provide receipts. A sales associate can process payments from anywhere in a store or restaurant, without wasting time going back to a terminal. Businesses on-the-go such as those who are regulars at farmer’s markets or street fairs can also expand their customer base as they transition from cash only to credit card acceptance.

• Fast Stat: 65% of retailers have identified mobility as a key POS focal point (Aberdeen Group). [Tweet this stat.]

Customer
Your customers consist of business owners, parents, students and more. Many are looking for ways to get more done in a short period of time. Using a tablet as your POS terminal can make things more efficient for both your business and your customer. If you’re employee is able to process a payment from anywhere in store or restaurant, customer time spent waiting is greatly reduced. Tablets as a POS system can also enhance the customer experience as most apps and software solutions for tablets incorporate a type of inventory control. If a customer needs something else or makes an order change, your employees can easily communicate what is available. You can also use tablets to show off what’s not featured in a menu or make recommendations for another relevant product easily.

• Fast Stat: Customer satisfaction (81%) and customer retention (78%) were two of the top three expected ROI areas for mobile and tablet retail ROI (Aberdeen Group). [Tweet this stat.]

If you’re considering using a tablet as a POS system, make sure you are taking the necessary measures to protect customer data. Make sure your Wi-Fi is password protected and only accessible by the POS terminals your store is using. Look to follow PCI security best practices and use a credit card reader that encrypts, tokenizes and handles the authorization across the network without the customer’s information ever being stored in the POS application. Tablets as POS terminals can save your business money, increase convenience and mobility, and increase customer satisfaction. It’s important to look into the transaction rates, training time, and app/software you’ll be using to determine whether or not a tablet really is the best option for your business.