Mini (small) computers use compact enclosures that we build for point-of-sale (POS) systems, where a much smaller footprint is required. What they do is enable you to run a fully functional POS system without sacrificing valuable counter area.

Standard computers dominate prime real estate on the counter that could be better used for displaying products. These computers solve this by fitting seamlessly into tight spots, such as under counters. It makes the counter look professional.

They weigh less than five kilograms, making them very portable. So they are much easier to move. This is especially useful if you frequently do store rearrangements.

If you are looking at the aesthetic, they have significantly improved. The dull, outdated designs are gone. I like the new modern metallic styling. It looks very professional.

As a unit, they integrate well with our POS system. We build them to support key POS equipment such as barcode scanners, receipt printers, and card readers.

Of course, while these small computers offer many compelling advantages, it's essential to consider some potential drawbacks.

Problems

Cost

One important factor is the cost. Because of the precision engineering required for miniaturisation, they usually have a higher price, often 20% to 50% more than standard options.

Heat

When components are packed tightly into a smaller space, airflow becomes restricted, causing higher temperatures. As the fans need to be smaller, they spin faster. This often results in increased noise levels. As a result, we tend to opt for less powerful processors.

Performance

They excel in everyday POS operations. I would not recommend them for computers that need raw power.

Upgradeability

It is often limited due to its compact internals. They have fewer expansion slots and restricted space. Adding additional components is challenging. Generally, we cannot upgrade them if something is required.

Cleaning

The tight layout makes it harder to do dusting.

Repairs

They are slightly more difficult. The big problem here is finding parts that fit.

Overall

Despite some drawbacks, we are selling more of these smaller computers, as many retailers today have space constraints.

Written by:

Bernard Zimmermann is the founding director of POS Solutions, a leading point-of-sale system company with 45 years of industry experience, now retired and seeking new opportunities. He consults with various organisations, from small businesses to large retailers and government institutions. Bernard is passionate about helping companies optimise their operations through innovative POS technology and enabling seamless customer experiences through effective software solutions.

Yesterday, I discussed the report that you can quickly get for doing price checks on products in your area. Now I will review the options for getting the report. As I discussed yesterday here, suppliers present you with many products, but it's hard to know the real retail price and your item's margin, so Australian retailers are using free AI tools that automate price checks. These tools help you quickly compare prices, avoid idle stock, and maximise margins without manual searches, saving time and boosting profits. The problem is that manually checking prices via search engines is time-consuming.

In comparison, a simple Google Shopping search works for a single product. If, for example, I want to check 40 products and it takes me a minute or so to do one, I am looking at an hour of work. This is why, when you have many items to check, that's where AI can help, as it offers a quicker way to get real-time insights. Not only that, but it provides a deep analysis and local relevance. This allows you to get real figures so you can improve customer satisfaction and boost your bottom line.

In our test, we focused on free AI systems to keep things accessible for small operators. We limited evaluations to no-cost options, ensuring recommendations fit tight budgets. By the end, you'll have clear guidance on which AI tool might suit your needs.

Our Evaluation Approach

Using the scoring system below, we tested six free AI tools with a query.

"What price is Monopoly Indiana Jones Edition in Keysborough, Victoria, Australia?"

As usual, we used a Structured Scoring System.

To fairly assess these AI tools, we adopted a 100-point scoring system based on key criteria essential for retailers.

The categories include:

• Accuracy (30 points): How closely the AI's price data matches verified market values. Google Shopping was used as a benchmark here.
• Relevance and Personalisation (20 points): Most of our clients are local, so we gave points to their location and business context.
• Completeness and Depth (20 points): Coverage of options, variations, and caveats.
• Helpfulness and User-Friendliness (15 points): Actionable advice and ease of use.
• Clarity and Structure (10 points): Organisation and readability. Who has the time to work out things? If it can be read and absorbed quickly, the better.
• Ethical Handling (5 points): Did it state any limitations in its analysis?

This system ensures objectivity, much like how a POS analyses sales data to recommend stock levels. We evaluated six popular AIs: Deepseek, Qwen, Claude, Grok, Gemini Google, and ChatGPT. Let's dive into the results, highlighting how each could enhance your shop.

Here's how each performed, starting with the lowest scorers.

Claude

Summary: Lacking Specifics

We failed it as it did not give prices. We are testing for prices, and it provided none.

We liked that it openly admitted it can't fetch real-time prices and provided some helpful information. However, if you are looking at price checking, forget it.

Deepseek

Summary: Solid Local Focus with Room for Precision

Deepseek performed respectably, scoring 75 out of 100. It provided price ranges of $40–$60 for standard editions and $70–$100 for collectors, which are somewhat realistic but slightly overestimate everyday values. What surprised us was that it excelled in local relevance by suggesting stores like Parkmore Shopping Centre in Keysborough, complete with contact tips.

The tool's structure, with bullet points and headings, makes it user-friendly. We liked that it urged you to check current prices. Overall, Deepseek offers a good starting point for SMB retailers seeking local insights without complexity.

Grok

Summary: Comprehensive with Accurate Ranges

Grok earned 80 points, delivering prices from $28–$108 across retailers, with both notes on shipping and local checks. It was personalised to Keysborough by mentioning Parkmore, though it leaned more national in focus.

While its structure had minor issues, Grok's actionable advice, such as visiting stores, makes it practical. It included helpful links without overpromising.

Qwen

Summary: Good Online Depth

With a score of 84, Qwen stands out for its balanced approach. It quoted realistic online prices of $35–$60, and we liked that it stated the local unavailability in the local shopping centre, Keysborough. A detail critical to retailers in pricing.

Qwen's clear lists and engaging tone add to its appeal.

Gemini Google

Summary: A Top Performer

Because it has access to Google shopping information, it impressed us with its retail prices, ranging from $17.50 to $80. It was heavily tailored to Keysborough locations like Parkmore. Its local focus and structure, which included tables, make it highly user-friendly.

ChatGPT

Summary: Depth and Helpfulness in Equal Measure

ChatGPT scored 90; it ticked most of the boxes: an image to confirm that you have the right product, detailed tables with prices $17.50–$73.95, strong local tie-ins, and noted caveats. Its completeness, including delivery tips, makes it a standout for comprehensive analysis.

Based on these scores, here's what stood out overall.

Overall Insights and Recommendations

Although all AI tools handled ethics well by admitting limitations, we liked that Deepseek and Gemini, in particular, urged real-time verification. Never assume that AI is correct.

Gemini (Google) and ChatGPT are good choices; they both excel in depth and relevance.

Practical Tips for Implementing AI in Your POS

1) Embracing AI for price checking positions your store for success.

2) To get started, I suggest that you choose Google Gemini or ChatGPT.

3) Test some products from your shop. I suggest starting with your top sellers and then some dead stock.

4) Get a feel of the reports.

5) Make a trip to the local shops to check the accuracy.

Start today!

Written by:

Bernard Zimmermann is the founding director of POS Solutions, a leading point-of-sale system company with 45 years of industry experience, now retired and seeking new opportunities. He consults with various organisations, from small businesses to large retailers and government institutions. Bernard is passionate about helping companies optimise their operations through innovative POS technology and enabling seamless customer experiences through effective software solutions.

Using AI to set pricing decisions can help you determine prices and stay competitive. If the price is too high, your customers walk away; if it's too low, you're selling too cheaply. For many retailers, finding that ideal point is tricky in a marketplace that can change their prices overnight. I have discussed this issue earlier here as well.

