Cloud computing has become the popular method of storing and accessing data. But many business owners are unsure of what the cloud is, let alone how it could benefit their business. Basically, in cloud computing, information is stored in a location that’s separate from the main computer, such as a remote server. This means that any device with the right permissions can access information from that remote server, regardless of where that device happens to be located. 

 

Traditional vs. Cloud-Based Point Of Sale Systems

The main difference between the traditional and the cloud-based POS System like talech is that the latter can be accessed using mobile devices such as a smart phone or iPad. With the traditional systems, the customer must travel to the checkout, where the cloud-based option allows the checkout to be brought to the customer.

 

Another difference between the traditional and cloud-based systems is that only one device is used to access the system in the former. This device is usually the debit or credit card machine, where the customer swipes or inserts a card, and then enters a PIN into the keypad.

 

Pros of Cloud-Based POS Solutions

There are several benefits to businesses wanting to use a cloud-based point of sale system. One of these is the fact that a business owner can manage their business from anywhere. Because all customer and transaction data is stored on a remote server, the business can be monitored any time of the day or night.

 

Another pro is the lower costs that a point of sale solution in the cloud can bring. Business Bee reports, that traditional systems incur several costs; the software license, tech support and training fees and costs to maintain and upgrade the system. Although many businesses may see these charges as being part of the cost to do business in today’s retail world, the cloud-based POS solution has eliminated many of these costs. The cloud-based system requires little or no fees to be paid up-front and also offers low monthly fees.

 

The ability to upgrade the system instantly is another benefit of the cloud-based POS solution, according to entrepreneur.com. Instead of providing upgrades as new versions are released, many cloud providers will be able to provide you with information about upgrades that you will need to have years before they are required.

 

Another reason that cloud-based point of sale systems are very popular today is because of their ability to work with popular mobile phone companies, according to entrepreneur.com. Arguably, the POS systems that are considered to be the best and most efficient are those which are able to be operated via an app. Some of these apps are quite sophisticated, offering live sales data with just a click or swipe. As well, all apps allow for reporting that

is cloud-based

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The Cons of Cloud-Based Systems

There is an increased risk of fraud. Because cloud-based systems use the internet to transmit process and store data, any open connections can mean infiltration by hackers. Although the cloud itself is very secure and far less prone to crashes than traditional systems, it’s the point in the process where data must be decrypted in order to be stored that hackers can access and obtain data from. However, it’s the application of basic practices such as antivirus installation and regular updates of these kinds of programs that can prevent such attacks from occurring.

 

Business Bee lists downtime as another risk of the cloud-based point of sale system. It is strongly suggested that business owners consider whether or not the lost revenue is worth the downtime if their internet connection isn’t always reliable. Also, it’s suggested that many of today’s POS providers also offer an offline suite of services designed to allow business owners to continue to be able to process transactions and review and sync data. It must be stressed that these offline services may incur additional cost.

 

Conversion from one system to another can also be an issue. However, this is true with any migration from one POS System to another. In order to convert to a cloud-based solution successfully, it’s recommended that business owners first export all of their customer information and inventory to a spreadsheet, and then send this document to their cloud provider. The task of importing items into the new could-based account should be included   in account set-up.

 

Should You Get Rid Of Your Old Point Of Sale System?

One thing that is common on cloud-based systems is viruses. And indeed, many a merchant has changed their mind about the feasibility of their new POS solution when they discover it has caught a computer virus. Should this occur, a complete reinstallation of the operating system as well as the driver for the system is required. This can cause many a business to wish they never kicked their old system to the curb. However, the responsibility of who pays for purchases using stolen cards will soon be passing to major credit card companies, but will only apply to those businesses using the latest POS solution technology. And so upgrading to the latest system will definitely save companies money in the long run.