Five Questions With: Paul Chiumento

"Why do more than 80 percent of the devices in the mobile marketplace use an Android operating system? The answer is pretty clear. "

Paul Chiumento is president and founder of Key Register LLC, dba POSimplicity. He is responsible for managing day-to-day operations and overseeing sales and software development to ensure the company’s Point of Sale (POS) systems are usable and can meet the demands of growing companies.
In addition to POSimplicity, Paul also owns and manages One Stop Merchant Services, which provides credit card merchant accounts and ecommerce services. Paul has been self-employed for more than 30 years.
Chiumento talks with Providence Business News about how a POS system can help grow a business grow, how it’s affected by the increasing amount of ecommerce and more.

PBN: What are the benefits of incorporating a POS system in today’s business environment?
CHIUMENTO:
There are a number of reasons for incorporating a POS system. The most obvious benefits are that it ensures all items being sold are rung up correctly, provides for faster check out and gives the merchant better reporting than a simple cash register can provide. Beyond the obvious is that the correct POS system helps a merchant to not only manage their business better and more efficiently, but can also help their business grow through integrated online ordering and customer rewards programs. Another benefit is that in today’s business environment, the addition of a POS system gives the impression that a company is technically savvy and seeks to provide the best customer experience to its clients.

PBN: Why should someone choose an Android POS system over a Windows- or iPad-based POS system?
CHIUMENTO:
I think the best way to answer this is by asking another question: Why do more than 80 percent of the devices in the mobile marketplace use an Android operating system? The answer is pretty clear. Like Windows in years past, Android is an open-source platform, meaning hardware manufacturers compete for business and that results in driving-down price points while increasing functionality and, in many cases, quality. The other thing to consider is that a greater percentage of a merchant’s employees and customers are likely to be more familiar with an Android platform over iPad or Windows-based phones or tablets. Generally speaking, an Android system will be 30-50 percent less than an iPad system, and up to 500 percent less than some Windows-based systems. In addition, some Android systems come with screens as large as 19 inches while iPads systems are limited to 10-inch screens. As for why Android is a better operating system for business than Windows, you can ask yourself another question. When was the last time your phone froze or triggered an automatic update that locked you out?

PBN: With many businesses adding online sales to their physical store capabilities, how can a POS system help this expansion?
CHIUMENTO:
This is where I believe strongly that the right POS system holds a huge advantage over a simple cash register. By taking a quick look around, you immediately notice that today’s tech savvy individuals are always doing something on their mobile device. They’re not only in constant use, but I would dare to say that people actually depend on them. Why is this observation important? Well, let’s look at the tale of two businesses. One business has a POS system that is fully integrated with their mobile-friendly online store, and the other business relies on a simple cash register or POS system connected only to the electrical outlet. Now consider someone using their mobile device and looking to make a purchase or for a place to eat. They’ll do a search and quickly find the business with an integrated online presence that provides real-time information and inventory so they can make their decision. The business with a cash register or simplistic POS system can’t offer this level of immediate information and runs the risk of losing out on a customer purchase. Businesses with an online store and non-integrated POS system have taken an important first step, however, a fully-integrated system reduces the effort needed to manage multiple systems while streamlining processes.

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PBN: As a local company relatively new to the POS market, how does POSimplicity differentiate itself from competitors?
CHIUMENTO:
Being a local company is one of the major ways we differentiate ourselves, particularly in being able to provide local set-up, training and support. Even though many POS system providers have a local presence, they outsource the installation and training that we do in-house. Each of our clients has a dedicated account manager and support representative. They never have to wonder who will be on the other end of the phone when they call for help or get frustrated with an automated support system. We’re all about real people in real time. And, as a relatively new company to the POS system marketplace we are not constrained by old, outdated systems. We bring a fresh outlook to the marketplace by constantly asking ourselves how our system can help our clients grow and acquire new customers. We’re not focused solely on making a sale; we want to help our clients make sales. We also give a lot of thought to how to keep costs contained while building a system that significantly minimizes our clients’ need for support. To date, we feel that we have accomplished both of those goals. Our system is economical and the bulk of support calls we receive are for lost passwords.

PBN: With the ever-increasing amount of ecommerce, what role do you see POS systems playing in the future of business?
CHIUMENTO:
When you talk about ecommerce versus brick and mortar stores, I see POS systems playing a significant role. With the technology that’s available today, the line between ecommerce and a physical store is just about gone. A POS system that is fully integrated with a top-of-the-line ecommerce platform allows brick and mortar stores to easily sell their products online without changing the physical location that appeals to their other customers. We tell all of our clients that one of the most important keys to successfully managing both ecommerce and a storefront is to have them fully integrated so they can be managed from one system. Taking it one step further, forward-thinking businesses that have an integrated POS system that offers all the marketing and convenience of an online store with the personal touch and attention of a physical location are able to offer the best of both worlds to their customers.

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