Ways to Engage Customers More Effectively at the Point of Sale | ProductiveandFree

Creating a pleasant shopping experience is one of the best ways to build customer loyalty and grow your current market. If your store can leave a positive impression on your customers, they’re more likely to take their time exploring and buying your goods. A wonderful store environment and excellent customer service will also increase their chances of returning and promoting your brand to others. For a small- or medium-sized enterprise (SME) or startup still looking to find its footing, these positive interactions are worth their weight in gold.

There are a lot of things you can do to improve upon your shopping experience, but one component that deserves priority is your store’s point of sale. Even though the point of sale is the final stop in each customer’s purchasing journey, it can be one of the most memorable aspects of it. It’s your choice to make their experience at the point of sale memorable in the best possible way.

To that end, here are some helpful strategies to engage with your customers at checkout and solidify their overall impression of your business:

1) Make the Payment Process Quick and Easy

Lengthy or cumbersome payment procedures are sure to lead to customer frustration, which is why the speed and efficiency of the payment process are critical. With a quick and hassle-free payment process, you can reduce customer wait times and minimize complaints.

There are various payment solutions you can integrate to streamline your store’s checkout process. One example is a modern point-of-sale (POS) system like Philippine fintech Maya Business’s Maya credit card terminal. Unlike traditional POS machines, which tend to be bulky in terms of hardware, the Maya POS terminal is portable. This means that your customers can complete transactions from virtually anywhere in the store, cutting down wait times at the cash register during peak hours.

The Maya terminal is also designed to accept contactless, cashless payments, which are quicker than the process of having to move physical cash from one hand to the other and ringing up the sale on a cash register. Even something as simple as a quick payment process can engage customers and earn their attention in the right way.

2) Diversify Your Modes of Payment

Offering a variety of payment options allows you to cater to the payment preferences of a wider customer base. This helps remove barriers to purchases, ultimately improving engagement at the point of sale.

Apart from accommodating cash and traditional card payments, consider including QR payments and digital wallet payments in your list of payment options. If your customers have the option to pay at the point of sale with their smartphones, they’ll view their shopping experience with you as innovative and pleasant.

3) Improve Security on Both Your POS Hardware and Software

Shoppers need to feel that they can entrust you with their personal and financial information every time they make a purchase. Make it a point, then, to upgrade the security on the POS hardware and software you’re using.

Using an updated and PCI-DSS-compliant POS terminal will better shield your customers from fraud and skimming. It will also help to deploy security personnel and install surveillance cameras near your point of sale to deter crimes like theft and robbery and protect your customers from the damage these wreak.

4) Train Your Staff Well

Your employees form the front lines for your customer interactions, and their expertise and approach can make a significant difference in your customers’ shopping experiences. In this regard, investing in staff training can greatly improve customer engagement at the point of sale, as well as contribute to a positive working environment that will reflect in the quality of service provided. Train your staff to truly deliver, which includes being attentive, polite, and patient with customers at checkout.

Your staff should also be ready to demonstrate their knowledge and familiarity with the products or services you offer when they’re at the point of sale. Here, for example, they should be able to answer customer questions about pricing and make quick recommendations for alternatives or replacements if needed.

Also make sure that your staff is proficient with your POS system and any other new technology used in the store. Their proficiency is essential for smooth and error-free transactions.

5) Create an Engaging POS Display

An engaging POS display can capture your customers' attention and encourage them to explore your offerings further, even after they make their first purchases. The display can also help set the tone of your customer’s overall shopping experience, which can positively influence their mood and purchasing behavior.

To create an engaging POS display, consider the following:

Visual aesthetics. Use eye-catching colors, graphics, and signage that reflect your brand and the products or services you offer. An attractive display can draw customers in and pique their interest.
Product placement. Arrange your products thoughtfully by highlighting bestsellers, new arrivals, or seasonal items. Ensure that the display is well-organized, making it easy for customers to find what they're looking for. Use props or complementary products to create a cohesive and visually pleasing presentation.
Interactive elements. Incorporate interactive elements, such as touchscreen displays that provide product information or interactive product demos, to engage customers and make their shopping experience more enjoyable.
Seasonal themes. Change your display with the seasons or holidays. This keeps your store fresh and exciting for repeat customers, and it can attract new ones who are drawn in by the seasonal decor.

Again, even if your customers end their journey at the point of sale, making it as engaging as the other phases of their shopping experience will ensure that they’ll have a positive perception of your business when they leave. Strategies like the ones above will help you craft the most pleasant checkout experience for them—and hopefully see them return for more.

Monica Mendoza

She’s a content writer and marketing professional. She spends a lot of time studying how technology continues to transform lifestyles and communities. Outside the office, she keeps herself busy by staying up-to-date with the latest fashion trends and reading about the newest gadgets out on the market.

Her contact info and sample work can be found here.