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10 Winner POS Systems for Businesses that Thrive

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StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article |POS System|10 Winner POS Systems for Businesses that ThriveThe Point-of-Sale system, popularly known as POS, is one of the must-have tools of business owners who want their businesses to thrive. 54% of businesses now use POS to process transactions, and the total number of POS users is expected to reach 85.6m by 2025.

Why is POS the current most sought-after tool for many business owners? What advantage can POS have on your business? And what are the top POS systems to use?

This article answers all these questions in detail.

What is a POS system?

A POS system is an electronic device used by business owners to accept credit card payments and complete business transactions. A POS system is equipped with a POS terminal and software that enables sales transactions to take place.

How can a POS system improve sales for your business?

As a business owner, your ultimate goal is to reach your sales goals. And the way to go about it is to ensure you create a seamless experience for your customers and perform business transactions efficiently.

The good news is that a POS helps you achieve this and much more. Let’s check out the different ways a POS system can help grow your business.

Increased productivity

A POS system helps you get more things done.

Rather than checking balances and accounts for business transactions with manual documentation, you can easily automate all these activities with a POS system.

This means you won’t have to spend so much time trying to document daily transactions because your POS system does all the work for you.

Through this, you have enough time to focus on other aspects of your business that matter.

You will give more attention to your customers during purchases and satisfy them with top-notch customer service. The result of this? A great customer experience that paves the way for high customer retention.

Provides you with actionable data

One of the invaluable assets a business owner can have is access to vital data.

Besides providing you with your customer data, a reliable POS system gives you insights into what you have in stock and the items running out of stock.

This means you will never run out of stock on any purchase unaware, making you a dependable business owner for all your customers.

Your customers can always count on you when they need you, which increases your chances of getting high returning customers.

What’s more? You can work with the stock data your POS system provides you with to know what goods are doing well and what goods are not.

With this, you know what item to stock more and what things to put on hold. This reduces the rate of damaged goods and ensures you don’t run at a loss in your business.

Keeps your customers updated

A POS system isn’t just a medium for you to complete sales transactions with your customers. You can maximize the POS functions to impact your business by making it an effective marketing tool.

To make this happen, you can install the capture feature on your POS device to keep your customers abreast of the latest offers and promotions or new products available.

With this strategy, you can guarantee your customers will never miss a thing on your offerings and products. This simple technique can contribute to increasing sales for your business.

StrategyDriven Tactical Execution Article |POS System|10 Winner POS Systems for Businesses that Thrive10 Highly sought-after POS systems for your business in 2021

When purchasing a POS system for your business, it’s important to opt for one that provides you with all the functions your business needs to excel. Below are the ten most coveted Point of Sale systems for 2021 to consider.

1. Lightspeed

Lightspeed is one of the best Point of Sale systems for businesses that manage large and complex inventories.

Lightspeed helps you create several product bundles, put multiple variants in different sections, and run numerous orders from a centralized catalog.

Lightspeed gives you detailed analytics on items’ costs and items running out of stock so you can stock up before things run out.

You can access reports from any location and track your inventory from anywhere. Lightspeed offers the convenience that makes trading easy for small and large businesses.

What’s more? Lightspeed comes with an easy-to-use platform that makes transactions easy, and you won’t have to break a sweat to train your staff to sell and take payments anywhere.

2. Square POS

Square POS is one of the most prominent POS systems used worldwide. One of the main reasons Square POS is among the top list of the best POS systems is its flexibility.

Its flexibility allows you to accept payments en-route or through standup terminals.

Whether you own a coffee shop, grocery store, or you run an online business, Square POS allows you to complete your sales transactions in the most convenient way for you.

You don’t have to purchase POS hardware if you don’t want to; you can convert your phone to your POS solution. There are also several options to choose from to suit your needs if you want a POS hardware system.

3. Helcim

Helcim Card Reader is famous for its multi-functionality.