In today’s market, you should trust your gut to assess how your pricing compares. Free AI tools can provide quick, localised insights into what your competitors are charging. Knowing this, it is easier to set prices without taking up too much time.

Let’s go through an example.

The Challenge: Knowing the True Retail Price

Imagine running a shop in Keysborough and considering stocking Monopoly: Indiana Jones Edition. Your supplier gives it a great rap, tells you a wholesale cost, quotes a retail price, but how do you confirm their retail price and determine if it's as good a seller as they claim?

Traditionally, you’d go to a local shopping centre and look around—that's maybe an hour of work, plus how can you leave the shop for an hour over one product? Or you might hit Google Shopping, search for the product name, and scan the listings there. That’s easy enough for one product. But say you’re reviewing 40 items — suddenly you’re looking at an hour or more of work, clicking through results, checking conditions, and making sure you’re comparing the same SKU.

The fact is that doing it manually is time-consuming and prone to human error.

Where AI Changes the Game

This is where AI-powered price comparison tools like ChatGPT can revolutionise the problem by instantly scanning multiple retailers, comparing their prices, identifying their promotions, and localising them for your specific location.

For example, I picked a game as a sample, "Monopoly: Indiana Jones Edition".

So I ran a query in ChatGPT "What price is Monopoly Indiana Jones Edition in Keysborough, Victoria, Australia?"

in Keysborough through ChatGPT’s data tools. In a matter of seconds, I received a summary that:

• Confirmed the correct product with an image reference (avoiding costly mix-ups). Green square
• Highlighted a typical local retail range: $65–$70, with a benchmark example from Toyworld at $69.99. Purple square
• Flagged that JB Hi-Fi had a special promotion potentially lower than the market average — perhaps even below your wholesale cost. Maybe you can get it cheaper. Black square
• Noted that in many cases the product was marked as “on order” rather than available for immediate purchase. This makes me suspicious that it's such a great seller.

So I decided to check for availability.

Why This Matters to Your Pricing Strategy

Beyond just pricing, understanding competitor promotions can dictate your sales tactics.

Setting a Competitive Yet Profitable Price

Knowing the local going rate means you can confidently set your price within the $65–$70 band without underpricing or scaring buyers off. If the market is consistent at that range, you’re on safe ground.

Tracking Competitor Promotions

If a competitor runs a temporary promotion, you need to decide whether to run your offers, maintain your current strategy, or drop the product.

Managing Availability to Your Advantage

If many competitors have the product “on order” only, as you can see here, you can leverage this scarcity.

Saving Time

Instead of spending hours doing manual searches, you are getting instant results.

From Price Insights to Actionable Retail Decisions

Here’s where a modern POS system ties it all together. AI pricing insights are powerful on their own, but when integrated into your POS, start by checking your top-selling items or dead stock, and see whether you are competing on price or convenience. Doing this will give you AI-driven price insights.

Bringing It Back to Your Store

Smart pricing is not about being the cheapest, but also about understanding your place in the market to stay competitive.

AI-powered retail price optimisation solutions now integrate, process, and analyse data from across the organisation in near real-time. This level of visibility and control provides retailers with the rapid insights needed to make smart pricing decisions.

Tomorrow, I will discuss the AI tools in detail for doing these price comparisons.

Written by:

Bernard Zimmermann is the founding director of POS Solutions, a leading point-of-sale system company with 45 years of industry experience, now retired and seeking new opportunities. He consults with various organisations, from small businesses to large retailers and government institutions. Bernard is passionate about helping companies optimise their operations through innovative POS technology and enabling seamless customer experiences through effective software solutions.

Rising debit and credit merchant fees are escalating costs for Australian businesses and consumers, with RBA data revealing steady increases since the COVID-19 pandemic.

As I've stated before, the current system is anti-competitive, inefficient, and unfair. This proposal will exacerbate it. Now I support debit as a default payment method, which is Labor policy, but this extends far beyond.

The RBA's figures paint a tough picture of the surcharge ban. Click here for their latest statistics. They assume competition and fee reductions will help SMBs absorb costs. But my analysis shows the RBA's figures show they are rising instead.

Fairness in Payment Defaults.

A key issue is fairness: Cash as the default equalises acquirer fees for all businesses, regardless of size. Switching to debit disadvantages smaller ones, as large organisations negotiate lower rates.

Card Type Fee Breakdown

Let's start with the facts. The RBA expanded its merchant fee reporting in December 2024, giving us a clearer view of payment costs. By June 2025, check the table  C3 Average Merchant Fees. It highlights increases in fees across the board. These are major blips, and part of a broader trend that's been going on since the COVID pandemic. Now I have gone over these figures, and this is what I can see.

Eftpos

These fees rose 10% in just six months, hitting 0.44% of transaction value. That's mainly due to merchant service fees climbing from 0.37% to 0.41%, while other charges like terminal fees stayed flat at 0.03% to 0.04%. Historically, Eftpos fees have fluctuated, but since December 2022, they've jumped from 0.26% to 0.44%, a 69% increase overall, which looks pretty high.

MasterCard and VISA

Debit fees went from 0.57% to 0.59%, and credit fees from 0.95% to 0.97%. Visa fees are a little better, but still up their debit fees now are 0.54%, and interestingly, their credit rate is held at 0.87%.

Other cards

It's no wonder that so many people do not accept American Express, as its credit fees are 1.35%, and Diners Club is even worse at 1.70%.

International transactions

Now these would hurt as Visa credit international fees are 12.6% from 2.47% in December 2023 to 2.78% by June 2025. If your store attracts tourists, these hikes will hurt.

This challenges the assumptions behind the proposed surcharge ban; interchange fees are only one of several fees, and these fees are going up. This is a big disconnect between policy and reality.

Given these rising fees and the RBA's disconnect from reality, here are practical steps to optimise your operations.

Practical Tips to Optimise Your Operations

Your POS collects transaction details, letting you analyse fee patterns. Compare them to RBA benchmarks. Review the figures, and if they are higher, take them to your providers. There is nothing wrong with you asking them, "My fees are above the 0.41% Eftpos average, why can't we adjust?" I've helped retailers save thousands this way.

Review your international cards. Many have, after doing this, either introduced a bigger surcharge or refused to accept them.

Support cash.

If you are in online sales, check your fees.

(This article draws from the latest RBA data as of June 2025)

Written by:

Bernard Zimmermann is the founding director of POS Solutions, a leading point-of-sale system company with 45 years of industry experience, now retired and seeking new opportunities. He consults with various organisations, from small businesses to large retailers and government institutions. Bernard is passionate about helping companies optimise their operations through innovative POS technology and enabling seamless customer experiences through effective software solutions.

Solving Problems and Streamlining Your Store

An innovative approach for retailers is examining challenges from the opposite perspective. We all face numerous challenges each day, from managing inventory and controlling shrinkage to enhancing the customer experience. One innovative approach that I recommend you try is inversion thinking. This method involves examining problems from the opposite perspective. Inversion thinking reverses traditional problem-solving by asking, 'What could make this issue worse?"

This type of questioning can often reveal ideas. For example, if your goal is to increase customer visits, you might begin by identifying ideas that deter customers. Let us have poor signage, untidy displays, or slow service. Addressing these issues directly results in practical enhancements like clearer layouts, well-organised stock, and efficient checkout processes. I have used it for years for brainstorming.

