Perhaps you’ve heard the words “Cloud-Based POS”, you might still need to get the facts right as there are loads of wrong speculations about this advancement.
Cloud is a place where every kind of data gets stored. For instance, your Amazon purchases? Those are stored in the Amazon cloud. All of your Google searches? That got saved in the Google cloud. Your restaurant and retail customers’ information and data? That could also be instantly accessible in your cloud.
The cloud is not a nebulous or omnipotent information system in the sky. Instead, it refers to a software or service that is directly running from the Internet rather than your ever-glitching Windows computer.
When restaurateurs and retailers evaluate new business management software, they usually stuck when it comes to chose between cloud-based POS vs traditional POS. The cloud allows frequent and automatic upgrades of the POS system while being totally integrated with loyalty and online ordering programs. It also offers complete transparency of restaurant and retail customer data anytime, anywhere.
However, even having such impressive advantages, business owners hesitate to switch to web-based software. And the reason is: people must have heard rumours regarding the cloud tech stability and believe that it isn’t reliable enough or there must be something it can’t do.
On contrary to the rumours, the truth is, the cloud POS system is just as powerful as your Internet. As the internet made life easier, the cloud-based POS can also do the same.
Now, let’s prove the reliability of web-based POS systems by addressing and debunking 7 common myths that are entirely wrong.
1st Myth: A cloud-based POS solution is less secure. Thus, it’s much safer to get data stored on physical servers.
Data security in POS Solution is perhaps the most important issue to address. It’s surely the first and foremost priority of any businesses to have a management system that is secure, encrypted and protected at all times. And, as of now, there are many debates regarding the safety of business data is better when using cloud-based or back-office servers. People are still confused which solution to choose.
Servers that sit in your back office (or Back-office servers) store sensitive data on-premise, might get unencrypted, for long periods of time. However, cloud-based servers never store sensitive credit card information in a back room. Instead, all the sensitive data is immediately encrypted and sent over to a separate network that is more secure. Since the data don’t get stored in servers within your property premises, your customers’ information can never be at risk. Thus, businesses can never be accountable for on-site data breaches. Devices, having cloud-based POS, can also be monitored constantly to detect rogue access points or suspicious activity.
2nd Myth: The cloud-based business management solution would be slower because it updates over the Internet.
It’s a fact that your internet speed will directly impact your cloud-based POS solution’s speed, as similar to watching videos online and loading websites. Suppose, if your restaurant or retail is currently having a small bandwidth or a lagging web connection, then running large reports for your labour, sales, inventory, and others could take a few minutes. We understand your concerns and waste of this, thus we also agree that it doesn’t have to be that way.
Can this issue be solved? Yes, you just need to have higher bandwidth connections. For better work experience on the cloud, your POS product specialist can run a speed test of your current wifi performance and evaluate whether it will be sufficient for running the cloud-based software or you need to have another internet connection. In case, if you don’t have in-house wifi (and there are plenty of reasons why you should have one, even if you don’t have a cloud-based POS), your web-based POS partner can work with you to choose the routers and access points that will work best in your square footage of your work area.
3rd Myth: If the wifi will go down, business data can be lost. Even the ability to carry on with sales can be interrupted.
Without a doubt, cloud-based POS systems are reliant on the Internet. However, there is plenty of cloud-based POS Software that offers offline sales mode, such as CISePOS and others. These advanced solutions have a built-in functionality that keeps the business running even in when the internet connection is down. Thus, whether you own a retail business or restaurant, you can always carry on with your sales without any hassle.
The smartly designed POS systems can automatically detect when the wifi connection has been lost and it switches to offline mode, where you can still take orders and send information to your tablets or printers. When the Internet is finally reconnected, all reports from that time period will be automatically synced back into the cloud.
4th Myth: Cloud-based POS Solution is too expensive and not worth the added benefit.
Legacy POS software requires businesses to invest a huge amount of money to own software solution, computer system, and hardware. Afterwards, businesses will also need to employ an IT professional to set up the system, additional payment for support inquiries, and also need to invest another large sum of money when the system will need to be upgraded or requires maintenance.
On contrary, the web-based or cloud-based POS systems reduce costs. You will need to subscribe to get the cloud-based system by paying monthly fees as well as typically minimal upfront costs. However, the monthly fee, which depends on the vendor, can vary from $60 to $150/month per terminal while tablet device or a laptop can cover software, backups, support, and future upgrades cost. Tho, better restaurateurs and retailers can save money and time in the long run by not waiting for IT or support to resolve your software and hardware issues.
The most amazing benefit of moving to the cloud is to have integrated data. Having a cloud-based system allow businesses to have automatically synced sales, CRM, inventory, payments, labour and menu data across all locations. Managers and owners can also have an accurate and consolidated understanding of their business financial and long-term health.
5th Myth: It’s super difficult to migrate to the cloud after using pen and paper or legacy POS systems.
We aren’t going to sugarcoat this one: Switching from typical POS to the cloud-based can be quite a process. You will need to transfer your menu, floor plan, and current business data to the new cloud-based POS system.
Fortunately, some web-based POS partners will do all the effort of transferring data from a typical POS system to the cloud – for free. You will just need to send them your menu in a PDF, current customer information in a spreadsheet, and floor plan in a drawing; this is how the software project manager and menu specialist will do every effort to get your system set up on urgent basis. And then, the designated training team of your partner software house will educate your entire team to use the system perfectly. Some great software houses even give you goodies, like informative handbooks and videos to so your team can look into it when having any issues while handling the software.
The bottom line: Cloud-Based POS is more competent
Arguably, “the cloud” might be a confusing term for many, but cloud-based POS systems are convenient and straightforward. And while it isn’t a complete foolproof – because what technology is? – It is a worth the investment. When it comes to cloud-based POS system, you need to keep paying for the software every month and no need to buy a single hardware item. With secure business data and visibility to online ordering, sales reporting, labour reporting, inventory reports, and so much more, it actually makes sense to move to the cloud for better performance while investing less and having accessibility to business anytime, anywhere.
Have more queries about “the cloud-based POS”? Leave us a comment below; we would love to answer you!