Valentine's Day is one of the most important days of Q1 for retailers, restaurants, and e-commerce businesses. We mean quite literally Valentine's Day, as many retailers report that February 13th and 14th account for up to 80% of their sales during that week. It's truly a procrastinator's holiday; we can only speculate as to why. 

From last-minute gift shoppers to fully filled reservation books, sparks fly these days at the point of sale. If your POS system is slow, outdated, or unreliable, you risk losing customers and revenue. Let's take this relationship to the next level and talk about how to make it love at first sight with a POS system that is ready for commitment this Valentine's Day.

Don’t Get Ghosted at Checkout Time

Valentine's Day is a time for hearts and sales to soar. Last-minute shoppers are looking to maximize their time. If the line is too long, you risk customers ghosting you to shop or dine elsewhere. 

‍A POS system that lags, freezes, or struggles to keep up can put a serious damper on your sales, especially during times when shoppers are trying to make up for lost time. Don't let slow payment processing steal your revenue and break your customers' hearts. Make sure you have a system that is fast, secure, and ready. 

Where Businesses Fall Out of Love

Obviously, choosing the wrong system can create problems in your business relationships. But even the best POS system can hinder sales if you don't pay attention to what makes it tick. It's important to understand your system's capabilities and utilize them to maximize function. 

When you choose a system, it’s important to ensure it meets your business's needs. Write down a list of qualities you can't live without. Consider your short-term and long-term needs. Will your system take you beyond Valentine's Day and meet your needs for the long haul?

Another common mistake that companies make is improper or incomplete training. Make sure your staff knows how to sweet-talk your system, too!

4 Ways to Make Your POS Swipe Right-Worthy This Valentine’s Day

With shoppers swooning over gifts, menus, and last-minute impulse buys, your POS system needs to keep up. From faster checkout to secure payment processing, here are 4 ways to make your POS system work harder and smarter. You can make sure every sale ends happily ever after. 

1. Woo your customers with speed - Fast checkout times make customers happy, and in turn, create higher sales. Enabling contactless and mobile payments, as well as table-side POS systems, keeps lines moving. If your checkout process feels commitment-phobic, many customers won't stick around. 
2. Charm them with flexibility - Everyone loves options. Your system should be able to handle any situation. Expect a constant rush at restaurants. Does your system make it easy to split checks? Buying gift cards shouldn't take more time than choosing a gift; that's the point of a gift card, isn't it? Make sure that your POS system can handle whatever you throw at it with ease. 
3. Flirt with data - A system that keeps up with your customers’ needs and preferences will keep them interested and coming back even after the holiday. Track orders, send loyalty perks, personalization goes a long way, and the right system makes it easy.  
4. Dress it up - Both for your business and your customers, a system that looks good is one that feels good. Customize your interface for the Holiday with Valentine's flair. It's a small, subtle way to let both your employees and customers know they're on your mind, even when they are out of sight. 

Make Every Sale a Love Story this Valentine’s Day!

Don’t let your checkout play hard to get with loyal customers. Ensure that your merchant services fall in love with high-volume sales. 

Let Meridian Blue Solutions find the right POS system to build loyal, long-term, committed relationships with your customers. Contact us today!