What is a POS system?
A combination of hardware and software makes up a point-of-sale system (POS). Businesses use these POS systems to process and keep track of their business activities like transactions, inventory, customer data, sales data, and more.
What is a card machine?
A card machine or a PDQ machine carries out sale transactions for a business. There are many types of card machines including mobile, countertop, and tablet but they all have one major function- to process cashless transactions.
What is the integration of a card machine with a POS system?
Integration is when you connect a card machine with your POS system. By doing this, your transactions become smooth. This is what happens when you integrate your card machine with your POS system:
- When a sale is made through the POS system, the amount payable is sent directly to the card machine and you don’t have to input it manually.
- After the card machine processes the payment, it sends the information to the POS system.
- Now the sale made is automatically recorded in the system. For example, the sale of 2 items is recorded in the POS system and it updates the inventory automatically to show correct real-time stock information.
Pros of integrating a card machine with your POS system
Integrating your card machine with the POS system is the need of the hour. It offers countless benefits like:
Smooth operations
Integrating your POS system and card machine makes your business operate more efficiently. Without the integration, you would have to manually cross-check the transaction data from the card machine and POS system to ultimately have to manually update inventory. All this piled-up manual work can lessen employee efficiency drastically.
Reduced possibility of errors
When the POS system automatically sends the amount of transaction to the card machine, there is less chance of mistakes. Of course, your staff also need to be knowledgable for this, we mention further.
Improved customer service
With integration, you can track real-time stock volume, which helps you avoid embarrassing situations like selling out-of-stock items. Since the POS system is connected to your card machine and updated in real-time, inventory is automatically adjusted after each sale.
Steps to integrate a card machine with your POS system
Now, here are the steps that you need to follow to integrate your card machine and POS system
Check compatibility
First off, check the compatibility of your POS system with your card machine and vice versa. Compatibility means your devices can work together without any issues. It is best to check the compatibility of both before committing to a device whether its renting or buying.
Contact your provider
Most POS providers guide you about the hardware and software that can be integrated with it. Otherwise, you can reach out to them to ask for integration support.
Install required software
To integrate both of your devices with each other, your provider could ask you to install the required software.
Test the system
After integrating your card machine, you should put the system to test to see if it’s functioning well.
Train your employees
Your system operates efficiently as long as the people operating are. Train your employees on how to handle transactions, troubleshoot errors, and use any new features.
What to look out for?
Compatibility issues
Lookout for compatibility issues when it comes to integration. The best way to do this is to buy the recommended card machine for the POS system. Plenty of POS providers also provide card machine services so it’s best to follow the guidelines of your POS provider to avoid any major hardware compatibility issues because it could cause you to buy new hardware later which can add up to your operating costs.
Upgrading or switching
When it comes to switching or upgrading your POS system, the best answer is to contact your provider. Keeping updated with the new technologies is necessary but before you make a switch between any hardware component , always check its compatibility or take advice from your providers.
Now that you know how important it is for you to integrate your POS system and card machine, you can take the practical steps for it. Whether its signing up for a new POS system or a card machine, ComparedBusiness is here for help.
Smith