Retail stores today have a variety of options, such as mobile self-checkout services that allow customers to purchase quickly using mobiles. You can also find ATMs and fuel pumps that allow transactions to be completed easily and swiftly. When you are in a competitive industry, such as retail. POS is a major distinguishing factor. POS applications should be stable, scalable easy to maintain, well secure, and easily adaptable. Therefore, they require lots of attention to making sure that the system is tested before it is deployed.
We have to incorporate automation in POS software in order to operate more effectively in a smart method and to help save time and energy. In the previous part, I discussed the advantages of automation and what are the limitations of a manual test. I’ll try to clarify the pros and cons of automation as well as POS software in a brief description.
Automation testing and POS Software
Automation technology was designed to reduce time and effort in manual testing. Test automation frameworks can reduce the cost of testing and market while also increasing the coverage of tests, the quality of products, and the acceptance of end-users. If the process isn’t adhered to, you could waste time or money choosing an unsuitable software for the application under testing (AUT). There are many commercial and open-source automated testing tools on the market. An initial proof-of-concept (POC) test should be carried out to choose the right tool for the POS application.
Problems with the Automate POS Software
It can be difficult, or at times impossible. When implementing an automated test strategy for POS it is possible to face some issues:
Interaction with peripheral gadgets: the scenarios involving scanning a bar-code, swiping the card, pin-pad-entry opening, closing, and opening cash drawers, and so on. require peripheral devices that require human involvement. The scenarios described above are not easy to automate.
Multiple configurations Test the functionality of a POS application using different configurations and settings is a daunting task. Test scenarios should be developed to cover all possible scenarios (positive and negative) in depth. Therefore, a substantial amount of money should be allocated to testing the applications to avoid significant issues on the customers at the end.
Human Machine Interface (HMI) There are specific situations like swiping bars, cards cash-drawer triggers and they make up 20% of the test automation design-level configurations. Scenarios can be complicated to determining the most appropriate automated tool will become more difficult.
“PCI Compliant: Data of customers security is the most important and most important requirement for any retailer. POS Software should be compliant with PCI guidelines to safeguard the identity of cardholders and their data. Automated tools aren’t able to identify non-standard objects and it will be difficult to automatize your POS Software.
The benefits of automation within POS Software:
Here are some advantages for a more automated retail sales process.
Fast Implementation
Let’s say that a client has an inquiry about a product. Your staff can have this information available by searching the POS software. Automated systems allow you to find what’s on hand that is compatible with your search. Customers are provided with the correct information in a timely manner.
Offers Detailed Customer Insights
You can design targeted campaigns that reach prospective customers by delivering personalized messages and offers using all of your POS information. In 2018, over half of marketers have increased spending on personalization, yet it remains an issue for small-scale retail stores. POS software can make the personalization process easier to manage and makes them more effective.
A lot of POS systems come with integrated marketing tools or the ability to incorporate marketing applications and features. This could include social media, email SMS, email, and other channels.
Software that expands as business trends change
Cloud-based POS systems are always updating their software to meet new trends in consumer behavior. This means that solid POS software keeps your business up with the latest trends as consumer preferences shift. It is simple to accept new payment methods like mobile wallets (like Apple Pay and Google Wallet) and online payments as well as contactless, close field communications (NFC) payment options using the online POS. School management software also integrates with POS software for accept and manage payments.
The versatility of the POS isn’t limited to payment types but. If you’d like to include Live chat or other live chat-related software on your site it is possible to accomplish this with POS integrated software.
Provides Accurate, Real-Time Data
Although you can keep track of the key indicator of performance (KPIs) by hand using the shared drive or spreadsheet, this can become tedious and cumbersome, taking you away from more important business concerns. With a system, the majority of the tracking is completed for you, meaning you can concentrate on more productive tasks like helping customers or merchandising the sales floor, or creating new menu products.
Manage internal affairs with employees
It is possible to automate your Software to make it automatic to clock out employees who do not finish their work at the time of the shift. It is possible to have an alert sent out to the manager when labour rates are becoming too high.
Centralized Operations and Analytics
A POS Software routes information from multiple streams of data to display all of your company’s information in one spot. In the US the majority of consumers buy from shops, retail stores, and online retailers, Amazon, eBay, Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook just to mention a few. Many brick-and-mortar businesses are now taking advantage of these channels. The days of a single channel for commerce are gone.
Tools could be built into POS software components like sales and employee clock punches and incoming vendor orders or they may be enhanced applications that integrate with applications from third parties. Centralization has become so sophisticated that the top-performing POS systems are able to send everything to a mobile-based reporting application accessible on any smartphone.
Safe & secure information
With all the talk about increasing revenue, sales growth, and increased capabilities, you’ll need to make sure the security of your (and your customers’) data is safe. As technology and the management of data improve as do cyber-attacks. Trustworthy POS software companies ensure that the payment information and order streams are secure safeguarding the customers you serve from fraudulent transactions and defending your company from liability and data breaches.
Wrapping out
POS software allows small, independent retail stores and restaurants to function with the same efficiency and effectiveness as large corporations. They have never been cheaper. In this age that automated tests are being used, manual testers have a place. 90-95 percent of testing is automated. But to enhance testing capabilities it is necessary to include manual testers.
Author Bio:
Akshay Bhimani is a Software Analyst at Techimply, India. With experience in the technology-driven field, he has mastered his knowledge on How(s) and What(s) to be done for a business. Also, he’s keen to share his knowledge on a few technology-related topics such as cloud technologies, ERP, CRM, HR Software India, and data security with readers that can assist any kind of business.