As promised in the last installment of this blog, following are a few more mistakes retailers and restaurant operators often make—but can avoid—when choosing and deploying technology solutions.

4.      Neglecting documentation. Once you’ve settled on and installed a given solution, don’t just take the manuals and any other material and toss them into the filing cabinet. Read through them to garner a better understanding of all of the point of sale software solution’s nuances, as well as of common problems that might crop up and how to handle them. This way, you’ll know what to do and which steps to try first should you encounter them.

5.      Skimping on training. As easy to use as a solution may be, employees still need formal training and preferably, written reinforcement in the form of “cheat sheets” they can keep at the point of sale. Better still, hold formal employee training on any new solution at the time of installation and then again a month or two later. Worried that this may take up too much time? Here’s our perspective: Time invested in training is definitely worthwhile when you consider the alternative—employees who “fumble” at the point of sale, frustrating customers and potentially impacting your business in a negative way.

When it comes to selecting and installing point of sale and related solutions, pcAmerica assists retailers and restaurant operators every step of the way, ensuring that they get the most for their technology dollar. To learn more, visit www.pcamerica.com.

Everybody makes mistakes—in business and personal life alike. But some mistakes—including common errors retailers and restaurant operators make when selecting and installing technology—can be avoided. Here are some of the most common mistakes we at pcAmerica have seen operators make, and how to avoid them.

1.      Prioritizing price over quality. The old adage, “You get what you pay for” certainly applies to point of sale software and every other application deployed in a store or restaurant. Select software and hardware with the next few years in mind. Additionally, insist on a maintenance contract that entitles you to regular “tune-ups” and quick service on your point of sale and other systems. Don’t let it lapse.

2.      Choosing “one-size-fits all” software. Software should have “wiggle room” for a bit of customization to suit your particular business. Even more desirable: software with features intended for an individual retail vertical. For example, Version 12.5 of pcAmerica’s Cash Register Express software has an option that allows service businesses, such as salons, to offer their customers the convenience of adding a gratuity directly to a credit or debit card transaction.

3.      Neglecting to check references. One of the best ways to determine whether a certain software solution is right for your establishment is to find out from at least one other retailer or restaurateur in the same market (e.g., an apparel retailer if your store sells clothing and a fast-casual restaurant if that is your niche) how it well it worked for them. Ask what “pain points” the reference(s) wanted to address and whether the solution and how well the solution and its individual features address these problems. Just as important, find out how quickly and effectively the vendor handled any concerns.

In a few days, we will share with you more potential mistakes to avoid when choosing and deploying retail and restaurant IT. To find out why pcAmerica’s Cash Register Express and Restaurant Pro Express are the right choice for your establishment, visit www.pcamerica.com

Congratulations to Tasti D-Lite on being voted as a Customer Engagement Innovator for their TastiRewards Customer Loyalty Program by Hospitality Technology Magazine! The Award honors restaurant companies for their outstanding vision and achievement in delivering technological excellence to the operation and guest experience.

The TastiRewards Customer Loyalty Program links guests’ social networking activity to the point of sale (POS). pcAmerica’s Restaurant Pro Express™ was a vital part in the evolution of the program that is now installed in ninety-percent of Tasti’s franchise locations.

Learn more about the award-winning Tasti D-Lite social marketing solution.

“Be prepared” is, admittedly, the Girl Scout motto. But given such recent occurrences as Hurricane Irene, which caused problems for retailers and restaurant operations up and down the East Coast this past August, merchants should follow it as well with a few simple disaster preparedness strategies.

One such strategy entails acquiring an uninterruptible power supply (UPS). Obtain one for each point of sale station, as well as for any back-office workstations and servers. If the latter are not done, data loss, incomplete data polling and/or backups, “fried” CPUs, lost transactions and upset customers may ensue. Test the back-up unit regularly.

Proper system backup is also key. Buy the best backup hardware you can afford, and replace backup tapes as needed. Perform a daily full system backup, verifying this weekly with “full restore”. Keep tapes offsite in a fireproof safe.

A reputable point of sale software manufacturer like pcAmerica can assist with disaster preparedness. Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Visit, pcAmerica to learn more.

Not only will Mobile POS allow your customers to have a better experience, but it will also increase revenues and reduce costs for your restaurant. With the extra time a wait staff gains from using a Mobile POS solution, they’ll have more opportunity to upsell and cross-sell extra drinks, sides, appetizers and desserts. This means that receipt size will increase, which not only means greater revenues, but also higher tips for servers.

For restaurateurs, better customer care and shorter wait times lead to higher table turnover and more sales. With so many benefits, it is hard to ignore the impact a Mobile POS solution can have on a restaurant. pcAmerica’s latest product, the Restaurant Pro Express Mobile™ has the ability to perform the benefits discussed and would be a great addition to any restaurant. To learn more, please visit www.pcamerica.com/rpemobile.

