Merging your online and in-store business with cloud based tools and omnichannel POS features

The customers of today have grown to expect the businesses they interact with to have an online presence alongside their brick-and-mortar one. The single point of contact of the omnichannel model is more customer-friendly and improves the user experience from the moment they open your website to when their receipt lands in their inbox. Combine this with the accessibility of omnichannel point of sale (POS) features and you have a winning formula for small business success.

Omnichannel strategies retain almost 90% of customers, with 70% saying they use in-store pickup for items viewed or purchased online. The time has come to take the plunge or to modernize the way omnichannel is used in your own business.

Use POS tools that are cloud and mobile-friendly

The best way to create a successful omnichannel strategy is to leverage the power of the cloud. The point of sale system you choose must be cloud-based and offer options that are necessary for omnichannel operations:

Data consistency, in both format and type, from channel to channel.Enhanced security and payment options.Digital invoicing, including receipts.Instant access for staff to POS functions, from mobile device web browsers to your laptop.

Integrate all sales channels into your POS software

Every interaction between a customer and your sales channels will create data. Whether this is in-store or online, you need a way to effectively store and access this information. The cloud introduces a limitless platform for data storage and offers exciting options for accessing it through your POS software:

Build and execute reports from any device with a modern web browser.Develop data-driven inventory controls with predictive sales analytics.Manage core financial tasks – such as payroll and taxes – with precision.

These provide you with quantified sales and performance metrics that lead to a healthier bottom line and improved business efficiencies.

Secure payments by using virtual terminals

Online shopping, even if it is of the window shopping variety, brings with it security concerns. The virtual terminal is the perfect mix of functionality and security in omnichannel scenarios. They are web-based applications that provide the ability to accept a card payment without the card being present. They also allow for the acceptance of alternate payment options, such as digital wallets.

Virtual terminals are a perfect option for an omnichannel strategy due to their cloud-based origins, versatility and overall security. These are built to integrate into an online website or be used as a mobile payment app for in-store use. Virtual terminals eliminate the need for traditional payment hardware, adding a sleeker feel to the overall customer experience.

Digitize invoice and receipt management

The mix of cloud-based POS tools and virtual terminals would be incomplete without the ability to issue digital receipts. Web-based invoicing software is the perfect complement to the technology already being used to support omnichannel business operations. It incorporates the necessary digital elements for creating the streamlined experience appreciated by today’s consumers.

Customers will feel valued thanks to the transparent nature of web-based invoicing and the speed of returns and exchanges. Web-based invoicing solutions that integrate into your POS solution also yield even more data for additional precision in sales reporting.

Ensure staff can properly execute an omnichannel strategy

Your POS tools dictate the success your staff has in maintaining a high level of service in an omnichannel strategy. Some of the most important tools to consider in regards to your staff are:

Mobile devices (e.g., iPads)Mobile payment appsAccess customer purchasing historyAbility to review and monitor inventory through easily readable web-based reporting

Your staff’s ability to use their new tools directly impacts the success of your omnichannel strategy and your brand’s reputation. This means that appropriate training on new POS features should not be understated.

Seek a creative partner for your omnichannel POS features

The consumer of today has grown accustomed to expecting omnichannel strategies in almost all industries. Giving customers what they want while improving how you run your business depends on the right set of POS features.

talech has devised the perfect set of omnichannel POS features to suit almost any business strategy. Though the limitless capabilities of the cloud, our mobile-friendly POS solutions help you drive sales across multiple channels with ease. Contact us to learn more about our POS solutions or to take part in a free demo.