Tablets and the Future of Point-of-Sale

The introduction of the tablet has completely revolutionized the way we do everything, from checking email, entertainment while waiting in line and even conducting business differently. According to MarketWatch, “The global mobile POS market is estimated to value at around $26 billion in 2018, and is expected to register a CAGR of 18.8%.” No more bulky point-of-sale systems, especially for merchants who operate outside of a normal brick and mortar setting. Today, merchants make use of tablets to ring up sales and process credit card payments from anywhere.

The iPad and other similar tablets offer retailers the ability to do much more than a traditional POS system could do. Featuring an attached card reader and wireless access, tablet-based systems are now driving the future of commerce in the retail sector. Easy to carry, completely customizable and the affordability of such systems makes tablet use with small businesses, especially startups, a top choice. Thanks to their portability, it is possible to handle transactions from anywhere, thus freeing retailers to operate where it is most convenient.

Need For Speed
Tablet-based POS systems are ideal for a variety of different businesses, including small retail settings. They also work well for much larger settings. Case in point is Alabama State University, which became the first stadium to implement an iPad POS system on a large scale. For anyone who has ever had to stand in line waiting to pay in a stadium, the need for speed is understandable. This is precisely what tablet POS systems offer. In fact, once Alabama State University implemented the iPad POS system in its Gourmet Services division, it rang up nearly 6,000 transactions within just a few hours. Clearly, this type of platform is able to offer the speed required to move customers through the line quickly.

Easy to Use
Of course, that type of speedy delivery only works well if the system is user-friendly. This is yet another area where many merchants have noticed the long term benefits tablet POS systems have to offer. In about 30 minutes, staff can be trained to run the system. Time savings result in more efficient inventory processing. A tablet POS system makes it possible for managers to check inventory from a computer or smartphone at any time and from any location. That saves weekly time spent counting stock.

Streamline Operations and Increase Scalability
Amongst the reasons business owners increasingly choose tablet POS systems over traditional is the opportunity to streamline business operations. With some systems offering an offline mode that allows retailers to operate with complete accessibility and security—in the event that power or Wi-Fi connectivity is lost—retailers can continue operating with business as usual.

The scalability offered by tablet POS systems is also proving to be a tremendous boon for many retailers, especially startups that may not need all of the features of a full POS system right away. With tablets, the sky is virtually the limit. As technology continues to evolve, it is quite likely that POS systems will continue to evolve as well, thus providing retailers with the opportunity to provide more customers with better service in less time.

Connect with Us

With business activities in 50 markets and 150+ currencies around the world, EVO is among the largest fully integrated merchant acquirers and payment processors in the world.

Contact Us