Running a business is full of moving parts. There’s stock to track, customers to serve, payments to process and staff to manage. When things are running smoothly, it’s easy to overlook the tools you rely on every day. One of the most powerful yet underused tools? Your electronic till system.
It’s not just a glorified cash drawer. With the right approach, your till system can become the quiet hero of your operation. One study found that 80 % of businesses saw a significant rise in operational efficiency within just three months of using a point‑of‑sale system. No flashy upgrades or massive overhauls required, just smart tweaks that make life easier for everyone on the floor.
Let’s take a look at a few clever ways you can stretch the potential of your till setup and cut down on wasted time, effort and guesswork, all without cutting corners.
What features of an electronic till system are most underused?
Many businesses install an electronic till system, learn just enough to handle sales, and never explore what else it can do. That’s a missed opportunity.
Take sales analytics, for example. A decent till system can tell you what’s selling, when it’s selling, and how much it’s bringing in. But how often are you actually checking those numbers? A quick look at peak hours or product trends can shape your staffing roster or guide your next stock order.
Another overlooked gem is staff performance tracking. It’s not about micromanaging; it’s about insights. You might notice certain team members consistently close more sales or process transactions faster. That knowledge can inform your training or shift planning.
And then there are stock alerts. Many systems can be set to flag low inventory before you hit zero. It’s a simple setting, but it can save you the headache of running out of bestsellers on a busy day.
If you haven’t poked around your system’s feature list in a while, now’s the time. You might find tools already built in that are just waiting to be put to work.
How can you speed up training without compromising accuracy?
New starters often feel overwhelmed in fast-paced environments, and the till is usually one of the first places they feel the pressure. The good news? A well-set-up till system can make training far less stressful. In fact, one restaurant brand saw onboarding time drop dramatically, from 22.5 days to just 4.5 days, after implementing smarter POS training strategies.
Start with the layout. Touchscreen interfaces can be arranged to reflect your menu or inventory in a way that feels logical. If a till screen mirrors the physical layout of a café counter or retail shelf, it becomes instinctive to use.
You can also pre-program common combinations or product bundles. Not only does this reduce mistakes, but it also helps new staff feel more confident when things get busy.
Don’t forget prompts and reminders. Many systems can guide users through steps like checking ID for restricted items or confirming quantities. That kind of built-in support helps maintain consistency without needing someone to hover over every transaction.
These aren’t just time-savers for training. They set a foundation for smoother service every day after.
Is your till system helping or hindering customer experience?
You could have the friendliest staff and the best product range, but if checkout is slow or clunky, customers remember that frustration.
Speed is key, especially when you’ve got a queue. Fortunately, your till can do some of the heavy lifting if you let it. Fast product lookups, quick-add buttons for popular items, and barcode scanning can shave valuable seconds off each transaction.
Flexibility helps too. Can your system handle split payments with ease? Can it process discounts or loyalty rewards without manual entry? The smoother the checkout, the more likely people are to come back.