You’ve probably come across countless articles stressing the importance of point-of-sale (POS) systems for businesses. I won’t just repeat that or list endless benefits. The perks of automation are clear enough. But if your business is struggling, take a moment to hear this story.
During my high school summers, I worked at my aunt and uncle’s deli. It was a quaint, family-run shop that I loved being involved with. The main reason I worked there was to gain experience, and earning some spending money on the side was definitely nice. It didn’t pay for my college, but it helped me become somewhat financially independent.
While working there, I often heard my aunt worry about managing inventory and possible employee theft. Employees took long smoke breaks, sometimes over 20 minutes! This annoyed me, and I’d mention it to my aunt and uncle. They always promised to look into it, but I knew they feared legal issues or losing staff, so they rarely took action. Their daily struggle to keep the business afloat was clear, and it took a toll on them.
Even as a teenager, I realized the family deli, once a dream, was becoming a nightmare. The old cash register system wasn’t cutting it anymore.
One Saturday, my uncle came in with a big box, beaming with excitement. A family friend who owned several hardware stores had lent them a computer with a POS system. The box included the computer, a receipt printer, and a card terminal.
After getting used to their new POS terminal in about a week, my aunt and uncle were able to organize their inventory, assign stock numbers, and streamline their accounting. Unlike their old manual system that required an accountant to dig through piles of receipts, producing accurate reports was now simple.
Thanks to the POS system, the deli could produce daily, weekly, and monthly sales reports. The system revealed which products were hot sellers and which weren’t. This helped my aunt analyze past transactions, making it easier to track sales and spot the best-selling items. Pastrami flew off the shelves every Wednesday, and Pancetta was a hit on Sundays.
The automatic inventory management feature ensured everything was accounted for, and order processing became quicker and more accurate. With the card terminal, they no longer needed to get bank authorization for every card payment.
The POS system also generated purchase orders whenever stock levels dropped below a set point. I was amazed by this feature as it could forecast demand and prevent shortages. Today’s systems can even place orders automatically when needed.
Once the POS system was up and running, those long breaks stopped. The system had a built-in time clock and employee management feature, allowing my aunt to monitor employee productivity and punctuality. Identifying and removing the unreliable staff members became much easier with concrete data.
My aunt, uncle, and their deli faced numerous challenges, from dishonest employees to missing inventory, nearly leading to the shop’s closure. But the borrowed POS system turned things around. It tackled theft, improved employee management, enhanced inventory oversight, and boosted overall efficiency. This transformation not only helped their business grow but allowed them to thrive as a family. I’m grateful I got to be part of this journey, even if it was just for a summer.