As I explained last week, mobile Point-of-Sale is a great tool for increasing sales. But, if you don't have it now, where do you begin?
The first step is to make sure that your existing P.O.S. system supports mobile P.O.S., or that it supports an interface to a mobile P.O.S. system. If it doesn't, then you won't be able to consolidate sales or inventory for your mobile transactions. That makes the investment in mobile technology a lot less appealing.
Assuming your system supports mobile P.O.S., the next step is to make sure you have the infrastructure in place to support communications between your mobile system and your main P.O.S. system. Most mobile systems communicate via a wireless connection. That means you need to use the system within wireless range of your server (or within wireless range of an internet connection, for cloud-based systems). Even if you already have wireless access in one part of your store, you may have to add one or more wireless access points to extend that coverage to other areas. This is especially likely for stores that cover a large area (e.g. garden centers) or stores with walls that block the wireless signals.
If you are going to use your mobile system at an off-site location, then that location either needs to have reliable network access, or your mobile system needs to be able to run using a cellular connection or no connection at all. Depending on the type of remote access your mobile system uses, an upgrade to the firewall at your server site might also be necessary.
If much of this information went right over your head, don't worry. The real place to begin is with your P.O.S. system vendor. He/she should be able to guide you through the process. If you don't have an existing P.O.S. vendor or you're looking to upgrade to a system that offers mobile P.O.S., please give me a call!
--Lynda
206.624.7854, extension 701
The first step is to make sure that your existing P.O.S. system supports mobile P.O.S., or that it supports an interface to a mobile P.O.S. system. If it doesn't, then you won't be able to consolidate sales or inventory for your mobile transactions. That makes the investment in mobile technology a lot less appealing.
Assuming your system supports mobile P.O.S., the next step is to make sure you have the infrastructure in place to support communications between your mobile system and your main P.O.S. system. Most mobile systems communicate via a wireless connection. That means you need to use the system within wireless range of your server (or within wireless range of an internet connection, for cloud-based systems). Even if you already have wireless access in one part of your store, you may have to add one or more wireless access points to extend that coverage to other areas. This is especially likely for stores that cover a large area (e.g. garden centers) or stores with walls that block the wireless signals.
If you are going to use your mobile system at an off-site location, then that location either needs to have reliable network access, or your mobile system needs to be able to run using a cellular connection or no connection at all. Depending on the type of remote access your mobile system uses, an upgrade to the firewall at your server site might also be necessary.
If much of this information went right over your head, don't worry. The real place to begin is with your P.O.S. system vendor. He/she should be able to guide you through the process. If you don't have an existing P.O.S. vendor or you're looking to upgrade to a system that offers mobile P.O.S., please give me a call!
--Lynda
206.624.7854, extension 701