It doesn’t only allow you to make online transactions wirelessly; it allows you to create and design your store online.
With easy-to-use templates and interfaces, you don’t have to be a designer or web developer to set up your website in minutes.

Helcim also enables you to make and accept payments from all your devices.

This means you don’t have to always be on your desktop or in your store to take and complete payments; you can make sales transactions while you are on the go, on your tablet, or mobile phone.

4. PayCafe

PayCafe is among the best POS systems to use if you plan to run your online store simultaneously with your physical store.
It enables you to complete your sales transactions from one place by allowing you to make and receive payments from online transactions and physical transactions.

PayCafe also provides you with reliable data to work with. It gives you insights on your customers’ transactions, and how well your store is doing so you can make changes and devise new strategies for what works and what doesn’t.

5. Shopify

Shopify is among the most common POS Systems among business owners who accept payment transactions across multiple channels.

Shopify POS integrates your business transactions in one place so you can take and make payments seamlessly on any platform.

Shopify POS offers inventory management and detailed analytics. It comes with features that let you sell on social media while you are on the go and also on third-party market platforms.

Due to the effective integration Shopify POS offers for your online store and in-person store, your customers can make payments online and pick up, exchange or return purchased items from your physical store.

6. ShopKeep

Shopkeep is one of the most common POS systems used by small business owners to facilitate business transactions.

ShopKeep is easy and straightforward to use, which gives you and your customers an enjoyable user experience.

ShopKeep also comes with a Mobile App that keeps you updated about your business metrics so you can keep tabs on your business wherever you are.

7. TorchBistro

TorchBistro is a functional POS system for business owners in the food industry. So, if you run a restaurant, club, or bar, TorchBistro is your go-to POS system.

It comes with several functions such as table management, staff management, inventory management, data analytics, and much more.

TorchBistro lets you take orders online with your POS hardware or software. You can also purchase both and use them simultaneously for the success of your business.

8. Revel

Revel is one of the best POS transactions for businesses that run transactions from several platforms.
It offers a centralized system that enables you to take and make payments from different platforms from one comprehensive place.

A unique feature of the Revel app is its ability to enable you to perform transactions even when you don’t have a connection, as it makes use of both the cloud and your local network to store your data.

9. Toast POS System

Toast POS system is one of the ideal POS systems for restaurants as it was explicitly customized for food-based businesses.
It comes with all the functions to facilitate sales for your restaurant business. Such as table mapping, inventory management for ingredients in store, and the feature enables you to take online orders.

Toast offers other features that let you manage your staff effectively. Such as automated payroll and labor reports features.

10. POS Nation

POS Nation is designed to be one of the best POS systems for liquor and convenience stores.

It comes with functional features like actionable analytics on sales and employees—inventory management on carton packs, purchase orders, stock details, and many more.

POS Nation doesn’t only allow you to complete sales transactions and keep track of business activities; it is equipped with built-in ID scanning and age verification features that guide you through selling to the right people.

Conclusion

A POS system is an essential tool to facilitate your business success as it offers flexible payment methods and business analytics. This article discussed the top 10 POS systems you can employ to build a thriving business. Before you proceed to choose your POS system, be sure to check out each review to help you make spot-on decisions.

5 Indications You’re Cut Out for a Job in Customer Service

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article |Customer service|5 Indications You're Cut Out for a Job in Customer ServiceContrary to a common misconception, customer service is not merely hearing complaints and speaking politely to customers; it is a critical component of any successful business operations. By ensuring high-quality customer service, any organization can build a favorable reputation in their industry, attract new customers, and keep a loyal client base.

Given its relevance, it is not surprising that customer service jobs have always been in demand in the Philippines. If you are interested in entering this industry for career advancement opportunities and financial gain, know that this sector is not for everyone. You need specific skills, personality traits, and qualities to succeed.

To ascertain if you are cut out for a position in customer service, below are several signs that you may want to consider. If most of them ring true to you, then there is a good chance that you will thrive in this field of work.

