Over the last decade, we have seen a huge shift in Business Software from On-Premise Traditional Solutions to Internet-based Cloud Solutions. This is because of the ameliorating nature of the internet, constantly increasing in speed and stability over the years. We are going to evaluate and compare both Cloud POS and Traditional POS so you can decide which is the better option.
Traditional POS
So, what are the defining traits of a Traditional POS when compared to a Cloud POS?
Legacy POS Systems require the business owner/manager to be present at the location to access business data such as reports. It is also mandatory for traditional POS Systems to have the server on-premises. This often involves more effort, time and money to set up. Furthermore, most Traditional Systems are quite old, and the technology used to develop them are generally older. This may lead to incompatibility with newer technologies which is very important in Software Development.
However, having the server on-premises has its advantages as well. Cloud POS depends on the reliability of DSL or cable internet. This brings plenty of unprecedented variables that are beyond your control. Issues such as a slow internet connection or loss of connection will not affect a Legacy System whereas it might lead the Cloud POS to stop working with a Customer present. This could be very embarrassing and frustrating. The peace of mind from not dealing with this may make it well worth it investing in the traditional POS. Another advantage is the fact that Legacy POS’ have usually been in development for decades while Cloud POS’ just started making an appearance maybe 5 or 6 years ago. The decades of functionality and fine-tuning would be to a higher level when compared to a Cloud POS.
That being said, if you find yourself an extensive Cloud POS that addresses the shortcomings mentioned above, it may prove to be a much better fit for your business.
Cloud POS
What makes a Cloud POS?
The defining trait of the Cloud POS is that an Internet connection is required to access the data which is stored at a remote location. This allows you to access it just like any other app, website, on any device of your choice. You might have noticed the really modern, creative and chic restaurants/retail shops now use self-service iPads for the customers to put their orders through. A Cloud POS brings in an abundance of creative opportunity and convenience such as this. Furthermore, the ability to access your system from home solves the issue of the owner having to go into the store to view the business data.
To make it simpler for you, here are the top 7 reasons to use a Cloud POS:
- Accessibility of Data:
As mentioned above, you can access your data in real-time, from anywhere at any time. - Updates in Real-Time:
Cloud systems are always in constant development. All the maintenance and updates are done automatically by the developers on the server since the system is online. - Security
Cloud systems store data on the cloud. With the correct security precautions implemented as we have, you will never have to worry about data loss again. - Responsiveness
You can use iPads and other tablets on top of the Terminals or Computers that you use. - Low Cost
Set up costs are very high with traditional systems whereas, with a Cloud system, you would usually have to pay a much smaller amount, monthly without any upfront costs. - Offline Mode
If you notice your system getting slower due to the internet, you can switch at any time to offline mode with IDZLink.com Cloud POS and have your data upload automatically once you come back online.
To Conclude
All this brings you to the question, which type of POS should I use for my business?
At FI-ES Systems, we have both an On-Premises ERP Solution, FI-ES Magnolia ERP and a Cloud POS Solution, IDZLink.com. On one hand, our Traditional POS is extremely feature-rich and have been in development for over 20 years, however, it is getting a bit outdated. On the other hand, we have this accessible, easy to use, secure Cloud POS that is much newer but has less functionality than our traditional POS. Nevertheless, it is constantly under development so eventually, we believe our Cloud POS would be more feature complete than our traditional POS.
It is likely that most Traditional POS Systems will get obsolete as the internet keeps evolving. This is why we started developing our Cloud Platform IDZLink.com. With IDZLink.com, we have carefully addressed all the negatives of a Cloud POS with our own solutions. Our opinion is that a functional and stable Cloud POS would be superior to a legacy system.
We cannot decide, however, which option will be the best for your business. Each business is unique, and you should evaluate whether the system you choose addresses these unique needs. You should choose a system by thoroughly going through the back-end functionality and features of each system to see whether it fits your business. Not based on UI or marketing appeal.
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