3 ways a point of sale system can assist your auto repair business during the tire shortage.

With the supply chain in knots and the economy stumbling, it is no easy task to run a successful auto repair business. While you certainly cannot control or change everything, there is one step you can take that will make even the most severe tire shortage bearable. Bringing an updated point of sale system into your operations just might be the single most effective action you can take to keep your company afloat during these difficult times.

Point of sale system: A brief definition.

Although this is not the ultimate guide to choosing the right POS system, it will help you understand just what a POS system is and how it can benefit you and your customers. In simple terms, your POS system is a combination of hardware and software that combines to assist you with accepting customers’ credit and debit card payments, offers a wide array of payment choices and flexibility, and assists in many other vital tasks that you encounter every day in the running of your business. In general, a POS system consists of the following components.

• A terminal, PC, or tablet. This is the hardware “brains” of the system, the hub everything connects into. 
• Payment processing software. This suite of programs connects with your payment processing company and allows for fast, efficient, and secure customer purchases regardless of payment type.
• Credit card readers. These can come in several forms, including wired, mobile, and contactless. They allow the customer to swipe, dip, tap, or wave their card and, in some cases, a smartphone, or wearable device to make a payment.
• A Barcode scanner that enables you to catalog inventory.
• Receipt printer, cash drawer, and more. 

All of these parts work together to allow for efficient transactions and smooth overall back-office functions for your auto repair business. But exactly what can it do to assist you during these difficult economic times? It comes down to one word: Data, and here’s how.

1. Effective inventory management.

Remember that barcode scanner we referred to in the list of POS components? It is a crucial player in helping you to record and track each item you sell from the time it enters your warehouse until it is installed in a client’s car or truck. With the help of your POS system, you can easily automate most transactions, count each product you sell, transfer stock, and process returns.

The right POS system will provide you with real-time data about exactly what you have in stock and what needs to be re-ordered. Now more than ever, you cannot afford to scramble to replenish your warehouse at the last minute. Your system can be set to take recent delays and supply chain kinks into account so that you order well in advance and have the best possible chance of getting products to your customers when they need them.

2. Insights into staff performance.

How can understanding how well your workers are doing help with the current tire shortage and other supply chain woes? Workers who are adept at their jobs are well-positioned to look out for the best interests of your business. When they understand how their own duties fit into the bigger picture, they not only intuitively grasp what customers need but are also able to keep their ear to the ground regarding impending supply and customer service issues.

Contemporary POS systems are equipped with tools that give you the ability to take a snapshot of each person’s performance numbers for any given period of time. Armed with that data, you can reward excellence while providing training to those who are struggling. Additionally, you can learn whose input to seek as you work to minimize the effects of supply shortages.

3. Details about customer behavior.

Today’s smart POS systems have database capabilities that let you gather crucial information about the people who buy auto-related products from you. Using your system’s report function, you can learn at a glance what items people prefer and can then leverage that information for more targeted ordering. Given the current supply woes that all auto repair businesses are experiencing, pinpointing your inventory to reflect genuine preferences will benefit you in two ways. First, it will save you from wasting time and money attempting to procure merchandise that people don’t want. Second, when you provide what buyers demonstrably desire, you can expect happier customers who give you repeat business in the future.

Thanks to your POS system, you’ll have your finger on the pulse of your auto repair business from the time you order tires and other products until you sell them. The system can even assist with smooth, stress-free returns, all leading to a more positive and personalized relationship with the people you serve. Especially now when conditions are challenging, you can count on your point of sale solution to be one of the most effective assets to your auto repair company.