You Have a Way with Words

Although communication skills are necessary for customer service, the job entails more than merely speaking fluently and calmly. Customer service representatives should be able to relay awkward things or give unpleasant news in a way that does not upset or irritate the clients. However, it is worth noting that having a way with words is not about lying but packaging the message in a more palatable manner.

For instance, instead of giving an outright refusal to a customer request that is against company policy, you can tell the client that you will see what you can do about the issue and inform them about the result the following day. In the interim, make sure to see what else you can do to help the customer that may not be violative of your company policy. When you call the next day, the client will most likely be receptive whether you’ve found another way to help them or your reply to the original request is unfavorable. Either way, this will send the message that you tried your best to resolve the issue.

You Are Cool as Ice

Answering calls, addressing different concerns, and dealing with frustrated people all day can be taxing and emotionally draining. That is why customer service representatives should be patient enough to deal with all types of individuals and concerns without taking things too personally.

Think about how you deal with friends and acquaintances and the different circumstances in your daily life. Are you easily irritated when things do not go your way? Do you tend to lash out at others when they act rudely?

If you answer affirmatively to the above questions, you probably need to develop the value of patience before seeking a position in customer service. Take note that unless you have the ability to remain calm and unperturbed in any situation, you will probably have a difficult time staying and growing in the customer service profession.

You Have a Positive Outlook

One study published in the Journal of International Letters of Social and Humanistic Sciences found that more than 50 percent of customer service representatives in Metro Manila are high in cynicism due to the nature of the work environment. The finding is understandable, considering that individuals working in this sector are getting beat down by bad-mannered and frustrated customers on a daily basis. It is easy to believe the worst in people if you encounter the not-so-nice ones regularly.

That said, a customer service representative should have a positive outlook to remain happy and satisfied in their work despite frequent interaction with unpleasant clients. Positive people focus on the good things, are inherently grateful, and do not dwell on things they cannot control. They are proactive and see opportunities in all circumstances. If those around you often comment on your positive energy and optimism, you will probably be effective in assisting frustrated customers and keeping the spirit up of those around you.

You Are Highly Adaptable to Change

Customer service work is unpredictable. Apart from the system continuously evolving, there is no way of knowing what types of calls a customer service agent will receive throughout the day. There might be a downtime for a certain period followed by multiple phone calls nearing the end of office hours. Even work schedules can be erratic.

How do you usually react to changes and instability? Perhaps you are hardly bothered by surprises, or you are thrilled with the idea of not knowing what to expect. If that is the case, working as a customer representative could be a good fit.

You Maintain Long-Lasting Relationships

As mentioned above, effective customer service is about making clients feel valued by the company. That is why people working in the industry should be genuinely interested in people and build customer relationships. Doing so means remembering client names, being sensitive to their needs, and addressing their concerns in the most efficient manner.

To determine if you have this ability, you may want to assess your personal relationships. If you make friends effortlessly, get along with everyone, and maintain long-term friendships, then you might be suited to work in the customer service sector.

The items discussed above are just some of the essential indications that an individual is well-matched for a job in customer service. Ponder on them to see if they speak to you. If your desire to pursue a position in the field becomes stronger, or if the job becomes even more interesting, you should seriously consider joining the customer service industry today.

Finding the Best Stock Photos for Your Book Cover

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StrategyDriven Practices for Professionals Article |Stock Photos |Finding the Best Stock Photos for Your Book CoverAn adage tells us not to judge books by their covers, but that’s just what everyone’s going to do anyway, especially when talking about actual books. If your name isn’t quite enough to sell the book on its own, the cover design might be. On the other hand, a bad cover might drive away from the otherwise interested buyer.

It doesn’t matter whether you are planning to sell your book online or in a brick-and-mortar store or even as an audiobook. Front cover, or its thumbnail is the first thing a potential buyer will see when browsing the book section. And yes, the reports of the death of printed books have been greatly exaggerated. While the number of bookstores has been declining, printed books remain the most popular medium with audiobooks gaining popularity and e-books losing some of their charm lately.

