A POS system for multiple locations: what to check

When you have several locations, the POS system shows in the whole chain's everyday work. A seller needs to serve customers smoothly, a shift manager needs to get a new employee started and management needs to see how each location is doing.

For the demo, choose ordinary situations from your own chain: a busy lunch, a return in a shop or an employee moving to another location. That way you see what the system brings to daily work.

Smooth customer service, also at peak times

The till is used most when there are most customers. Try how an ordinary purchase, a change to an order and payment work. Bring someone who works at the till to the demo: they quickly see what makes the work easier.

A chain's locations may serve in different ways. One restaurant sells lunch at the counter, another serves at tables. In a shop, finding products and returns matter more. Go through the most important situations before you choose.

Solmio is used in restaurants, cafés, shops and service businesses. The demo is worth building around your own chain's sales situations.

A familiar till makes it easier for staff to move between locations

When an employee works shifts at several locations, a familiar POS system makes it easier to start work. The basic sales functions don't have to be learned again at each location.

Find out what training is included in the setup and how new employees are onboarded later. Solmio's basic training by video call is included in the setup fee. It covers sales and the other functions needed at work.

See where sales are growing

For chain management, it matters to have the figures available without asking for separate summaries. Solmio HQ brings the locations' sales data together in your browser, where you can follow the whole and look at a single location's sales.

For the demo, pick a few questions you need answered. How are lunch sales developing by restaurant? In which shop does a particular product sell? How does this week's sales compare to last week's?

Ask to see the answers in a report. Shared product groups and recording practices make comparison easier. Also check how the data gets into accounting and the company's other reports.

The next location with a familiar partner

Opening a new location involves a lot of arrangements. It is worth expecting a clear plan from your POS supplier for delivering and preparing devices and onboarding staff.

From Solmio you get the till devices, setup and support. When planning the opening, we go through the new location's way of serving, the devices needed and the schedule. A system already familiar in the chain also gives a basis for onboarding at the new location.

Switch POS systems in a controlled way

Switching the whole chain is worth scheduling around the locations' everyday work. Starting with one location lets staff try the system and fine-tune ways of working before the next rollouts.

Agree in advance on the preparations, the training and where to get help during the first days of sales. Also make sure support hours fit your chain's opening hours.

Read more about preparing to switch POS systems.

Ask for a quote for the whole chain

Give the number of locations, the number of tills and how you serve. Ask for a breakdown of software, devices, payment terminals, setup and any integrations so you can see the total cost.

Solmio's software pricing is per location: the price of an additional till means the next till at the same location. See the starting prices on the pricing page and ask for a quote for your own chain's setup.

Bring these to the demo

• The chain's most common sales situations and peak times.
• Staff onboarding and working at several locations.
• The sales figures management follows daily and weekly.
• How data moves into accounting and other reports.
• The schedule for switching POS systems or opening a new location.
• Support availability during the chain's opening hours.

See Solmio for chains or book a demo. We'll show how sales and reporting work in your own chain's situations.