Queue busting technology is not just for Christmas
Mobile POS solutions do much more than just help retailers beat the queues and process more transactions – they improve the customer experience from start to finish. Marcus Ardeman, Sales Executive at Eurostop explains. At busy shopping times like Christmas, Black Friday, Easter, and sale times, many retailers consider what options they can employ to shorten queue times and process as many transactions as possible. Whether this means adding extra staff or opening rarely used till points, they know that reducing queue times and getting more transactions handled faster increases the number of customers served – and importantly the bottom line. Talking to our customers we recognised this need and we now provide more flexible, mobile payment solutions that work on tablet devices, enabling retailers to handle increased demand for transactions away from the fixed till point, to beat the queues. More than just queue-busting However, that is not the full story! The new interactive POS tablet technology offers so much more than just queue busting, it enables a retailer to support a better customer experience. With so much competition today for retailers the customer experience is key (including those that provide luxury and bespoke items). A more flexible payment solution that works in their store setting can give a retailer the edge on customer service – and one which we are able to offer thanks to the latest mobile and tablet technology. For these retailers, whether they have four stores or twenty four, the technology can be used by an assistant, who can act as a personal shopper with a customer. Such retailers have realised the benefits of having staff more mobile when serving – using mobile tablets, they can talk with customers, check stock and with bar code scanners and chip and PIN technology, they can also scan products and process transactions from the shop floor. As well as providing a great service, this approach also helps to ensure that queues don’t form in the first place. In some independent stores, the tablets can even be used to design and create a bespoke piece while with the customer, which can then be ordered and the transaction handled – all from the same device. To complete the seamless shopping experience the e-receipt functionality enables receipts to be sent directly to the customer’s phone or email. If a printed receipt is required, the use of wi-fi and remote printers ensure that the customer does not need to stand and wait at a till point. Receipts can also be configured to match a store’s style – for example, printed to a different size, (A5 or A4) and include the retailer’s branding. Improving the customer experience The ability to check stock from anywhere on the shop floor improves the whole customer experience, enabling staff to be more responsive. Not only can a member of staff use a tablet for a check of stock items in the warehouse, they can also conduct a search on the website. For many retailers with multiple locations that often do not hold all stock in every store – being able to quickly access stock levels at other stores enables sales personnel to handle customer queries efficiently. In busy times being able to apply such technology could be invaluable. An example might be shoe retailers who have many key peak times, including back to school at the end of the summer. When handling shoe sales, tablets can be used to measure customers’ shoe sizes, check stock against the size required and then process the transaction, all from the shop floor. This prevents queues at the till point as customers line up after the fittings – reducing stress levels for both staff and parents! A change of mindset This personalised service approach does require a change of mindset. It is about managing the whole customer experience from the start right through to transaction. Today the omni-channel retailer is not just focused on processing sales faster and getting more customers through the door. The new tablet technology offers retailers more flexibility to support their business and respond to customers. Rather than simply thinking of a mobile point of sale as queue busting, retailers should think about all the added benefits to their business, and for their customers.
Eurostop launches new mobile POS solution that enhances Personal Shopping experience for fashion and footwear retailers
High end stores are given the freedom to offer a truly personalised and flexible service for their customers in store using the latest mobile POS solution. Eurostop has launched a new wireless version of its flagship retail solution e-pos. Mobile POS combines a fully portable and untethered Windows tablet with integrated Chip and PIN functionality that is ideal for boutique shopping environments where the personal shopping experience is a key element of the service. Mobile POS enables boutique staff to have the freedom to move around the store and yet have access to all product, brand or customer information at their fingertips. Customers may also choose to complete their purchase using the new mobile technology at their comfort wherever they are in the store. The latest innovation from Eurostop first made its debut at this year’s Retail Business Technology Expo in London and has already attracted considerable interest from the industry. Mobile POS includes a wireless barcode scanner and network receipt printer and provides a visually attractive, enhanced customer experience. During busy periods such as Christmas, Easter or Bank Holidays, Mobile POS can be deployed as a Pop-Up Express Checkout to provide an extra till or simply reduce queue waiting times. Deborah Loh, Marketing Manager at Eurostop said; “We are confident Mobile POS is the next step forward in retail management solutions. Easily configurable and flexible, it is particularly beneficial to high-end stores where slick, savvy service is critical to customer retention. Unique pop-up checkout facilities and the ability to make live stock and product enquiries on the move make Mobile POS a versatile solution for retailers looking to reduce queues, enhance customer satisfaction and ultimately boost loyalty and profits.” The new wireless solution is fully compatible with Eurostop’s paperless receipts, sent to the customer via email and has the full range of e-pos touch features, including promotions and gift vouchers. Furthermore, Mobile POS is designed to support a retailer’s marketing programmes by capturing important customer data such as on-the-day purchases and it also incorporates a specialised history screen that highlights past purchasing activity. This enables retailers to provide a personalised service across the store, and to continue to develop carefully targeted promotional campaigns that support up-selling and cross-selling activities and drive additional consumer spending. Eurostop’s Mobile POS is based on the robust Windows platform and runs on tablet based hardware to provide a truly mobile solution and personalised service that fits well with today’s streamlined interiors.
Mobile e-pos touch now available
Eurostop were pleased to be able to present their latest e-pos touch functionality on a tablet device at RBTE. The solution now consists of a Windows tablet, Bluetooth bar-code scanner and Bluetooth Chip and Pin device. The work was completed at the end of last year, and is now available for our customers. Not only is it possible to produce the customer receipt from a standard receipt printer, but it can also be printed to A5 or simply emailed to the customer using the existing email receipt feature. This mobile solution allows our customers to offer a more personalised service, and will allow them to add queue busting capability during peak trading. Users can also benefit from a more flexible and space saving configuration.