As a store owner, it's your duty to greet your customers with a positive shopping experience. From the moment they walk through the door to the moment they step out, this goal should be your top priority. Did you know that their check-out experience is a big factor? If you have an outdated or glitchy point of sale (POS) system that is creating long lines at the checkout, you might think you're saving money by avoiding a replacement, but you are actually hurting your business.
The Dwindling Shopping Cart
As people walk through a store, they pick up items and place them inside their carts often with little thought. When a customer is forced to wait in line for an extended period, they have more time to think about their purchases.
As a result, they are often more likely to remove items from their cart, which means fewer sales. Keep your customers moving in and out swiftly to prevent shopper's remorse. Also, any items they take out of their cart along the way will leave your team with more work at the end of the night when it's time for cleanup.
A Refusal to Wait
Everyone that is shopping is not on a leisure excursion. Some shoppers need to get in and get out as quickly as possible. When the lines in your store are long, some shoppers may not have the time and therefore, may be more apt to leave the store and take their money elsewhere.
When a customer walks out, that is a symbol of a missed opportunity for your company to earn a profit. Additionally, if the items left in the basket are frozen items, they could be ruined, which is a loss of inventory.
Word of Mouth Problems
When a customer has a positive experience with a business, they will share the information with anyone else who'll listen. At the same time, when a customer has a less than positive experience, they are also more apt to share this information with another person. If an issue with your point of sale system is leading to long lines, customers will speak negatively to other people about their experience.
Unfortunately, their words could, in turn, cause these people to stay away. Keep in mind; these negative words may not just be limited to friends and family. As these people exit the building, they may even tell people that are walking into your business to stay away.
Don't let an issue with your point of sale system negatively affect your business. Update your POS system to ensure your customers have a positive shopping experience.