While the means for businesses to digitalise were readily available before the pandemic, it took a lockdown as the catalyst to fast track the adoption.
Those who quickly adapted to digital platforms didn’t miss a beat, as they quickly pedalled their wares and services online through e-commerce platforms.
As the world gradually transitions to a post-pandemic world, industries, specifically the point-of-sale landscape, will forever be changed, as smart tools, online integrations and contactless payment modes have become the new norm.
In Singapore itself, two years of ordering online have changed consumer behaviour, letting their fingers do the walking as they browse through and weigh their options before purchasing from the comfort of their homes.
A seamless way towards a cashless future
Suppose there was any indication that we are on the cusp of a cashless future. In that case, it can be seen in the heartlands, as neighbourhood food hawkers embrace a digital mode of payments such as GrabPay and PayNow and the government-issued Community Development Council (CDC) vouchers that citizens could claim for various food items and services.
Since Qashier’s formation in 2019, we have empowered SMEs with affordable and accessible digital solutions, including e-payments, an online/QR ordering platform, and a smart point-of-sale (POS) system.
That being said, there are still a large number of SMEs and MSMEs that have yet to make this important switch across the region. Two possible key factors behind this are cost and complexity.
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Adopting smart POS solutions with the latest technology would usually come with a hefty price tag that only big companies would consider. Qashier’s subscription model makes POS solutions extremely affordable, with prices starting from just SG$1 for a day.
We also made adopting the technology easy, designing software solutions with ease of use. Anyone could get their setup done within minutes and start streamlining their business right out of the box, with no prior training required.
We value form as much as function, so Qashier smart POS terminals currently come in three stylish form factors: the lightweight QashierXS, the sleek QashierX1, and the larger, powerful dual-screen QashierXL.
As a smart POS provider, changing the way businesses interact with customers at the payment touchpoint is of utmost importance. By integrating card, e-wallet, and mobile payments into one device, we mitigate in-store clutter while allowing customers to pay with their most preferred payment mode.
On the merchant side, business owners can also track growth with end-of-day sales reports and find out which of their items are doing better among the others.
As the market is saturated with uniquely different businesses, Qashier serves to tailor-make solutions for every business by working out the right combination of tools. For instance, an inventory management system helps keep track of stock for a retail business. In contrast, an ingredient management system would benefit an F&B establishment more, notifying you when an ingredient is low in stock.
As your business scales, Qashier cloud-based solutions grow and can seamlessly track data across multiple stores.
A POS system that can integrate with food delivery platforms proved essential during the pandemic, but we wanted to provide more for our merchants. QashierEats, our online and QR ordering platform, allows merchants to easily set up a profile on the platform and begin taking online orders, which Qashier takes no commission from.
One such Qashier merchant, Caffe Pralet, found that with QashierEats, their customers were ordering their food online and using the platform for in-store pickups. Orders were sent directly to the POS, and preparation could begin efficiently.
Also Read: Shouldering the responsibility of digital payment security
A couple of popular traditional F&B merchants in Singapore have also successfully digitalised with Qashier’s solutions. Examples include Fei Fei Wanton Mee at Joo Chiat Place, which took on the portable QashierX1 Smart Terminal, as well as the bigger QashierXL Smart POS to streamline their payment methods, and another East Coast merchant Kim Choo Rice Dumplings, which elevated their operations with inventory management and customer relationship management tools from a QashierXL.
It’s one thing to want to create the best product possible, but we also wanted to assure merchants that we had their back, now and in the future. If merchants ever find themselves needing support, we have made sure that we have a local team on standby seven days a week.
We see a couple of technological trends becoming a mainstay in the POS landscape as we look ahead. First of all, it is the ability to have integrated payments. Customers should be allowed to pay the way they prefer, be it with cash, tapping a card, or wireless payments through mobile wallets. Merchants should also be able to accept every one of these modes in a single terminal.
Secondly, QR code menus are likely to be a permanent feature at most F&B establishments. The convenience for customers it presents is welcomed in a contactless world. The technology can be implemented to tackle the problem of a labour crunch, as a business would require less manpower working tableside.
Finally, the buy-now, payer-later (BNPL) trend will see more prominence, helping merchants push their big-ticket items to more customers than ever. The BNPL model provides customers with limited access to credit and cash to make purchases split into instalments both online and in-store, effectively offering credit terms to those who do not have or cannot get a credit card.
No matter the industry, one thing is for sure, small businesses must remain competitive in the digital economy. Technology shouldn’t be a barrier but a tool for them to elevate their businesses to the next level.
Adopting these new technological tools could be difficult at first, but partnering with the right POS partner may be the key difference that can propel the business to a cashless future.
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