If your retail business is already using POS software, you understand firsthand the benefits of adopting a robust, quality system. But are you aware of the benefits of POS integrations and why they are important? If you’re not already reaping their rewards, here are a few reasons why POS integrations are the opportunity to leverage.

POS software integrations play an essential role in optimizing and running your retail business smoothly. But what exactly is a POS integration? Simply put: POS integrations allow business owners to use numerous tools by letting applications speak directly to one another. Thanks to automation, data is automatically transferred from your POS system to the software you’re integrating with.

For instance, instead of having to manually input sales information into your accounting software — such as QuickBooks or Xero — your store’s data is automatically collected and stored. It’s like cutting out the middleman, a middleman that just happens to be you.

Since it’s one of the most crucial — and possibly most beneficial — POS integrations, let’s talk a little more about incorporating accounting software. So how exactly does integrating your accounting software help your business? For starters, it’s automated, which means no more manual reconciling, and a decreased risk of errors. There are also the added hours you will get back in your day after eliminating the hassle of balancing your books.

According to Score, 40% of small business owners report spending 80 (or more) hours per year working on accounting tasks. That’s a ton of time. Think of all the things you could get done in your small business if you could get even a third of that time back? You’d be able to run your business more efficiently and have the time to concentrate on those tasks that are perpetually on the back burner.

You can also say goodbye to spending astronomical amounts of money on accountants, and hello to spending a mere sliver of that price.

If nurturing customer relationships seems like a tremendous task, we understand. It can be, that is if you try and do it all on your own. But with so much software and so many tools out there these days, going it solo seems almost silly. Customer relationship management software (CRM) integrations not only allow you to run your store smarter, but empower you to track and engage your customers as well.

So instead of making things difficult for yourself, you can integrate your POS system with your email marketing solution. The integration of your system will allow you to collect email addresses at the point of transaction and have them automatically transferred to already-existing customer lists. You can then use these lists in your email marketing campaigns to nurture new customers and encourage repeat visits.

If you’re still not sold on the benefits of email marketing integrations, let us take a moment to emphasize its value. For every $1 spent on email marketing, the average ROI is a little over $44. Not bad. Email marketing is also 40 times more successful than Facebook and Twitter at acquiring customers. So if you haven’t yet committed to an email marketing campaign, there is no better time than the present.

In addition to revving up your email marketing efforts, collecting customer emails via a POS integration can also help with your social media efforts. You can create Custom Audiences on Facebook by uploading your email lists. You’ll then be able to create Facebook ads that will target these specific individuals. It’s just another reason to take a long hard look at how POS integration can be beneficial for your business.  

Now that you’re building your customer base through email marketing and social media, it’s time to reward those new (and old) customers with some perks they will definitely enjoy. Integrating your POS system with a loyalty rewards card is another way to optimize your business and encourage repeat customers.

So many businesses have loyalty programs, that if you’re not considering it, you might be missing out on potential business. It’s also something that many consumers have come to expect from small businesses, especially QSRs. Standard customer loyalty programs include buying ten items and getting the eleventh free or allowing customers to accrue points that will ultimately result in discounted items. When using a rewards program and integrating it with your POS, both merchants and customers are automatically able to keep track of points earned and purchases made, without the hassle of old-fashioned punch cards.

When choosing a POS system with third-party integration, keep in mind that you don’t need to solve all of your business needs with one solution. Choosing a flexible and reliable system that has the functionality to integrate with quality applications is often the better option. Remember, no one system or application is going to be able to solve all of your business woes. Ultimately, leveraging the right combination of tools for your particular business is what will allow you to get out in front of the competition and stay there.

Sara Sugar is ShopKeep’s in-house Content Marketing Specialist. Sara writes about topics like POS system technology, payments, and payment security for small business owners.