Why a cloud & web-based POS system beats a traditional POS

The POS industry has changed over the last couple of years. Like most digital products and content, POS systems are moving toward cloud-based and web-based solutions. Having all your data secure and stored offline while being able to access it from any device is hugely appealing to business owners.

Six reasons why a web-based POS is better than a traditional POS system

1. Mobility

With a cloud-based POS system, you can manage and access data on any device, from tablets and smartphones to desktops and laptops. With traditional “on-premise” POS systems, you can only access the POS on location at the store.

2. Cost-effectiveness

There are huge cost savings to using a cloud-based POS, specifically if you are using the Drupal POS (it's free). Let me explain.

With traditional POS systems, you pay an upfront cost for the system, then yearly maintenance fees and upgrade fees. These are the costs associated with keeping your team up to date with the system.

With most cloud-based POS systems, you pay a monthly subscription fee that can be canceled at any time and with our Drupal POS system,  since it is open source, it's completely free for you to use. The only fee it will cost you is a one-time setup, which will vary depending on how much customization you want. Other than that, you don't pay another dime! If you are looking for long-term savings, our web-based Drupal POS is a great choice.

3. Integration-friendly

Most business owners want a streamlined and easy-to-manage business. A cloud-based POS makes this possible through its ability to integrate and connect with third-party software programs. This gives you the capacity to have a full-fledged POS that can outperform any features you would get with a traditional system.

Below are some of the popular systems that can be synced with your POS, creating a smooth, manageable and complete ecosystem.

• Accounting software
• Customer relationship management (CRM) systems
• Order management systems & inventory (finally, a POS with live inventory status!)
• ERP
• and much more

4. Data accessibility

Having all your data stored in the cloud gives you the ability to access and manage your business from anywhere. If you ever want to review your financial reports, access your POS or just quickly look at your daily snapshots, all you need is an Internet connection and a mobile device.

5. Updates & maintenance

Another huge advantage to cloud-based POS systems is in the area of updates and maintenance. Just like any program, there will come a time when things need to be updated to the latest version. With traditional POS systems, this usually requires someone to come into the POS location and upgrade the system manually. This can be very time-consuming and annoying.

With a web-based POS, updates are automatically applied to your POS. This is usually a quick and unnoticed process that requires little to no time investment on your end.

6. Security

The cloud is a very secure and safe place. With 24/7 security, you never have to worry about storage issues, theft or loss of data.

If you consider using the free Drupal POS system, we wrote a detailed blog post on Drupal security that will have you sleeping well at night knowing your information is safe and secure.

Traditional POS vs the Drupal cloud-based POS

For most business owners, it makes sense to move to a cloud-based solution. It's more efficient, costs less, and is easier to manage. It has always been our goal to help business owners streamline their retail experience, so if you have any questions regarding our cloud-based Drupal POS or just want expert consulting on how to choose the right POS for your business, contact us today and we will have a consultant ready to help you with your issues!