Point of Sale
The new enterprise retail POS
Move beyond archaic monolithic POS systems with a cloud-based Point of Sale created specifically for the demands on modern omnichannel retail.
Trusted by the best
Background
The next generation POS
Traditional POS systems are known for their inflexibility and high maintenance costs. Built from the ground up for the needs of world-class retailers, Tulip offers a new approach that combines the simplicity and scalability of a mobile, cloud-based solution with the enterprise functionality that sophisticated retailers need.
Create a smooth checkout experience for customers and associates
Maximize store productivity
Remove IT barriers caused by archaic POS systems
Client Outcomes
Each number shows Tulip’s impact on one retailer’s business
10%
Increase in store transactions using Tulip’s POS
0%
Downtime with offline mode
Speak to a Tulip rep today and see how we can help you.
mPOS vs. POS
There’s a fine line between the functionality of a full retail point of sale (POS) system and a mobile point of sale (mPOS) system . We believe that regardless of the path you select, your POS or mPOS system should provide reliable business operations and give customers a seamless experience. Where Tulip’s POS and mPOS differ is in terms of how they fit into your broader digital landscape.
mPOS
An mPOS system allows retailers to layer in the modern capabilities they need without replacing their entrenched POS as the system of record. This approach offers retailers a fast way to go live and start seeing benefits.
POS
A full POS system connects with the full suite of other retail systems and serves as the heart and lungs of the store. It provides retailers with fuller visibility and a simplified digital landscape in the long-term.
Watch a Video Demo of our Point of Sale Solution
FAQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
POS basics
At its most basic level, a point of sale (POS) system is the hardware and software that helps your business accept payments from customers and make sales in person and online.
The term “POS system” used to refer to your cash register. But today, most POS systems are software-based and can be used on any tablet or smartphone. This lets you serve customers and take payments wherever you are, without needing a cash register. It also routes funds to your bank account after each sale.
POS systems are the heart and lungs of the store, they keep operations running smoothly. They do more than just process transactions, they also aid in customer service, inventory visibility, and even client capture.
The best point of sale systems have these key features:
- Inexpensive hardware— including cost of hardware, maintenance, and upgrades
- Agility, scalability, and integration capabilities
- Security
- Easy to use
- Mobility
- Omnichannel sales and returns
- Real-time insights into sales metrics
- Omnichannel inventory management
POS in action
- Being cloud-based means your digital data is stored, managed, and processed on a network of remote servers hosted on the internet, rather than on local servers or personal computers.
- Cloud-based POS systems are compatible with most POS hardware (cash drawers, printers, etc.) and can be installed on any tablet or smartphone.
- Cloud-based and mobile retail POS systems are typically less expensive and more convenient than stationary legacy systems.
- Cloud-based and mobile POS systems collect data that can be viewed and managed remotely from mobile devices through cloud computing, instead of being tied to a terminal.
- Cloud-based POS systems run on software that enables automatic updates. So, whenever there are upgrades to the software, the update will be able to automatically install on the POS.
- Cloud-based POS systems can be even more secure, since the cloud service providers take additional precautions than if you stored software and data on your local server. Cloud services also have security measures in place to protect your data from hackers.
- Cloud-based systems also ensure you don’t lose all your data, unlike if you stored it on a local hard drive and it fails.
Omnichannel point of sale systems are able to facilitate omnichannel checkout and returns seamlessly:
- Omnichannel checkout – Gives associates one-touch access to inventory at other locations and online and enables them to checkout the customer’s full order in a single transaction, even if it’s a mixed basket.
- Omnichannel returns – Accommodates refunds, exchanges and other return types, and lets associates process returns purchased online as easily as those purchased in-store.
Omnichannel point of sale is an essential part of the modern in-store experience. Today’s consumers are digitally savvy and channel-agnostic. Associates need to be equipped to support customers in an omnichannel way. An omnichannel retail POS equips associates to be able to act as guides through today’s multi-channel customer journey.
In short, legacy systems are outdated. The software written 30+ years ago doesn’t account for the needs of today’s omnichannel shoppers— it isn’t agile or extensible, and trying to pull reports requires manual effort. The hardware is clunky and expensive, and it requires a large amount of square footage of floor space to store.
