Retailers are embracing EPoS in order to streamline their operations and boost efficiency.
After more than 20 years of operating from the same retail unit in Loch Lomond Shores shopping complex in Balloch, Alexandria, Loch Lomond News moved to a larger unit last December.
In a bid to make his business more efficient, store director Andrew Howell looked decided to invest in some new tech. Having researched the issue via trade magazines and in Facebook groups, he decided to invest in a till system from MHouse. He worked closely with MHouse Sales Manager (Scotland and North of England), Nisha Sran, who he describes as “very friendly and helpful”.
“The tills have been great,” says Andrew. “What really helped was having a handheld scanner sent out to us about a week in advance, which let us scan our product file and have it ready on the till.” He claims that this saved him precious time and meant that he was able to have everything ready for when the store relaunched in its new premises.
Based in one of Scotland’s key tourist destinations, the store specializes in magazines, collectibles and ice cream. Andrew claims that the new kit is straightforward and has helped him to manage multiple tasks with ease. “Whether it’s changing a price temporarily or permanently, whether it’s paying out lottery or doing a reading, everything’s there and everything is very user friendly,” he says. “I’d recommend MHouse for the simplicity of use of the till. You can tell it’s been designed by retailers.”
Automated solutions
The MHouse specialist POS system is designed to streamline different business functions, which results in boosting productivity. It can help all sizes of retailer from single-lane shops to chain operators, automating numerous processes so that retail staff can spend less time on repetitive tasks, such as inventory management, and more time focussing on customer engagement and business growth.
The automation features of the MHouse system mean that stock levels are updated in real-time, removing the need to manually track inventory.
MHouse’s POS system provides instant analytical reports, so retailers know exactly how their stores are performing at any given time and can act quickly if any operational issues are brought to light.
The chances of human error occurring are significantly reduced by introducing more automated processes, which minimise the requirement for manual intervention.
By streamlining operations, jobs become far less time consuming and can often be completed more accurately and to a higher standard.
The system provides integrated payment solutions, including card payments, loyalty points, and gift vouchers. This makes the checkout process much smoother and faster.
The company also claims to have connections to all major wholesalers, enabling it to monitor stock levels and ensure that they are always up to date. This means that less time needs to be spent on stock replenishment.
By providing a unified platform for different tasks, MHouse’s POS system enhances operational efficiency, allowing retail teams to process more transactions in less time and ultimately improving customer experience.
Fit for a King
Down south, the team at King Family Stores in Retford, Nottinghamshire, were also searching for a clever bit of kit to make running the store easier.
The EPoS system the business had been using was dated and the shop wasn’t happy with the level of support it received, which had dwindled over the years. “As independent retailers, we often look to our peers to see what’s working. Many retailers within Spar had already made the jump to Henderson Technology, and we saw the benefits first-hand,” explains Tristan King, Managing Director of King Family Stores.
The business comprises five convenience stores and a forecourt. They were on the hunt for a robust, scalable EPoS solution that would not only aid business efficiency but also give them greater visibility of the business as a whole.
In addition, they needed a system that integrated seamlessly with fuel sales.
Henderson Technology’s EDGEPoS was just the ticket, with its ability to streamline operations and help the team to make better operational decisions.
Learning how to use a new back-office system can be pretty daunting, but EDGEPoS’s in-built video training simplified the process and made it stress free.
Once installed, King Family Stores could use the kit to change the prices of items across multiple stores with both speed and accuracy. In the past, this had only been possible by messaging store managers or personally visiting sites, but now price changes can be made centrally, which saves time and also means far less chance of mistakes occurring.
“The ability to make changes across all stores universally was a gamechanger,” says Matthew Henderson, Operations Manager. “Instead of manually messaging managers or visiting stores to update prices, we can now make adjustments in real time and ensure consistency.”
Data-driven decisions
The system’s ability to provide real-time insights into sales, stock levels and even customer trends means that the store can make educated decisions about display and ranging. The team was also able to review past sales trends for key seasonal events to help guide stock ordering.
Having a better understanding of the figures and trends has enabled King Family Stores to refresh its promotional mechanics and concentrate on introducing a lower number of deep-cut deals, which drive better engagement with customers.
“EDGEPoS has transformed the way we operate,” says King. “The system is seamless, improving efficiency and making daily tasks easier. The built-in video training has been a huge advantage, giving our staff the flexibility to learn in their own time, boosting their confidence on the tills. It has made a real difference to both our team and customer experience.”
He concludes: “As retailers, we thrive on challenges and innovation. EDGEPoS has given us the ability to make data-driven decisions, save time, and ultimately grow our business. Standing still means going backwards, and with Henderson Technology, we’re always moving forward.”
