To prevent the costly mistake of choosing the wrong Point of Sale system, we've put together a list of questions to help you to choose the right one for your business and we’ve included our own answers to get your research started. 

Avoid business risk caused by hidden costs that blow out your budget, a supplier that goes out of business, restrictive Point of Sale (POS) software that only runs on supplier specific hardware, and ‘cheap’ software that requires costly upgrades as your business grows. Our POS Research Guide will help you to get the system your business needs to succeed.

Investigating the Business

1. How long has the supplier been in business?

As technology races ahead, and new systems pop up all the time, you want to ensure the supplier you choose is stable and will be in business for years to come. 

Triniteq: In 2017, Triniteq is celebrating its 20th year in business and continuing to grow following a recent business acquisition and our expanded product offering.  

2. Do they specialise in both Hospitality and Retail POS systems?

Many business systems are industry-specific, providing features and benefits for one industry only.  Although this can be considered a strength for some suppliers, we’ve found that innovative ideas that work well in retail, such as inventory management processes, can be implemented with great success in hospitality, and vice versa. 

Triniteq: At Triniteq, we specialise in both industries, hospitality management solutions and retail management solutions. 

Researching Products & Services

1. Can the POS software be installed on your existing hardware?

For many suppliers, their software must run on specific hardware and if you don’t already have this hardware, it can be costly to update.  

Triniteq: Triniteq’s purpose-built software can run on most modern POS terminals giving you the option to keep costs down by keeping your own hardware in place.  

2. Do they have support staff on the ground in your state?

With the availability of remote technology this might not be as important but if you want on-site assistance, find out what each supplier offers.  

Triniteq: We offer on-site and remote support in WA, NSW and QLD, a team soon being deployed in VIC, and we have future plans to also deploy in SA. All other states we support remotely.   

3. Do they develop their own software, or simply resell it?

While it’s ok to buy software from a reseller, purchasing software directly from the business that developed it has key advantages such as absolute system control and knowledge, development ability, accessing regular software updates and specialised training, and the availability of urgent technical support.   

Triniteq: By developing the software ourselves we continuously pass on time and cost savings, and security updates, to your business.  

4. Do they have integrated loyalty, membership, and marketing tools?

For most businesses, the 80/20 rule applies where 80% of business comes from 20% of repeat customers. Building engagement and loyalty through the analysis and application of customer data is key to managing retention. Most suppliers have limited Customer Relationship Management functionality or integrate with 3rd party suppliers passing data back-and-forth and adding further ongoing costs to the system. 

Triniteq: Triniteq Platform is a full-featured integrated CRM system which includes powerful membership and loyalty capabilities that extend your WordPress or Joomla website. Easily build relationships with your customers and increase their value to your business with our unique tools.  

Get Clarity on the Quoted Price

1. Is integrated EFTPOS included in the quoted price?

Quite often integrated EFTPOS is not included in the quoted price.  An additional fee is charged if you want the chargeable amount to directly transfer from your POS to your EFTPOS machine (sometimes up to $1,000 per terminal).  

Triniteq: As more than 70% of all payments are made with cards these days, we think integrated EFTPOS should be a key feature and included in the price of the system. Our quotes always include integrated EFTPOS without an additional software charge.  

2. Will the system be fully programmed and completely ready for service inclusive of the quoted price? Are there any other costs?

Hidden costs can easily blow out your budget and some suppliers try to undercut their competition by not including everything in their final quote.

Triniteq: At Triniteq we want to provide you with exactly what you pay for – a fully functional business system ready for service from day dot. That’s why, in our quotes, we include everything we feel is required to enable you to open and successfully trade without having to worry about your POS system. The quote can always be refined as discussions progress.

3. Is training included in the quoted price?

Some POS suppliers charge for training separately or provide a limited amount of training with further sessions being charged for.  

Triniteq: Installations through Triniteq come with onsite training prior to your ‘go live’ date. Additionally, we offer all new customers, or additional sites, a complimentary one-month support contract to support you, and your additional training requirements, through the installation and launch process.  

4. Is an on-site technician provided on go-live day to ensure a smooth transition to the new system included in the quoted price?

Go-live day for business systems can be one of the more stressful experiences in the life of a business owner or manager and doing it on your own with just remote assistance even more so.  Some suppliers take advantage of this situation and add additional fees to provide an onsite technician.   

Triniteq: At Triniteq we want you to feel supported constantly so a go-live on-site technician is always included in our quoted price (travel charges may apply to country or remote locations).    

5. How much will the system (and services) cost over a 3, or 5-year period?

Do the math. If a POS system cost you $3,000 outright, plus $100 per month, this is actually costing you: $6,600 over 3 years or $9,000 over 5 years and you will never actually own the software.

Triniteq: At Triniteq, we give you the option to either buy your complete system outright, including the software or rent your software by the month. This way you can choose the method that best suits your business.  

6. Are other interfaces included in the quoted price?

Most POS systems have the ability to integrate with 3rd party software to seamlessly manage and operate all aspects of your business, but in many cases, each integration adds to the price of the system.  

Triniteq: To make things easier (and cheaper) we've thrown a few of these into the system price for free. For Hospitality businesses, you’ll find PC EFTPOS, ResDiary, Tyro Pay@Table, and Rezdy, all included in the quoted price of our system. For our Retail customers, we include PC EFTPOS, and Pronto to name a few.  

Phew!  It's a bit of a list but if you take the time to really research suppliers, we hope you'll find the perfect fit for your requirements.