The way customers shop at supermarkets has changed — but what about the technology?
As profit margins get tighter and customers expect faster checkout and a better selection of products, independent supermarkets are looking for ways to improve their business and bottom line.
Yet many supermarket owners are reluctant to upgrade their point of sale (POS) system. They’re worried it will lack the features they need, be too expensive, or cause too much disruption.
However, POS systems in supermarkets have evolved to be much more than machines to process payments. Now, supermarket POS systems are packed with advanced and user-friendly features that can transform the way you connect with customers and run your store.
Supermarket vs. Grocery — Why the Difference Matters
Many customers use the words grocery store and supermarket interchangeably, but there are distinct differences.
- Grocery stores primarily offer essential grocery items, like fresh produce, canned goods, and meat. Their selection tends to be more limited in scope compared to a supermarket.
- Supermarkets offer a wider range of products and services than grocery stores. In addition to selling grocery staples, many supermarkets offer cooking equipment, pharmacy services, clothing, and more.
Related Read: Supermarket vs. Grocery Store: 6 Similarities and Differences
What does this mean on a practical level? It means supermarket POS systems must be flexible enough to handle those additional services, employees, and processes without complex add-ons.
This often creates a challenge for supermarket owners. They want to upgrade to a newer system but worry they’ll have to compromise on core functions to do so. That said, let’s look at the must-have features you need to run a supermarket.
Point of Sale in Supermarkets: 6 Important Features
When assessing point of sale options, the most popular providers aren’t always your best bet.
Many POS systems built for general retail lack the industry-specific features that supermarkets need.
While the lower price tag on some of these systems might be appealing, adding advanced features to handle areas like perishable inventory and age verification can add time, cost, and complexity. Instead, we recommend looking for supermarket-specific, easy-to-use POS systems.
Here are six unique features that every modern supermarket POS system should have and how they can help increase efficiency, customer satisfaction, and profits.
1. Flexible Inventory Management
Supermarkets offer a wide range of goods, from produce and other perishable inventory to appliances with specific serial numbers. With a supermarket POS system, you can maintain accurate and efficient stock control for any type of merchandise with advanced inventory management tools.
Many solutions also come with easy ways to automate or streamline your inventory processes, saving time and money while reducing spoilage and shrink.
Look for inventory management features such as:
- Real-time inventory: See exactly what you have in stock at any given time, helping you optimize stock levels and avoid stockouts or overstocking.
- Reorder thresholds: Set thresholds that will automatically notify you when certain items are running low.
- Mobile scanning: Support faster stock audits and intake by using mobile scanning devices (or scan in inventory on your phone or tablet) to increase accuracy and speed.
- Supplier integration: Keep supplier information on your system and quickly create purchase orders.
- Flexible SKUs and Serialized Inventory: Ensure that your supermarket POS system can handle all types of inventory, from custom SKUs to serialized inventory (necessary for keeping track of warranties or manufacturing defects).
Related Read: Supermarket Inventory Management: 7 Steps to Success
2. Reporting and Analytics Tools
Using reports is a fantastic way to get an honest view of your business’ performance, customer preferences, and more.
Some of the most commonly used reports for supermarkets include:
- Real-time sales reports: Understand what sells best and when, and get reports daily, weekly, monthly, or quarterly. These reports will help you understand your bestsellers, peak store hours, and other metrics that will help you plan better.
- Employee performance tracking: Keep track of employee performance metrics such as daily, weekly, and monthly sales, real-time data on hours and overtime, and more. These numbers can help identify your top-performing employees and areas for improvement.
- Inventory turnover: See how often your store sells and replaces its inventory over a given period. This can help you find ways to reduce your carrying costs, increase cash flow, and maintain a well-balanced inventory.
All of this information can help you boost your profits by optimizing your inventory levels, staffing, and more.
3. Cloud-Based Infrastructure and Reliable Hardware
Many legacy POS systems are maintained on-site, with software that was once shiny and new getting older and slower by the second. Worse, if a legacy system goes offline, it can grind business to a halt.
Using cloud-based software and reliable on-site hardware reduces your risk of disruption. Cloud-based software is updated and maintained by the technology partners themselves, ensuring minimal disruption. Leading software providers also update the software regularly to adjust to evolving business needs and customer demands.
Related Read: The Best Grocery Store Cash Register: 5 Top Options
Your supermarket will also need reliable hardware. Look for a POS system that has the features you need on both the hardware and software side. A supermarket point of sale solution should include support for deli scales, self-checkout lanes, and barcode scanners.
4. Robust Security
As more customers pay by card, digital wallet, or online, supermarkets are tasked with storing sensitive information. This opens you up to increased risk from an accidental or malicious data breach. You also have to deal with employee theft and other avoidable sources of shrink.
While many business insurance plans include data security protection, it’s best to take a proactive approach to security to stop issues before they start.
Here are a few security features you should make sure your POS system includes:
- PCI-DSS: Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) is a set of compliance standards that payment processors use to ensure customers’ personal and financial information stays safe. Any POS system that accepts card or contactless payments must comply with these standards.
- Data encryption: Find a solution that encrypts customer data (e.g., customer names and emails for your loyalty program). Even a single loss of customer data can cause irrevocable harm to your supermarket’s reputation.
- Employee access controls: Ensure you track which employees handle inventory and set permissions for each team member, giving them access to only the tools and reports they need.
5. Streamlined Checkout Functions
Checkout speed is a major sticking point for customers, which is why so many supermarkets have invested in ways to keep customers moving efficiently. While there are many ways to speed up checkout times, start with the basics.
Look at your checkout lines regularly. Compare checkout times between peak hours and off hours. Try to find the specific source of your slowdown. Here are a few ways that supermarket POS systems can make your checkout move quicker:
- Customizable interface: Adjust the screen on your POS system so your most-used functions and products are quickly accessible.
- Contactless payment support: Accept contactless payments, including digital wallets and tap-to-pay cards.
- Streamlined staffing: Put your staff schedule directly into your POS system to ensure everyone is on the same page and updates are communicated promptly. Using reports to find peak hours will also help you know when you should have more staff on the floor.
6. Online Store Integration
According to Capital One, a whopping 28% of adults shop for groceries online once per month. While taking your entire supermarket online might seem intimidating, having the option to sell at least some of your items online is a great way to boost sales.
Many point of sale systems for supermarkets include tools to build a website and support online sales for local pickup or delivery. For best results, use a POS system that lets you customize what items are available online and directly connects your in-store and online inventory.
Some supermarket POS systems, including IT Retail, support partnerships with companies like InstaCart and Mercato, letting reach more customers without maintaining a website or preparing orders yourself.
Keep Your Supermarket Running Smoothly With a Modern POS System
Many supermarket owners are stuck with a POS system that’s functional but causes a lot of headaches. That makes the prospect of upgrading to a new system intimidating. However, the benefits of a modern, supermarket-specific POS system far outweigh the drawbacks.
A supermarket POS system like IT Retail can be fully implemented in a matter of weeks and comes with training modules to help you and your staff get up to speed.
IT Retail also includes powerful features like real-time inventory tracking, employee management, contactless payment support, deli scale integrations, and more to help independent supermarkets achieve their full potential.
Speak with one of our experts today to see how IT Retail can help transform your supermarket operations.
