Six benefits a smart point of sale system may bring to your Automotive business.

When you own an Automotive sales or repair company, you understand how the need to successfully juggle numerous tasks can affect your bottom line. In fact, having an accurate snapshot of your schedule and daily priorities, as well as a big-picture understanding of your inventory, is essential if you are to keep pace with your competitors during these difficult times. The good news is that adding a smart point of sale (POS) system can streamline and enhance your capabilities in ways you may have never dreamed possible and help leave your competition in the dust. 

What is a smart POS system?

At first glance, the stationery credit terminal that you have been using for years probably seems adequate. After all, it reliably and securely takes customers’ payments and by this point, you have likely gotten used to the associated charges and fee structure. The problem is that you are falling behind on the times while the Auto business around the corner has upgraded to a multifaceted, smart POS solution. Sure, smart POS systems can securely facilitate the processing of your customers’ credit card payments. However, that’s just the beginning.

In general, a state-of-the-art POS solution consists of a set of components that work along with other software you may have already purchased to help you run your Automotive business. Most systems feature the following:

• A tablet or computer that runs your software and syncs with your card readers and cash drawer. The device might feature a traditional POS display or a more user-friendly touchscreen for easy input.
• Barcode scanner. This accessory enables you to catalog and keep track of each piece of inventory at every step of the sales process.
• A customer facing display. This shows your buyer the exact price they will be charged and may also show custom messaging or logos.
• External credit card reader. This is necessary if your keyboard does not have one built in or if you wish to accept contactless mobile payments.
• Cash drawer compatible with your POS computer to securely store your money.
• An external thermal or dot-matrix receipt printer if it is not included with your system.

As you look at the numerous POS options on the market today, be sure to keep your special needs as an Automotive business entrepreneur in mind. Once you find a good fit, you will see that your smart POS solution can positively impact your business in several tangible ways.

1. Streamlined operations.

Time is money in your busy shop. Every minute you spend searching through random piles of

receipts or poring over spreadsheets to guess at sales projections is more time that you are not spending with your customers, selling cars, making repairs, or training associates.

With the proper smart POS solution in place, you’ll never need to wonder if your data entry or record-keeping is accurate. Instead of searching your desk for info about late payments so that you can chase them down, you can automatically generate invoices and delinquent payment notifications that you would normally need to deal with personally. Your smart POS system can send reminders about scheduled repairs and notify customers about time-sensitive promotions. In mere moments, you can see which cars are being sold and by whom. This will put you in the driver’s seat when it comes to training workers and ordering the makes and models that your customers are demanding.

2. Enhanced customer service.

Your sophisticated POS software can transform lackluster customer relations into a completely modern and personalized buying experience. In the Automotive industry, earning buyer trust and loyalty is essential. Your POS solution should help you to be both transparent and efficient while you simultaneously reward your clients. It should help you to not only schedule regular service and maintenance but also enable you to give your customers discounts and targeted promotions as thanks for their loyalty.

3. An improved buying experience.

The people who come into your store aren’t just spending a few dollars on candy or gum. They are purchasing and repairing intricate equipment that they entrust with their lives and those of their families. Providing them with a buying experience in keeping with the importance of these transactions that is fast, seamless, and secure can set you apart from many of your competitors.

Your digital POS system will enable you to accept payments using all commonly used methods, including EMV chip credit cards, debit cards, mobile/contactless payments, and near-field communication (NFC) options. As a merchant, you gain the advantages of automatic inventory management and cloud-based security. Meanwhile, you continue to earn buyer loyalty and trust.

4. A compact footprint.

If you own a business where counter space is at a premium, you will be ecstatic to learn that your smart POS system will probably be much smaller than your current system. Don’t let its diminutive size fool you, however, Smart POS systems, along with the right payments software and online merchant portal can help you streamline your customer, employee, and inventory management into one centralized hub, resulting in greater efficiency.

5. Helping you step into ecommerce.

When you are operating a busy in-person Automotive business, launching and maintaining a dynamic website might seem so overwhelming that you delay the entire job. Your smart POS can help you get your foot in the door as you begin to explore how ecommerce can enhance your direct offerings. At the very least, it can effortlessly give you access to analytics and customer contact information that you can use as you initiate your social media and digital brands.

6. Market to current and potential customers.

Because smart POS systems are equipped with the ability to record, integrate, and analyze sales and customer data, you can expertly serve your buyer base by providing the products and services they truly want. Success in this arena will lead naturally to referrals and repeat business.

Of course, your smart POS solution cannot and should not replace the emphasis on providing quality automotive products and services that have set your business apart. However, an integrated suite of smart payments hardware and software can take your checkout and customer service to a whole new level. In short, enhancing your store with a smart POS system can transport you from the back roads onto the modern payments superhighway.