The chatter amongst retail experts are always centered around ideas and realistic options for business to not only improve their productivity, but also enhance their appeal to customers. Vying for a solution that converges those two ideas can require extensive analysis, but here at Hike, we’ve long-known a simple fact that retailers love to incorporate into their stores.
Hardware Mobility
To streamline business operations, stores around the world are using the sophisticated power of the iPad and tablet retailing to maximize faster processing times, and a smarter customer service experience. However, whilst the iPad POS was quick to transition the retail industry into a new age, there is a pointed need to have add-ons in the form of mobile hardware that maintain the iPad’s smooth and streamlined offering, for other aspects of the business.
From plug-n-play printers to barcode scanners to even iPad stands, the opportunities to expand your POS’s functionality is great, and takes what is already a great platform and makes it even better.
Here are some of our favorite reasons why utilizing hardware mobility for your POS is paramount to grow your business further.
It’s the 21st century upgrade of your countertop
We’re not far removed from the days of clunky old cash registers, dominating our countertops, and sales seemingly taking a lifetime to process. The iPad is decidedly the opposite of the old cash register, but while it’s commonly known for its portability, it can easily function like a stationary object on your countertop, just vastly improved, with streamlined accouterments.
Take for example the Star Micronics mPOP machine. This device has been specifically designed for use with the iPad, where it sits neatly placed on your countertop, with the iPad sitting on top. Offering outstanding connectivity, the mPOP comes with a built-in receipt printer, cash drawer and barcode scanner, making processing sale transactions a sleek affair.
Compatible with Hike, the mPOP is the perfect accompaniment to your iPad POS but is not the only one. An iPad stand, whilst a simple attachment, can provide your store with more space on your countertop – perhaps so that you can place purchasable products or signage.
At looking at ways to further enhance the aesthetics of your store, and transform it into a modern retail outlet, the mPOP and iPad stand certainly fits the bill, reinforcing its place as a stylish but dynamic alternative to the clunky cash register.
Bluetooth Connectivity
One of the advantages of having an iPad is the ability to use add-ons that don’t require heavy cables or intrusive wiring. As mentioned previously, having ample space on your countertop is a great luxury to have, and that continues even when you add barcode scanners, receipt printers and card payment processors to the mix. And that’s all possible thanks to Bluetooth connectivity.
Indeed, with the iPad’s own Bluetooth connection, it’s easy to link your receipt printer or card payment device with Hike in just a matter of seconds. If you’ve ever been in the same room as an old cash register, you’ll undoubtedly remember the feeling of the cash register taking up all the space in the world. Wires clamoring from every which way, the need to meticulously trace each wire to its specified location. It was far more uncomfortable and intrusive than it needed to be.
Which is why the introduction of Bluetooth technology in our POS systems, are a much-needed ingredient, making life easier for everyone involved. In just a few simple taps, you can have all your various devices connected to your iPad POS. It’s that easy.
It speeds up the sales process
An extension of all this is that an iPad POS and its related hardware, speeds up the sales process exponentially. In removing the old, clunky cash register and eliminating older slower systems, your day-to-day sales functionality of your POS can keep up to pace with the demands of today’s consumer.
Getting rid of fidgety or technically old processes are reasons why so many businesses use a Bluetooth connected card reader, or an mPOP machine or an iPad stand to perform sale transactions. Where long customer queues are always a pain to get through – though a great sign for the popularity of your business – any way that you can create shortcuts by improving speeds should be explored!
Even the iPad stand, a small accessory that can easily be considered as such, gives a retailer many more new options in the way their store presents itself. The swivel iPad stand for example, is designed to have the screen adjusted, or flipped to forward or rear facing orientations. This makes things easier for the staff and customer, where you can just flip your iPad around to have your customer enter their PIN for card transactions, all with the iPad firmly in place.
Your business should exude confidence and by providing faster, and more sophisticated customer service, iPad Hardware is a one way to ensure that it happens.
Hardware Mobility
The iPad is known for its portability, but even its place within the retail POS industry hasn’t meant that it has lost sight of this fact. Yes, the POS has traditionally been associated with the immovable, concrete place it has in a store, but with the iPad and modern hardware, those days are numbered.
Consider the things we’ve talked about so far – Bluetooth connectivity, compact devices, faster sales times. It all speaks to where we are a POS system, that your iPad and all your hardware, can be set-up, anywhere, in an instant. These are portable devices, all paired through Bluetooth and can be safely transported to your next destination.
It’s perfect for things like expos, where you can easily showcase your wares and conduct sales, just minutes after setting up shop. Or even at pop-up stores or boutique markets. You’re no longer restricted to performing a full sales experience in one static location, rather take advantage of all your new modern hardware, and explore other locations to bring in new business.
It’s a powerful tool to attract customers.
The need to build-up relationships with your customers is a key element for any business, but to examine that even further is to explore what retailers desire to get out from that relationship the most – attract new customers and keep existing ones coming back.
iPad hardware is a tool that can help do just that, and where we’ve established its usefulness in eliminating clutter, provide faster sales and completely streamlined, so too can it open the path for more meaningful face-to-face interaction. The ultimate result here being that the customer becomes a regular shopper at your store.
The hardware, in some respect can be viewed even as an ice-breaker, a conversation starter that works on the theme of elegance and performance. One that people are drawn to because of its relatively recent introduction to the retail industry at large. And your hardware, acting a complement to your iPad POS, is worthwhile venture to promote given that it differs greatly from the old and tired systems. A healthy POS experience, can only help a retail business grow, and pleasing new customers and old, is just the first step.
As an aesthetically pleasing tool that is irrefutably linked with modern technology, the iPad and its add-ons, stands alone in a class for performance and style. Innovative decision making is what makes the current world of retailing work, as tools that can cover multiple bases are placed at a premium. The iPad and hardware factors in the brilliance of tablet retailing, by at the same time eliminating any perceived constrains immediately. Mature your business today with equipment that can make a tangible improvement to your operating processes.