5 Features You Need in a Bodega POS

Mar 14, 2024 • 6 min read

It’s a busy Saturday morning.

Customers are lining up for their favorite breakfast sandwiches and coffee. Suddenly, your outdated point of sale (POS) system crashes, leaving you with a line of frustrated customers and no way to process sales.

Too many bodega owners are already experiencing this reality, as they continue to rely on generic and unreliable POS systems. Lost sales, disorganized inventory, and frustrated employees and customers are just some of the consequences.

Instead, you could invest in a bodega POS system that makes running your business so much easier. But how do you choose the right one? What features do you need?

This article highlights 5 features you need in a robust bodega POS system and how to choose the right one for your business.

Why You Need a Bodega POS System

Your neighborhood is home to diverse communities, and your bodega is at the heart of it. You get a lot of foot traffic and loyal customers who come to you to buy their necessities. From groceries and snacks to household items, you’re a one-stop shop.

As a bodega owner, you take pride in getting to know your customers and giving them a place to catch up with other locals. But you still provide a service. And you want to keep providing quick service without sacrificing quality.

You can't provide quick and convenient service if you’re still using paper processes and outdated cash registers. Even if you have started using a POS system, is it the right one? A bodega POS should be easy to use and reliable.

Let’s dive deeper into the features you absolutely need in a bodega POS.

#1: A User-Friendly Interface

Your store is bustling, and customers want to check out quickly. A well-designed POS interface is critical to make this happen. Providing your staff with easy-to-use tools lets them navigate the system easily, reducing checkout lines and processing transactions quickly.

For example, Markt POS provides a touchscreen interface, and you can customize the button layout. There’s a clear design and buttons for various actions. You can navigate through photos to find products using hotkeys. Cashiers can easily navigate the transaction process, and managers can access manager functions at the touch of a button.

A simple interface reduces training time. You can skip spending hours training your staff on a complex system and get them up and running in no time.

#2: Intuitive Inventory Management

Inventory management is often the biggest task on your list as a small business owner. One misstep can lead to either empty shelves or a stockroom full of expired products.

A cloud-based POS system with precise inventory tracking helps you monitor product turnover and ensure you have the right amount of inventory on hand. This can prevent stockouts and overstocking and help you identify which products customers love and which ones are gathering dust.

You want inventory management software with:

Flexible inventory options so you can add unique items and barcodes
Low stock notifications when products run low so you can keep your shelves stocked
Easy purchase order creation
Intuitive management of products that are sold by weight in deli or butcher departments
Case break management for cigarettes and alcohol

With real-time inventory management, you can collect data on your POS system and use that data to inform your buying decisions. For example, you might find that 80 percent of your sales come from 20 percent of your products — using this information, you can stock up on products customers love.

#3: Integration With Existing Hardware & Software

Investing in a new POS system can be a significant expense, especially if you already have hardware like scanners and scales. It’s ideal to have a POS system that integrates with your existing hardware and software.

Depending on what you sell in your bodega, you might need:

Age verification software: For selling cigarettes and other tobacco products and alcohol, a POS system with integrated age verification is ideal.

Payment integration: Your customers are diverse and will want to pay using various payment methods, including contactless. Your POS system should accept EMV, debit, credit, EBT Food, EBT Cash, gift cards, and checks.

Barcode scanners: Scanning a barcode is faster than entering product numbers by hand. You’ll save time at checkout and when receiving inventory.

Again, providing your staff with intuitive hardware and software tools makes their jobs easier.

#4: Robust Reporting and Analytics

With integrated inventory management, you have the tools to make better decisions — but you’ll also need reporting and analytics to make the most of them. Reports on store performance, sales reports, and even customer reports are available on the best bodega POS systems.

Here’s a brief overview of available reports:

Sales reports: Track transaction history daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly. Spot trends, such as seasonal spikes, and which products are your top sellers.
Inventory reports: Know exactly how many units of all your products you have on hand. Pull up inventory turnover reports by product category and track your inventory value.
Customer reports: Modern POS systems track names, order history and even payment methods. You can generate reports by customer or by groups and segments.
Employee reports: Use employee reports to find out who your best performers are and reward them.

Your POS system can provide a wealth of data to help you spot trends, anticipate demand, improve operations, and reduce shrinkage. While you might think you’ll get overwhelmed, the best POS providers offer POS reports in easy-to-understand formats.

#5: Reliable Technical Support

Last but certainly not least, your bodega POS system should come with dedicated 24/7 support. Even the most user-friendly POS system can run into the occasional hiccup, or your staff might make a mistake and need help rectifying it.

Whatever the case, you need reliable technical support at any time of day. Responsive, knowledgeable customer service can make all the difference. Whether it's a simple software question or a complex hardware issue, you’ll need help to find a solution quickly.

But reliable technical support isn’t just about putting out fires — it also means onboarding support, ongoing guidance, and education to help you get the most out of your POS system. Look for training videos and user guides you can share with your team.

How To Choose a Bodega POS System for Your Market

There are various POS systems to choose from, and finding the right one for your bodega isn’t easy. You’ll need to evaluate the unique needs of your bodega and narrow down your choices. Start with the must-have features on this list:

A user-friendly interface
Intuitive and detailed inventory management
Hardware and software integrations
Robust reporting and analytics
Reliable technical support

Also look for reviews and other customers in a similar situation to yours.

Markt POS is designed with your bodega in mind. Our POS system offers all the features above and more, including loyalty programs and e-commerce integrations.

But don’t just take our word for it. Schedule a demo of Markt POS today and see for yourself. Our experts will walk you through all the features and answer any questions you may have.

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