It’s a myth that implementing a cloud-based POS system in a business refers to ditching the entire existing system. It’s a totally wrong concept that your previous data in existing systems will be lost.

It can be equally simple and seamless according to what you want it to be for your retail business. Thus, the purpose of cloud POS software is to increase the security and visibility of your business with centralization.

Whereas, many businesses are under the impression that implementing cloud POS software means ditching their existing system entirely. Well, this is not true. It is not necessary that cloud computing should be a huge undertaking. Cloud-based systems do not discard or replace your existing software and its data. As they do not occupy any hardware space, how is it possible that they can remove any existing data?

Let’s understand the concept in detail below with the help of its benefits. But before jumping onto benefits, let’s read how the software works.

How Cloud POS Software Works

Cloud POS application works on the cloud-server infrastructure to store and control data remotely. Therefore, unlike local systems or on-premises servers, cloud-based POS systems process and store sales data online.

However, the user interface of POS software is designed and developed for all internet-enabled devices including smartphones and tablets as well. The software is also referred to as EPOS(Electronic POS) for its ability to work on electronic devices.

Moreover, the POS system automatically creates and stores the data backup on the cloud. This backup is synced in real-time to sustain data integrity. However, the centralization allows quick and real-time data update across each sales channel.

Plus, it allows integration with POS hardware; making it one unit. Thus, the complete workflow is performed under one unit.

What benefits do the Cloud POS systems provide

Most of the benefits are clear from the above paragraph stating how they work. Let’s dig into the technical details of these benefits below. Also, let’s understand them according to the retailer’s perspective and what advantages can they offer to other entrepreneurs like restaurateurs.

Here are the top five benefits that cloud POS software provides when integrated with the existing system.

1. Enhanced Data Visibility

First of all, you need to know what the term ‘data visibility’ refers to.  Well, there are several factors that are necessary to understand data visibility. So this term refers to the possible and simplified ways of ease through which a business can track, monitor, view, and control data from different sources.

This data visibility can be enhanced when you’re working on a centralized repository over the internet. On-premises applications have relatively lower data visibility as the workflow is data is not centralized.

Thus, with Cloud POS, you can perform your business operations from anywhere with an internet connection. The system syncs and fetches the updates in real-time. Thus, you can analyze the accurate inventory counts, sales, employee’s performance, and whatnot.

So, even when you’re on leave, you can still keep an eye on your workforce around the clock.

2. Decreased Downtime

You must have struggled with manual preventive maintenance, right? Even the million-dollar companies have faced downtime due to this reason. Thus, you always need a solution to proactively prevent outages. So, with cloud POS applications, you can avoid downtime in many ways including:

• You don’t have to explicitly update inventory if a sale is made from one channel.
• No manual updates are required on all the sales channels if a change is made on one channel.
• As the sync is performed in real-time, you always get updated data even if your internal internet crashes. Sync and update will automatically take place across all the sales channels once the internet is reconnected.

Hence, you don’t have to update each computer node and device individually. Doing so can result in ripple inconsistencies errors. Therefore, this is how professionals can avoid system downtime.

3. Increased Mobility

The trend in POS mobility has been increasing over the past decade. This increasing trend sounds fair as retailers want to know their customers’ interests without having them in long survey queues.

It’s obvious that customers do not like even more than a thirty-minute wait in checkout lines for filling the surveys. Therefore, this concern is one of the grounds why retailers today actually need cloud systems.

Hence, POS mobility allows them to interact with customers in a more approachable and faster way. They can engage with customers by collecting their information online via several techniques such as SM marketing approaches. Thus, your software, your interaction with customers, and your business information – everything is easily accessible from anywhere, anytime.

4. Real-time Data Synchronization

All leading POS systems are able to connect and synchronize the information on a real-time basis. You might have a question in mind that what does real-time synchronization in POS refer to? Well, in simple words, real-time synchronization is the property that synchronizes and gathers all the transactions and updates from all sales channels to one centralized system.

It’s helpful especially when you are running more than one retail store or restaurant.  With cloud POS, you don’t have to worry about sales made from individual sales channels. You can get the synched information in one place. Thus, it saves you from data integrity damages. Also, accurately updated data leads to correct reports and insights as well.

Hence, real-time synchronization, being a benefit itself, provides many other benefits too.

5. Data Integrity and Security

Data integrity and security are the two main factors why restaurants and other businesses love cloud POS software.  They believe that their business data will always be securely kept on the cloud systems.

As the data is stored on the on-premises systems, there are chances of data loss due to disasters. But the information stored on the cloud is kept saved on the cloud electronically. Therefore, the aforementioned factor gives the retailers a sense of data security.

However, there are no threats of data integrity as well. The stored on physical hardwares can be stolen or lost. But this case is not with the cloud. Cloud systems ensure data integrity on priority. Plus, only authorized personnel can access the right information.  There is no need to worry about data loss or integrity threats.

Conclusion

Now that you’ve heard the buzz and the benefits, you will definitely want to switch your business to a cloud POS system. To accomplish this target of yours, we are here to give you the ultimate solution as an option for choosing the right online POS solution for your retail business.

So, you can choose SMACC for your retail business in order to achieve the above benefits to strengthen your business grounds. This software is an all-in-one umbrella solution for businesses of any type and size. It has everything integrated, you don’t have to install additional plugins. Plus, POS hardware’s can also be attached easily. What else do a merchant need? So, evolve with the technology and win the race in the ecommerce business world!