Over 67 million iPads sold in 2014, according to Statista. While many of these devices were set on the path to become a mobile entertainment system, a high-tech textbook shelf or even an extremely pricy writing tablet for their new owner, a large number have found a higher calling: helping small businesses get a little more like the big boys.
The Future of the Cash Register?
We’ve reviewed plenty of money-saving apps on FanAppic in the past, but as far back as 2012, Business Insider reported that the iPad point of sale system rang the death knell for traditional cash registers. More aesthetically pleasing than a modern cash register, more easily serviceable than any other system and sporting all the trimmings of a high-tech establishment, it’s no wonder that the number of big businesses who have accepted the iPad POS is growing.
However, the biggest impact here is on small businesses. According to Cost Helper, a standard point of sale system could cost anywhere from $2500 to over $15 thousand, putting modern systems completely outside the budget of most startups. Some companies offer service for less, but these are the older, clunkier, and generally less functional options—the “cheap seats” at the checkout show. Regardless of their level of technology, these systems are all large, heavy and generally unattractive, coming in lovely shades of light gray and that familiar yellowed gray that most people recognize from medical equipment and the grandma’s old computer. The systems installed are just as offensive to the modern aesthetic, not to mention difficult to learn and prone to errors.
Using an iPad POS, on the other hand, comes with nothing but benefits:
– Clean, modern styling of the device and peripherals
– Minimal training required for anyone with prior experience with a touch-based device like a smartphone or tablet
– Full peripheral setup (including stand, drawer, receipt printer and more) available from services like Shopify for under $1500, making the final purchase price of the full system less than $2000
– In case of malfunction, an iPad can be easily traded out for any other iPad, while the original unit can be serviced at the nearest Apple store
– System links to the cloud, making it easy to track daily sales, inventory and more
Using an iPad also allows you to take your checkout anywhere, making it easy to check out customers with large purchases without hauling everything up to the counter and then finagling it all out the door. Just bring the iPad over, swipe the card and everything is good to go. Receipts can be emailed, cutting down on paper waste, and customers can easily opt in or out of email campaigns all from the checkout screen.
The Future of Retail
One of the biggest changes this shift in the technology of checking out has brought on is an undeniable destruction of the wall between brick and mortar retail shops and online storefronts. By utilizing web-based and cloud-friendly apps and technology for ringing up items and closing out sales, an online store can be directly links to its offline counterpart. No longer will online stores be at the mercy of incorrect inventory counts—and brick and mortar locations won’t have to worry about the reverse anymore, either.
Definitely the most noteworthy point, however, is the fact that this system allows small businesses to operate the same way as large businesses for a fraction of the cost, turning the way retail works on its head. No longer do big name companies have all the latest and greatest technology, commissioned with thousands of dollars of capital; now, a small business can have a system that is just as high-tech, just as reliable and just as functional as a big name brand without selling the farm to get it. By allowing small businesses the opportunity to compete with even the largest retail giants in even these simple and necessary operations, these startups and “mom and pop” shops can focus their efforts on making and stocking better products, offering better service, and generally improving their business model.
Keeping Up
Most iPad POS systems are compatible with all versions from the iPad 2 onward, meaning it’s possible to buy a used or refurbished last-generation unit for $200 or so without much trouble. However, while this may be a tempting prospect, getting a third or fourth generation unit is definitely the better bet; as older versions are deprecated by Apple’s services, the likelihood of getting the right security updates and app functionality on an older model is pretty slim.
Considering you could get a fully functional point of sale system for less than $2000 with the iPad even if you opt for a newer model, there’s no reason to make due with something that may not work in a year or two. This use of technology is here to stay, that means you’ll want to get a device that promises to last. Keeping up with the competition could be easier than ever with an iPad at your counter.
