Benefits of Farm & Feed Store Point-of-Sale (POS) Automation
As the baby boomers retire in the independent farm & feed store industry, the sons and daughters of these hard-working shopkeepers are charged with taking over the businesses that their parents built from scratch.
Often times, the younger generation recognizes the need to automate portions of the business. This can sometimes create road bumps in the passing of the torch particularly if the older generation doesn't perceive value in the automation of the feed store operation. The concept of automation is often met with objections. Some feel that upgrading the technology of a store might take away from its small-town feel. Others may think an upgrade proves to be more complicated than it’s worth.
These are all valid points to be considered by those inheriting these great staples of American business. However, arguments from the other side of the fence should include some of the following benefits of automation:
- Accuracy - Automated point-of-sale (POS) systems eliminate pricing errors at feed stores which significantly impact the bottom line.
- Efficiency - Automated POS systems provide real-time inventory management systems that drastically reduce the time and effort required to make buying decisions and replenish stock.
- Speed of Service - Automated POS systems process complex sales transactions in seconds (instead of minutes) providing a better experience for your feed store customers. Credit Card approvals arrive in 1-3 seconds – faster than cash!
- Customer Management - Automated POS systems provide customer tracking for tax exemptions, accounts receivable, transaction retrieval, tiered pricing, etc further enhancing your customers' feed store experience.
- Customer Service - Automated POS systems provide the tools to easily communicate with employees in the warehouse who fulfill customer orders.
- Communication - Automated POS systems enable feed store owners to communicate with customers focusing only on the topics in which they are interested based on the history of their purchases and activities in the store.
It is a lively debate, but one worth having.
As owners/operators of farm & feed stores, you are wise enough to focus your time and energy on one of the nation’s few recession-proof businesses. You serve our farmers, the heartbeat of America, by providing everything they need to operate their farms. You owe it to yourselves and to your kids to be a willing participant in the automation debate. Do all that you can to make sure the proud new owners of your business have the tools necessary to keep your family’s business thriving for generations to come.
If you have found yourself in this debate and would like to discuss solutions with an industry professional, please click the button below to request a FREE consultation today!