While it is true that retail stores all have different needs, there are also many similarities as well. When it comes to similarities, Retail EPOS systems such as Opus Retail Manager are the name of the game. It is important to understand what the various parts of the systems are and how to choose the right ones for your business needs.
When it comes to the number of stations that your retail business solution needs, you will need to consider the number of checkout stations that your retail store will have open during your busiest hours as well as your busiest times of the year. As a general rule of thumb, you should have one station for every 1-2 cashiers.
Back office computers are usually needed for businesses that are planning to have more than four retail EPOS systems. This also holds true for employers who want to have a dedicated station for tasks such as creating invoices and purchase orders, running reports, viewing real-time productivity and checking stock levels. A back office computer will allow you to do this without having to disrupt your cashiers.
When you are choosing the type of Retail EPOS systems that you need as far as computer types, think about what size space you will need to fit the terminals. Smaller computers or Tills such as the Aures Sango are ideal for those with limited space.
Computer specs are an important consideration for a retail business solution. You can start with a basic computer specification that will be needed to run the retail EPOS systems. Later if you need to upgrade things such as hard drive, RAM or processor, you can simply do so. You can also have a system that is built from scratch, according to your specific business needs.Opus’s Dell solution comes with a 5 year warranty for peace of mind.
Another important consideration with retail EPOS systems is the software that you will need. There is a wide array of different types of software available and Opus Retail Manager is generally recognized as one of the most powerful in the UK. Having been written and updated for a number of demanding PLC’s it is packed with features and reporting options to increase sales and profit margins.
When it comes to credit card processing, there are two choices: integrated credit card processing and non-integrated credit card processing. With integrated credit card processing, the retail EPOS systems work directly with the credit card terminal whereas with non-integrated credit card processing, you will use a separate terminal for this. Opus Retail Manager is fully integrated with VeriFone and PCI compliant.
Most importantly never buy the cheapest Retail EPOS system. Software is cheap because the authors do not invest in R&D to keep it up to date. You will end up with a solution little better than an electronic cash register. World Class, feature rich systems such as Opus Retail Manager will have a pay-back period of less than 9 months.
These are just a few of the consideration you will need to think about when it comes to your retail business solution. There are other considerations regarding retail EPOS systems such as backups, barcode scanners and using Tablets.
About Opus Retail Solutions
Opus Retail Solutions specialise in providing Retail, Wholesale, & Integrated e-Commerce Solutions through its Software suite Opus Retail Manager. The entire EPOS operation is managed from Opus’s Headquarters in Belfast, Northern Ireland, along with regional development and support offices in the UK. Opus has been developing software for over 30 years and was one of the first Windows based EPOS systems in 1997. Opus Retail Manager is hardware independent and we offer hardware depending on client requirements, policy or budget.
The key to Opus’s success lies with its ongoing investment in Research and Development and Training to keep our Software products and services and staff world class. Services range from specifying client requirements to providing custom modifications, system implementation, training with a special emphasis on after-sales support so our customers can get the most from their system. The Company invests c £100k pa in R&D to ensure it’s software remains world-class.
The entire Opus operation is managed from Opus’s Headquarters in Belfast, Northern Ireland, along with regional development and support offices in the UK and Russia. Opus has partners all over the world and currently ships the software in five languages. Please contact us if you would like to discuss a partnership.
Although our Retail Manager Software and services procedures have evolved over the years from DOS through Windows enabling us to stay ahead of the curve, our core objective is still to provide innovative, best in breed, easy to use and robust EPoS solutions, no matter what the industry, the size or the individual need.
