Your purchase of point of sale software ranks among the most important investments you’ll ever make for your business. But how can you be certain that you’re choosing the right product? Sure, a recommendation from a value-added reseller (VAR) or another retailer–as well as your own gut instinct–counts for something. However, it’s also important to try before you buy by viewing a demo of the POS software prior to signing on the dotted line.

Why? For one thing, just as operators’ approach to retailing varies, so do their business needs. Through a demo, you can assess whether the POS software you’re considering truly satisfies your unique business requirements. You can also determine if the point of sale software offers other essential attributes, such as scalability, compatibility with other programs you’re running (for example, accounting and credit card processing), and ease of customization.

Another reason to insist on a software demo is that it gives you a feel for the overall system and whether you–as well as employees–will be comfortable using it on a day-to-day basis. You’ll be able to tell whether you’re happy with the way the point of sale software handles everything from basic functions, like processing cash sales, to more complex ones, like generating purchase orders and reports.

You wouldn’t think of buying a car without taking it for a test drive, would you? The same should be the case when it comes to purchasing POS software, especially because you’ll want to leverage your investment not just for the short term, but for several years to come. And lack of time to wait for a demo CD is no excuse to avoid this step. pcAmerica provides an online demo of its Cash Register Express and Restaurant Pro Express that gives you a comprehensive overview of the POS solution in a just a few minutes.