A dynamic yet easy-to-use point of sale (POS) system for your repair shop will do wonders for customer satisfaction as well as your internal logistics. Common struggles for shop owners are often related to their purchasing systems and inventory integrations – inaccurate numbers, slow transactions, broken automations (or no automations). But with the right approach to their POS, owners, and managers can rest easy and focus on what matters – customer retention with quality repair services.

RepairQ offers POS software and then some. We’ve taken the time to highlight the following elements that every repair shop POS should have.

#1 Simplicity on the Customer Side of the Counter

All you should need for your transactions on the customer side is a simple setup like a tablet or basic payment portal hardware. Whether they’re ordering a repair, returning to pick up an item, or trading in a device, the customer’s touch screen or buttons should be intuitive and easy to use.

Most repair shop customers are already in the shop because they have a device that isn’t working properly. Over-complicating their end of the transaction could make matters worse for them. The less work you can make them do, the better.

#2 Payment Provider Integrations

Be sure to check that your POS system integrates well with the top payment providers, which includes hardware and software. Commonly used payment providers for repair shops include Bluefin, Heartland, or Square.

#3 Trading & Purchasing Capabilities

A vital element of the repair shop industry that separates it from a general retail business is the ability to trade or purchase aftermarket devices or equipment from its customers. Trading with customers can increase company inventory while potentially keeping costs lower without having to pay for shipping or lose time seeking products.

See that your new POS software can purchase customer-owned items for refurbishing and reselling. The system should allow you to add the product to your inventory, manage the item digitally, and provide necessary reporting.

#4 Personalization for Efficiency & Preference

On the internal side of the transaction, repair shop POS software should complement your system at every step, allowing for personalized menus and grids. For example, let’s say a specific part sells far and above more than another. Ideally, you’d want that line item easy to access on the transaction menu, above those that you don’t sell as much.

Your POS software should allow that personalization, so you don’t have to go searching every time a customer orders or purchases that product.

Consider taking the personalization a step further. Suppose you were able to also organize your menu by most repaired products? You probably want the latest iPhone and Samsung cell phone models at the top of your list and the older models further down. This will easily save time for you and the customer.

Repair Software, POS Systems, Integrations – Get It All With RepairQ

With every new development in payment processing and device technology, there comes a new need for point-of-sale systems to follow suit. Best industry practices regularly change and so do payment-related securities and CRM requirements. Make sure you’re keeping your POS up-to-date with the most efficient software available.

Learn how RepairQ can help. Fill out the contact form to get started.

Repair centers across the nation rely on the well-being of their inventory systems for the sake of profitability and customer happiness. Nothing retains a customer quite like delivering a quality repair efficiently and without delay. Of course, delays in product and parts shipments have lately defined the state of the supply chain and the reverse supply chain.

At RepairQ, we provide software for repair companies that helps improve each step in the repair transaction process – from reception and inventory management to backend point-of-sale finalization. This post is intended to highlight four ways you can better support your repair center inventory systems.

#1 Have Inventory Automations in Place

Arguably the most important element of inventory management is maintaining up-to-date automation programs. When repair parts come and go, particularly in the electronics repair shop industry, it can be easy to lose track of what you’ve got on your shelves.

This is especially the case for repair shop owners who make the repairs themselves and don’t have time to do regular audits. While verification is still an important step, and no automation is perfect, automatically updated inventory software can save you and your employees hours of work.  

Automations Help Prevent Operator Error

Speaking of employees, there’s little you can do to avoid operator error apart from good training and management. Sometimes errors just happen. And when errors affect your inventory, they have the potential to impact everything else. But when your software automatically updates your inventory count, input error is one less thing you’ll have to worry about.

#2 Install a System That’s Easy to Use

Another way of preventing operator error is the second tip we have for this topic: your software should provide an easy-to-use interface for the user. When you install software with an intuitive user interface, you gift yourself with one less complication in the inventory training process and one less chance of operator error.

Additionally, with the help of a simple interface for inventory management, you can instead exhaust your training efforts on what really matters in your business – training for repair and replacement.

#3 Know What’s Coming Down the Industry Pipeline

Especially vital for electronics and tech repair businesses, but relevant for everyone in the repair industry, is the necessity of staying up to date in industry developments. You’ll want to ensure you’re connected to good resources so you can adjust accordingly. That includes relevant magazines, following experts on social media outlets, and attending conferences. 

A new tablet or phone feature could make a significant portion of your inventory obsolete. When you know what’s coming, you can more efficiently manage your inventory without taking a hit to your bottom line.

#4 Label Just About Everything

Our final tip and a simple one to remember is to label everything – shelving, bins and crates, even the items themselves. Labeling not only helps you maintain the practical organization necessary to prevent losses, but it also saves you and your employees time and headaches.

Taking things one step further, your labeling system will be best optimized if you also organize the inventory according to supply and demand. If you need a part or product and it’s one of the hotter items of the season, you’ll want it as close to the backroom entrance as possible. It may seem like a small thing, but it’ll bring smoothness to a transaction and can improve the customer experience.

Software for Repairs, Returns, & Other Reverse Logistics Needs

RepairQ offers affordable software for every step in your repair transaction process. We also have a wealth of resources and knowledge in the industry. When you partner with RepairQ, you gain more than software, you gain the support necessary for efficient internal and customer-facing processes.

Call us today or use the form below to get started. 

In a recently published Forbes article, contributor Brian Solis highlights the many demands for digital advances and convenience in customer-facing portals and interactions. These demands, he claims, are the “result of the pandemic and its acceleration of digital adoption” and that “more and more customers are starting to expect innovative and personalized services that value their time.”  

How can repair shops adhere to such demands? At RepairQ, we provide digital solutions via dynamic repair shop software. We’ve highlighted two significant steps that can help boost your repair service customer relations for 2022.

