How A Multi-Store POS Can Help in Managing Many Stores Effectively

Managing multiple stores can feel like juggling sometimes – exciting but potentially disastrous if you slip. Fortunately, a modern solution like POS systems can turn the high-stake juggling act into a well-coordinated dance. 

By minimizing the efforts you need to run your businesses, POS helps sync inventory, track sales across locations, and offer higher output for the whole operation.

Let's dive into how you can master the art of many-store management by using a multi-store POS system.

What Is A Multi-Store POS And Its Benefits?

A multi-store POS is a comprehensive system that handles and manages sales, inventory, customer data, and more across many store locations from a centralized application. 

The multi-store POS software offers a 360-degree overview from a single dashboard so you can make informed decisions and employees can streamline their operations across all stores. 

For instance, a small jewelry store can use POS to manage its real-time inventory. A large fashion chain can leverage clothing multi-store retail POS software for cross-channel sales management and accelerate the payment process.

A real-life example is Walmart, which utilizes sophisticated POS solutions for inventory tracking and self-checkout services.

Must-Have Features Of A POS For Multi-Store Management

Here are the must-have features that you should look for before installing a POS for your store locations: 

1. Centralized Management In A Unified View

Juggling means taking care of one hot issue at a time, but with a POS system, multi-store management becomes much easier with a single dashboard to rule them all. You can instantly access data on sales, inventory, and customers from the central device.

You can also update inventory and add new products for each store without disrupting the workflow. Whether customers buy online or in-store, you can ensure consistent efficiency throughout the network.

2. Inventory Management With Real-Time Sync

A multi-store POS provides tools to track sales, stock levels, reorder levels, and suppliers' demands. You can easily set up automated replenishment rules and transfer stocks between stores and warehouses to improve inventory optimization.

You can meet customer demands while avoiding stockouts and overstocking, which can lead to increased costs or lost sales. This is just a better way of managing inventory.  

3. Sales Report For Many Stores

The sales report function of a POS system helps you access live reporting from all stores anytime and anywhere. Owners can track data and gain insights into customer behaviors or product trends to increase sales.

More than that, sales reports from POS can be exported and transferred. So, the whole organization can have actionable data, whether on top-selling products, buying trends, or employee performance.

4. Customer Management Through Data

To keep customers, you need to understand their purchase patterns. Multi-store business owners use POS to create and manage customer profiles through many channels.  They can also quickly implement loyalty programs such as reward points, store credits, and gift cards for buyers, ensuring customer satisfaction whether they buy online or at store locations.

5. Seamless Integration With Other Tools

Multi-store POS software should be able to integrate with third-party integrations and tools like ERP, CRM, accounting, marketplaces, etc. The goal is to streamline the operations and automate the entire workflow. It also helps improve the data accuracy of your operation. 

An omnichannel approach will help find the right POS system to integrate with popular eCommerce platforms like Magento or Shopify, and marketplaces like Amazon or Etsy, or payment providers like PayPal Stripe. All sales data will be synced and accessible in one place for easy management.

6. Scalability Through Time

Finally, find the best retail POS for multi-stores that can scale with your business. It enables you to add more products, accounts, and devices without paying the extra cost. If each store has an option to customize features, it's even better. This allows your operation to expand without investing in a new POS system.

Top 4 POS Systems For Multi-Store Operations

Here are the best POS for multiple stores with notable features, pros, and cons for you to easily consider.

1. wePOS
2. Magestore POS
3. Lightspeed POS
4. Square POS

1. wePOS – Best Multi Store POS for WooCommerce

If you are using WooCommerce for WordPress, then wePOS is the best POS plugin to have a hassle-free store management solution and control multiple WordPress stores at once. It also has an intuitive UI to track inventory & control every order in real-time.

A notable feature for wePOS as an eCommerce business with multiple stores is the Live Cart Management feature to easily operate many live carts at the same time. You can initiate checkout for dozens of customers, reducing the processing time. Based on REST API, wePOS seamlessly integrates with WooCommerce to perform every process lightning-quickly.

weDevs, the creator of wePOS, also offers other WordPress tools that you can check out like ERP, email, and userfrontend. 

Notable features:

• Fast performance built on REST API for quick responses.
• Supports unlimited outlets and counters for individual management.
• Secure login for cashiers with their own credentials.
• Cashiers assigned to specific counters for transaction privacy.
• Advanced customizable receipt builder with white-label options.
• Tab-style management for multiple live carts simultaneously.
• Supports various payment gateways, including cash and cards.
• Intuitive and interactive user interface for easy operation.
• Automated tax calculation with customizable options for checkout.

