The Unmatched Power of Mobile Point of Sale for Retail

Shopper expectations are higher than ever. The pace of change is faster than ever. Point of Sale (POS) is more important than ever.

Retail is at an inflection point. And, having fought modern problems with legacy technology for far too long, many retailers are searching for their new store POS. POS is one of the most important investments a retail CIO will make.

But in this Unified Commerce climate, a server and a couple cash registers in every store won't do. Today's retail demands much more from your POS. It must:

• hold up to challenging, varying and demanding omnichannel experiences.
• simplify tasks for associates now responsible for more job functions.
• keep up with the rapidly changing pace of modern omnichannel retail.
• reduce the friction caused by more services and channels on stores.
• empower innovation and differentiation now and in the future.

In the world of Point of Sale, mobile technology has emerged as the answer to today's retail demands. The best modern mobile POS solutions package the flexibility and adaptability retailers need into an intuitive and fully integrated experience. Making mobile POS a must to remain competitive.

This blog outlines everything you need to know about mobile Point of Sale to make the best new store POS decision.

What is Mobile Point of Sale?

Mobile Point of Sale unifies a retailers' experience and enterprise through a Cloud retailer POS system. On top of all the classic POS functionality, it integrates retailers' sales channels, data and systems to fulfill modern shopping journeys.

Mobile Point of Sale is to technology as the store is to omnichannel. It makes it easy to meet demand where it comes from. It enables retailers to serve in-demand services. And it gives retailers the serve to deliver elevated, differentiated and customer-centric experiences.

The benefits of Mobile Point of Sale for retail

Mobile point of sale provides a wealth of benefits for retailers aiming to streamline their operations and offer a seamless shopping experience. Benefits include:

• Improved customer experience
• Increased transaction potential
• Enhanced inventory management
• Integrated omnichannel operations
• Mobile selling and store events
• Simplified associate workflows
• Future-proof POS technology
• Unified sales, inventory and CRM data
• Streamlined device deployment

How does Mobile Point of Sale work?

Mobile Point of Sale is simple on the surface. With mobile POS, retail POS functions are handled on Android and iOS smartphones and tablets, deployed via the Cloud. Instead of legacy software, fixed tills and cashwraps, mobile POS puts modern retail experiences in the palm of the store associates' hand, freeing them to engage with customers anywhere on the sales floor.

But the best mobile Point of Sale providers go even further.

Leading retailers use solutions like Aptos ONE Cloud POS to move real-time transaction data across the enterprise, fulfill omnichannel orders and more. In fact, it is almost indispensable for inventory.

How does Mobile Point of Sale work for inventory management?

Mobile Point of Sale supports virtually every Unified Commerce function relating to inventory. Your mobile POS devices collect transaction data in real time, aggregates it into a single point of inventory truth and shares it across the organization. Here's what that means for your retail enterprise:

At the store level

Mobile Point of Sale gives associates the real-time inventory visibility to fulfill demands including Endless Aisle, BOPIS and more. When it comes to Point of Sale, mobile is what makes omnichannel possible.

At the enterprise level

Every time an item is sold through any channel, inventory is updated immediately across the enterprise, minimizing safety stock, freeing dormant inventory and increasing sales velocity.

In the warehouse

Back of house stakeholders gain real-time visibility over deliveries, from large shipments to last-minute reallocations and transfers, improving inventory turnover.

For your inventory data

When your mobile Point of Sale collects sales transaction data, you get a wealth of valuable, immediately actionable information shared across the enterprise in real time.

The sooner you get data, the faster your algorithms and strategies can adapt — and the faster you can generate sales. With mobile POS, that process becomes automatic and immediate.

What is the difference between mobile POS and traditional POS?

Mobile Point of Sale is on the Cloud.

Traditional Point of Sale systems are implemented on premise, requiring dedicated devices, software and an in-store server. Most traditional POS systems fall short for in-demand experiences like mobile commerce, universal integration and omnichannel shopping.

Mobile Point of Sale systems are Cloud-deployed, fully integrating the retail experience. This facilitates the connection of customers to products, maintains one version of the data truth and enables experiences. All while orchestrating Unified Commerce across your enterprise.

Mobile Point of Sale empowers associates.

Legacy Point of Sale limits associates. They are stuck behind the cashwrap and unaware of real-time inventory data, capping their ability to meet modern shoppers' needs. Worse, omnichannel demands force them through tedious, inefficient and time-consuming processes.

Mobile Point of Sale liberates associates to elevate experiences. They are free to move throughout the store and in sync with enterprise inventory. Allowing them to say yes to more sales, fulfill omnichannel journeys and deliver a more intuitive, human retail experience.

Mobile Point of Sale is agile, resilient and composable.