Make Appointment Scheduling Easy on the Front and Back-End of the Transaction

Customers shouldn’t have to bend over backward to have basic needs met. Creating a convenient appointment system is a priority for repair shop owners to not only provide excellent customer service but also maintain expectations and a stable workload. As you know, there’s more to the repair service job than the customer-facing portion.

Let’s take the appointment factor a step further.

Imagine you’re a customer who has just received an alert that their product repair is complete. How would your ideal notification or email look? Odds are it would include the shop hours, a phone number, and a transaction number. Add to it a link to an online appointment portal and you have a convenient all-in-one system that saves your customer time and a headache. A few thumb clicks and they can move on with their day.

Initiate Personalized Services With Easy, Intuitive Customer Portals

According to the same Forbes article earlier mentioned, “Most consumers, 78%, say they’re more likely to make a purchase when receiving personalized service.” It even goes so far as to speculate that this number will increase as younger generations—whose lives know nothing but e-commerce convenience and the help of artificial intelligence—continue to mold the shape of consumer society.

To achieve this, shop owners can utilize software portals that are intuitive to the needs of the customer and provide easy-to-navigate interfaces. It used to be that features like these were only achievable to the corporation, but those days are quickly disappearing as affordable software for the small business owner rolls out regularly.

In other words, the current generation of customers prefers a screen to an aisle. That’s not to say you should abandon the pursuit of a good in-person experience. But you should meet customers where they’re at and give them menus and interfaces they can work with. That starts with revisiting your business software and utilizing options that integrate internal efficiency with external relations. 

Other Features That Can Support Appointment & Personalization

Consider seeking the following features as they complement and support your move toward a more appointment-centered approach:

• Communication automation
• Customer and partner survey utilization
• Analytics and reporting
• Personalized messages that go beyond generic form emails or mundane marketing tactics

Read on to see how RepairQ can help you achieve an optimal customer relations approach.

RepairQ – Helping You Grow and Sustain Your Repair Business

Whether you’re the owner of an electronics repair shop or you’re in the need of a niche reverse logistics management solution, RepairQ and its partners have a network of resources and solutions ready for utilization.

Our software brings small to mid-sized repair shops a wide range of features for a reasonable price. These features include point of purchase portals, inventory management assistance, enhanced invoicing systems, and customer relationship management tools.

Use our online contact form to get started.

Maybe you’ve repaired devices on the side for years, helping family members and friends start afresh without having to purchase something new. Or maybe it’s a skill you’ve honed over the years, and you’re now ready to take it to the next level. Whatever your reason for opening a repair shop, you’ll need to pay attention to those vital first steps as you lay the foundation of your business. 

RepairQ provides software solutions for repair service shops in various capacities. We wanted to take the time to highlight the must-haves for electronics repair professionals as they work to support their entrepreneurship and build rapport with customers.

#1 Tips for a Good Electronics Workstation

As you’ve likely anticipated, building an electronics or computer workstation desk is one of your first tasks when you open a repair shop. You can invest in a prebuilt electronics workstation, or you can DIY one and save some money.

A few tips for those workstation DIYers out there:

• Use sturdy material like solid wood or another nonconductive material like plastic. You can use steel, but you’ll want to ensure the surface is safe from possible conduction.
• Get a good-quality chair that breathes, supports your back, and complements long work sessions (seriously, you’ll be glad you did).
• Incorporate electrostatic prevention measures like grounding straps and work mats.
• Invest in an adjustable lamp for close-up or otherwise difficult-to-see projects.
• Install easy-to-access storage containers
• If you haven’t already, start your collection of tools with a bench vise and various-sized clamps.
• Seek quality testing equipment. Even if you have your own already, consider upgrading to prepare your shop with a fresh set.  

#2 A Network of OEMs and Other Partners

Networking building and partnership acquisition are huge, especially for small business owners looking to get their hands on up-to-date parts and information. That should be a priority if you haven’t started reaching out to manufacturers and distributors yet. It wouldn’t hurt to also keep the competition close and connect with other repair shop owners in the community.

Once you’re good and off the ground, you’ll need to manage these partnerships and stay in the know on necessary software integrations for your internal administrative needs. Despite all the advantages of social media and the hyper connection of western civilization, good ole fashion relationship-building still carries power. 

#3 CRM Software for Quality Customer Interactions

Speaking of relationship management, if your customers appreciate your work, they’ll definitely return. Managing customer relationships will require repair shop CRM software that can not only house vital customer information but also automate communications with them. This way, customers will be notified when their repairs are done. But, more than that, a quality CRM will also help you promote any sales or trade specials you may have.

#4 Touchscreen Point-of-Sale Software for Repair Shops

Point-of-sale software is changing in tech and repair industries. It can do much more than provide the necessary interfaces for your transactions, and it can do so with fewer hardware requirements than older setups. 

Our recommendation? Seek out software that: 

• Provides easy-to-navigate user interfaces 
• Is compatible with payments providers like Square or Bluefin
• Tightly integrates customer and repair data

And, as long as the point-of-sale software you use supports it, you can install a tablet as your transaction point. This alternative should only cost a few hundred dollars and will be efficient for the foreseeable future.

#5 Inventory Management Assistance

Inventory management is huge. If you can start your shop with a competent system, you’ll save yourself a lot of stress in the long run. The right inventory management software will integrate with your sale/trade/purchase transactions and populate parts and device counts accordingly. Some software out there can even help you manage online vs. in-store inventories.

Start Your Repair Shop With RepairQ’s Help

RepairQ offers a wide range of features for repair shop owners looking to keep all their assets in one place. From CRM portals to inventory management, our products can help you get started with confidence. Connect with us today by using the contact form below.