How to Choose a MPOS Machine

With the mobile revolution changing the way businesses operate, you are left with no choice but to go mobile, which means you have to invest in an mPOS machine.

An mPOS is a smartphone or tablet that has the ability to perform all the functions of a cash register or electronic POS terminal wirelessly on the go.

If you’re still using a traditional POS system, you may be hurting business and it’s time to upgrade to a mPOS machine. 

Transitioning to an mPOS solution can seem daunting and even scary at times, but it’s the best solution -- especially with contactless payments on the rise.

Any old mPOS system won’t do, you have to find the best payment solution for your business. In order to select the right mPOS machine, you have to consider several features, different capabilities, and understand what your business really needs. 

Understanding why these features and other criteria are essential for finding the mobile POS system that will fit all of your needs and revolutionize the way you do business and connect with customers.

How to Choose the Right Mobile POS Machine for Your Business

There are a variety of factors to think carefully about before deciding on an mPOS machine. Here are some of the important questions to consider.

Does the mobile POS system have the necessary features for your business?

What it comes down to are features. Features are what really differentiate a mobile POS solution apart from more traditional POS systems. But, not all mobile POS machines have the same capabilities. 

Finding the right fit for your business means researching each potential solution’s features, understanding the benefits and drawbacks, and selecting the one that is most advantageous for your business.

By doing research and knowing your options, you be a able to find the best software that has all of the core features you need to run a successful business.

What form of payments does your system accept?

This is an important question to ask yourself. With so many different options, you have to consider what kinds of payments your customers use.

Whether it’s an EMV chip reader, tap to pay, or mobile wallets, you have to be aware and conscious of what forms your payment processor can accept. First, figure out what your customers are using to pay. 

Once you have that down, you can use that information to determine what capabilities your mPOS machine needs to include. 

Tap to pay and mobile wallets use NFC technology. NFC stands for near field communication and is a technology that allows two devices to communicate with one another by being in close proximity.

This allows the customer to make a mobile purchase just by touching their phone or credit card to the mPOS terminal.

You want to make sure that any investment in a mobile POS system also includes the ability to accept all the popular forms of payments. If you fail to do so, you could miss on lucrative business opportunities.

Can the mobile POS work across multiple mobile platforms and registers?

One of the most significant advantages of an mPOS machine is the unprecedented mobility that it offers.

A mobile POS system allows for complete freedom to make transactions on your terms wherever your business ventures take you. This is a great option for all kinds of business including the deskless workforce and doing business out in the field.

Because the software is downloaded onto a mobile device, you can perform all the POS functions from anywhere -- without the clunky cash register.

If you want to use multiple devices, however, you need to make sure that your chosen POS solution can support this.

Can it manage and track customers?

Collecting customer data is a critical part of running and growing a business. You need a system to track and engage with customers. 

You can then use this information to gain valuable insights into their buying behaviors and provide a more personalized and targeted messaging. This will improve your relationship with customers and lead to more effective marketing campaigns. With the right mPOS machine, the data possibilities are endless. 

Is the mPOS machine affordable?

This is a huge perk of transition to mPOS. Unlike traditional cash registers, which can cost thousands of dollars, a mPOS can cost nothing out of pocket. 

And that’s because you can use your mobile phone and you aren't required to purchase any additional hardware -- assuming you own a smartphone, tablet or iPad.

If that’s the case, double-check with your mobile POS solution for which devices support the software. When you want to add a terminal, you just buy another tablet. So, even if you need to buy a new device, your costs will remain relatively low.

This is also true for the software. Most mobile POS solutions are comparatively inexpensive and many options cost little or no money -- but those are more basic plans. 

If you want a more advanced plan with more features, it will naturally cost more money. However, with mPOS, you can find a plan that fits your needs and your budget.

Does it have employee management capabilities?

Employee management is critical for every kind of business. Employee management software in your mobile POS system will allow you to oversee schedules, keep track of hours, manage shifts, and make sure you have the right number of employees working each day. 

This also allows you to see which employees used a register and when because everyone has their own login information, which protects you from fraud because you can track everything.

An additional benefit of an mPOS system is to be able to manage, track, and analyze employee performance. This can help you determine which of your employees are succeeding and which ones may need to improve.

Mobile POS machines are paving the way for contactless payments, which have been increasingly important in recent times. The longer you wait to adopt an mPOS system, the more business you lose to your competitors who've already implemented an mPOS solution.

GoSite's Payments tool is a complete mPOS payment processor that provides you with all the benefits for a fraction of the cost. Start growing your business with GoSite’s omnichannel payment processing solution today.