Modern POS systems are agile and extensible, they’re ready to grow and evolve with your business and your customers. The hardware is notably less expensive, and allows mobility throughout the store. Cloud-based solutions have the depth of functionality top retailers need in the current retail environment.
These 8 key features of the modern retail POS provide many benefits to retailers at every level of their organization from the store associates, to IT, to executive leadership.
- Inexpensive hardware- Reduce the initial cost of hardware, as well as the lifelong costs of maintenance and upgrades.
- Agility and extensibility- Allow for a quick and seamless integration into existing systems while also providing the ability to scale as the business grows.
- Security- Gives customers the peace of mind they need to be able to trust you to take care of their personal and payment data.
- Intuitive UI- Gets new associates up-to-speed almost instantly by automating basic tasks and offering prompts to help provide a consistent customer experience.
- Mobility- Provides a consistent experience to customers by allowing associates to stay by their side along the entire shopping journey from the moment they walk in the door, to the time they leave.
- Omnichannel sales and returns- Enables associates to ring up a customer’s full order in a single transaction, even if it’s a mixed basket, and lets them process returns purchased online as easily as those purchased in-store.
- Real-time insights to sales metrics- Equips retailers with market-leading analytics tools that go beyond end of day totals to provide advanced real-time reporting and forecasting.
- Omnichannel inventory management- Gives associates access to inventory at other locations and online for full product visibility.
- Modern POS systems adapt to the customer journey.
- The omnichannel capabilities keep the journey smooth across channels.
- The mobility creates a continuous flow while shopping in-store.
- The security gives them peace of mind that the retailer will keep their information safe, no matter what.
Choosing the right POS
Tulip’s Point of Sale has many world-class features:
- Intuitive UI
- Agility and extensibility
- Scalability
- Security
- Mobile checkout
- Multi-basket checkout
- Omnichannel checkout and returns
- Pricing and promotion engine
- Offline mode
- Real-time reports and insights
Retailers often get caught up in complex stock management systems, when an inventory management system is actually a much simpler and scalable solution.
Tulip’s Endless Aisle solution is an omnichannel inventory management. Endless Aisle lets retailers showcase their full breadth of product offerings and get them into customers’ hands regardless of where the inventory is located.
Tulip’s Store Fulfillment solution facilitates curbside pickup, in-store pickup, and ship-from-store in order to give customers the flexibility to shop how they want.
Tulip works with a variety of retailers across the globe, from luxury fashion brands like Lilly Pulitzer or Theory, to national lifestyle brands selling books and furniture like Indigo and Jenni Kayne, to logistics-focused companies like Purolator or auto parts retailers.
Tulip’s Point of Sale solution accepts a wide variety of payment methods from physical debit and credit cards, to Apple Pay and other digital wallets, and now Tap to Pay on iPhone.
Tulip supports mission critical processes for retailers worldwide, and is committed to providing highly secure solutions to their partners.
Tulip has successfully completed the System and Organization Controls (SOC) 2® Type 2 audit on the organization’s controls relevant to security.
The SOC 2 Type 2 audit is a report on management’s description of the service organization’s system, and the suitability of the design and operating effectiveness of the controls.
It provides reasonable assurance that the service organization’s principal service commitments and system requirements were achieved based on the applicable trust services criteria.
Tulip connects seamlessly into your broader technical landscape and exchanges data effortlessly with other systems through a set of flexible APIs so that you can deliver on business requirements quickly and efficiently. Systems we integrate with include your:
- ERP
- Identity and access management
- Inventory management
- SMS service
- Order management
- Payment gateway
- PIM
- CRM
- Address validation service
- Digital commerce platform
- Email services
- POS
- Sales tax service
Getting Started
Interested in learning more about how we can help you get started on your next-gen POS journey?
Read more about our POS solutions and their features by downloading our brochure.
Watch a demo of our POS in action and get perspective on both the associate and customer facing application.
Still have questions? Contact us today — we’re happy to help!
We look forward to hearing from you!
Resources
Hear from the experts
The Store of the Future is now. We’ve curated some of the best resources that dive deeper into why hyper-personalization is the future of retail.
The New Point of Sale is Changing Everything
A silent POS connects people, applications, and processes. It lets data flow, helps turn ideas into reality, and facilitates the efficient omnichannel experience everyone is chasing.
