Advantages Of Integrating An E-Commerce Solution Into The POS System

In the omnichannel world, providing an online and offline shopping experience is essential for retailers’ customers. So if you want your company to achieve higher goals with ease and to keep up with the competition both locally and on the Internet in the future, you should integrate an e-commerce website with your store’s POS system.

As we know, e-commerce relies on a tightly integrated customer experience in all areas of your company. Customers should be able to experience the exact same shopping experience and customer-centric service no matter where they shop (be it through your website, mobile application, or physical store). Virtual options can support the options available on site and vice versa.

Because modern POS systems are much more than a digital solution that enables you to process orders or transactions via different channels. For example, customers can find out online before they even visit the store whether the item they want is available or receive customer-related advice in the store, which can be based on the customer data that has been created.

In this way, despite a greater reach, you can design your customer service even more individually and tailored to each customer. Because the e-commerce option in the cash register system has many functions that take the strain off you and your employees and positively influence the customer experience. This lets your customer base and income grow automatically.

In the offline area, you may already be familiar with using POS hardware such as a cash register. Below you can find out how easily and efficiently you can use e-commerce.

How can you optimally connect your online shop to your business?

Depending on your current situation, you may need to upgrade to an e-commerce point of sale system. This is a POS cash register that can process both online and offline orders and transactions.

You still have the necessary hardware and software, such as B. Your cash register, customer display, cash drawer or your contactless card reader. You also benefit from improved analytics and better organized inventory management. Because POS system providers offer a variety of functions that go far beyond the normal checkout process. So you have the possibility to have cash register, accounting, inventory control and online shop with various functions under one roof and to manage all data from one system. In this way, you always have a clear view of your store and online shop and can act in a targeted manner.

5 benefits of an e-commerce POS integration

There can be many different reasons for adding an ecommerce option to the business, depending on the needs of each business. Below are five of the top reasons you should consider adding ecommerce:

1. Accurate product data

Typically, when updates are made to an e-commerce product catalog, staff in brick and mortar stores must manually update the product details. However, with ecommerce POS integration, these updates are automatically applied so customers know exactly what they are getting.

Because your e-commerce platform has a centralized product information management system (PIM), in-store employees can precisely answer product-related questions, place orders in person, and place online orders for any products that are out of stock in-store. The customer experience takes on an important new dimension as business reps have more tools and more information at their disposal, and those tools don’t require in-store management to be effective.

2. Updated inventory levels

With this in mind, the linking of the e-commerce / POS system helps ensure the accuracy of inventory levels on all transactions. Employees can find real-time information on inventory status and product availability at each retailer’s location. As with the product details, changes are automatically adopted – meaning no more surprises in accounting or invoicing if employees forget to remove a product from the main inventory list.

3. Faster shipping

When employees process orders manually via decoupled POS systems, there is a natural delay between the customer’s order and the actual order placement. However, when you connect your ecommerce platform to your POS, orders are processed and immediately sent for shipping – a huge improvement to the customer’s buying experience.

4. Ease of use

Your customers won’t be the only ones benefiting from an integration. If your reps are still manually processing customer orders and manually entering POS information into the e-commerce platform, they are wasting time that could be spent assisting your customers.

5. Customer database

Online trading provides you with important information and analyzes so that you can tailor your product range even more specifically to your customer requirements. In addition, you can offer your regular customers even more special services by means of newsletters, loyalty programs and special discount codes, etc.

Further functions of an e-commerce integration

But these are by far not all the advantages of an e-commerce integration. You can also use the following functions, among others:

1. Sell in multiple locations at the same time

Remember, the goal is to be where your customers are. You can’t physically be in multiple locations at the same time, but – good news – your ecommerce POS integration can!

By integrating your two channels into one POS, you get a holistic view of your customers and your business without the stress of manually adding numbers.

2. You can see the inventory in real time and no longer have to experience excessive sales

This brings us to a nice transition, because with a holistic view you also get real-time access to your inventory.

Any business owner or ecommerce manager knows the importance of streamlining your inventory management.

With a direct line of sight to inventory, you no longer have to worry about oversold products and reducing your customers’ orders. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.

3. You no longer have to enter data manually

The integration of an e-commerce POS system saves you the manual entry of data.

This not only saves you a headache, but also a lot of time. Imagine how you could spend this time differently. The possibilities are endless.

4. Offer offers and discounts

Many ecommerce platforms make it easy to enable promotions within their own system, but POS systems integration goes one step further.

You no longer have to choose between applying all your promotions to online and offline channels.

Add a layer of personalization and customization to your store by enabling promotions with your POS system.

5. Learn more about your customers and their benefits

Just like most of the technologies we incorporate into our businesses, they tend to teach us a lot about our customers.

Ecommerce POS system integrations are no different. The integration of your POS system gives you clear insights into the sales behavior of your customers.

When figuring out which POS solution is right for you, you should understand how data and insights are shared with you.

6. Improve the customer experience

At the end of the day, it is all about the customer experience. Just like in daily life, it’s a lot easier when things are related.

By connecting your POS system to your online shop, you create a seamless experience for your customers. They allow them to pay in a variety of ways thanks to the POS software, seamlessly process online orders, and even integrate marketing initiatives like loyalty programs.

This integrated solution increases customer satisfaction and fulfills business needs in real time.

Conclusion

Linking inventory management systems to e-commerce websites is particularly helpful for retailers in speeding up shipping and ensuring order fulfillment. The e-commerce integration connects the two systems for bidirectional communication and ultimately improves the customer experience. In addition, business processes are simplified, and employees are relieved. In this way you can advance your company and at the same time respond more intensively to the needs of your customers. E-commerce is a worthwhile and profitable investment, especially for retailers, to position your company in a future-oriented and customer-friendly manner.