Retail businesses come in many different shapes and sizes. While most consumers are familiar with the retail giants like Walmart, Amazon, Costco and more, the truth is that the vast majority of retailers are small businesses, with more than 98 percent of all retail companies employing fewer than 50 people.
Small and mid sized retail operations are still essential to our towns, communities and national economy. Unfortunately, these companies have frequently been the victims of cyberattacks, and have extremely high potential for IT disaster.
As retail companies begin to incorporate more and more technology into their operations, their need for IT support is more important than ever. Here’s why your retail company needs a team of IT experts
Managing Point of Sale System Updates and Issues
A Point of Sale (POS) system is the system on which customers make purchases in a retail store. In many cases, POS systems have completely replaced cash registers as the point of purchase machine used by companies. These POS systems have helped streamline and simplify operations for retail stores, but they are pieces of technology, which means they come with their share of issues and maintenance needs.
The system is made up of both the hardware and the software, and it’s capabilities typically range beyond simply managing retail transactions. With all the tools that a retail business would need to oversee their daily operations, these systems should be implemented by teams of IT experts, and managed by trained professionals. In order for a retail company to enjoy all the benefits of a POS system, they should utilize the support of M&H IT consultants.
Network Management Services – Stay Online
Depending on what type of retail operation you run, network connectivity may be crucial to the customer experience. One trend that’s appearing throughout the retail industry is interactive displays. In order for these displays to be properly utilized by customers, they need to be connected to the network.
This is just one example of network connectivity having a direct correlation with a retail store’s bottom line. Another example is the modern coffee shop, which is typically filled with writers, remote workers, and other people relying on the network to accomplish their daily goals. A small retail operation can’t afford to take chances with a faulty network. IT professionals can ensure proficient network connectivity.
Preventative Maintenance – Reduce Downtime
For those savvy business owners who recognize that the best way to solve a problem is to avoid it in the first place, preventative maintenance is one of the most important services offered by IT consulting companies. Examples of preventative maintenance include recommended software maintenance, when a software developer assesses software and recommends improvements that can reduce risks to a system, and regular maintenance, when experts do a sweep of all the infrastructure in a store to ensure its functioning properly.
These services are just as important for retail operations as they are for office workspaces. In fact, preventative maintenance can have a tangible impact on the bottom line of a retail company, because if your POS system is down, your customers can’t make purchases, and if your customers can’t make purchases, you don’t make money.
Our team of experts at M&H Consulting specializes in working with small and mid size businesses across Massachusetts. If you run a small or mid size retail store, prevent problems before they arise, improve the proficiency of your operations, and convert sales at a higher rate with the help of our team of experts. Contact us today.
Categorised in: Business Management, Business Transformation, computer lifespan, data breach, data management, Data Retention, disaster recovery, employee issues, equipment, IT Consulting Services