TL;DR
Our client would reduce 50% of the entry process that their cashier need to perform during transaction. It means, at least half of transaction time is reduced which make customer queue less and sell more.
It is done by integrating Point of Sales (PoS) and Electronic Data Capture (EDC)
Cashiers are crucial
As we might have observed, cashier deals with these many things during just four minutes of average transaction time :
1. Customer’s goods
Cashiers need to handle the goods delicately because it belongs to customer. They must make sure customer purchase the product in good condition. Also, in some stores, customers can leave their shopping items in the cashier while continue shopping. Thus, cashiers must know which product belong to which customer.
2. Shopping bag
In many cases, several sizes of shopping bags are available. Cashiers need to decide which shopping bag is suitable customer’s goods.
3. Point of Sales
During transaction, cashiers interact with computers, printers, barcode scanner, etc. Every punch on keyboard, click on mouse, or tap on screen need to be 100% accurate.
4. Sales notes
Once the transaction data are keyed in into the system, sales note is printed. Every word, character, and especially number on the receipt is very sensitive to customer. A good cashier makes sure that the printout receipt reflects what customer buys. In some shop, cashier also needs to be certain that sales promoter name is correctly printed as it may affect promoter’s commission.
5. Customer’s small talk / questions
Almost always, there are customers who engage cashier in conversation during transaction and, sometimes, they complain. Cashiers need to handle both while doing many things for the transaction to be successful
6. EDC, cards, loyalty points, discount, promotions
All the above are common peripherals that cashier needs to be knowledgeable of. Sometimes promotion changes, discount changes, or EDC has problems. All these cases must be professionally handled in front of waiting customer.
7. Smile and attitude during high accuracy data entry
It is the rule of thumb of every good service. Cashiers take an important role because they are the last contact point which customer touches in the whole shopping experience. Customer would leave the store with smile or sullen face is really dependent on how cashier gives the last impression.
So, again, in just 4 minutes of average transaction time, cashier really has tons of things to do whether we realize it or not.
Integration
Beside PoS, cashier also interacts with EDC. There might be more than one EDCs from different banks.
Before printing sales receipt, cashiers usually make sure payment was successfully made on EDC. Cashier would key in the total amount on EDC, dip customer card, and print EDC receipt. Depending on your country, you might have this process automated already. Otherwise, cashiers would key in 2x on 2 different systems (PoS and EDC). It is prune to human error and not efficient. What if the amount that is shown on PoS could be transmitted automagically to EDC and all cashier would do is to ask customer dip in his/her own card? Wouldn’t it be much more efficient? Not only it would make 2x entry to be 1x entry, but it also comes with other benefits, such as:
– Shorter transaction time and, thus, faster queuing time for customer
– Reduced human error, especially during transaction amount input on EDC as it is handled by the integrated payment system
– Customer’s privacy is even better respected as customers hold their own card; never pass sensitive information to other’s hand
– One-to-one transaction on POS which make it easier to track and monitor as one POS only connects to one EDC
– Merchant discount rate calculation is automated, thus, users are provided with instant reporting on daily sales transaction including fees incurred
Conclusion
Crucial part of your retail business must have its most efficient process. Cashier’s process must be fast and accurate. Hence, when cashier is dealing with more than one system, we realise we could help your cashier to be more efficient by integrating those systems.
Our PoS is integrated with most EDCs firmwares. It reduces transaction time and human error. Most importantly, it keeps money flowing into your business quicker 🙂
