CHICAGO — Today’s point of sale systems marketed to dry cleaners are capable of performing a sizable number of tasks, all in the interest of streamlining plant/store operations and keeping customers happy and engaged.
But just what have POS systems meant to the drycleaning industry since their arrival? What separates the POS systems that are on the market? How has the proliferation of smartphones and tablets impacted POS development?
American Drycleaner recently invited drycleaning POS vendors to analyze the technology and describe how these systems so capably keep their virtual finger on the pulse of today’s dry cleaner.
Q: If you had any general advice for a dry cleaner who is in the market for a POS system, what would it be?
Tim Woodman, Cleaner Business Systems: The most important thing to look at is the company that you are going to use, more than the software itself. Make sure the company you choose offers outstanding technical support. You can have all the greatest equipment and software in the world but if there is a problem with something, you need to know that someone is there to help you with it and see you through the issue. Secondly, don’t make your decision based on price alone as you will end up getting what you pay for.
Wayne Thomas, CleanSuite: First, make sure you know about the yearly or ongoing costs. Some systems are inexpensive at the beginning but then you pay an annual license fee. Second, make sure there really is someone at the other end of the phone when you call for support. Before deciding on a POS program, phone the company’s support number first thing in the morning, last thing at night and on weekends.
Kim Jensen, Comca: Request a demo and try it. Call cleaners who are using the software and ask how they like the POS. Make sure the POS is easy to learn and teach, because there is a big employee turnaround in the drycleaning business.
Ali Khan, Dajisoft: My main suggestion will be that [you] please do not make the pricing a decision factor. You can get a cheaper software but what you should look at is how well the software has been developed, how easy it is to adapt to. Would it be easy for your employees to learn it faster?
Doug Walton, Liberty Computers: Look for a company that is continuously developing and taking advantage of all the technology available today and in the future.
Joe McCammon, Maineline Computers (Compassmax): There’s four general areas that you look at. … One, of course, is ease of use. There’s reliability. … Service and support would be a third, and features—what are you looking to accomplish with the system, your wish list. Reliability is important. If you’re running millions of dollars in transactions through your system, you certainly don’t want any hiccups or issues.
Evaz Fanaian, Scan Q: Before purchasing any system, download, test drive and compare for yourself. … Purchase the latest in technology; the resolution of the graphics will indicate if the program is dated. Look for real pictures, not the item name in a box.
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