Cloud till systems offer a range of advantages that should not be underestimated: they are usually much more flexible and mobile than classic, PC-based till systems. This article summarises what cloud tills actually are, whether your company could benefit from a change – and what you need to consider in terms of choice and integration.
What types of till systems are there?
Essentially, we differentiate between open and closed till systems.
What is a cloud till system?
A cloud till system refers to a till system with the software and all the data hosted in the cloud: With cloud till systems the till software is thus not installed on a local computer or server, but always runs online via a remote server, which is then accessed by computers, tablets or smartphones via web browsers. With cloud tills the software is not installed on local devices at all.
The term online till system is also very common. While cloud till systems are always online till systems, an online till system does not necessarily always have to be a cloud till system: they could in fact also be software solutions that are installed on a central server in the company. Thin clients (e.g. mobile tills) can then access this central server via a network connection.
And by the way: we have developed Pepper Container for easy connection of EFT/POS terminals to online till systems like these.
What are the advantages of cloud till systems?
Whether in retail, in catering, in hotels or service companies: cloud tills are gaining ground in many industries. Not least because they offer a wealth of substantial advantages, such as greater flexibility, mobility or the option of real-time analysis of sales data. We’ve summarised the most important advantages of cloud till systems for you here.
- Access everything from everywhere: users can access the till system from anywhere in the world with a functioning internet connection, which makes cloud till systems particularly attractive for companies with multiple locations or mobile sales outlets.
- No installation required on local devices: as cloud till systems involve web-based software, your IT department doesn’t have to worry about laborious installation on local devices – and can invest this time in other tasks.
- High flexibility and scalability: the cloud technology also has another advantage: the cloud till system is easily scalable and can be adapted simply to a company’s changing needs.
- Automatic updates: cloud till systems are also a relief for the IT team when it comes to maintenance and software updates. The provider takes care of everything and the software is always up to date thanks to a fully automated process.
- Security and data backup: cloud till systems usually have security features to protect your customers’ sensitive data. In addition, regular backups are performed automatically to prevent data loss.
- Real-time data: as all data is saved in the cloud in real time, all the sales and inventory data is always up to date and can be accessed from any authorised device.
What are the disadvantages of cloud till systems?
Besides the many advantages, cloud tills do also have a couple of disadvantages in comparison to classic, PC-based till systems. To enable you to make the most informed decision possible about which till system would work best for your company, we have also summarised what we see as the most important disadvantages of cloud till systems here.
- Internet connection required: cloud till systems only work with a reliable internet connection. If the connection is interrupted, this can affect operations and delay transactions. If the internet connection fails completely, this can severely disrupt transactions.
- Data sovereignty and data protection: data sovereignty is always an issue with cloud till systems, as your company data is stored on another company’s servers.
- Costs over time: almost all cloud till systems are charged using a monthly subscription model (SAAS). While cloud till systems are very cost-effective initially, the monthly subscription fees mount up over time. You do get continuous access to the corresponding service, however, and this can substantially reduce internal costs.
- Compatibility with hardware: the integration of hardware, e.g. card terminals, can sometimes be complicated – but treibauf already has a strong solution for this in the pipeline.
The choice between a cloud till system and a conventional till system comes down to your company’s specific requirements and preferences. So you should check carefully how the advantages and disadvantages apply to your situation – and choose the best solution accordingly on this basis.
Who are the most important providers of cloud till systems?
A whole range of providers now offer cloud till systems, with some of them specialising in specific industries. Below are the four providers we think are the most important.
How do I find the right cloud till system for my company?
Your company’s specific requirements will be the critical factor when choosing the optimal cloud till system for you. When it comes to choosing a provider, in addition to the industry-specific functions and ongoing costs, the integration workload, user-friendliness and customer support also have to be considered. Here are some steps that may help you make a choice:
What functions do you need for your industry and your business model? For example, inventory management, reporting or integration of payment types?
Decide on your budget for your till system. Besides the initial costs, make sure you include the monthly subscription fees and any extra costs for hardware and services in your considerations.
Conduct thorough research into the cloud till system providers that are relevant to your industry. Read evaluations, look for recommendations and ask other companies about their experiences.
Make sure the cloud till system you’re looking at meets your needs and complies with all applicable data protection and compliance regulations.
Take advantage of demo or test versions to try out the system in practice in your day-to-day business.
Read through the contractual conditions carefully. Pay particular attention to the contract terms, termination conditions and potential price changes.
Check how easy it is to migrate data from your existing till system to the new system, if you’re already using one.
Make sure the provider offers support and maintenance services to resolve technical problems and to guarantee the smooth running of your system.
What do you need to consider when connecting card terminals to cloud tills?
Because many customers want to use cashless payment with your cloud tills, you should connect a card terminal (also known as EFT/POS terminals) to the cloud till system. The card terminal and the till have to communicate with each other via a communication protocol to guarantee all the features. This is the only way a complete cloud POS system can work.
That’s why it’s important that these protocols are compatible. In other words: the cloud till software has to support the communication protocols of the respective terminal for the terminal to be integrated. This can quickly get complicated, as there are hundreds of different protocols.
When choosing the EFT/POS terminal, it’s not only important to ensure the respective terminal is compatible with the provider’s cloud till software. The cloud till software also has to be able to process the payment types and service providers supported by the card terminals.
Universal interfaces that support a large number of different communication protocols can simplify and accelerate the process of connecting card terminals to your cloud till software. The new PepperQik from treibauf is an example of a universal interface like this – specifically developed for cloud till systems.
The software will be on the market from October. Would you like to be informed as soon as the latest Pepper solution is available? Then you should subscribe to our newsletter right away.
