Are you in the market for a new point of sale (POS) system?
If you own and run a co-op, you understand how important finding the right POS is — it streamlines business operations, so you can spend more time serving your community.
So, whether you’re just starting out or you’re simply ready to switch to a new and improved point of sale, here are 6 must-have features for your co-op market POS system.
1. Co-Op Inventory Management
Inventory management is an important feature for any point of sale solution, and co-op markets are no exception. Look for a solution that allows you to directly integrate with your wholesaler, so you can save time and money — some systems are capable of updating more than 1,000 products at a time.
You should also be able to easily keep track of inventory levels and set up automatic reordering, and create specific categories for your products — so you can easily find what you're looking for.
Keep an eye on your best and worst sellers, and stock your shelves accordingly.
2. Membership Profiles and Fees
Co-op markets often rely on membership fees for funding and customer loyalty, so make sure you find a point of sale system that allows you to easily create and manage membership profiles.
This helps you keep track of member details — like contact information and purchase history — in one place. Smart POS systems allow you to set up automatic membership fee payments, so you don't have to chase down members for payment.
3. Scale Integrations
Co-ops sell a variety of products, and you need a POS that can handle your unique inventory. That means finding a system that allows you to directly integrate scales. Whether you’re selling quinoa or loose leaf tea, you should be able to weigh items in bulk and send prices straight to your point of sale.
A POS made for co-ops also makes it easy for customers to bring their own containers — you can simply tare the scale and weigh the item.
4. Volunteer and Employee Management
Employee management is another important feature for co-op markets. With Markt POS, you can easily manage employee schedules, track hours, and assign tasks. You can also create specific permissions for each employee, so they only have access to the areas of the system that they need. This helps to keep sensitive information secure and ensures that everyone is working efficiently.
And if you run a co-op market, you know how integral volunteers are to your business operations. Your POS system should allow you to schedule volunteers, track their hours, and reward them with discounts or other perks — to ensure that all tasks are completed on time and that everyone is contributing their fair share.
5. Sales Reporting and Analytics
A solid co-op market point of sale system easily tracks sales and revenue, as well as customer demographics. Create custom reports to track specific metrics, like bestselling products or top customers.
Knowing which products are selling well — and who’s buying them — helps you make informed business decisions, so you can boost your overall bottom line.
6. Customer Loyalty Programs
Co-ops are supported by communities. It’s important to find a point of sale solution that allows you to support them, too.
Look for a system that has a baked-in points-based customer loyalty program. This will allow you to assign a point amount to every dollar spent, so you can then give discounts based on how much money your customers and members spend. (Think: 10 percent off every $200 purchase.)
Rewarding customers encourages repeat business, meaning you can continue to serve your community.
Get Started With a POS System Created for Your Co-Op Market
Choosing the right POS system for your co-op can be overwhelming — there are a lot of options and many factors to consider.
Look for a point of sale system created specifically for co-ops to streamline your business operations, so you can spend more time on what really matters — serving your community.
At Markt POS, we're dedicated to helping small businesses like yours succeed, and we believe that our system is the best way to do that. If you’re ready to take your co-op market to the next level, schedule a demo with one of our specialists, or use our build and price tool to create your custom quote.
