The power of offline mode for retail operations
There’s nothing better than that feeling you get when tech just works. It’s great, right? You fire something up and in next to no time life's a breeze.
But what about when tech doesn’t work? What happens then?
Let’s face it, we’ve all been there. And when things don’t work or go down we’ve torn our hair out, banged our heads against brick walls, and cursed every deity under the sun for inflicting such pain upon us.
It’s incredibly frustrating if it just affects you individually - but what if it’s your business? What if your stores lose internet connection and the tech you’ve invested in is no longer online?
The Rally House story
This is exactly what happened to US sports merchandise retailer, Rally House.
Kristen Liebert, Vice President of Business Transformation and Treasurer at Rally House explains: “With our old POS system, we had our business completely crippled on really important days because we didn’t have an internet connection. We were flat out not able to operate.
“Which is why I was so surprised when I had a phone call from one of our regional directors who told me one of our stores had been without internet for two days but had carried on operating without a hitch or without the customers noticing there was a problem with the network.
“I was like ‘Wait, what? Two days? There’s been no internet for two days and we haven’t lost a single sale?’ It was amazing, absolutely amazing and a total win because, without Sitoo, we would’ve lost two days' worth of sales.”
Sitoo POS works even when it’s not online. Transactions are made, stored, and then posted once connectivity is restored. Think of it like a safety net and another way of ensuring you can give your customers positive shopping experiences every time and everywhere.
Why Sitoo POS offline mode is a must have
Having a POS with an offline mode is crucial for maintaining business continuity, providing flexibility, and ensuring a reliable and positive experience for both customers and staff, especially in scenarios where internet connectivity is not guaranteed. Here’s why it’s so important to have:
1. Keep operating if you lose internet access
Just as was the case with Rally House, internet outages can happen unexpectedly. An offline mode ensures that the POS can continue to process transactions, manage inventory, and perform other essential functions even when there is no internet access. This helps businesses avoid downtime and loss of sales during connectivity issues.
2. Perfect for pop-ups or remote locations
Want to open a trendy pop-up? Or what if you sell outdoor attire and want to open a new store at the base of a mountain in the middle of nowhere? Some of you operate in locations where reliable internet connectivity is not always available, such as outdoor events, trade shows, or pop-ups. An offline mode allows you to continue processing transactions and managing sales data without depending on a consistent internet connection.
3. Robust redundancy and reliability
Relying solely on a POS system without an offline mode can expose businesses to potential risks if the internet connection fails. Having an offline mode adds redundancy to the system, enhancing its overall reliability by providing a backup option for continued operations.
And, of course, underneath all of this is the fact it still allows you to serve your customers without any disruptions and ensure they have a great experience.
Victor Volasgis, Information Technology Manager at Rally House, explains further: “Let's say we have 90,000 fans in one area, you're going to have a degraded signal. If this happened before Sitoo there was a risk we were going to lose so much money and potentially word-of-mouth clients because all these fans are like, ‘Hey, don't go to a Rally House, they’re having a system issue right now.
“But now with Sitoo, we’re able to take a transaction no matter what’s happening with our network. We know for a fact we have it stored somewhere for a later time whenever the internet is restored. And then the customer is happy because they get their t-shirt and then we can move on to the next transaction.”
When operating in offline mode, data is stored locally and then synchronized once the connection is restored. This ensures that all transactions, inventory updates, and other information captured during the offline period are accurately reflected in the central database, preventing data discrepancies.
For Rally House, this had an additional advantage as it meant they no longer had to rely on a backup POS.
Brooks Jones, IT Helpdesk Analyst at Rally House, explains further: “One of the biggest impacts the offline mode has made at Rally House is we simply don’t need our backup POS services anymore - we just don’t have a need for them - and this makes life so much simpler."
“It’s great because if we lose internet, the transactions are stored on whatever terminal we’re using and then once the internet is back up, those transactions are pushed back through Sitoo. It’s been such a game changer because we no longer have to worry about a secondary point of sale if we lose the internet.”
In Summary
If you want uninterrupted operations and a seamless customer experience, adopting a POS system with an offline mode is not just a choice but a strategic imperative.
In the ever-evolving world of technology, the reliability of Point of Sale (POS) systems becomes paramount for businesses' success and delivering the kind of experience customers expect. If you want to ensure uninterrupted operations, maintain flexibility in various locations, and provide a reliable and positive experience for your customers, implementing a POS system with an offline mode like Sitoo is a must.
In short, don't let internet outages impact your sales and customer satisfaction. We’d love to talk to you if you want to learn more about how our offline-ready POS solution can be a game-changer for your business, just like it was for Rally House.