Let's explore how this approach helps tackle common retail challenges.

Practical Applications

SMB retailers often face many issues. Applying inversion thinking to these areas helps clarify what changes can yield substantial improvements.

Shoplifting

Today, this is a disaster. Instead of asking how to prevent theft, consider how to make theft worse. We make more blind spots in the shop, disengaged staff, etc. This reversal points clearly to effective countermeasures, such as installing bright lighting, carefully positioning security cameras, decluttering to improve visibility, and training staff to engage customers proactively.

Rostering

Similarly, managing staff rostering. Consider what would worsen rostering, e.g. lack of communication, last-minute changes, etc. You have some more ideas here.

Product display

The display of products is better, considering how poorly the merchandise is presented. We could address issues such as increased clutter, poor lighting, and inadequate signage. Again, here we have some ideas.

With these examples in mind, let's explore how you can apply inversion thinking to your retail challenges.

Implementing Inversion Thinking in Your Store

It is too easy. Give yourself some privacy, get a sheet of paper. Start with a specific challenge in your business.

Look at the sales report from your POS System. Look at the top-selling item and say to yourself, "How can I reduce sales for that item?"

Now list your ideas, put them in a worse position, bad lighting etc. Once you finish, reverse each for actionable ideas for you to consider.

Conclusion

Inversion thinking is a fantastic way to solve problems.

Written by:

Bernard Zimmermann is the founding director of POS Solutions, a leading point-of-sale system company with 45 years of industry experience, now retired and seeking new opportunities. He consults with various organisations, from small businesses to large retailers and government institutions. Bernard is passionate about helping companies optimise their operations through innovative POS technology and enabling seamless customer experiences through effective software solutions.

Just something to think about

Written by:

Bernard Zimmermann is the founding director of POS Solutions, a leading point-of-sale system company with 45 years of industry experience, now retired and seeking new opportunities. He consults with various organisations, from small businesses to large retailers and government institutions. Bernard is passionate about helping companies optimise their operations through innovative POS technology and enabling seamless customer experiences through effective software solutions.

Essential Principles for Small Business Success

Here, Rory Sutherland's recent marketing presentation delivers invaluable guidance specifically for SMB retailers. What I thought made this discussion particularly relevant is that here, both speakers bring authentic small business experience to their analysis and understand the operational realities and resource constraints that SMB retailers face daily. Both are experts, and the main speaker, Sutherland, is a renowned advertising executive and author. 

You can hear it here.

One point I want to warn you about is how much swearing they used. It's pretty surprising as Rory Sutherland is a Welshman and his wife is a priest in the Church of England.

Written by:

Bernard Zimmermann is the founding director of POS Solutions, a leading point-of-sale system company with 45 years of industry experience, now retired and seeking new opportunities. He consults with various organisations, from small businesses to large retailers and government institutions. Bernard is passionate about helping companies optimise their operations through innovative POS technology and enabling seamless customer experiences through effective software solutions.

We are getting many receipt printer problems following recent Windows updates, which are disrupting the operations of many of our POS System retailers.

Understanding Receipt Printer Issues After a Windows Update

After installing the latest Windows updates, we are getting a range of receipt printer issues. The most common are:

-Receipt printers no longer respond or print.

-Output appears as garbled and unreadable.

-Your printers are going offline.

-Your computer is saying that there are printer driver conflicts.

-These disruptions are because Microsoft has changed how it talks to devices such as printers.

Manufacturer Acknowledgements

We did some checking when it first came up and found that many major printer brands, such as Epson and Star Micronics, have publicly acknowledged compatibility issues resulting from recent Windows updates. It’s become a recognised industry-wide issue.

Next Step

Resolving receipt printer problems caused by Windows updates often requires more than a simple restart. Based on manufacturer guidance and current industry best practices, if it happens, call us, as our support team is ready to assist.

Hopefully, Microsoft will fix the issue soon, and when they do, we will inform you all as quickly as possible!

Written by:

Bernard Zimmermann is the founding director of POS Solutions, a leading point-of-sale system company with 45 years of industry experience, now retired and seeking new opportunities. He consults with various organisations, from small businesses to large retailers and government institutions. Bernard is passionate about helping companies optimise their operations through innovative POS technology and enabling seamless customer experiences through effective software solutions.

Australia's Right to Disconnect laws will soon apply to small and medium-sized (SMB) businesses. These laws give employees the legal right to refuse to monitor, read, or respond to work-related communications outside of regular working hours unless this refusal is unreasonable. For SMB retailers dependent on flexible staffing and responsive employee communication, immediate compliance planning is essential to maintain operations in compliance with the law.

The Fair Work Ombudsman has developed a resource specifically for SMB businesses preparing for this here. I do not think it's particularly good, but I do not see anything better now. The truth is, probably they do not know either.

Understanding Right to Disconnect Laws in Australia

The Right to Disconnect legislation will encompass all forms of work-related unreasonable communication outside employees' scheduled hours, phone calls, emails, SMS, social media communications, etc. It also includes communications from clients, suppliers, or any other third parties that employees receive in their work capacity.

The law's reasonableness assessment considers five key factors: -Reason for contact: Is it urgent or routine? -Method and disruption level by phone calls or emails -Employee's role and responsibility -Family obligations and caring responsibilities -Payment for after-hours availability

SMB Business Challenges with After-Hours Communication Laws

SMB retailers face unique operational challenges. Unlike large corporations, small businesses operate extended hours with casual staff requiring flexible scheduling.

Traditional after-hours communication practices now need immediate review. Shift coverage, roster changes, and supply chain responses must comply with new legal boundaries.

Consider the operational scenarios that regularly occur in SMB retail environments.

Staffing Emergencies

A casual employee calls in sick shortly before their shift begins, and an urgent and immediate replacement is required.

Staff schedules

Current staff schedules often mean there may be no time when your entire team are all at work together to receive crucial operational information.

Operational Disruptions

A delivery issue requiring urgent staff notification, which will affect next-day operations.

Security and Safety

Emergencies such as security system alerts may require immediate management response. A while ago at work, an alarm was triggered, followed by a second alarm, and we had to send someone down immediately to look.

I would say that an employer should be able to contact an SMB employee in all these circumstances, but I am not a lawyer, and it's not my view here that matters. If you find out, please let me know so that I can update this article.

POS System Rostering

Our rostering system worries us because it often operates on an automated schedule to send notifications. Up to now, they may have been sent regardless of time, which may potentially violate the new law. These systems typically generate automatic communications about shift changes, schedule updates, or system alerts without considering whether recipients are currently working or available to receive such information. If your current POS Software is set to automatically send roster notifications, shift confirmations, or operational updates outside standard business hours, you need to review and adjust its configuration.

We are looking into making some changes to our software now.

Tips

Here are some tips to help you with this law.

1) Make a communication policy

Establish a procedure that addresses both routine needs and emergency needs. Ensure all staff are familiar with it. Let them know which email addresses or telephone numbers you will use. I suggest that you send them an email with the details to have a written record.

It gives employees greater control over managing work-related messages through the filtering systems in their email systems and notification settings on their mobiles. Then the employee can, if they want, create filters for work-related communication.

Establishing clear emergency communication helps distinguish between actions requiring immediate response and matters that can wait until regular hours.

