5 POS Features to Successfully Sell Abroad
One of the biggest decisions any company will make is whether or not they want to sell abroad. Obviously there are many perks to including international customers and increased revenue, yet, many businesses shy away from international dealings because they’re simply not prepared for it.
When setting up an ecommerce site to sell abroad, it’s important to choose a platform that is compatible. For example, Shopify can teach you how to create an ecommerce website that will work both locally and internationally. Their system implements sleek and savvy point-of-sale (POS) features to make it simple to sell to customers all over the world.
Here are a few key POS features that will ensure successful sales around the globe:
1. Compatible Currencies
Depending on where you want to sell, your default currency may or may not be compatible with your customers. That’s why your POS system needs to be capable of accepting a wide number of currencies at checkout. Using a third-party gateway, such as PayPal and Square, is one way to accept foreign payments without the headache of exchange rates. A smart POS will be able to tackle exchange rates on the spot.
2. Shipping Companies
Whichever POS you rely upon should also have different shipping options available to customers. International customers may prefer one shipping company over another, so be sure to have a selection. The big giants, such as UPS, FedEx, and DHL all offer international shipping. It’s wise to stick with shipping companies you are already familiar with using.
3. Consider Drop Ship
If you want to start selling right away, find out if your company can offer drop shipping. This service will ship your product immediately from a warehouse of your choosing. This way, you don’t have to worry about pricy international shipping fees, and your customers won’t have to wait long for their packages. Consider partnering with an overseas market to help you out. Once an order is placed through your POS, the purchase will be sent to your partner for processing.
4. Accounting Add-Ons
It’s always important to keep good books, and this is especially true if your venture extends overseas. With so many different rules and regulations regarding taxes and profits, you better keep your books in order. Adding a sound accounting system to your POS is a must. This will make sure every order is tracked into your records. It will also take care of currency exchanges, making it easier for you to handle your yearly and quarterly taxes.
5. Customer Service
If your POS cannot handle the customer service requests of foreign customers, it needs to be revamped. Take into consideration the customers and countries you are looking to reach and make sure your current POS supports a variety of languages. Many POS systems offer different language packages added to the program. If needed, hire additional support to respond to customer service inquiries. By bringing down language barriers, your business will be a lot more successful in an international market.
According to Forbes, customers are buying online more than ever. There has never been a better time to venture into the world of ecommerce!
Of course, international customers want the same treatment and care as your local ones. That’s why it’s important to choose POS features and add-ons that will make it easy for foreign customers to do business with you. Consider currency, shipping, accounting and customer service differences before you begin your journey abroad. Understanding these key differences will make you more likely to succeed in any market.