So, the design is essential. But a good plan costs a lot. Well, not always. But before talking about the cover images themselves, let’s talk about the general design guidelines and current design trends a bit.

We won’t go into too much detail about the cover typography here, but good typography is essential and should match the overall design. Handwritten or big bold sans serif fonts for fiction and clean and crisp fonts for non-fiction are popular choices.

You may have seen the words “Millennial pink” and “Gen-Z yellow” thrown around. They aren’t witty comebacks to “OK boomer” but popular contemporary design colors. Millennial pink is a dusty pink color popular in fashion magazines, Tumblr, and books aimed at the young and millennials. Celebrities like Beyonce and Kendall Jenner popularized Gen-Z yellow, and it remains a popular color for dust jackets and book covers. Trends change fast, and we don’t know what will become popular in 2020. Pantene color of the year is always a trendsetter, so maybe we’ll see Classic Blue in bookstores this year. But keep in mind that using something that doesn’t have real staying power can make your design look outdated fast.

What about the actual cover images then? First, think about your genre and audience. Each style has its stereotypical theme. Fantasy novels have knights, swords, and dragons. Planets, androids, and spaceships are ubiquitous in science fiction. They might be cliches, but that’s partially what the buyer is expecting to find. Don’t always aim for the least common denominator, though. Floral background and a shirtless beefcake on the cover signals a romance novel but may drive away everyone except the lovesick and romance hungry.

When you have the theme in mind, you need to think about the style you wish to go for. Making an exceptional design takes some experience, but there is one affordable shortcut that takes advantage of already proficient designers: Stock photos. There are stock images of almost every theme with many different styles, so there should be something for every need. So how to find what you need? Dreamstime employs a powerful search engine where any search keywords can be filtered with different modifiers. You can limit your search to only images with people, choose pictures that haven’t been used before to avoid using the same image as someone else, apply desired color composition, exclude undesired keywords, and so on. Choices are almost endless. For inspiration you can check the editor’s choice section for some of our popular images.

Finally, a couple of useful tips: Choose a few different covers and run them through a test audience. With stock images, this won’t be prohibitively expensive. Also, I would avoid the so-called “free stock” sites. Any good public domain images are probably already in use in a million different places. You would want your book cover to be unique.

When you have decided on your cover image, make sure you get the correct image license. There are licenses for every need, from online publishing to printing.

How The Real Estate Healthcare Sector Is Changing With The Trends

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StrategyDriven Editorial Perspective Article |Real Estate Healthcare|How The Real Estate Healthcare Sector Is Changing With The TrendsThe global pandemic has affected almost all the business sectors across the world. Healthcare is also one of them. This brought a reason for every provider to give a thought about the economic terms of their lease or mortgage. Regardless of these challenges, the healthcare real estate market has remained resilient. This is because of the stable occupancy, minimal default rates, and long-term leases.

One of the most positive impacts in this post-covid market is the desire of the landlords to work with tenants and healthcare buyers. Do you know who is one of the most sought prospects for a landlord or seller? The answer is medical providers. Why is this so? Let us take a look!

Change in the healthcare industry Post-covid

The Healthcare industry is booming as far as real estate investments are concerned. Why? Because healthcare offices invest heavily in their spaces. Moreover, they invest for a long time, usually, more than eight years, which is advantageous for both – tenants and landlords. Due to this, landlords offer good concessions, which was not so common before the pandemic. In this way, medical providers get better lease terms.

Stability in the long term and low default rate are the main factors why the commercial real estate market favors healthcare providers. What are the further optimization techniques that you can use in healthcare real estate? Let us find out!

Create space for the services in high demand: Preventive care and healthcare services are never going to lose their charm. A proper physical and virtual space should be provided to them to fulfill the needs of the patients.