Pros:

• Unlimited customers and products
• Free to start using
• User-friendly interface
• Automated tax calculations
• Customizable receipts
• 24/7 customer service
• Diverse payment options
• Multi-cart management

Cons:

• No features for loyalty programs yet
• No offline payment

Why you should choose wePOS:

wePOS is not only affordable but also highly customizable for WordPress and WooCommerce users. Since the app is free to start, there is really no reason to skip it.

2. Magestore POS – Best Multi Store POS for Magento and Shopify

Magestore POS is a solution designed for large businesses that need a flexible, scalable POS system to optimize operations across multiple stores. Not only providing flexibility, Magestore multi store POS empowers your team with unlimited user access, allowing seamless collaboration without extra charge on the number of users or registers.

Whether you’re a Magento user or a Shopify merchant, Magestore POS can adapt to your unique needs—increasing efficiency and ensuring the maximum capacity in managing your business. 

To match the business requirements for inventory, analytics, and resources management, Magestore POS provides the following features:

Standout features:

• Manage inventory for multi-store locations in one dashboard
• Real-time sync of stock level, bin location, out-of-stock items, and inventory transfer between warehouses
• Add automated replenishment rules to manage stock transfers
• Manage responsible staff to manage POS, inventory, and warehouses
• Create different roles and user powers for staff, store owners, franchise owners, etc.
• Integrate with popular hardware, software, and marketplaces
• Create omnichannel loyalty programs to apply dynamically between stores
• Accept multiple payment methods
• Get sales reports for many locations

Pros:

• Affordable pricing with no extra cost for more products or accounts
• Suitable for iPads, tablets, PCs, and laptops
• 7-30 days of free trial
• Offline mode
• Allow unlimited online payment gateways
• Dedicated support
• Intuitive system for multi-store management

Cons:

• Requires initial app installation (you can contact the Magestore team for support)

Why you should choose Magestore POS:

Magestore POS is the best POS for Magento and Shopify sellers with multiple online and offline stores. The big plus is that Magestore doesn’t charge on extra POS devices and allows unlimited staff accounts. 

3. Lightspeed POS

Lightspeed POS is specifically intended for SMEs with multiple stores where required inventory control is complex. Its platform is well designed for dynamic companies with large numbers of products, which require precise configuration to correctly manage the stocks.

Lightspeed’s inventory management solution is a bit complex and it caters for tracking inventory in multiple stores. The POS likewise interfaces with your website and can provide information on the sales data. There’s the Essential package that costs $139 per month and provides users with the most important features of POS systems.

Notable features:

• Handle all complex product, inventory, and stock needs
• Customized workflows for employees
• Sell on marketplaces, eCommerce, and social media from one platform
• Offer loyalty programs across channels
• Provide a real-time dashboard

Pros:

• Comprehensive inventory management features
• Scalable solutions to the enterprise-level
• 24/7 support

Cons:

• Subscription fee increases with higher plans
• Each plan only includes 1 register
• Limited customization

Why you should choose Lightspeed POS:

For businesses with a more peculiar inventory with many locations, warehouses, and a large online store, the use of the Lightspeed POS system will guarantee a significant improvement in the management and sales workflows.

4. Square POS 

Square POS is our last recommendation when it comes to a multi-store POS due to its low costs, mobility, as well as a vast number of POS options. The solution can help in the management of stocks, collection of data, and preparation of reports for all outlets. Square POS is popular due to its simple installation, which is why many entrepreneurs prefer it.

Square’s POS systems also cater to many industries such as clothing, retail, restaurant, and appointment-based businesses. The basic plan is free of charge with a transaction fee of 2. 6% + 10¢.

Standout features:

• Manage hundreds of stores in various locations
• Transfer stocks among business locations
• Set user permissions for each employee’s role
• Automatically generate purchase orders when stock runs low
• Manage inventory on the phone
• Forecast optimal stock levels

Pros:

• Free to start
• Easy to setup 
• Integrate with all popular 3rd party platforms

Cons:

• Transaction fees add up with high sales volume
• Limited features for multiple stores and franchises

Why you should choose Square POS:

Square POS is the most preferable POS system for the multi-location small business. Options to scale also come as varied even to the level of an enterprise.

Final words

The best POS makes all the difference for multi-store businesses in the competitive retail market. To optimize operations, improve buying experiences, and enable well-informed decisions, see which multi-store retail POS software suits your needs most. Remember, pricing plans may be important, but your plan to grow in the future is even more essential.