Your POS system crashes, now what? This is a question many business owners face at some point. When your POS system crashes, it’s devastating to your business for the entire day. If you haven’t experienced this yet, then you have come to the right place. In this article, you will learn what to do if your POS system crashes.
Be Prepared
As any business owner is aware, you must be prepared for whatever comes your way. This means to remain composed and to keep your employees calm as well as your customers. Explain the situation and state that the POS systems will be up as soon as possible. Also, take a look at the owner’s manual for the POS system. Knowing everything you can about the system will help you be prepared for the worst and know what to do. If you’re able to switch over to cash only, alert every customer who comes in so they are not angry when they get to the front of the checkout line. This is a frustrating process for everyone involved, so if you keep your cool it will go so much smoother.
Check the Cord
Before getting into all the technical reasons of why your POS system crashes, look for the obvious. Make sure nothing got unplugged. This is something that happens more often than you think it would. An employee might have tripped over the cord or pulled it out by accident.
Reboot the System
Usually, when your POS system crashes, it’s an easy fix. A great way to fix the issue is to simply reboot the system. Like any other computer, rebooting the entire system wipes away most issues and starts up fresh. This, unfortunately, takes a bit of time, so stay calm and ask your customers to be patient and you will get it up and running as soon as possible. If rebooting the system does not fix the issue, there might be a bigger reason why your POS system has crashed.
Call the Manufacturer
When your POS system crashes and rebooting the system doesn’t work, call the manufacturer. They will be able to assist you in any issues you have with your system and get it up and running. Make sure to always have the manufacturer’s number readily available in case your POS system crashes. Having the number taped to the counter next to the cash register is a great place to put the number. It’s in plain sight and allows for anyone to call when necessary.
When your POS system crashes, it is difficult to know exactly what to do. After reading this article you will be more prepared to handle this type of situation for your business. Now you know what to do if this should happen to you. Remember to be prepared, check to make sure the cord is plugged in, reboot the system, and if all else fails, call the manufacturer.