Basics of Retail POS System in Kenya

At the core of a Retail POS System in Kenya, you’ll most likely have a standard-issue computers running specialized POS software, usually with a cash drawer and receipt printer, and often with a bar code scanner and credit card reader (PDQ Machine). Vendors often sell these systems pre-configured, or you can add these peripherals on as your requirements grow. These systems have grown in popularity over conventional cash registers because they don’t just ring up sales. They amass vital, real-time information about your inventory and customers. The cost for a simple stand alone Retail POS System in Kenya often starts from Ksh 65,000

At the core of a Retail POS System in Kenya, you’ll most likely have a standard-issue computers running specialized POS software, usually with a cash drawer and receipt printer, and often with a bar code scanner and credit card reader (PDQ Machine).

What do you get for your investment in a Retail POS System in Kenya?

Without a doubt, the biggest advantage is the ability to get an immediate, up-to-the-minute, accurate assessment of your inventory. Each time you check out a customer, the goods you ring up are immediately subtracted from your inventory list, which is maintained on the system’s hard drive (with an optional cloud backup).

That inventory may be surprisingly large. Many boutique clothing stores, for example, will stock SKUs numbering in the thousands, with actual counts exceeding 10,000 items. The same is true for shops selling everything from bicycles to cameras to cosmetics. Keeping track of the thousands of items that make up a small business can be a real chore. However, consistently keeping hard-to-find items in stock can add up to a competitive advantage over much larger competitors. How to strike the balance?

Without a doubt, the biggest advantage of a Retail POS System in Kenya is the ability to get an immediate, up-to-the-minute, accurate assessment of your inventory/stocks

A good Retail POS System in Kenya can help, allowing you to set an alert that lets you know when a given item is at the re-order point. When it’s time to re-order, some POS systems tell you both the most recent price you paid, as well as the average price you’ve paid in the past. Both can help you strike the best deal with your suppliers. Off-hours, you can run a report that gives you inventory activity for the day, week or month. To get the big picture, some POS System in Kenya allow you to track your inventory year to year, allowing you to compare this year’s orders with those from last year. Doing so can help you anticipate where you want to head in the coming months.

Taking inventory is one of the most time-consuming and labor-intensive tasks every  business owner faces. It is also one of the most crucial. Having too much stock, or too little, is costly. While having a POS system track your inventory does not substitute for a physical inventory count, many shopkeepers find they can reduce the number of times each year they must conduct this time-consuming task. And when the time comes, the use of a wireless portable scanner in conjunction with a POS system can greatly reduce your footsteps, saving hours in the process.

What it comes down to is this: In a well-run business, the Retail POS System in Kenya is more than just the place where the money comes in.

In addition to tracking inventory, a good POS system will help you know who your best customers are and what they like. With the customer’s purchase history visible right at the cash register, a cosmetics shop owner might alert a beauty enthusiast to a new shipment of a new make-up line. A camera store owner could tell a professional photographer about a new high-speed 35mm film ideal for capturing ultra HD images. Conversely, an auto parts store owner could query the POS system with a quick barcode scan to answer a customer’s inquiry about the availability of a spare part.

What it comes down to is this: In a well-run business, the Retail POS System in Kenya is more than just the place where the money comes in. With the right equipment, it becomes your strategic service center, the place that will help you grow your business and keep your customers coming back. The question then becomes, how can you not afford to have a POS System in Kenya…with all the great benefits it can give your business?

Shopping for the Right Retail POS System in Kenya

In looking for a POS System in Kenya, the choices are many, the price can range in the tens of thousands, and the final decision can be difficult. Here are some guidelines to help.

Three words of advice: inventory, inventory, inventory. All POS systems ring up sales and track inventory. But a good one will let you assess your inventory easily and thoroughly. You should be able to set alerts for items running low, readily add new items when they come in, account for back-orders, and even generate purchase orders to send to vendors.

Weigh ease-of-use against functionality. Generally speaking, the more complex your orders are, the more features you’ll need. But consider as well the time needed to bring new employees up to speed and the time you’ll invest training them. The best systems offer a balance of both.

Look for a system that can start small and grow with your needs. If you are on a tight budget, you can begin with a basic setup: POS software running on a PC with just a drawer and receipt printer. Later on, you can add on as your needs dictate, perhaps a bar code scanner and credit card reader to begin with, then add an inventory tag printer, pole display, or PIN debit pad. Also, you should pick a system, based on your needs, that doesn’t require having someone set it up for you, which can add thousands of shillings to the cost.

At SimbaPOS, we do not just offer Retail, Restaurant and Bar POS Software in Kenya- we endeavor  to provide holistic products, services and information that will ensure your restaurant/bar grows. You can check for more insightful articles like this here, check SimbaPOS pricing, read success stories from clients or Call us on 020 2067933 or email  get in touch with us