2) Company email addresses

Whenever possible, use an organisation's email addresses for all work-related communications for employees and suppliers, as this creates clear boundaries between personal and professional contact. If, for example, Joe Blow works for ABC Pty Ltd, always use the ABC company email address if possible. We do this now in our company.

3) Insurance Management

Contact your business insurance provider to find out if you have coverage to protect you for the Right to Disconnect.

4) Industry-Specific

If you are a member of a retail industry association, it would be worth asking them what "reasonable" after-hours communication is. You will probably find that your Industry associations have already developed best practice guidelines for your industry.

5) Consider the time to send. Often, a communication can be delayed to a more reasonable time. For example, if it's 3:40 am and I need to send someone a communication, I will schedule that communication to be sent at 8:00 am. Emails and SMSs have ways to schedule.

Implementation Timeline

We do not have much time; these laws come into effect on 26 August 2025, in about 4 weeks. Immediate action is required.

-Audit your current communication practices

-Check out the Fair Work Ombudsman SMB resources above

-Find out if you are covered under insurance

-Contact your industry body

-Make a communication protocol

-Update employment contracts

-Communicate policies to all staff

-Implement system changes

Written by:

Bernard Zimmermann is the founding director of POS Solutions, a leading point-of-sale system company with 45 years of industry experience, now retired and seeking new opportunities. He consults with various organisations, from small businesses to large retailers and government institutions. Bernard is passionate about helping companies optimise their operations through innovative POS technology and enabling seamless customer experiences through effective software solutions.

An investment in training and development can yield many benefits for your business.

Today, information is what drives successful retail operations. When you invest in your team's capabilities with training, it represents a fundamental business strategies that directly impact your POS System productivity, thereby increasing your shop's profitability. For SMB retailers, having your staff take a training program can transform them into confident, skilled team members. So we provide our clients with free training opportunities at our company premises. There, your employees can attend workshops and seminars on various subjects. We also offer free online training through Zoom, Google Meet and other such services. This allows you and your staff to attend training sessions from anywhere. 

Your Point of Sale (POS) system serves as the central information hub of your shop. However, many retailers only utilise a small fraction of their POS system's capabilities. What they are doing is leaving is many significant operational efficiencies unrealised. Training can address this by ensuring your team understands not just the basic functions, but the advanced features. Yet it can do so much more. Your POS System can discover sales trends, identify slow-moving inventory, analyse customer purchasing patterns, etc., by transforming its raw data into actionable business intelligence. 

The following are some significant advantages of training and development:

>Employees gain the knowledge and skills they need to perform their jobs better. The training will give your employees a deeper understanding of their technology. This will improve their performance, which will benefit your company.

>Your employees will know you value them if you invest in their training and development. Being thrown in front of a computer without being told anything is nerve-wracking.

>There is probably much more in your software than you use. You can learn more about your system and appreciate it more with the help of a training program.

>Employees can only do well tasks if they understand.

>Productivity is increased through training and development. Employees who have received training will perform better.. Better use of your POS software can increase efficiency and skill.

> Integration capabilities between your POS system and other business tools, such as accounting software, customer relationship management systems, and e-commerce platforms, require knowledge to do effectively. It is something that only training can do.

Contact us now

From my extensive experience supporting Australian retailers, the businesses that prioritise training demonstrate measurable performance increases, including transaction speed, inventory accuracy, customer satisfaction, and employee retention. The outcomes show a clear connection between employee competence and business performance. Our free training programs provide your team with the skills needed to improve without requiring significant internal resources or disruption. These sessions are tailored to address the unique challenges and opportunities in your business.

Contact us to arrange some training; you have nothing to lose. Your people can be more productive for you.

Note: This blog entry was updated to reflect the modern changes.

Written by:

Bernard Zimmermann is the founding director of POS Solutions, a leading point-of-sale system company with 45 years of industry experience, now retired and seeking new opportunities. He consults with various organisations, from small businesses to large retailers and government institutions. Bernard is passionate about helping companies optimise their operations through innovative POS technology and enabling seamless customer experiences through effective software solutions.

Australia is officially ending the era of cheques, with financial institutions ceasing new cheque issuance in 2028 and stopping acceptance in 2029. Whilst most of us won't shed a tear over this transition, there are two key advantages that I will miss with cheques going away, which had many practical benefits.

The image above is the biggest cheque I've ever got. I took a photo and ran to the bank to cash it in.

Bank cheques ending

Bank cheques have long been the gold standard for many significant transactions, e.g. private sales. A typical scenario was that you found a car you liked on a private sale. On the handover day, you'd present a bank cheque and collect the vehicle. If something went wrong during the final inspection, you'd keep the cheque and walk away. Plus, it was a lot safer to carry a bank cheque than to have possibly tens of thousands of dollars in your pocket. The seller accepted this arrangement because the bank guaranteed the funds. You do not need internet, bank apps, etc.

I also found it helpful. I remember when I bought a diamond ring for my wife. There were some changes required to fit her finger and the settings. So it was handy to have a bank cheque to pay the jeweller.

Payment Flexibility for Trusted Customers

If I had a customer whom I trusted who needed a few days to ensure adequate funds were available in their account, I would release goods against their cheque and present the cheque a few days later.

The Government's Phase-Out of Cheques

Still, financial institutions will cease issuing new cheques by 30 June 2028, and only accept them until 30 September 2029. I am sure for many it will be much quicker, as already cheques are being phased out by the banks, and the closure of bank branches across Australia is compounding these difficulties. Going to a bank to make bank deposits and getting bank cheques written up is for many increasingly inconvenient. The infrastructure supporting cheques is diminishing.

So almost all have already moved away from cheques due to security concerns, processing delays and escalating fees. Some still stick with cheques, not much a retailer can do if they have a customer who wants this payment method.

The POS System Solution

I can't stress enough how much modern POS systems streamline payment processing, regardless of how your customers prefer to pay. Having worked with countless retailers through payment system transitions, I've seen the transformational impact of implementing robust POS solutions that centralise everything from EFTPOS and contactless payments to BPAY, online ordering, and direct bank transfers. It maintains many of the transaction records that eliminate much of the stress associated with financial reconciliations. Cheques always require some manual work.

As Australia moves toward a cheque-free economy, the elimination of cheques provides an excellent reason for reviewing your payment ecosystems.

Written by:

Bernard Zimmermann is the founding director of POS Solutions, a leading point-of-sale system company with 45 years of industry experience, now retired and seeking new opportunities. He consults with various organisations, from small businesses to large retailers and government institutions. Bernard is passionate about helping companies optimise their operations through innovative POS technology and enabling seamless customer experiences through effective software solutions.

A successful bicycle retail shop in Keysborough closed after many years of serving the cycling community. I think it reveals a critical lesson about retail that data without context can destroy a business.

The shop had served the local cycling community for many years, operating as a traditional full-service bicycle retailer. The business offered a comprehensive service workshop for mechanical repairs and servicing, as well as entry-level bicycle sales, accessory retail, and upper-end bikes. While the operation exhibited some management disorganisation, it demonstrated strong customer retention through consistent good service delivery, resulting in excellent community engagement.

Retail Analytics Transformation

The business underwent digital transformation many years before closure, implementing our POS Systems with its specialised bicycle retail POS software. This decision represented sound strategic thinking, as the system was designed explicitly for bicycle retailers, incorporating advanced inventory tracking, sales analytics, and customer relationship management functionality. It all should have been used. For this particular shop, the POS system effectively provided a detailed analysis of profit margins across product categories and service offerings. It established a solid analytical foundation for the business.

