| Whether you are starting a new retail or | | | | Well take that headache and multiply it by ten and |
| restaurant business or upgrading an existing | | | | THAT is how you will feel when you have |
| system, there are a few things you need to take | | | | hardware and software questions. Save yourself |
| into consideration when making the investment | | | | the trouble and purchase your equipment and the |
| into a retail management or point of sale system. | | | | software itself from the same company. Not only |
| 1. Stick with whats necessary in your industry: | | | | will you save money but you will also have a |
| This first tip should be considered common sense. | | | | single point of contact should any concerns arise. |
| If you need a system for a restaurant | | | | 4. Don't Use Generic Brands: If there is ever a |
| establishment like a pizzeria, there will be key | | | | time to concern yourself with the name on the |
| things that are absolutely mandatory. For | | | | label, now is it. Yeah - your store may specialize in |
| example, the option to select "without" features, | | | | off-brand merchandise, but your point of sale |
| as in - without sauce, pepperoni, and things of | | | | system needs to be top of the line! If ever you |
| that nature. If you are opening a clothing boutique, | | | | need a part replaced or a patch update, you don't |
| your retail management system will need to have | | | | want to have to move mountains and seas just |
| the ability to track inventory including certain | | | | to find a carrier of your no name brand |
| variables such as size and color. Get exactly what | | | | equipment. |
| your industry requires, nothing more - nothing less. | | | | 5. Sweat the small stuff: Yes, you want to sweat |
| 2. Buy Your Software Before Your Hardware: | | | | the small stuff because the devil is truly in the |
| You may be tempted to purchase the actual | | | | details here. While it is important to pay particular |
| computer or terminal first, but this is a bad idea. | | | | attention to the major components, there are |
| For starters,each type of point of sale software | | | | some things that are relatively minor in |
| systems will have different hardware | | | | comparison that you want to think about as well. |
| requirements. There will certain software types | | | | For example, does the company you are |
| that need unix, linux or even MAC systems to | | | | purchasing from offer training and support? If so, |
| operate properly. So by jumping the gun to get | | | | how many hours - if any, are included in the |
| your hardware first - you severely limit your | | | | price? Are there data conversion, software |
| software options. This one move could literally | | | | update and maintenance fees? Is there a cash |
| costs you tens of thousands of dollars. | | | | drawer? Tape backup system? What type of |
| 3. Buy it all From the Same Company: Allow me | | | | paper will you need to purchase for your |
| to use a real world analogy for just a moment. | | | | receipts? System reliability? Redundancy? |
| Have you ever called your cable company for | | | | Now armed with these 5 tips, you should be able |
| help with a Internet connection issue, only to have | | | | to proceed with confidence. Don't worry, you are |
| them tell you that it is actually a problem with | | | | making a great investment, choose wisely, get |
| your computer. You then call your computer | | | | what you need and your business will thank you |
| manufacturer, and they tell you that it is indeed - | | | | for it for years to come! |
| a problem with your cable Internet connection? | | | | |