As businesses become more environmentally conscious, retail and hospitality sectors in the UK are adopting this new-age retail POS system.

The retail and hospitality sectors have often come under stringent scrutiny for the greenhouse effect, largely due to their energy consumption, waste generation, and transportation-led environmental impact. However, as technology evolves to mitigate the harmful effects of industrialisation, retail and hospitality industries in the UK emerge as frontrunners to embrace a healthier ecosystem. Soft mobile POS is a key contributor to this transformative journey. Let’s explore the significance of this POS system in shaping a better future for two of the most human-intensive industries in the world.

How are soft POS systems promoting sustainable retail in the UK?

The sustainability movement is growing worldwide, including in the UK. Eco-conscious consumers are showing a preference for green products and services. Soft POS systems match this trend since they offer various sustainable benefits. Here are some of them:

Digital invoices: a sure-shot way to reduce paper wastes

The digital economy has paved the path for paperless transactions, including in-app or soft invoices that can be emailed to the customer or sent via WhatsApp and SMS. In addition to contributing to environmental degradation, traditional paper receipts consume natural resources and frequently end up in landfills. With the assistance of soft mobile POS solutions from Wonderful and SumUp, businesses can send digital receipts via email or SMS. This not only reduces paper pollution but also supports the preferences of contemporary consumers, who prefer digital copies to physical ones. Businesses can considerably reduce their paper consumption and attract eco-conscious customers by implementing digital receipts—a step towards their sustainability initiatives.

Minimise hardware requirements: optimise energy consumption

Traditional POS systems require an elaborate hardware infrastructure that consumes considerable energy while operating. On the other hand, a soft retail POS system leverages the energy-efficiency of smart devices to turn them into contactless payment apps. Payment providers such as Wonderful and Lightspeed offer soft POS systems that are not only scalable but also efficient, enabling businesses to expand their operations without a corresponding increase in energy consumption. These soft POS systems for small businesses enable small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to reduce their ecological footprint while simultaneously delivering exceptional customer service.

Streamline inventory control: Minimise waste

One of the major waste elements in the retail industry is outdated products that need to be discarded. A soft retail POS system that provides real-time stock status is ideal for optimising inventory management. You will safeguard your retail store from overstocking or stockouts, which can have an adverse effect on customer retention. Soft POS systems offer real-time data analytics and insights into sales trends, assisting businesses in optimising their inventory levels. Retailers can make informed decisions regarding stock replenishment, waste reduction, and operational efficiency by capitalising on these insights. For example, iZettle, a well-known soft POS system, provides sophisticated inventory management capabilities that enable businesses to precisely monitor their stock levels and minimise superfluous waste.

Limit the usage of traditional POS systems: choose a greener environment

The production of hardware required for traditional POS systems contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions. Further, their disposal also leads to electronic waste, which can be hazardous to the ecosystem. In contrast, soft POS systems depend on existing mobile devices, which reduces the need for new hardware. By reducing the environmental impact of manufacturing and minimising electronic waste, soft POS systems are more sustainable options for environment-conscious enterprises in the UK.

How are soft POS systems transforming the waste-prone hospitality industry?

The thriving eatery businesses in the UK, including restaurants, pubs, and cafes, are rapidly adopting soft POS systems to cater to the changing consumer demands, which are skewed towards a healthier ecosystem. Here’s how this technology is helping the industry enhance its sustainability efforts.

Tableside ordering: reducing kitchen waste and augmenting customer experience

In this jet age, speed and efficiency work hand-in-hand to provide an optimum customer experience. Soft POS systems let servers take orders from consumers at their tables using tablets or smartphones. Since orders go directly to the kitchen, this system speeds up ordering and reduces errors, subsequently minimising waste. SumUp provides tableside ordering technologies that improve dining efficiency and personalisation. Many UK restaurants have embraced this strategy, improving customer happiness and table turnover.

Self-service kiosks: a growing niche in hospitality

Soft retail POS systems integrate seamlessly with various payment gateways, facilitating seamless operations of self-service food trucks or kiosks at multiple locations. Quick-service restaurants (QSRs) and cafes also benefit from this POS system for small businesses because it enables them to accept online payments with ease. Wonderful’s One app offers instant payments that perfectly meet their requirements. The kiosk integration service that Lightspeed, a prominent provider of soft POS systems, offers assists businesses in optimising their operations and enhancing the client experience.

Inventory management of perishable goods

A key challenge for the hospitality industry is reducing the waste of perishable products. Software POS represents the best POS for small businesses by giving them real-time updates on inventory status. Further, the automatic ordering option lends greater flexibility to eateries as they can place orders of perishable goods at the right time. Toast offers a comprehensive suite of inventory management features that make it suitable for the hospitality sector.

Integration with restaurant management software

Integration of soft POS systems with restaurant management software streamlines order taking, and payment processing via multiple payment options like pay by bank and QR Pay, inventory management, and customer relationship management. For example, iZettle integrates with several restaurant management systems, allowing seamless coordination of front and backend operations.

Some of the best POS for small businesses

Cost-effectiveness, easy implementation, and effective functionalities are critical elements of a POS system for small businesses.

Wonderful

Wonderful is a flexible and easy-to-use soft POS app for small enterprises. It is powered by open banking technology and businesses can accept payments online instantly. Wonderful also offers a revolutionary WooCommerce payment plugin, which allows WooCommerce merchants to accept Open Banking payments.

Square

Square’s POS system is simple to set up and operate. It comes with robust features, including contactless payment apps and inventory management. Square's upfront pricing and lack of long-term contracts appeal to entrepreneurs seeking flexibility.

Lightspeed

Lightspeed offers a comprehensive POS system that effectively meets the requirements of the retail and hospitality sectors. Additionally, it provides WooCommerce payment integration, which enables businesses to optimise their e-commerce operations in conjunction with in-store sales.

Conclusion

The growing awareness of the significant eco-footprint of retail and hospitality businesses has led to innovative solutions to mitigate the effects. Soft retail POS systems are one such change that’s easy to adopt, sustainable, and scalable; hence, environment-conscious UK enterprises are fast embracing them. Players like Wonderful, with their effective mobile POS solution and corporate social responsibility (CSR)-driven initiatives, are leading the way.