Now that we know and understand what Mobile POS is, the next step is to understand how it can help improve your restaurant’s efficiency. With Mobile POS, restaurants will be able to reduce or eliminate a customer’s wait time. Since timely customer service is such an important factor for ensuring repeat business, it is imperative to make sure customers are waiting the shortest amount of possible time.

Utilizing a Mobile POS solution allows servers to perform functions that are typically handled at the POS terminal, tableside. Servers can take orders tableside and transmit the order to the kitchen streamlining order processing. By taking orders tableside via a mobile device, servers are also less likely to enter incorrect orders, which reduces wasted food and labor. In addition, servers can also process payments tableside through the Mobile POS device expediting customer checkout. By enabling servers to handle functions tableside, restaurants can realize improved efficiency. To learn more, please visit www.pcamerica.com/rpemobile.

It seems like every time you turn around, technology is changing. Thankfully, for the retail and restaurant industry, technology is not only changing, but also advancing. With Mobile POS systems becoming the latest trend in the industry, more restaurateurs are turning to mobile solutions to improve operational efficiency and the customer experience.

Due to the increased interest in Mobile solutions for the restaurant industry, pcAmerica will feature a 3-part blog series outlining the benefits of Mobile POS solutions.

To start, let’s define what Mobile POS is? Utilizing a Mobile POS solution in your restaurant will allow servers to take orders tableside or from any remote location via a mobile device. Instead of a server taking the time to write down an order they receive from a patron and then walking over and entering it into the restaurant’s stationary POS system, they will be able to instantly enter the customer’s order via a Mobile POS.

Mobile POS allows for tableside ordering will benefit the waiter and customer as the wait staff will not have to disappear to the back of the restaurant to enter an order which will make them available to serve their customers better. This will allow the patrons to have a better experience when visiting the restaurant. To learn more, please visit www.pcamerica.com/rpemobile.

David Gosman, CEO of pcAmerica was recently featured on a podcast conducted by Integrated Solutions for Retailers Magazine that discussed how retailers can leverage social media to drive sales. During the podcast, Gosman was asked several questions about the advancement of marketing and how retailers are using social media to their advantage.

This podcast also highlights how retailers can personalize marketing efforts to increase effectiveness and how they can use social marketing to benefit their store. With the increased use of social media and personalized marketing, the retail industry has become more effective at marketing to customers. Learn how today’s technology allows retailers to differentiate themselves from the competition by delivering marketing messages that match the buying interest of their customers. Listen to the full podcast by visiting www.pcamerica.com/podcasts.

pcAmerica, a leading developer of point of sale software applications, will be exhibiting at VARTECH 2011 USA/Latin America from August 15-17 in Miami Beach, Florida at booth #431. Hosted by BlueStar, VARTECH 2011 USA/Latin America is a leading trade show and conference for vendors and resellers of POS, ADC, Mobility, RFID, Digital Signage, and ID & Security. It is a combination educational conference and trade show that offers several activities including one-on-one product demonstrations in the renowned CodeZone, new seminar and workshop sessions presented by industry experts, and phenomenal networking opportunities at evening events.

pcAmerica will feature their award-winning POS software, Restaurant Pro Express™ and Cash Register Express™. They will also unveil two new products to the BlueStar partner channel: Cash Register Express – Fuel Edition™ and Restaurant Pro Express Mobile™. Cash Register Express – Fuel Edition™ is a point of sale software package that is specifically designed for retailers that want to seamlessly process fuel, merchandise and food transactions from the same POS terminal. Restaurant Pro Express Mobile™ allows restaurateurs to take orders tableside and process payments through an Apple® iPod touch® or iPhone®. To learn more, please visit www.pcamerica.com.

pcAmerica, a leading developer of point of sale software applications, recently exhibited at RSPA’s RetailNOW Convention in Orlando, Florida. In addition to having their products on display, CEO David Gosman also contributed his time as a panelist on the Technology Vision Panel Discussion. Nearly 400 attendees listened to Gosman and the five other panelists discuss mobility solutions VARs can offer their customer base.

During the discussion, Gosman spoke about the growing need for mobile devices in restaurants. He explained that mobility devices create a better experience for the customer and make it easier on the wait staff. Also, since there is often a problem with credit card theft in restaurants, Gosman described the added security mobile devices can provide the customer and restaurant. pcAmerica  just recently announced their mobile POS solution, Restaurant Pro Express Mobile.

Visit Business Solutions Magazine to watch pcAmerica CEO David Gosman and the entire panel discuss How Big an Opportunity Mobile POS is for VARs.