Then, a long-term employee with extensive operational knowledge in the business took ownership of the company. He did a comprehensive analysis of financial data and sales performance metrics, facilitated by our POS system's reporting capabilities. It revealed significant insights regarding profitability structures; unfortunately, he only examined the financial reports.

The analysis demonstrated that repair services generated minimal profit margins. Labour costs were relatively high; industry average profit margins are around 20% if you decide to outsource them. Also, due to competitive pressure from large retailers, budget-oriented bicycles targeting casual riders and kids showed limited profitability. Premium bikes were doing well. Determined to enhance business performance, the new owner implemented a comprehensive strategic change. He abandoned the existing broad market appeal in favour of an exclusive focus on premium bicycle segments featuring high-end brands. You can see the advanced carbon frame technology and sophisticated gearing systems in the shop, all with price points of thousands of dollars.

However, having powerful analytics capabilities means nothing without understanding how to interpret them within the shop context, a lesson this shop never learnt.

Implementation of Strategic Changes

The business transformation involved the complete elimination of repair services, a decision that significantly impacted established customer relationships. Regular service customers, like me, were redirected to alternative repair shops, effectively severing ongoing maintenance relationships that had previously anchored our customer loyalty. At the same time, they discontinued entry-level bicycles, actually heavily discounting existing stock to clear them out.

This strategic repositioning aimed to capture premium market segments comprising serious cycling enthusiasts prepared to invest substantially in high-quality equipment. However, the changes created substantial operational consequences.

The elimination of repair services created a domino effect that destroyed the business model. Regular customers like me stopped visiting entirely, resulting in a significant decline in foot traffic. This loss proved devastating for accessory sales. Repair customers like me typically make impulse purchases, such as helmets, lights, and tools, generating higher-margin revenue streams. Without these frequent visitors, the shop lost both immediate sales and cross-selling opportunities that had sustained profitability.

These operational changes, while data-driven, completely ignored the fundamental characteristics of the local market.

Market Analysis and Customer Demographics

Keysborough represents a suburban demographic characterised by family-oriented priorities and value-conscious purchasing behaviour, rather than premium luxury consumption patterns. The local market traditionally favoured practical, affordable bicycle solutions for family requirements, particularly initial bicycles for young riders, rather than professional-grade equipment.

The strategic pivot fundamentally misaligned the business offering with local market characteristics. Family customers who previously engaged regularly for affordable bicycle purchases and associated accessories discontinued their patronage. This demographic shift eliminated not only immediate sales opportunities but also potential long-term customer development pathways, as these families might have eventually upgraded to higher-value products through established relationships and demonstrated product quality.

The business model transformation severed these developmental customer relationships, eliminating opportunities for gradual up-selling and loyalty building that typically characterise successful retail operations.

Business Performance Analysis and Strategic Implications

Following the implementation of the strategic changes, business performance declined rapidly. The premium-focused approach proved incompatible with the local market environment, where economic realities prioritised accessibility over exclusivity. Customer traffic dropped, inventory turnover slowed, and the once-busy shop was pretty quiet.

The shop closed and is now for lease. While profit margin analysis provides essential advice, retail success needs more than that.

Strategic Recommendations

Effective retail management strikes a balance between quantitative analysis and market understanding. Modest-margin products often act as customer acquisition tools. Those repair services and entry-level products served as gateway offerings.

Successful retail operations require a comprehensive understanding of customer behaviour patterns, community characteristics, and relationship dynamics.

Many people with low vision accessibility squint and struggle to read standard keyboards, turning typing into a frustrating task. The right large print keyboard (assistive technology keyboards) changes that, making daily use smooth and efficient. This guide explores these game-changing tools for retailers upgrading point-of-sale systems or promoting workplace inclusivity.

Let's examine why these keyboards are crucial for retail environments.

Why Large Print Keyboards Matter in Retail

For brick-and-mortar shops, low-vision accessibility is crucial. Large print keyboards are a vital assistive technology for retailers, ensuring all staff can use your point of sale system effectively. These keyboards are a critical component of POS system accessibility, offering:

• Improved readability
• Increased typing accuracy
• Greater independence for users
• Reduced frustration and eye strain

By implementing visual impairment solutions, such as large print keyboards, you're helping your staff and creating a more inclusive retail technology environment that can boost productivity and morale.

Beyond accessibility, these keyboards offer practical advantages in fast-paced retail settings, where quick and accurate data entry is essential during busy periods. They may require an adjustment period, but they reduce input errors and speed up transactions. Even with 20/20 vision, I use one at work and noticed less eye strain after adapting

Key Features of Ergonomic Keyboards for Low Vision

1. High Contrast Colours

Visibility is everything. The best large print keyboards offer:

• Light letters on dark keys
• Yellow on black (a top choice among users)
• A clear distinction between keys and characters

2. Durable Lettering

Quality keyboards should have letters that don't wear off quickly, lasting about two years with regular use.

3. Clear and Bold Typography

• Large, easy-to-read characters
• Bold, straightforward fonts
• Easily visible from the user's typical position

4. Key Size and Shape

• Larger keys help prevent missed keystrokes
• Consider the balance between size and overall usability

5. Build Quality

For a busy shop environment, choose:

• Sturdy construction
• Durable materials
• Water-resistant design to protect against spills

6. Legal requirements

If you have staff with visual impairments, you may find that you are required to ensure their compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, which mandates inclusive workplace practices. 

With these features in mind, here's how to select the best keyboard for your setup.

7. Colour combinations

Effective large print keyboards incorporate high-contrast colour combinations to maximise character visibility. With people with low vision, colours can significantly impact visibility. Here are some options to consider:

1. Black on White: This classic combination provides high contrast and is generally easy to read. It is possibly the most popular combination for people with low vision, but it is not my favourite choice.

2. Yellow on Black: I recommend starting with this colour combination. In our experience, the yellow text on a black background, due to its high contrast, enhances visibility the best for those with vision impairments.

3. White on Black: This would be my second choice. White letters on a black background are widely used, making it something most people are used to. So, making it a better choice for shared keyboards. I use such a colour combination for that reason.

The costs are about the same for different colours, and you should be able to get something decent for $40 to $355. 

How to choose the best large print keyboard

Selecting the right large print keyboard for your accessible point-of-sale system involves several considerations:

1. Your Needs: Determine the specific visual challenges your staff face. Do they need larger keys, higher contrast, backlight, etc?

2. Consider Your POS System: Ensure the keyboard is compatible with your existing POS software and hardware. If you have an extremely old computer, we may have real trouble sourcing such a keyboard for you.

3. Test Before You Buy: Have your staff try different models if possible, as just because you think it looks good does not mean that they do. Sometimes you really wonder how people's minds work.

4. Consider Layout: Australian standard layouts are essential for efficiency and familiarity.

5. Evaluate Durability: Retail environments can be harsh on equipment. Look for keyboards built to withstand punishment. It is a very real problem now. 

6. Check for Additional Features: Some keyboards offer programmable keys or integrated pointing devices, which can be helpful in a retail setting. Unless you use that facility, I would not suggest paying for it.

