The system behind the counter.
WHAT IT MUST DO
Record every sale Handle payments Track stock Produce reports Support more than one user, with individual logins
WHY INDIVIDUAL LOGINS
Shared logins make attribution impossible and remove every control.
WHAT ELSE TO LOOK FOR
Barcode scanning Discount and void controls Multiple payment methods on one transaction Receipt printing Offline operation
WHY OFFLINE OPERATION MATTERS HERE
Connectivity and power fail, and a shop that cannot sell is closed.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
What happens when the internet drops What happens when power drops How data reconciles afterwards
WHAT TO ASK ABOUT DATA
Whether you can export everything What happens if you stop using it
WHY
A system holding your sales and stock data that you cannot extract controls you.
WHAT TO TEST BEFORE COMMITTING
The export, actually.
WHAT TO CONSIDER ABOUT COST
Purchase or subscription Per-till and per-user charges Payment processing charges Support
WHAT TO CHECK ABOUT SUPPORT
Response time when the till will not work.
WHY
It is the most urgent failure in the business.
WHAT TO AVOID
Systems requiring constant connectivity Systems with no local support Buying before trialling
WHAT TO TRAIN
Everyone who will use it, properly.
