Few retail decisions are as important as choosing the right point of sale (POS) system. It handles all of a store’s transaction and customer data. From ringing up customer orders to storing critical transaction information, the dispensary POS system or software you choose will impact your business at all levels.

Given the sensitive nature of customer data in the cannabis industry, having a top-notch POS system is even more crucial. When navigating the market for POS software, you will need to consider how each option affects both your customers and employees alike.

Why a Quality Dispensary POS System is Important

Dispensary POS systems lie right in the middle of the customer experience. They bridge the gap between products, customers, and the business itself. These systems are also responsible for storing data on the back end. Here are crucial reasons why having a quality dispensary POS system is important for your business:

• The speed with which your system processes orders directly impacts the customer experience. Low-quality options often run into connectivity issues that can slow down the process.
• If data leaks due to a reason related to a bad POS system, you could be subject to lawsuits from affected customers.
• Having a subpar system may make your employees’ jobs harder. Without an efficient process, employees may be more likely to quit.
• If your software does not store transaction information properly, you could run into industry compliance issues.
• Poor-quality software may lack the ability to make detailed financial reports for your business. This is a feature that can save you much time when submitting tax documentation.

The right system will strike a balance between front-end customer experience and backend business functionality. When you cut corners with your POS software, you unintentionally make operations much harder for yourself. The market for POS systems is large enough that you should be able to find a quality option that fits all your needs. From cloud software to user-friendly hardware, consider all your choices before you make a purchase. To evaluate each option, you will want to determine how the system helps both your customers and employees.

POS Factors to Consider for Customers

Because cannabis businesses exist in such a gray legal area, protecting customer data is crucial. Many dispensaries are required to scan drivers’ licenses for compliance reasons. You may consider looking for a retail dispensary POS system that stores this data so that customers will not have to scan their IDs every time they come to shop. Of course, you will still have to manually check IDs, but this can eliminate a redundant step in the process if you already have the license on file.

The same goes for medical dispensary POS systems. If you can safely store customer data (in compliance with government data regulations), you might be able to make the process more efficient for your customers. Consider cloud-based POS software to store customer data. This eliminates your reliance on shared servers which may compromise the data and lead to legal consequences down the road.

Having a slow system is another factor to consider. The longer it takes for you to process each order, the more likely customers are to leave and search for a better experience. The last thing you want is to have a bunch of negative reviews saying how long it took for people to check out. Do not skimp on your POS system. It will affect your business not only customers but employees as well.

POS Factors to Consider for Employees

You want to choose a POS system that provides a great user experience (UX). Good UX design makes it easy for employees to move through the steps of a transaction. The system should provide valuable information like product images and descriptions. These should be easy to find and review without making it difficult for employees to access the main screen.

You should also consider whether you want a system that allows for order customization. For example, if you offer customers the option to mix and match products for a discount, the system needs to be intuitive to bundle products at checkout.

Other important considerations for employees are if the system is easy to set up, use, and troubleshoot. Complicated systems can result in downtime during peak hours and lead to lost sales and damaged brand perception.

To determine if the system is user-friendly, you should look for vendor reviews online. What do other businesses say about the dispensary POS system? Do you know another store that has the same software? See if you can ask their team what they like or dislike about the system. You are likely to get more accurate information directly from other brands who have tried out the software.

Paying attention to these details will help you find the right POS software or system. If you invest the time now, you can save yourself many headaches down the road and create more momentum for your business moving forward.