Getting the most out of EPOS
Is EPOS for me?
EPOS Benefits
PayPoint
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Implementing EPOS
Before implementing an EPOS system you need to be clear about your aims
and targets.
Step 1: Decide your business aims
Do you want to:
Improve stock control?
Integrate sales information with your other business processes?
Aggregate sales from a bricks and mortar store with an online web
store?
Capture and analyse more sales data?
Work more closely with partners?
Step 2: Quantify the benefits of more efficient transaction processing
Can you:
Increase turnover?
Reduce sales personnel?
Manage stock more efficiently?
Step 3: Consider how EPOS will operate within your organisation
Will it be linked to:
Stock control? - Accounting package? - EDI? - Your
website? - Your supply chain?
Step 4: Do you want EPOS to integrate with your supply chain partners?
What systems do your suppliers have?
How do you want to integrate EPOS?
Step 5: Consider the benefits across the supply chain
Are you looking for:
Suppliers who manage their stocks more efficiently,
giving fast turnaround on providing stock?
Customer profiles that enable you to target customers more accurately
and optimise sales?
Step 6: Evaluate the EPOS solutions available
Are you willing to trust valuable data to a third party
such as an ASP, and how will you determine quality of service levels?
Budget, intended usage and in-house skills will dictate your choice.
Many EPOS solutions are industry specific. Contact your Trade
Association for detailed information. Look for systems that use open
standards like XML.
Step 7: Final preparation
Seek expert advice. Integration across all your and your
supply chain partner systems is likely to be expensive. Your UK online
for business adviser can help with this.
Develop a project plan. EPOS systems may need to be implemented
gradually and you'll need to train staff to get the best out of it.
Include this in your cost and timings projection.
This information reproduced in accordance with Crown Copyright
Thursday, 3 September, 2009