It is a foregone conclusion that the online retail sector is now representing one of the fastest growing industries in the world today. An increasing number of consumers are now purchasing goods and services with the click of a button and often when away from home thanks to the presence of mobile devices. To put this momentum into perspective, it is estimated that the online sales sector grew by 23.2 per cent in 2017 alone (1). We should expect similar figures to emerge after the fourth financial quarter of 2018. Why has this industry enjoyed such a meteoric rise and what have been some of the major “game changers” that continue to play a pivotal role in its development?
On-Demand Sales and Immediate Access to Products
These two concepts enjoy a hand-in-hand relationship. Of what use is a quality product if it cannot be accessed with ease? In the same respect, on-demand sales will prove to be of little value if they are not backed up with a streamlined checkout platform. The most successful businesses have learned to appreciate this synergy and as a result, they continue to gain loyal online followers.
It all boils down to a rather simple principle. Potential customers expect their needs to be catered to with clarity and insight. They are looking for a more personalised experience as opposed to the generic “to whom it may concern” format utilised in the past. This is particularly the case when examining the values of millennials; they are satisfied with nothing less than top-notch goods and services. Modern POS systems will therefore need to be moulded around such understandable desires.
The Presence of User-Friendly Software Platforms
Not all point-of-sale software providers will make the grade. Many have still embraced an entirely generic approach while others require that the end user already possesses a fair amount of experience. Anyone who has ever tried to embed the templates offered by WordPress and similar hosting services is clearly aware of this fact. The good news is that times are changing thanks to a handful of targeted solutions offered by providers such as Shopify.
The main intention behind this cloud-based e-commerce platform is that point-of-sale architecture does not necessarily have to be complicated. On the contrary, it should be able to support the needs of those who have only recently entered into the online community. Such a user-friendly nature has attracted millions of small business owners and this number continues to grow. However, simplicity does not necessarily equate to a lack of functionality. Modern point-of-sale systems can be highly customised in order to reflect the branding of the firm as well as the needs of its clients. When this bespoke nature is combined with other amenities such as real-time inventory tracking and integrated cross-channel marketing, it becomes apparent why online business owners are now working smart as opposed to hard.
Point-of-sale systems will continue to positively impact the online marketplace and this signals great news for owners who make the appropriate software choices.
