For many, it’s hard to get excited about a new point-of-sale system, yet gaining staff buy-in is crucial to its success. If your staff is suitably enthusiastic about learning how the new system works and the benefits that it brings to your business, they’re more likely to adopt it and work with it. Here’s 5 POS implementation tips so that your staff enjoy the transition to the new system.
1) Plan Ahead
The key to planning ahead is to engage with staff and asked what they want from a new point-of-sale system. What do they like about your current one, and what don’t they like about it. What can you do more easily? By incorporating their suggestions, you can engage them right from the start. As a result, you’re more likely to get staff buy-in when you do decide to implement the new system because they feel as though they’ve had an input. It’s often better to have an anonymous survey that everyone fills in so that you can refer to it later.
2) Count the Benefits
A new point-of-sale system is always going to have a small learning curve, and that’s something that many staff dread. However, by explaining what it will do that’s different to the old one and how it affects your staff, you can engage with them and promote the positive effects. In addition, you can refer to the staff survey that you created and show them how they’re being listened to. Key benefits include extra speed, simplified product selections and harmonization between your till and your card machine, all of which go down well, particularly on a busy night where multiple customers are waiting to be booked in.
Related: Why You Need a POS System to Help Manage Restaurant Costs
3) Make the Shift Seamless
A new point-of-sale system needs to be installed quickly so that there are no delays to your business. It may be necessary to temporarily close your restaurant or food service business for a day so that you can install and test the new system. This ensures that any teething difficulties don’t show up on opening night. In addition, you have to give staff a chance to practice on the new system, otherwise they won’t know what they’re doing.
4) Adequate Training
By providing adequate training before they have to deal with customers, you make it easy for staff to adapt to the new system. This encourages enthusiasm and ensures that staff members don’t feel overwhelmed when they initially use it in front of customers. Similarly, it reduces the stress on you as your business operates smoothly through the transition stage.
5) Request Feedback
There will often be teething issues with any point-of-sale system, even if it’s just staff remembering where items are located. After you’ve installed the system, request feedback on what staff could have done better, what you could have done better, and what they like and don’t like about the system. This will provide continuous feedback and also ensure that your staff feel as though you’re listening to them. It also helps you identify areas where training is lacking and to provide a road map for new members of staff when you’re training them on the new system.
Now it’s your turn. How do you motivate your staff? Share with us below.
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