Assess your assets – Diagnostic tools and appraisal assets are a must in the medical field. If the tools are not up to the mark with post-pandemic care, you can always outsource them to strategic partners or can sell them.

Risk mitigation – Owned and leased health properties are often subject to certain regulations like STARK, which is Physician Self-Referral Law. As per Medical/Dental Tenant Representation in Washington D.C., a well-trained agent is essential in all real-estate transactions because a right or long lease can have a drastic impact on your business. Hence, take this into consideration while communicating with the leasing team, accounting team, legal department, and property management. Legal departments hold the key importance so that you do not face any costly settlement.

The future of healthcare

The spending in this sector is bound to rise over 2 trillion US dollars in the next ten years. It is estimated that it will reach a projected 19.7% of Gross domestic product in 2026. Keeping all these figures in mind, it becomes vital to deliver safe and effective care as much as possible. And real estate plays a major role in creating a more efficient and accessible health system.

To sum it all up

We do not know when the situation is going to be normal. But as far as this industry is concerned, the trends are reporting an upward growth. And if you are looking forward to investing in this industry, then you are going the right way.

4 Benefits of Server Monitoring: How Involved in Every Aspect of Your Business Can You Afford to Be?

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StrategyDriven Risk Management Article |Server Monitoring|4 Benefits of Server Monitoring: How Involved in Every Aspect of Your Business Can You Afford to Be?When business owners first open up their doors, either literally or proverbially, they often manage most or all aspects of the company’s operations. As the business grows, though, things get complicated fast and business owners need to be more judicious with their time. They need to focus on those functions that serve to generate the most income or require the most specialized expertise.

Unfortunately, growing businesses can’t usually afford to hire additional employees to manage other important aspects of keeping things running smoothly. It costs a lot of money to hire a full IT staff capable of performing server and network performance monitoring, but without any kind of server monitoring, growing businesses will be at an ever-increasing risk of experiencing costly network failures. Thankfully, there’s a better option. Read on to find out about four of the biggest benefits of using remote server monitoring as a means of mitigating costly risks without spending a fortune on hiring or expanding a full IT department.

1. Identify Issues Before They Come Up

It’s amazing how quickly a seemingly minor server issue can become a major headache for business owners. Using a Server Monitoring tool makes it easier to detect small problems before they become huge headaches. Remote server monitoring allows business owners to keep track of things like backups and updates and detects irregularities and server failures. Some well-designed monitoring tools can even correct common errors automatically, helping to prevent more serious issues from developing.

2. Get Advanced Warning for Hardware Upgrades

Remote server monitoring can’t eliminate 100% of network maintenance tasks from business owners’ plates. A remote monitoring tool can’t perform necessary hardware upgrades, and eventually, all hardware will need to be replaced. It will, however, offer an advanced warning to business owners so they can plan for a seamless server switchover and eliminate unplanned downtime. A remote monitoring program will let the user know when processor usage is rising to dangerous levels or hard disk space is running low, letting business owners know that it’s time for an upgrade.

3. Improved Security

One of the biggest advantages of remote server monitoring is that it improves security dramatically, especially for companies that don’t have in-house IT departments. The monitoring tool will keep track of everything happening to the system’s firewall, install security patches immediately when they come out, reduce spam relay attempts, and free up server capacity. The happy results of these steps are lower chances of being targeted by hackers looking for an easy mark and reduced downtime due to security breaches, which translates into less stress for business owners and happier customers or clients.

4. Increased Productivity

Already have an in-house IT department and am wondering if remote server monitoring is worth the investment? It is. The IT professionals already on the staff will no longer have to deal with simple fixes that could be managed remotely, nor will they be faced with crisis-level situations that arise as a result of lapses in server monitoring. The automated program will simply alert the IT staff when there’s something that needs to be dealt with in person.

The Bottom Line

Growing a business is hard, but business owners don’t need to go it alone. They can rely on effective, affordable tools like remote server monitoring programs to shoulder some of the burdens.