Modern POS is about a lot more than transactional endpoints that process sales. There’s a good reason why we talk about ‘POS systems’ nowadays much more. Not only have the physical endpoints multiplied (think checkout terminals, kiosks, mobile POS). All of these devices and the operational software they run now form part of a wider integrated network that connects sales, inventory, fulfillment, customer service, security, and more.

Stores have always been a sum of their parts. But as technology has taken an ever more commanding role, it has become easier to see how everything connects to everything else and to manage the relationships between the parts so the whole operates as a slick, cohesive, efficient system.

The impact of taking a ‘store-as-system’ approach can be transformative. One recent study found that retailers who look at inventory optimization as a system-wide challenge can reduce inventory management costs by 25-30% while maintaining service levels and even improving customer satisfaction scores.

But hunting down such benefits puts the focus back on how you use technology, POS hardware and devices included. Just under half of retailers say they expect their tech investments to return at least a 1.5 percentage point boost to their bottom line. You don’t get an impact like that by plugging in and crossing your fingers. You need a clear strategy that starts with the outcomes you want to achieve, and then plots how each device, endpoint and component fits together to make that jigsaw.

Making new connections

When you put outcomes first, one consequence is that you can start to look beyond preconceived notions about what different tech components are for, what they can do and what they work with. You can, if you like, take POS out of its box and explore new capabilities and possibilities within a systemic whole.

We’re seeing this come to the fore a lot with in-store security and loss prevention. Not that long ago, POS and CCTV were seen as completely separate systems. Now, retailers are using connected terminals to stream live transaction data into a store’s security video system. Details such as items purchased, voids, discounts and employee IDs are overlaid on the checkout footage. If there’s a suspicion of theft or employee fraud, loss prevention teams can search video recordings by transaction to review video evidence of activity around mis-scans, suspicious refunds or voids.

On-shelf sensors and cameras can take this a step further. When integrated with the POS system, the POS can in effect be primed to expect a transaction for every item removed from a shelf by a customer. If that transaction then does not happen, the system can flag a potential theft.

Plan the system, not just the hardware

When investing in POS hardware, the question is no longer simply which device has the best specs and the best performance credentials. Retailers need to treat every device and component as a cog in their stores machinery. The goal is a store that delivers against your strategic business objectives. The method is understanding the role every piece plays, what needs to connect to where, how data needs to move.

Done right, POS becomes the infrastructure that lets your entire store operate as a cohesive system. It takes strategy and planning to deliver, sure. But as a store operator, you don’t have to go it alone. At RTG, we don’t just sell POS equipment. We specialize in installation, configuration, and project management, too. We know how POS works, and we know how to set it up to help a store run at its best.

So if you want to know how you can get more from POS, give our friendly team of experts a call today.