How Mobile POS Can Help Your Employees Manage the Holiday Rush

Revenue from in-store shopping still outpaces online retail by a 7-to-1 margin, and with the holiday season in full swing, retailers must prepare for the surge in foot traffic. This year’s shopping season is longer than usual, with Hanukkah starting on Christmas Day, and many consumers are opting to shop in-store due to concerns over shipping delays, especially for last-minute gifts.

If you’re worried about managing high customer volumes, tracking inventory, and processing various payment types, mobile POS is the solution. The holiday season is a time of high demand, long lines, and fast-paced transactions. Mobile POS systems are helping retailers tackle these challenges by enabling sales transactions to be processed anywhere on the store floor.

In this blog, we’ll explore how retailers can use mobile POS hardware to streamline operations and create a seamless experience for customers during the holiday rush.

Outdated POS Systems Can Freeze Profits as the Holiday Rush Heats Up

The holiday season is all about creating special moments for your customers and turning over as many transactions as possible. But outdated POS systems can slow you down by creating bottlenecks. While 84% of customers prefer self-service checkout because they see it as more convenient, the holiday rush tells a different story. Shoppers are more willing to endure longer wait times during the season, but only when they’re buying thoughtful gifts. As a result, many customers will seek assistance more than usual and want to get in and out quickly.

Adding to the challenge, the rise of omnichannel retail means Cyber Monday deals aren’t limited to online shopping anymore. More customers are visiting brick-and-mortar stores to cash in on online ads, adding to the stress of holiday shopping. Many large retailers are hiring anywhere from 8,000 to 100,000 seasonal employees to handle the rush. And with that influx of shoppers, they’ll need fast, efficient tools to assist them.

How outdated POS solutions are slowing down your retail store:

• Longer transaction times: Traditional, stationary cash registers can create bottlenecks, leaving customers frustrated as they wait in line.
• Limited mobility: Employees are tied to specific locations, unable to assist customers or complete transactions away from the counter, causing delays during peak hours.
• Inefficient inventory management: Outdated systems make it harder to keep track of stock, leading to stockouts or confusion when customers inquire about product availability.
• Security concerns: Retailers may hesitate to grant holiday employees access to traditional cash drawers, increasing the risk of theft or errors. Mobile POS solutions mitigate this by limiting access to sensitive functions and offering a more secure, streamlined checkout experience.
• Learning curves: Outdated or overly complex POS software can be challenging for seasonal workers to learn quickly. In contrast, mobile POS systems are intuitive, with simple interfaces and fewer cash-handling tasks, making them easier for staff to get up to speed in no time.

Mobile POS systems are here to help. Here’s how Mobile POS solutions can help your employees handle the rush:

Speed is everything during the holiday rush, and long checkout lines can frustrate both shoppers and retailers. With so many customers rushing to buy gifts, delays can lead to lost sales and a poor shopping experience. Getting this right makes all the difference for both your team and your customers.

Mobile POS systems are the perfect solution for “line-busting.” They allow employees to complete transactions anywhere on the store floor, avoiding long waits at the registers. With tablets or smartphones equipped with mobile POS software, staff can quickly scan products, process payments, and even issue receipts—all in just a few moments. This keeps customers moving and helps you manage high traffic without bottlenecks.

The NE360 mPOS DynaFlex II Go is coming soon, just in time for the busy return season. It works seamlessly with tablet or smartphone cases, making it easy to carry around, and supports tap, swipe, dip and scan transactions—perfect for handling those a lot of transactions, quickly.

Want to get ahead of the next big sale season? Check out InVue’s Mobile POS Configurators to find cases and solutions for tablets and other handheld devices you already have. Mobile POS not only helps you bust lines but also keeps the flow of customers moving. Plus, with secure POS cases, you can be sure your devices stay safe and charged while your employees on the go.

During the holiday rush, stockouts can happen quickly, causing headaches for both your team and your customers. Thankfully, Mobile POS solutions often come with built-in inventory management features, allowing employees to track stock levels in real time.

Imagine a customer asks for a specific item, but it’s out of stock on the display. Instead of sending them to another aisle or store, your employee can instantly check your inventory system via the Mobile POS. They can even place an order for the item, ensuring a smooth experience for the customer and potentially saving a sale.

InVue’s NE360T cases for tablets are the perfect solution for enhancing real-time inventory management. Compatible with both Android and Apple tablets, these cases are lightweight, portable, and built for easy use on the go. Your employees can quickly check stock levels anywhere in the store, so you can reassure customers whether the item they’re looking for is available. Plus, the mobile devices can help spot potential theft or missing items by allowing employees to monitor loose display items in real-time.