Traditional Point of Sale Systems aren't just fixed to the cashwrap. They're fixed in scope and flexibility, too. With legacy POS, retailers are bound by their hardware and software, vulnerable to server outages (and spilled drinks) and stuck with the same capabilities.

Mobile Point of Sale allows retailers to move at the pace of modern retail. Updates are simple and periodic. The best cloud retailer POS is both offline resilient and easy to deploy on mobile devices. And new services are composable via universal microservices.

What are the key capabilities of Mobile Point of Sale?

Point of Sale is the most essential function in retail. The best Mobile Point of Sale solutions leverage its critical role to unlock Unified Commerce:

• Core selling: Some tools sacrifice fundamental functions for flashy features. A solution worth investing in should give you all the basics you expect from a flexible mobile POS solution.
• Universal promos and discounts: Integrated promotion configurations and calculation engines support seamless omnichannel and store offers to drive traffic, increase sales and gain loyalty.
• Omnichannel returns: Modern shoppers expect to buy and return products anywhere. Mobile POS solutions enable omnichannel returns without disrupting inventory data or experiences.
• Product inquiry and endless aisle: With web-style product lookup and details and seamless add-to-cart functionality, associates can always find a way to say “yes” to a sale.
• Mixed cart: Provide a seamless omnichannel sales experience through mixed-channel carts that allow for cash and carry, save-the sale and in-store pick-up. Even in one transaction.
• Customer acquisition and loyalty: Integrated customer data allows retailers to track purchases, enhance profiles in real-time and access data anywhere in the enterprise, fostering loyalty.
• Payments, tender and receipts: Ease payment friction, expand tenders, turn receipts and e-receipts into marketing and voice-of-the-customer (VOL) tools right from your Mobile POS.
• Cloud cash management: On top of all the controls and safety of classic cash management enabled by Point of Sale, mobile unlocks shared cash drawers and banking.
• Store inventory management: Intuitive integration with global inventory data makes real-time receiving, transfers, returns, dispositions, cycle counts and inventory management easy.
• Store operations, back office and reports: Create, view and control user profiles, sales dashboards and reports to streamline management.

What characteristics should you look for when evaluating a Mobile Point of Sale?

Not all mobile Point of Sale solutions are created equal. To be competitive, differentiated and adaptable in today’s challenging market, you should only invest in a mobile POS with the following characteristics.

A store-centric approach

More than 70% of customer journeys involve the store. Stores convert by as much as 10X more than digital sales channels. The store is, and will continue to be, the central channel for retailer. Your new store POS must drive excellent experiences through the store for a retailer to compete today.

Seamless integration

Your new store POS system should integrate easily with both 1st- and 3rd-party systems. Retailers gain the full value when integrating POS with other business tools like Merchandising, Order Management, Customer Relationship Management and more.

Flexibility and agility

In retail, the phrase "change is the only constant" has never been truer. Mobile Point of Sale is the core of your retail brand. Your new store POS should be able to adapt to change, scale up and down with your business and accommodate the wide variety of consumer demands. Now and in the future.

Offline resilience

Without an intelligent approach to offline resilience, your POS is ineffective during downtime. Your new store POS solution must be able to queue transactions and shift data between mobile POS devices offline. Giving you peace-of-mind without bulky and expensive back-ups.

Security and compliance

Security is essential to protect sensitive data. And retailers are especially vulnerable to breach risks. Your Mobile Point of Sale should adhere to the industry's strictest guidelines, including patching cycles, periodic vulnerability scans to PCI-DSS Standards, SOC II compliance and more.

How to get the most value from your Mobile Point of Sale

Train associates that you’re never out of stock.

Mobile Point of Sales solutions give your associates access to real-time inventory. Training associates to offer Endless Aisle options like Buy-Now and Pickup-at-Another-Store or Ship-to-Store helps you capture more sales and delight customers simultaneously.

Open clear communication channels.

Mobile Point of Sale makes it easier and faster to add, enhance or change experiences. Whether it’s between stores, or between stores and the front office, open communication channels help retailers share ideas, pivot and meet changing customer expectations in a timely manner.

Tailor hardware and POS placement to each store.

Footprint, customers, associates and order types will vary by the store. To create the optimal sales environment for your customers, associates and bottom line, determine the right combination of Mobile POS devices and selling stations for every store.

Modernize your retail brand with Aptos ONE Cloud POS, the best mobile Point of Sale

As the leader in Unified Commerce, with more than 40 years at the cutting edge of Cloud retailer POS, our mobile Point of Sale Solution lives up to the demands of modern retail. Aptos ONE Cloud POS:

• Makes omnichannel retail seamless and profitable.
• Ensures employee experiences should are efficient and easy.
• Moves at the speed of business needs.
• Simplifies and manages store technology.
• Lays the foundation for store innovation.