Pet Store POS Migration Guide: 8 Tips for a Seamless Upgrade

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Minimizing Migration Woes

Group 5321Making the switch to a new point of sale (POS) system can be painful — but sometimes, it's unavoidable. 

Whether you're migrating to a more powerful solution, leaving an outdated system behind, or looking for something more budget-friendly, the fact remains: it's going to take some hard work. 

That's why we've created this guide to making the transition as smooth as possible for you, your team members, and your customers. 

Let's dive in and explore our top tips for a seamless POS migration. 

Keep an Open Mind

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You're about to make a major change for your pet store, and having an open mind is key. 

Remember, you're making the switch to a modern POS solution that will work better for your business in the long run. 

When planning the transition, keep the needs of your employees, vendors, and customers in mind. How can you best prepare them for the upcoming change? 

Embrace Your New POS System

We're all guilty of resisting change, but try to fully embrace the new system and its features rather than trying to make it work like your old one. 
 
You might feel tempted to do things the way you've always done them, but it's in your best interest to learn everything you can about the new POS system and adapt your processes to make the most of it. 

Minimize Workarounds

Group 5323The more one-off workarounds or customizations you make, the further you move away from how your new system was designed to be used. 

The best time to avoid these workarounds is when you're still searching for the right pet store POS system. Your new solution should have all the functionalities you need built in, eliminating the need for complex customizations. 

Remember, you chose this new POS system because you felt it was the best option for your small business. Give it a chance to streamline your operations with its native features. 

Review Point of Sale Data

Have you ever heard the expression, "Garbage in, garbage out"? 

This couldn't be more accurate when it comes to your POS migration. 

Take the migration process as an opportunity to review the data stored in your current POS software and ensure you're only bringing over relevant data. 

For example, you might still have inventory records in your system for items you haven't sold in years, but you shouldn't clutter your new system with this data. 

To avoid this problem, run a sales by item report from your old POS, reviewing the last 12 to 18 months. Use this list to determine which items you still sell and should be migrated to the new POS. remove items that have been discontinued. 

Make sure to do this same decluttering process with your customer database. How far back do your customer records go? Are you storing your customer data in two separate places? Make sure to bring over only the most up-to-date information to the new system. 

Prioritize Software Training

Group 5325In the real estate industry, they say, "Location, location, location." 
 
In the POS business, we say, "Train, train, train." 
 
Muscle memory can be tricky, and you'll be surprised at how much of what you do with your current POS system is second nature. You just push the buttons without even thinking — and the same goes for your team members. 
 
When all these processes change, you'll need to fight muscle memory and create new habits. 
 
Make sure to set aside ample time for you and your team members to get completely comfortable with the new system before your go-live date. This will ensure that your customers have a seamless experience from day one. 

Keep Up on Best Practices

Group 5320You might be thinking, "We've already covered training. How is learning different from training?"

While training will help you and your staff carry out day-to-day tasks like transactions and inventory counts effortlessly, learning is about making the most of your new POS system. 

Read your provider's knowledge base articles, explore the system in-depth, and consult the support team to ensure you're following best practices for using the new system. 

Learning and training isn't just a one-and-done process. POS software is constantly evolving, and chances are, your provider is working on new and improved features. Do your best to stay up to date with these and integrate them into your operations. 

 

Do a Comprehensive Inventory Count

Inventory counts are no fun, but having an accurate record of your stock levels from day one of your new POS system is crucial. 

Set aside time to do a thorough inventory count and ensure that every item in your store is reflected in the new system. 

From there, you'll be set up for inventory success.

 

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Be Patient With Business Changes

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Migrating to a new POS system is no easy feat, and it may cause snags for you, your staff, your vendors, and your customers. 

Remember that this is a hard change to make for any small business, and you should be patient with everyone involved. 

If you take the time to learn everything you can about the new system, adapt your workflows to it, and invest time in training, it will all be worth it, and your store will be operating more efficiently and profitably than ever before. 

Upgrade Your Pet Store POS

ETP POSReady to start the daunting but exciting journey to migrate to a new POS system?

Fortunately, you don't have to walk this path alone. eTailPet is a POS provider that understands the pet retail industry and can make the transition as easy as possible on your pet store. 

Our team of experts will walk you through the migration every step of the way. Our six-week onboarding process gives you all the time and support you need to prepare for launch day and ensure seamless POS processes from the very start. 

Learn more about what eTailPet can do for your pet store by scheduling your personalized demo of our software today. 

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