What Is a Handheld POS Terminal

The key to success in any retail establishment largely depends upon two factors – efficient operations and customer experience.

Handheld POS terminals can bridge this gap ending the woes of stakeholders like you, while elevating customer experience.

With a Handheld POS terminal, there’s no need to rush back to your store’s POS system every time you need to check inventory, update prices, make a remote sale on the retail floor, or reconcile lottery transactions.

This blog dives into portable POS systems and how they can up your retail game allowing you to deliver on customer touchpoints to enhance experience and improve engagement.

We will also cover some of the best POS handheld devices available in the market to help you compare and start growing your business.

Key Features to Look for When Buying A Handheld POS Terminal

1. Portability

Ensure that the mobile POS system is lightweight, easy to fit in hand, and has a good battery life to carry retail operations uninterrupted. The handheld POS system you choose must offer increased mobility to your staff and convenience to serve customers from anywhere in the store.

2. Connectivity Options

Wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or even cellular connectivity allows handheld point of sale to connect seamlessly with the central POS system. Wireless connectivity facilitates real-time communication and data synchronization enabling quick and efficient processing.

3. Software Compatibility

Ensure that the handheld POS system you choose is easy to integrate with your existing business infrastructure. The system must enable smooth transition over your current software and hardware components including payment terminal, printer, etc., without disrupting day-to-day operations.

4. Durability

One critical aspect is to assess the build quality of the mobile POS terminal. The device must be robust enough to withstand everyday wear and tear. Also, a durable handheld point of sale POS terminal ensures longevity and minimizes the need for maintenance and replacements.

5. User Interface

The POS terminal you decide on must allow you to easily toggle between various functions to increase the operational efficiency.

6. Customer Support

A prompt support team can go a long way in keeping the operations running in the event of system failure or malfunction. Ensure that the POS terminal vendor offers quick turnaround time to address issues promptly. Also, check for any additional training modules including manuals and videos tutorials for a seamless implementation process.

7. Pricing and Fees

Find out the total cost to acquire the entire handheld POS system including upfront cost, subscription fees, and any additional charges to get set up. Evaluate your budget requirement for the POS handheld devices and weigh it against the features and benefits you are getting with it.

8. Additional Features

A POS terminal is a go-to tool in various business environments. Depending upon the business model, you ought to look for additional features such as:

• Inventory management capabilities
• Receipt printing options either built-in or external

What are the Benefits of Handheld Point of Sales Terminal?

Handheld POS terminals offer numerous benefits such as real-time stock updates, improved inventory, unified data management, and more.

Let’s explore the benefits offered by handheld point of sale terminals.

1. Improve Accuracy & Efficiency

Today’s retail environment demands consistent, and up-to-date information across all touchpoints. An integrated POS system enables data synchronization between various devices such as handheld POS terminals, tablets, and traditional over-the-counter systems.

With a centralized approach to inventory and other retail functions, these systems deliver accurate information about stock, efficiently process remote orders, ensure timely fulfillment, and more.

2. Improved Inventory Management

POS handheld devices play a crucial role in improving your bottom line. With effective inventory management, POS terminals enable real-time inventory tracking, automated updates, and low-stock alerts. This prevents the loss of sales by ensuring that your store has the right product in stock to meet customer demands.

Advanced handheld POS systems offer features like vendor management and creating purchase orders to streamline supply chain and optimize inventory levels. Automating these processes helps you to reduce manual errors, save time, and make data-driven decisions.

3. Real-time Stock Updates

Easily perform inventory counts while your store is in full operation, using one or more handhelds simultaneously. Instantly count or update inventory and track stock levels in real-time from anywhere!

4. Quick Access to Product Information

A mobile POS terminal empowers staff to quickly pull up information regarding any product including price, availability, etc. This instant information allows your staff to cater quicker to customers’ inquiries, thus enhancing overall shopping experience.

5. Seamless Integration with Other Systems

One such benefit of a handheld POS system is that it can seamlessly integrate with your existing retail systems including inventory management, and eCommerce platform. This integration ensures smooth transition of data between systems, providing a bird’s eye-view of your operations and enabling data-driven decisions.

Let us now explore some of the best POS handheld devices by comparing their features, price, and best used for.

Key Features of FTx Handheld POS

Watch How to Unlock Speed & Efficiency with Handheld POS Technology

1. Permissions

Set customized permissions to employees or employee groups to manage what action they can perform, and which features they have access to.

2. Print Labels

Scan and queue up labels that can be printed from the backend via the label printing manager.

3. Reorder/Receiving/Receiving Verification

Scan and add products to a temporary purchase order or invoice and later convert it to an actual purchase order or invoice from the backend.

Verify the invoice by scanning the products to check for variances that might have been applied to inventory.

4. Remote Sales

Create a remote sale by scanning products which can then be continued and finished on the point-of-sale.

5. Cycle Counts

Perform inventory counts with one or more handhelds simultaneously without disrupting the store operations.

6. Transfers

Wish to transfer a few slow-moving products to another store where there is a demand for it? Don’t worry! Use this FTx Handheld feature to enter and scan products that need to be transferred to other locations.

7. Lottery Reconciliation

Reconcile lottery tickets on the handheld and free up the POS to handle transactions and other tasks.

8. Spot Checks

Instantly count and update inventory without reconciliation/saving needed at the end. (can be used for small group of items in a single location)

9. Pricebook

View the price and details of a product or item right from the handheld device.

10. Time Clock

Manage the clock-in and clock-out timings of the staff for hassle-free performance and attendance monitoring.

Choose the Right Handheld POS Terminal for Your Business

It is quite clear that handheld POS systems are the way to simplify operations, manage inventory on the go, make data-driven decisions, attend to customers from anywhere, and help you to grow business and revenue.

Looking for a reliable handheld POS system for your retail business? Give FTx POS a try!

FTx POS offers:

• 1-on-1 onboarding
• System setup
• Feature overview
• Customization
• Training
• Ongoing Support

Don’t wait to increase your retail profits. Call us today at 845-719-3550 to get started!