Ask any winery owner and they’ll tell you that choosing the right winery point of sale system is crucial to streamline operations from the tasting room to eCommerce sales and beyond. But what is it about this system that’s so important – and what are the best winery point of sale systems on the market?
Keep reading to discover how the right system can elevate your winery’s daily operations and create an ideal customer experience that will keep your patrons coming back again and again.
Winery Point of Sale Systems: What Are They?
A point of sale (POS) system is the software by which a business makes sales and processes transactions. POS systems are all around you, whether you’re shopping, getting a haircut, or dining at a restaurant – and you probably have opinions on them without even realizing that you do. Think about different places in your day-to-day life that you make a payment – which spots are smooth and easy? Which locations feel clunky, outdated, and like the checkout process takes forever?
A winery point of sale system is simply a more specialized version of the systems you see all around you, from the grocery store to the coffee shop. Winery POS software allows a winery to process transactions, but it also does so much more – it keeps track of stock, helps manage inventory, applies promotions, and helps your winery stay compliant.
Does Your Winery Need a POS System?
Absolutely. In our modern landscape, running a winery without a POS system is next to impossible. There’s simply too much to keep track of manually, and without the ability to process credit cards or digital payments, a winery will quickly lose its customer base.
Can You Just Use Square?
When discussing POS systems, the question is often raised: can a winery keep things simple and just use Square?
We suppose that you could – but we don’t recommend it.
While Square (a versatile POS system known for easily processing payments anywhere) is used across a number of different industries, it is not specifically a winery point of sale system. As such, it doesn’t come with all of the wine-specific features that a POS system crafted with wineries in mind would – meaning that, in using it, you miss out on opportunities to streamline your business with the help of software that has your needs at the forefront.
What Should You Look for In a Winery POS System?
So you recognize that you need a winery POS system – but where do you begin to look for one? Shopping for a system can be overwhelming, especially if you don’t consider yourself to be a natural with technology. But don’t worry – there are a few key things to look for when finding the best software solution for your winery.
Here are some things to consider:
Smooth Transactions
When choosing a system to process payments for your winery, you want to ensure that the system you choose offers the smoothest possible experience for your customers. If it takes them forever to check out or the process feels clunky, they might be inclined to frequent a different winery with an easier transaction process instead.
At eCELLAR, our POS system features touchless checkout – which is always appreciated in our post-COVID world – and simplified tip management, making everything quick and efficient.
Intuitive User Experience
Not only do you want to have a smooth experience for customers checking out – you also want to have an easy and intuitive user experience for the employees who will be using the point of sale system on a daily basis.
There’s no reason for a winery POS system to be overly complicated. The best POS system is one that can be quickly taught to new employees, and comfortably used on a day-to-day basis without frustration or confusion.
Simple Inventory Management
The right winery POS system will make your inventory management process a breeze. Seamlessly track inventory between both in-person and online sales channels, or even between multiple locations. Update inventory or SKUs, and gain the ability to access your inventory instantly, so the next time a customer asks if you have their favorite wine in stock, you don’t have to hesitate in your answer.
Effortless Flexibility
Life never fails to throw a wrench in things – but with the right winery point of sale system, you don’t have to worry about whether or not your business will be able to keep up. Choose a software that keeps operations simple, making it quick and simple for you to make edits or changes. With eCELLAR’s software, you can edit any pending order in seconds, whether it’s coming in via your wine club or eCommerce online store.
Easy Integrations
Your POS system is at the heart of your business, and affects everything from the customer experience in your tasting room to your website to your shipping processes. It’s likely that your immediate team won’t be the only people who need access to the data within your POS system, so choosing a platform with easy integrations is important. eCELLAR features Open API, so you can securely access your data through third-party providers.
FAQs: Everything You Need to Know About Shopping for a POS System
Still trying to determine the best POS system for you? Here are a few of our most frequently asked questions from wineries seeking to discover the best system to track inventory, streamline operations, and manage transactions with ease.
Can my winery POS support my wine club?
Yes! The right winery point of sale system will offer wine club management tools to help you manage your wine club. Track the purchase activity of your club members, customize allocations, and promote member benefits.
Will eCELLAR keep my customer data secure?
Absolutely. Our platform is annually validated PCI Level 2 Compliant by a third-party, Visa-Approved QSA (Qualified Security Assessor). We have the highest security of any of our competitors, and are committed to keeping you and your customers safe.
Can I sell both in-person and online with eCELLAR?
Yes. eCELLAR’s DtC winery software is a single solution for all of your winery’s needs. Sell locally as well as through your website, and allow our winery point of sale system to handle everything from secure transactions to inventory management. There’s a reason we’re the best software in the wine industry – we’ve got you covered.
Make Sales Simple With eCELLAR’s Winery POS System
At eCELLAR, we’re proud to provide software solutions that are intuitive, innovative, and user friendly. Our POS system will take your winery to the next level, but we want to let you in on a little secret – we’re more than just a POS system.
Our DtC winery software is here to be your technology partner in optimizing sales, retaining customers, and driving success. Our single system works to come alongside each aspect of your winery, helping you grow, expand, and connect with each customer that visits your winery in a personalized way.
Ready to learn more? Visit our website to book a demo today.
