Your once-modest retail business is destined for big things. You've outgrown your stores so you're scaling up, but your trusty old point-of-sale (POS) system seems to be struggling.
Your little engine that could has become a tired, old POS that can't.
So what happened? Well, your business is growing. A POS that just processes transactions and keeps track of stock is not a strong foundation.
Plus, as you juggle multiple stores, manage a growing staff, and work overtime to keep customers coming back, you need a POS that has your back (office). One that can be a catalyst for change. One that can be fuel for growth.
The evolution of POS systems: From transactions to transformations
Next-generation POS platforms are not just about managing your business—they’re about transforming it. The right POS platform can transform a fast-growing retail business by elevating customer experiences and simplifying complex, headache-inducing processes.
It can also seamlessly share data with your business-critical systems like accounting, payment, marketplace, and marketing software.
(For many Aussies and Kiwis, the right POS system software is Retail Express. It was created by retailers who've walked in your shoes and know precisely what fast-growing businesses need.)
Four signs your basic POS software is holding you back
Not sure if the time is right for your business to take the leap? Here are some indications that might make you reconsider.
1. More customers walk out than check out
You can't have every colour, size, and style in stock in every store all the time. But when some shoppers know what they want, they don’t care—they'll go somewhere else.
With competition and consumer expectations rising, your retail experience has to reach new heights, too. Real-time inventory visibility gives your staff a sixth sense for stock and turns your stores into endless aisles, allowing you to carry fewer items and close more sales. How?
With real-time visibility, it no longer matters if that extra-large special edition red widget box set is in another store, a warehouse, an incoming delivery, or even just visible in supplier data. You can instantly pinpoint each shopper's needle in the haystack within seconds—and close the sale then and there.
It's true that you can't always get what you want. But with today's POS software, you can carry less stock and help your customers get what they want more often, leaving your store with purchases and positive experiences.
"Full, real-time supply chain visibility has been an absolute game-changer. Store staff now have the confidence to provide prospective customers with an accurate ETA for multiple products on one order... driving a better customer experience and securing more sales... We are truly maximising our sales potential."
- Neil Cresswell, CFO, Early Settler
2. You're missing links in your supply chains
Is keeping up with your supply chain keeping you up? You're not alone. Too many retailers think they're stuck with convoluted supply chains, making it impossible to predict which in-demand products will be where, when.
By making real-time supply chain visibility possible, modern POS systems allow you to meet and often exceed lofty customer expectations (as outlined in the example above, this means more checkouts, less walkouts).
Also, streamlined cost and margin tracking can turn your number-crunching nightmares into profit-predicting daydreams.
"The biggest thing Retail Express has allowed us to do is really giving us the belief in the quality of our inventory, sales and margin data to give us the confidence to grow the business... We can make decisions backed by data."
- Chris Williams, CEO and Co-Founder, Supplement Mart
3. Your tech stack has become a tangled web
Your POS system shouldn’t just play nice with other tools in your tech stack. It should transform your backend into a well-oiled machine, integrating and orchestrating cross-platform data. Seek a system that works harmoniously with your existing platforms, including:
- Accounting
- POS Payments
- Stock & Logistics
- Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
- Analytics
- EDI & Marketplaces
- Human Resources
- Ticketing
- Marketing Automation
A word on marketing automation. With Retail Express, you can easily integrate with Marketing Cloud, another Maropost product. Once connected, you can import and synch customers, products, orders, survey segments, and vouchers. Then with Marketing Cloud, you can use AI to create customer segments and personalise next-level email campaigns that customers think were created just for them.
"With Retail Express, our operations information flows fluidly. It's transformed how we do business, giving us the tools we need to grow and adapt in a challenging retail environment."
- Ecommerce Manager, Fashion Retailer
4. You need to make quantum leap without jumping through hoops
We get it. Change feels risky, especially when it comes to core business systems. But smart, strategic change can propel your business forward.
Most retail owners assume transitioning to a new POS means downtime and disruption. At Retail Express, we perfected the transition after switching thousands of retailers over years. As one customer put it:
“We turned our old program off at 5pm and turned Retail Express on at 9am the next day – no downtime.
- Chad Sawtell, Owner, Vast Furniture & Homewares
Why wait? Start transforming your retail operations today
Retail Express is not just a POS system; it's your ticket to retail innovation. The question isn't whether you can afford to make the switch—it's whether you can afford not to.
According to Corey Davison, National Operations Manager for Johnny's Furniture, "Until you've seen and tried Retail Express, you have no idea of what you're missing out on with your current system. It's been a game-changer across every single part of our business. We would have made the move much earlier in our growth journey if we'd known such features were available in this software platform."
Ready to learn how Retail Express can help you turn ordinary customer experiences extraordinary? Book a demo.
