Blog

August 21, 2019
8 Signs It’s Time to Upgrade Your Dispensary POS System
Things to Consider When Purchasing a POS System

How do you know when it’s time to upgrade your dispensary POS system? Should you replace it? Don’t ignore these 8 signs. There are more than 520 dispensaries currently open in Colorado alone and hundreds of others in each state where cannabis is legal. And as more states pass laws legalizing cannabis use, that number will only go up. No matter how large or small the dispensary is, they all have one thing in common: they need a reliable dispensary POS system to process transactions. Though the systems are durable, they don’t last forever. So, how can you tell it’s time to replace your system? Watch for these signs.

1. The Software Is Slow

Slow software is the bane of most business’s existence. It makes each transaction take longer than it should. And the longer those transactions take, the more impatient your customers and employees get.

Keeping the line moving is key in boosting customer satisfaction.

By replacing your POS system, you’ll speed up your transactions and can get more customers through in less time. In dispensaries where wait times can be long, the faster the checkout process is, the better.

2. Customers Don’t Know How to Use Your Hardware

Technology changes fast and customers get used to the latest technology in no time flat. If your system is more than a few years old, many of your customers may not know how to use it.

This further increases wait times for others in line and leads to frustration and confusion right at the end of their shopping experience.

You want every transaction to end on a positive note. When customers feel uncomfortable right at the end, it can taint the rest of the transaction.

Upgrading your hardware to the same or similar systems used in other businesses will make the buying experience more pleasant. And when customers leave happy, they’ll be more likely to come back time and time again.

3. It’s Not Compatible with the Latest Technology

Payment methods are constantly evolving. But older POS systems aren’t always equipped to handle those new payment options.

As banking regulations ease up, your customers will begin to expect your dispensary to accept all sorts of payment types – credit cards, smartphone payments, contactless options, or other cloud-based payments, etc. You are better off planning ahead and having solutions that will enable you to more easily adapt to imminent changes and meet the demands of your customers before your competition does.

Remember, the more you can keep up with the latest technology, the happier your customers will be. And when they’re happy, they’ll keep coming back rather than looking for a new dispensary to head to.

4. There’s No Backup During Outages

Computers crash all the time and you can’t predict when your systems will suddenly go out. Often, these crashes happen right in the middle of a transaction.

Older systems often shut down as soon as the computer has a problem. You can’t run transactions and you’re never entirely sure if the customer’s payment went through.

New POS systems have safeguards in place that allow you to continue working through that outage. This buys you time to open up another sales terminal and redirect customers who might otherwise be stuck waiting.

5. The Data Is Not Secure

Even the simplest POS systems store some sensitive information during transactions. Those systems can get hacked without you even realizing what’s happening.

This puts your customers’ payment information at risk. If someone intercepts that information, they could gain access to debit or credit card numbers instantly.

Modern POS systems are secure. Your information and your customers’ payment data will be safe at all times. When you keep your customers’ information secure, they’ll be more confident supporting your dispensary.

6. It Doesn’t Sync with Your Inventory

Even small dispensaries have hundreds of products to keep track of. That means it can take hours each month to conduct regular inventory surveys.

This adds hundreds of dollars to your labor budget. But if you upgrade to a new POS system, you can link the system to your inventory and have access to accurate numbers in real-time.

You won’t have to worry about closing early to conduct inventory once a month. And your employees won’t have to worry about counting everything accurately after already working a long shift.

7. Your Dispensary POS System Is Expensive

It’s easy to get trapped paying the same high monthly service rate year after year. After all, the system processes payments just as you expect it to. But that doesn’t mean paying those high prices is in your best interest.

Believe it or not, new dispensary POS systems are becoming increasingly affordable. Most software developers recognize that businesses need a reliable and fast system to ring customers up and process payments. And with the advent of cloud-based technology and solutions, software operating costs are much lower than they used to be. In these cases, those savings should get passed along to you in the form of lower monthly fees.

If you’re still paying the same price you’ve been for the last few years, it’s time to look into an upgrade. Chances are you’ll be able to find a better, more reliable system with a more affordable monthly fee almost immediately.

8. You’re Still Relying on Paper Receipts

Paper receipts create more than 1.5 billion pounds of trash collecting in landfills each year. Additionally, you pay for every roll of receipt paper your company uses.

If your dispensary is busy every day, that means you’re going through potentially thousands of dollars of paper over the course of the year.

Giving customers the option to choose digital receipts cuts down on your costs, your waste, and frees up storage space for office supplies you actually need. But most older POS systems aren’t capable of providing digital receipts.

When you upgrade to a new system, you give your customers the ability to go green while saving you money on supplies.

Upgrade Your Dispensary POS System Today

Stop fighting with your old dispensary POS system. Upgrade to a new model that works for your business.

Contact us today and let our team help you find the right POS system for your business.