Is Your POS Ready for the Holiday Rush?

The busiest weeks of the year start now

The holiday season is the busiest stretch of the year for most local businesses. Lines get longer, orders get bigger, and every minute at the counter counts. As a result, small POS problems suddenly become expensive ones. That’s why a quick holiday POS checklist is worth an hour of your time.

A frozen terminal, for example, can stall a line of ten customers. Similarly, a declined contactless tap can send a shopper next door. Fortunately, most of these issues are easy to prevent with a little planning.

So before Black Friday arrives, take an hour to run through this checklist. Your staff, your customers, and your bottom line will thank you.

Your 7-step holiday POS checklist

1. Test every piece of hardware

First, power on every terminal, card reader, receipt printer, and cash drawer. Then run a test sale on each one. Also check cables, chargers, and paper rolls. In addition, keep a spare card reader on hand in case one fails mid-rush.

2. Install software updates now

Updates often include security patches and bug fixes. However, installing them on a busy Saturday is a bad idea. Instead, update everything this week and test it before the crowds arrive.

3. Accept every way customers want to pay

Today’s shoppers expect to pay however they like. That means chip cards, contactless taps, and mobile wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay. Consequently, a reader that only takes swipes can cost you sales. Make sure every checkout lane accepts all of them.

4. Update your inventory and menu

Next, add your seasonal items, gift cards, and holiday specials to the system. Likewise, remove anything you no longer sell. As a result, staff ring up orders faster and your reports stay accurate.

5. Train your team, including seasonal hires

New staff need to know refunds, voids, splits, and gift card sales. Therefore, hold a short training session before the rush begins. Meanwhile, set user permissions so new hires can’t access sensitive settings.

6. Review your processing costs

More sales also mean more card fees. For this reason, now is a smart time to review your rates. A cash discount program, where permitted, can help offset those fees. Ask your provider whether it fits your business.

7. Know who to call when something breaks

Finally, problems rarely happen at a convenient time. That’s why fast, local support matters most during the holidays. Save your support number somewhere every employee can find it.