7. Budget: Check prices first; I think many of these keyboards are overpriced. As with many computers, you can get these keyboards in various qualities. I advise people to opt for the cheapest option, which should be sufficient for at least two years. However, there are some models with laser-etched lettering technology that can maintain the characters over extended periods of time. I am dubious whether they are worth the extra cost, as retail shops are a very dirty and demanding environment. A dropped keyboard, coke dropped on the keyboard is all to common, a great keyboard after a coffee is dropped on it is often a rubbish bin job. I suggest, if possible, getting a water-resistant one. 

Summing up

Incorporating large print keyboards fosters an inclusive retail space that enhances productivity. 

Have you used a large print keyboard in your shop? Please let me know your experience!

Written by:

Bernard Zimmermann is the founding director of POS Solutions, a leading point-of-sale system company with 45 years of industry experience, now retired and seeking new opportunities. He consults with various organisations, from small businesses to large retailers and government institutions. Bernard is passionate about helping companies optimise their operations through innovative POS technology and enabling seamless customer experiences through effective software solutions.

In retail, many employees routinely interact with screens, which means fingerprints, dust, oils, and people's germs accumulate rapidly. If you look, you can see the oils, moisture, and food residue on the screens. Like many things, monitors need to be cleaned.

Selecting Safe Cleaning Materials for Touchscreen Care

Avoid using any ammonia, bleach, or window cleaning solutions from shops, as they can degrade the protective screen layers on your monitor, potentially causing permanent clouding. The best solution I have found is a few drops of unscented dishwashing liquid in water. You do not need a lot of water.

I suggest cleaning using a clean, lint-free microfibre cloth. Do not use paper towels, as they can scratch the screen surface. |

The Correct Method for Cleaning Retail Screens

Do not clean the monitor while it is hot. Let it cool down. A good time to do it is in the morning, before you start. What can happen is that the heat causes evaporation from the cleaning material can cause streaks. 

Power Down

Turn off the monitor first. Water and electricity are not a good combination.

Prepare Cloth

Dampen a micro fibre cloth with the cleaning solution. Do not soak the cloth; you want it to be moist, not wet.

Do not spray your cleaning solution directly on the screen; instead, spray it onto a cloth. You do not want liquid from entering gaps in the monitor.

Clean Surfaces

Gently wipe in a circular motion. Do the whole screen. Avoid wiping back and forth. It should take about 30 seconds per screen. You will be stunned by how much dirt there is on your screen.

If you have stubborn marks, please be careful when cleaning with your fingernails or a hard object, as the screen is easily scratched.

Dry & Polish

Use a separate dry microfibre cloth to remove the soapy water. Again, do not use paper towels as they can scratch a monitor.

Final Inspection

Check for streaks or spots before restarting the device. When it starts up, I am sure you will think it looks a lot better.

Written by:

Bernard Zimmermann is the founding director of POS Solutions, a leading point-of-sale system company with 45 years of industry experience, now retired and seeking new opportunities. He consults with various organisations, from small businesses to large retailers and government institutions. Bernard is passionate about helping companies optimise their operations through innovative POS technology and enabling seamless customer experiences through effective software solutions.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) proposed eliminating merchant surcharges on EFTPOS and credit cards as part of its 2025 review of merchant card payment costs. The RBA claims this move would simplify payments, increase transparency, and save consumers an estimated $1.2 billion annually. Businesses would also benefit from their proposed lower interchange fees. They then asked the public to comment on their proposal here. They received approximately 85 responses, and as expected, the reactions are mixed, mainly concerning costs and the likely business impact. What I have done here is review many of the responses and provide a summary of their views. The first point to note before I go into the details is that every one of them thinks the existing system is wrong and they want change. 

To understand the divide, let's start with consumer views, which primarily support the change.

Consumer Perspectives

Consumer advocates, such as Choice, broadly welcome the proposal. They view surcharges as unpredictable fees that add to everyday expenses in our cashless society. These fees feel like hidden costs. Advocates note that 85% of Australians prefer prices to include everything, rather than having to pay additional fees at checkout. Overall, they believe the public will save money.

Personal Insight

It annoys me too. Furthermore, despite our efforts, many clients don't activate Least Cost Routing (LCR) to cut merchant costs. Often, it's ignored, and many merchants assume that, since customers will cover the fees via surcharges, they do not need to worry about it. I disagree that your higher fees are costing you. Activate LCR now!

SMB Business Views

These express caution, fearing that the ban could force them to absorb the costs. They do not see the fee reduction as adequate. Those in low-margin sectors, such as retail, highlight risks to viability. For instance, if a business operates on a 4% margin and costs rise by 1% due to lost surcharges, that's a quarter of their profit erased. Some are predicting inflationary pressure. They tend to see the EFTPOS and credit card fees as high.

I consider this fear to be justified. Many merchants have no control over the prices. Without surcharges, many in the public will switch to premium cards with even higher fees that the merchant will have to pay. Consider this analogy: the cost of delivery does not disappear, even if someone claims a merchant cannot charge for it. The merchant will pay the price of the goods, or the price will go up. It will undoubtedly be inflationary.

Payment service operators (banks) tend to support some surcharge as they are concerned about squeezed margins. They now view debit and credit card fees as low. I liked the NAB response, which is worth a read.

Fin tech providers tend to prefer a surcharge-free electronic payment method, but they also accept that surcharges are necessary in today's market. Some see opportunities for alternatives, such as account-to-account payments, which some chemists are currently testing, as well as bitcoin.

Visa endorses the ban, as it will reduce consumer confusion, but doubts that the RBA's interchange fees are viable without cuts in services, such as fraud protection.

Industry Group Reactions

Retail and payment industry groups are emphasising potential unintended consequences. For example, the Australian Retailers Association argues that while surcharge removal simplifies operations, it will also obscure payment costs, making competition more challenging in margin-tight environments.

Groups like the Independent Payments Forum stress that the fees are the cause of the surcharges; the result will just be hiding these costs. They also dislike that larger organisations are charged significantly less in bank fees. Please review the graph provided below, which illustrates this point.

For many of our readers the ALNA submission will be relevant and well worth a read too.

Expert and Analyst Opinions

These are generally positive, e.g. Professor Steve Worthington describes himself as "delighted," noting it ensures "the price you see is the price you pay,". They point to the UK's experience with a surcharge ban, which led to a slight increase in inflation but improved transparency.

However, some caution that without robust enforcement, costs could shift to unregulated areas, such as Buy Now Pay Later services. I have my doubts about that. BNPL generally now has no customer surcharges but very high merchant fees.

Impacts of RBA Surcharge Removal

We have divided opinions here.

On a personal note, I would like to see the RBA examine the existing fees in detail to determine whether they are high or low.

What do you think of the RBA proposal?

Written by:

Bernard Zimmermann is the founding director of POS Solutions, a leading point-of-sale system company with 45 years of industry experience, now retired and seeking new opportunities. He consults with various organisations, from small businesses to large retailers and government institutions. Bernard is passionate about helping companies optimise their operations through innovative POS technology and enabling seamless customer experiences through effective software solutions.

Duplicate invoice payments plague SMB retailers, draining profits through accidental overpayments. Picture this scenario in your shop: you receive your stock, along with an invoice. You promptly settle. Days later, another version of the same invoice arrives in the mail. You process it again without realising the duplication. Such oversights can go undetected. This isn’t just a theoretical risk. In my years advising Australian retailers, I’ve seen it happen frequently.

For instance, during a system upgrade, we found a newsagent client who had paid a supplier three times for a delivery. First, a paper invoice with the goods was provided, which was paid for. It was followed by an emailed version, which was paid. Finally, a statement with a credit listing showing the two prior payments with a credit. That the credit was also paid. You would not even dream of such an error occurring, but it did.

