What Is An EPOS System and How Do I Use It?

EPOS can be a bit of a mouthful and explaining is a whole other ballgame. We’re dedicated to making till software not just a broachable subject but to show off just how easy it can really be – covering definitions, benefits and use – get the basics right with our introductory guide into the EPOS tech sphere.

 

What does EPOS stand for

EPOS or POS stands for Electronic Point of Sale which, at its most basic, is a till that runs on powerful software equipping you with tools to expand your capabilities and access more information in relation to your business performance.

 

What is an EPOS system?

An EPOS is a till dedicated to improving the service and capabilities of most commonly retail and hospitality businesses. The ‘system’ refers to the combination of often modern hardware alongside powerful POS software.

 

What does an EPOS do?

EPOS solutions offer bespoke, user-focused software to address hospitality demands across the business. From making it easier to run your daily operations and giving businesses access to important performance measures such as sales, staff performance, stocks and customer information to giving you the ability to manage these remotely and receive updates in real time. This means ventures can gain far greater oversight of their business in both customer behaviour and the internal ins and outs of their business to help with performance forecasting and identify growth opportunities to scale.

Often coming with integrated payment solutions, the till system communicates directly with your POS software and cuts out manual entry (and therefore much of the necessary human error that comes with it) through automation. This allows for faster and smoother transactions and turnaround.

Modern EPOS hardware usually consists of a tablet for on-shop-floor and till usage for staff as well as card machines, cash drawers and receipt printers (though EPOS systems will provide digital receipts). The POS is usually integrated and far-reaching with payment providers, accounting, eCommerce and delivery tools such as SumUp, UberEats, Shopify and Xero to provide an all-encompassing help hub for your business and ensure you can run your entire operation without leaving the POS platform.

 

How to use an EPOS system

An EPOS system at its most basic works just like your average cash-based till but with a range of extra features you can take advantage of. EPOS systems are designed with the user in mind so while slightly more complex than perhaps its dated predecessor, fulfilling transactions is just as easy, if not more so with the customisations and shortcuts available.

An EPOS system offers a varying amount of additional functions over its predecessors – that is over the general card/cash payment acceptance and till functions of selecting items through its internal database. These include the following capabilities:

• Reporting
• Stock Management
• Loyalty features
• Displays screens
• Integrations with external software including payment, eCommerce, accounting and more

EPOS providers will often provide full training on the products and features available before you commit to a purchase.

That’s the intro!

So there’s some basic insight on what an EPOS actually entails and next time you struggle for words to explain the work and services we deliver, here’s the perfect beginner’s guide to EPOS.