Mobile POS devices connected to your inventory system also enable instant updates as products are sold (in-store or online), ensuring you always have accurate data on stock levels—helping you stay on top of your inventory and providing the best customer service during the busy holiday season.

Personalized service is key to building loyal customers, especially during the busy holiday season. Mobile POS empowers your employees to deliver a more tailored, efficient experience, helping you stand out from the competition.

When employees have access to customer profiles and purchase histories via mobile devices, they can recommend products based on previous purchases, answer questions about specific items, and provide updates on promotions—all in real time. This personal touch makes customers feel valued and is a great way to keep them coming back.

InVue’s NE150 Convertible POS Tablet Stand takes this experience to the next level. It can be securely docked in place or used on the go, offering maximum flexibility to assist customers anywhere in the store. Whether your employees are stationed at a register or walking the floor, they can respond to customer inquiries, check stock, and provide personalized product recommendations.

The NE150 also charges when docked, ensuring your device stays powered throughout the store’s busy opening hours. And with high-speed data connectivity, you won’t have to worry about buffering or slow internet disrupting service, even during peak hours when customers are rushing to grab those last-minute gifts.

For instance, if a customer frequently buys a particular brand of clothing, an employee can instantly suggest new arrivals or promotions from that brand, enhancing the customer’s experience and helping drive sales.

The demand for contactless payment options has skyrocketed in recent years, and it’s especially important during the holiday season, when customers are looking for speed and convenience. Mobile POS solutions allow you to accept a variety of payment methods, from traditional credit card swipes to tap-and-go payments like Apple Pay or Google Pay.

InVue’s payment cradles support trusted devices like Ingenico and Zebra, which are widely recognized in the payment industry for their reliability and security. This means customers can pay using NFC tap-to-pay, swipe, and more, giving them multiple options for a seamless transaction experience.

This flexibility allows customers to avoid fumbling for cash or waiting for their card to process. With mobile card readers integrated into your POS system, transactions are completed quickly and securely.
By offering multiple payment options, you not only speed up the checkout process but also meet the diverse preferences of your customers, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free transaction every time.

Returns and exchanges tend to increase directly following the holiday season, which can put extra pressure on your store’s operations. To manage this efficiently, all-in-one solutions can make a big difference, enabling staff to quickly access purchase information, scan barcodes, and process returns on the spot.

InVue’s NE360C is a complete register replacement and powerhouse for handling returns, exchanges, and much more. With its flexible design, the NE360C Payment Center can support any tablet, any payment device, and any operating system, giving you the ultimate flexibility to streamline the process. When a customer comes in to return or exchange an item, employees can immediately pull up the transaction history via the mobile POS device, making the entire process faster and more accurate.

Thanks to its easy docking and undocking system, the NE360 offers instant mobility, allowing your employees to manage returns at the register or anywhere on the store floor. The integrated system also updates inventory levels in real time, ensuring accurate stock counts after each transaction. This seamless experience enhances customer satisfaction and helps manage inventory efficiently, especially during the high-volume return season.

NE360 Features Include:

• Universal tablet mount: Compatible with any tablet, allowing you to mix and match your hardware setup.
• Flexible mobility: Easily dock or undock tablets to transition between customer-facing and back-end functions.
• Customizable design: Add accessories like cash drawers, scanners, and printers for a complete, fully integrated solution.
• Secure payments: Support for all major payment devices, including tap-to-pay, swipes, and more.

With the NE360, you’ll be able to handle returns and exchanges with ease, maintain inventory accuracy, and keep customers happy throughout the busy holiday season.

Holiday-Ready Mobile POS Solutions from InVue

The holiday season is a big deal for retailers, and getting it right means having the right tools in place. Mobile POS systems offer a flexible, efficient solution that helps your team stay organized, improve the customer experience, and boost sales during the busiest shopping time of the year.

With mobile POS, you can speed up checkout, manage inventory, engage customers with personalized service, and keep everything running smoothly from Black Friday through to New Year’s. Whether you’re processing payments, offering contactless checkout, or busting lines with mobile devices, mobile POS can make a big difference during the holiday rush.

At InVue, we don’t just offer mobile POS hardware—we also provide charging cradles and solutions for nearly any retail scenario. From handling high traffic to tracking stock and managing returns, our solutions are designed to work with your store’s unique needs.

Mobile POS solutions from InVue can help you get through the holidays and keep things running smoothly all year round. Contact us today to learn how our mobile POS tools can support your store now and in the future.