The problem is that, as an SMB business, you often juggle multiple roles, including stock management and customer service. It's a lot of work and requires a great deal of thought; sometimes we miss things. To be fair, I have seen these mistakes occur even in larger organisations with dedicated accounting teams. The best result is unnecessary cash outflows, strains on supplier partnerships, and time lost in fixing. The worst and most common result is a loss of money for your company, as the loss is never found.

To safeguard you, let’s first uncover why duplicate payments happen so frequently.

Understanding the Common Causes of Duplicate Payments

To effectively address duplicate invoice payments, we must identify the underlying causes of these issues.

Here are the main causes in my experience:

-By far, data entry errors are the big ones. When manually entering an invoice, even a minor typo, such as an incorrect number, can result in errors. Say you are 99% accurate; well, that makes several errors over a year, each potentially costing your business.

-The same invoice can arrive many times in various formats, from emailed PDFs to printed slips accompanying deliveries or follow-up statements, making it easy to accidentally put them in if you are not careful.

-Today, using AI for invoice processing can be a real time saver, but it can also introduce errors. We often find several errors in the AI reading of the invoice. Based on our experience, we believe that this AI technology is not yet fully developed; however, once it is, it will be a real game-changer.

-Suppliers sometimes revise invoices for credits or discounts. This creates a new-looking bill that’s really just a variation of the original. In one case from my experience, an incorrect curtain measurement led to an adjusted invoice, which was processed twice because the person entering it saw it as two different invoices.

-Multiple staff members handle invoices without coordinated communication, and double entries become very likely.

A modern POS system should extend beyond transaction processing and can help you in this regard.

Strategies to Prevent Duplicate Payments Effectively

Here are my practical approaches to help minimise duplicate payments.

-Start by using the supplier's reference number over any internal coding you might use. You already have internal coding in your POS system. Doing this will create a consistent, traceable identifier that simplifies discussions with suppliers. In our POS system, attempting to enter the same reference number triggers an automatic alert, acting as a safeguard during data entry. If unsure, cross-check the invoice amounts, as duplicates often share identical figures; however, variations can still occur. That is why our POS System includes a dashboard with colour-coded highlights for recent entries, offering visual cues that quickly reveal matches.

-Establish an expected spending budget for each supplier to serve as an early warning mechanism. For example, if your monthly outlay totals around $500 but suddenly spikes to $1,000, investigate. It could signal a duplicate.

-Have one person to do all invoice entries if possible. It minimises confusion from shared responsibilities. If that is impossible, split the invoice entry into a logical order so no one enters the details of someone else.

-Enable logging features in your software to record who inputs data. It gives accountability.

-Adopt a two-system verification process: input data into your POS first, and then check that it matches your accounting software.

-Ensure your financial system aligns with your supplier statements by comparing figures.

Taking the Next Steps Towards Better Invoice Management

Now is the ideal moment to take control of your invoice processes.

Written by:

Bernard Zimmermann is the founding director of POS Solutions, a leading point-of-sale system company with 45 years of industry experience, now retired and seeking new opportunities. He consults with various organisations, from small businesses to large retailers and government institutions. Bernard is passionate about helping companies optimise their operations through innovative POS technology and enabling seamless customer experiences through effective software solutions.

The Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) ban on surcharges for debit and credit card payments, proposed to take effect on 1 July 2026, will, if accepted, significantly reshape the payment methods used in your store. This reform targets surcharging fees that retailers add to transactions paid for using Visa and Mastercard.

I am building on my article from yesterday, which sparked lively discussions. Let's explore the key issues you should consider.

Firstly, this proposal does not address the cause of why people charge these surcharges; the symptom of the surcharge is not the cause. Nor does it address the fact that SMB businesses pay significantly higher fees than larger organisations, often 350% more. The only point mentioned here that is relevant is the greater transparency in the costs. However, it's become quite transparent now. When I reviewed my EFTPOS and credit charges last time, I got, among other documents, a charge table showing the rates the bank would charge depending on my turnover and average transaction value.

If the proposal is accepted, likely fallouts include reduced cash transactions, increased credit card usage, continuing fee disparities between SMBs and large organisations, and some inflationary pressures.

Exploring the Key Fallouts if the Proposal Proceeds

Why Cash Might Fade Faster

13% of payments were made using cash in 2022, which is down from 70% in 2007, and that number is projected to fall to just 4% by 2030, according to Australian Banking Association.

Cash has long been popular for small, everyday purchases, such as a quick coffee or a newspaper at your local shop. Its appeal lies in the simplicity and lack of fees for both you and the customer. However, with surcharges banned, the cost barrier between cash and cards vanishes for consumers. Why would they dig for coins when tapping a card costs the same? This shift would further diminish the role of money, accelerating a trend already evident in Australia, which is what the Australian government aims to achieve.

Beyond diminishing cash use, we can expect to see a greater use of credit cards, as this ban would also equalise charges, leading to another key shift: many will ask, Why use debit when they can get credit for free?

Debating the Consumer Savings and Business Losses

The RBA estimates that Australian consumers could save nearly $1.2 billion annually if the proposal is implemented, equating to approximately $60 per card-using adult. This figure is debatable. Much of this money will shift elsewhere in the system, rather than disappear. That $1.2 billion represents a substantial loss to Australian businesses, particularly the large issuers of debit and credit cards, who stand to take significant revenue hits if the reforms proceed in their current form without changes.

Fee Hikes

Major banks will seek to recover losses from lowered interchange fees.

Running payment networks for Visa, Mastercard, and EFTPOS is enormously expensive. The cost of infrastructure, security, and global operations costs won't disappear under this plan.

Banks will need to pass these costs on somewhere. They might increase cardholder fees, such as annual charges or interest rates. But hiking merchant fees through administration charges is more likely.

Uncertainties Around Overseas Cards and Surcharging

It's unclear whether the plan will allow surcharges on overseas cards, such as American Express or a Visa issued in Singapore. I suspect that some form of surcharging will still be permitted for international transactions. It creates a pain point, as we will need to distinguish between domestic and foreign cards at checkout, which is long overdue. If this is done, we can adapt our POS systems to automatically detect card types, allowing us to handle surcharges without slowing down service.

Potential Inflationary Effects and Price Adjustments

Many businesses that currently apply surcharges are already considering price increases to compensate for the lost revenue. If you are among them, this approach makes sense to protect your margins, but it will contribute to slight inflationary pressures across the economy. If you are affected here, this will require careful handling to avoid alienating price-sensitive customers.

Turning Challenges into Opportunities with Practical Strategies

It's not all downside, as I stated yesterday, these changes will eliminate surcharge-related disputes, thereby fostering a better shopping experience. The reality is that customers hate surcharges.

With the timeline in 2026, you have time to prepare.

One idea worth considering is offering cash discounts after the ban is lifted. It remains an allowable option and can encourage customers to choose cash, thereby reducing your fee exposure. For example, one of my clients offers a free can of drink if the transaction is over $30 and is paid in cash. It worked well.

You need to consider how to adapt your payment strategy.

Written by:

Bernard Zimmermann is the founding director of POS Solutions, a leading point-of-sale system company with 45 years of industry experience, now retired and seeking new opportunities. He consults with various organisations, from small businesses to large retailers and government institutions. Bernard is passionate about helping companies optimise their operations through innovative POS technology and enabling seamless customer experiences through effective software solutions.

