As a business owner, you’re aware of the importance of a reliable and efficient point-of-sale (POS) or till system. It’s the heart of your operations, handling everything from processing transactions to managing inventory. Getting the right internet speed your till system requires to operate smoothly is absolutely crucial to the operations of your day to day. Let’s take a look at some of the factors you’ll need to consider when picking the right speed for your business broadband.
1. Basic Retail Transactions
For businesses that rely on a basic retail POS system primarily for processing transactions and managing inventory, a low-speed internet connection will typically suffice. A broadband connection with download speeds of 5-10 Mbps and upload speeds of 1-2 Mbps per till should be adequate for these fundamental functions.
2. Additional Features
If your POS system incorporates additional features such as customer relationship management (CRM), cloud-based reporting, or online ordering integration, you might need slightly faster speeds. A connection with download speeds of 10-20 Mbps and upload speeds of 2-5 Mbps per till may be more appropriate to ensure seamless operation.
3. Multiple Terminals
The safest way to scale your internet need for multiple terminals is to try and have at least 5mbps (or 10 if you have additional features) per terminal. You’ll always have tills that do less than others depending on which till your staff prefer to use, but making sure each till can be used at any time is crucial. Scaling your broadband in this way is the smartest option.
4. E-commerce Integration
If your business combines in-store sales with online sales through the same POS system, it’s essential to have faster internet speeds. This is crucial to ensure that online transactions are processed swiftly, and inventory is updated in real-time. This is a bit more difficult to estimate a speed as you also need to take into account your server load times, how many transactions are being processed online a day, and how fast your web page is. We recommend airing on the side of caution here and getting a fibre internet connection installed. A connection of 70mbps download for smaller operations, and 250mbps or more for larger operations will be some great starting points. Fibre is also easily scalable, so as your business grows so can your internet speeds.
5. Redundancy
Downtime can be costly for businesses. To ensure continuity of operations, consider having a backup internet connection in place. This backup connection can take over if your primary connection experiences any issues, minimizing disruption. Depending on the size of your business this may require an entire second line, or something as simple as a Mobile Hotspot box you can turn on when you need it. If you’re going down this route, we recommend checking which company has the best signal strength in your area and grabbing one on a fixed monthly contract.
6. Credit Card Processing
If your business processes credit card payments, it’s important to follow the specific requirements set by payment card processing companies. These guidelines often include internet connection speed and security requirements to ensure secure transactions. The average speed a PDQ machine needs is about 15mbps download, and 5mbps upload (like with terminals, this should be scaled for how many PDQ machines you have)
In addition to the considerations above, your specific POS system, its software, and hardware may have their own requirements. Therefore, it’s advisable to consult with your POS system provider or an IT professional to determine the most appropriate internet speed for your till system.
Lastly, keep in mind the potential for business growth. As your business expands, your internet needs may increase, so choose a plan that can be scaled to meet your evolving requirements.
In conclusion, the internet speed your till system needs will depend on your business’s specific operations and the capabilities of your POS system. By selecting the right internet plan and ensuring it aligns with your business’s requirements, you can help guarantee efficient and uninterrupted operations at your point of sale.
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