Questions You Should Ask Before Buying a POS

Choosing a point of sale (POS) system for your hospitality venue is such an important decision. After all, POS systems are as diverse as hospitality itself. Each one has its unique traits, functions and personalities.

And since every single transaction and order will pass through your POS, and with all your reporting, stock management, rostering and payments controlled by your POS, you want to ensure you make the right choice.

These common questions aim to introduce you to the wonderful world of POS and inform you about the main things to consider:

What are key things to look out for in a POS?

No matter what type of hospitality you’re in, you want your POS system to be fast, safe and reliable. You also want your chosen POS to fit your needs.

When it comes to POS hardware, consider how many terminals and printers your venue needs. There’s a fine balance between not having enough and having an oversupply of hardware for the scale of your operation.

The same thought process applies to software too. Consider the level of analytics you’d like, possible third party applications you want added (e.g. bookings, loyalty schemes or stock inventories), important integrations and more.

Also consider your aptitude. If you and your team aren’t very tech-savvy, there’s no point investing in a whole lot of redundant software.

What Impos can offer?

Along with our POS systems that are tailor made for the fast-paced, unpredictable nature of hospitality, Impos offers unparalleled knowledge of the industry and top-notch, 24-hour support.

Impos also has experience on its side, providing leading POS systems for well over a decade and earning the trust and reputation of Australia’s hospitality industry.

For example, one thing we’ve learnt is just how much havoc an internet or network dropout can cause for hospitality businesses.

Tell me more about what happens when the Internet drops out? Are your POS systems cloud based?

To eliminate the risk of internet/network servers going down, we created a point of sale system that operates on its own closed internal network. You purchase our software upfront and have it installed locally, sparing you from internet failures of any sort.

All your sales data will be stored in your system, and your reports and third-party integrations will be synced up once you’re back online. Our system also takes a snapshot of all your sales data every 24 hours, meaning your information is backed up within a day, and you won’t lose a thing.

However, our POS software still has the ability to push all your data onto the cloud, so hospitality owners and managers can access important data no matter if they’re on-site or off-site, any time.

The cloud has its benefits for business owners, so we’ve made the most of its advantages without compromising your ability to provide seamless service during quiet and peak times.

How quickly can you get a POS up-and-running?

Impos can have you cooking with gas in just 2 weeks. This includes ordering, installation, training and customising the system to meet your exact needs.

What are my buying options? Do I have to buy your hardware and software?

At Impos, we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. We get that hospitality can vary from a one-man operation to a massive-scale enterprise.

That’s why we provide several ways to pay for your POS system. You can choose to buy outright, rent the hardware and/or software or through Impos’ finance options.

And the flexible options don’t end there either. If you have your own hardware,

I hear Impos is known for its support. What different types do you offer?

With an Impos POS, you choose how much support you’d like. We even give you the option of opting out entirely after your first 12 months (although over 95% choose to keep or upgrade).

There are three main POS support options:

1. Basic support – A package designed to keep your venue ticking along with 9-5 phone support, email support, back-ups and more.
2. Premium support – The best of the basic package plus 24/7/365 phone support, access to all integrations and free system upgrades.
3. Platinum support – Everything offered up in the Premium package with added access to Impos’ comprehensive analytics.

Read more about our support options here.

Great, I’m sold. How long will installation take at my venue?

On-site installation of your new Impos POS system takes two hours for the first POS terminal installation, and one hour for each additional terminal installation.

If you’re a do-it-yourself type, we can also send you the hardware and our support team can talk you through the steps to completing the installation remotely.

And what about training?

There isn’t much point purchasing a state-of-the-art POS system if you can’t use it properly. This is why Impos ensures you and your staff get trained up and get to know the system.

Our Basic Training covers all the essentials – front office, back office and reports – that you need to start using your new POS.

Meanwhile, Advanced Training covers Impos membership, stock, and advanced reporting, and dives deeper into the functionalities of your POS.

Each training module takes around two hours to complete, and online training can be organised if required.

Where can I learn more and enquire about joining the Impos family?

Our friendly team is on-hand to answer any questions you may have. Just give them a call on 1300 308 615 or get in touch here. Or head over to our informative blog for all the latest hospitality news, expert advice, POS tips and much more.