Remember “the good old days” when folks and their families would visit your campground, pay with cash or a check and be on their merry way? OK, maybe you don’t remember those days – either because you’re new to the campground biz or (more likely) because they feel so incredibly long ago. In fact, the era of a simple cash register isn’t too far gone, but time (and tech) moves fast. Now, like most campgrounds, you probably use a point-of-sale (POS) system. As the cash register once was, this system is integral to you knowing exactly how much money is coming in (not to mention a whole host of other pertinent functions).
But how do you know that you are indeed getting the most out of your POS system? What functions are a must, and what facets are superfluous? We’re here to answer those questions and more, all to help you and your campground crew.
Let’s explore the key perks of a POS system that you simply can’t live without – and the things you’d be wise to avoid.
Seamless Integration
Of course, your first priority is to guarantee that your POS system fulfills the key cash register functions that are a requisite for any well-managed business. After that, the key word to look out for is “integration.” You don’t want your POS system to dictate how you operate the rest of your business; you want your POS system to complement your operations. To that end, you should choose a system that will seamlessly integrate with any and all other management systems and technology you use. Do you and your team often work from your mobile phones? Do you use Macbooks and other Apple products? Or do you use Microsoft or Dell? To avoid spending even more money on new software or tech, these are all vital questions to weigh as you determine the optimal POS system for you and your crew. After all, you’re already investing in a POS system – the last thing you want to do is create more new expenses for your business.
On that note, it’s equally critical to make sure your POS system allows all of your reservations to run through a single location. This will save you money on taxes, and just as important, it’ll save you and your team plenty of time as you manage your campground. For instance, Bonfire’s POS + Management software allows you to not only keep everything in one system but allows you to add on charges to specific guests at checkout. So, you have a running tally to show the average lifetime value of various customers. You can then utilize this information when defining the target customer you want to attract, informing your marketing plan. The more information you have on each customer, the better. Click here to read our blog on defining your target customer.
And speaking of saving money, you’ll also want to make sure the POS solution you are investing in fits your price range. Two things to look at are the subscription fees and the merchant processing rates. Usually, you will need to pay for the use of the software AND you will have to pay the merchant fees for accepting credit cards for whatever you are selling. The software fees usually come in the form of monthly or yearly payments while the merchant account rates consist of paying the card brands (Visa, MasterCard, Amex) a small percentage of the total credit card charge. These fees are known as interchange rates. The software you select may have all the bells and whistles you and your team could ever dream of, but if it costs you a higher interchange rate than you anticipated (or worse yet, a higher rate than you can afford at this stage of your business) then the POS system as a whole is quite literally not worth it.
Did you know that Bonfire’s merchant services could potentially SAVE you money on credit card processing fees, and even lower your park’s processing rate? Just the savings alone could pay for our software while also making your life easier. Book a call with us today and learn how much you could be saving.
Now that we’re on the topic of POS perks, it’s crucial to know which ones are more than just pomp and frills. Let’s discuss what additional elements of a POS platform might be perfect for your campground.
The Importance of Intuition
Every swipe of a credit or debit card creates a record within your POS system, but what does your POS system ultimately do with those records? Does it store them in a database that is both easy-to-use and intuitive (i.e. one that sorts the records and is easy to search)? Or are you or a member of your team forced to spend extra hours (that you simply don’t have) combing through records to determine what’s what and make decisions accordingly? If the latter is a good description of your situation, you may want to reevaluate your POS system. Nowadays some POS systems – including the one we offer at Bonfire – come complete with photos, illustrations, and intuitive inventory rundowns that just make your life, well, easy.
That’s the power of an intuitive POS system: It takes the activities and materials that are already a part of your day-to-day operations and assembles a cohesive behind-the-scenes map of your campground and the way it runs. Wouldn’t it be nice to know exactly how many paddle boats, canoes, and inner tubes you still have on hand as soon as you rent one? All of the major POS systems will give you a varying degree of strong inventory capabilities, and the software offerings of Astra and Campspot will allow your future campers to book amenities like those mentioned above at the same time they book their reservation. However, only Bonfire gives you the ability to manage the POS system at your park for items sold in your general store. Further, Bonfire’s POS system easily connects to your credit card swiper or other cashier hardware you have on hand.
The era of the traditional cashier may be over, but the era of the POS is alive and well. Make it a great one.
If you want to know more about Bonfire's easy-to-use, all-in-one campground management, and reservation software, please reach out to us at howdy@letsbonfire.com or click here to schedule a quick call to see if Bonfire would be a good fit for your park (spoiler alert: we are not perfect for EVERY park and will let you know if so).
