How Retail Software Is Making Staff Training Easier And Reducing Costly Errors - By: Kathryn Dawson

We have all been there, so we all know that starting a new job is a stressful thing with first day jitters almost certainly leading to at least one mistake being made. Employers, generally, understand that not everything will go right, but what the mistake is and how costly it might be is a cause for concern. Training, however, is a key strategy in reducing such errors and, today, retail software is available that plays its part in keeping errors to an absolute minimum.

Errors can occur in a variety of ways and at any particular time, so stopping them completely, even amongst experienced staff, is impossible to do. When it comes to using retail epos systems, a specific working knowledge of the machine, the retail system on the ground and the software program in question is required. Training will aid a new recruit greatly but ecommerce systems can remove the complexities that are often the root cause of mistakes in the first place.

In the hospitality industry, waiting staff can break plates, while in the service industry, request forms can be misclassified. When it comes to point of sale services, something as simple as miskeying an item can translate into lost revenue for the day, with too little being charged or too much change being given.

Some businesses will arrange training weekends, but this can end up costing a lot of money. It requires time away from the business, which means lost man hours. These hours must be paid for though, while the cost of hosting the training seminar must also fall on the shoulders of the business owner. For smaller businesses, of course, training may simply mean having a new employee observe and note the way in which things are done, but this only provides a certain degree of familiarity. In all cases, training cannot replace experience, only help an employee to catch up with the established staff.

However, the complexities of the daily tasks employees are asked to perform is can be reduced dramatically by the software used as part of an epos system. On the simplest level, all employees should be able to deal with point of sale services quickly and efficiently. This depends greatly on the register system that is being used, but with the use of simple layouts and clear graphics, the risk of error is reduced dramatically.

For example, in a grocers, instead of a list of vegetables to choose from, picture images of each are displayed, with touch screen technology allowing the employee to press the image, not drag a cursor over the name. This method not only reduces the risk of charging for pears instead of more expensive pineapples, but also allows for quicker selection and, ultimately, a faster point of sale service.

Promotions, special price reductions, sales, concessions and voucher offers are all aspects of modern business designed to bring customers into the shop, and it is vital that these are dealt with expertly and efficiently by staff. The problem is that keeping track of everything can be confusing.

Often, a concession needs to be calculated, requiring a calculator and a few minutes to come to the figure and check that it is correct. However, concession rates on specific items can be preprogrammed into the system. In the case of seasonal sales, the relevant percentage discount for each item can also be programmed, as well as the dates that the sale applies to, allowing staff to deal more effectively with customers, and not waste time calculating each price.

Many businesses offer loyalty schemes as a means to encourage customers to return. Loyalty points need to be calculated and noted, which modern retail software are also designed to do automatically. Their range of capabilities does not stop there, of course, with ordering, stock keeping and online sales all incorporated in ecommerce systems that make life a lot easier for the modern business person.

In terms of employee training, though, the simplicity of the retail epos systems available means that within half an hour a new recruit can have all but mastered their new role. This means an immediate reduction in the risk of costly errors being made, easing the nerves of the employer as well as the new employee.

About the Author

Kathryn Dawson writes articles for Sparkstone, a company who are authors of the multichannel retail software system, offering function rich, easily managed ecommerce systems. Find out how Sparkstone retail epos has been designed to revolutionise the life of the independent retailer today.

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