If you own or manage a retail business in Australia, it's time to consider the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) proposed changes to card payments, which aim to eliminate surcharges on debit and credit cards. While the RBA surcharge ban offers some benefits, it also brings challenges for SMB retailers.

The Labor Party entered the last election committed to eliminating debit card surcharges, which were part of their election promises. Now the RBA has expanded this significantly, proposing a broader ban that includes both debit and credit cards. If it goes through, it will directly impact many SMB retailers as it means you will no longer be able to impose a surcharge to offset the costs of accepting credit, debit, or prepaid cards from major networks such as Mastercard, Visa, or EFTPOS. This forces you to absorb these expenses.

After yesterday's consultation, although we were hoping for something better, we concluded that it's not all negative, as the RBA is also requesting that interchange fees be lowered. For instance, debit card interchange fees are to be decreased from 10 cents to 6 cents per transaction, while credit card fees go to 0.3%. The plan also caps fees for foreign cards, but it's unclear how this works. For example, if a French bank charges 50 cents, what does the RBA propose? Reading the document, it's unclear how these lower fees are to be passed on to the SMB retailer. My immediate concern is whether the banks will be able to charge additional or higher administration fees to offset these reductions.

The RBA plan will require payment processors to disclose their fees in a clear and comparable manner, segmented by merchant size and card type. Although some saw this as a positive, I view it as insignificant, as reputable payment processors have been doing this for some time.

These changes are scheduled to commence on 1 July 2026. At least this gives us all a reasonable timeframe for adaptation.

Before I review some of the positives and negatives, let me note that today, the debit card is the dominant form of payment in retail, and it should, as such, be the default payment method for pricing.

Positives for SMB Businesses

The reforms could reduce card acceptance costs through new, lower caps on interchange fees. Since most SMBs already absorb these costs into pricing, they stand to save money. The RBA estimates that 90% of businesses that do not surcharge will benefit (our data shows 70% do not surcharge), meaning the majority could still gain.

Eliminating the surcharge will prevent many customer disputes, complaints, and confusion, and reduce friction with customers.

The push for greater fee transparency is another benefit, as it eliminates the need for you to request it directly. Potentially leading to cost savings.

It does not stop you from offering discounts for cash transactions. This approach rewards customers who opt for the lower-cost option of cash without violating the new surcharge ban.

Implementation costs, while present, are relatively modest. In our POS System and most others, it's just a minor change to the settings. The price of many goods in the shop will need to be changed to include the costs of the surcharges.

Challenges and Considerations, the negatives.

While the reforms offer substantial upsides, they also present problems for SMB businesses operating today with tight margins. Payment providers will still be charging fees, which SMBs must now absorb. For retailers in low-margin sectors, such as those with regulated or capped prices, like Lotto, I doubt they will see an increase in merchant margins to compensate for the loss of the surcharge. Lotto has made it quite clear that they do not like these surcharges.

Unfortunately, the plan favours larger retailers, who now have better rates, over smaller ones, and the RBA seems unconcerned with that.

The ban on surcharges encourages customers to use higher-cost cards. Many will switch from debit to credit cards. What happens if an American Express card is used?

Reliance on payment providers to pass through savings from lower interchange fees introduces uncertainty. I have spoken to them several times about this issue, and they claim that they are making little of it. If so, where do they make up the difference? Therefore, although the RBA anticipates that these reductions will benefit merchants, there is no guarantee that they will occur. Will there be higher administrative charges?

Additionally, merchants will lose some negotiating leverage with banks, as the current surcharges have been a concern for the banks.

The Outlook for SMB Retailers

With the current strong political backing, the RBA's plan is likely to proceed as outlined in their July 2025 consultation paper. SMB retailers should prepare now for the July 1, 2026, rollout.

So get ready to adapt? Once we are aware of the exact changes, we will provide a free guide to our users to help them make the necessary adjustments.

This information is based on the RBA's consultation papers from July 2025, which can be found here.

Written by:

Bernard Zimmermann is the founding director of POS Solutions, a leading point-of-sale system company with 45 years of industry experience, now retired and seeking new opportunities. He consults with various organisations, from small businesses to large retailers and government institutions. Bernard is passionate about helping companies optimise their operations through innovative POS technology and enabling seamless customer experiences through effective software solutions.

Negative inventory, also known as negative stock, is when your system shows that item quantities are negative. For SMB retailers, this is a warning sign of serious inventory management issues that need immediate attention. Every instance points to deeper problems in your POS system. If not fixed, this negative stock can quickly lead to significant issues.

Understanding the causes of negative stock is a first step toward resolving these discrepancies.

Understanding negative stock

When your records display negative stock, your stock quantities information is unreliable, making it difficult to make informed business decisions. As a result, staff may lose trust in the POS system and hesitate to rely on its information. If the staff start to realise that your controls are weak, it can be disastrous as it invites staff theft.

Additionally, negative inventory distorts sales, purchasing, and financial reports, making it more difficult to analyse performance.

Beyond data reliability, negative inventory also disrupts key business reports.

Causes of Negative Inventory and How to Prevent Them

Negative stock usually results from a mix of factors. -Delays in processing supplier invoices (leading to sales before stock is entered into the POS System) -Errors in supplier invoices -Staff entering incorrect quantities.

Fortunately, some preventative measures can help minimise these inventory incidents.

Preventing negative inventory starts with robust staff training. Ensuring your team understands correct inventory procedures and that you consider it essential to do accurate data entry. Checking carefully that suppliers' electronic invoices match the deliveries. Implementing barcode scanning for both receiving and selling stock significantly reduces manual entry errors.

Financial and Customer Service Consequences

Negative stock can have significant financial consequences, as it distorts your KPIs and leads to incorrect calculations of the cost of goods sold (COGS) and profit margins.

Possibly the biggest problem is that it will result in inaccurate GST tax reporting.

From a customer service perspective, negative inventory can lead to lost sales and a poor customer experience, as the computer indicates that you do not have stock when, in fact, you do have the stock the customer is looking for to buy.

Detecting and Correcting Negative Inventory

To address negative inventory, use your POS system to run reports like 'Quantity On Hand' or 'Price Check.' It is easier to do it one department at a time rather than the whole shop at once. Items with negative quantities are clearly shown. Please investigate each case to identify whether the cause is a counting error, data entry mistake, or delayed invoice.

These financial inaccuracies also impact customer service in tangible ways.

Finding the negative stock

Fortunately, we have a quick and easy way to check stock quantities for what you have on hand.
 
Go to reports. There is an option for Quantity On Hand and Price check; click on that.

We exclude items with zero stock. 
 
I suggest doing it by department, so in this example, I picked the dissection (department) tobacco. 
 

Now, in the outcomes report, which lists the details of your item, look at the quantities on hand in the QOH column. You may see items in brackets, as indicated by the green arrow below; these are the negative Stock Discrepancies.

At first, you will find it a lot of work to fix it, but once done, it's relatively quick.

You should frequently check this report for negative stock values, say monthly until the problem is fixed.

Now, audit these negative items to determine what went wrong in your inventory management system.

Inventory Adjustment Best Practices

After completing a stocktake, your inventory figures are at their most accurate. So it is the ideal time to review and correct any discrepancies.

When making inventory adjustments, it is a good idea to determine the reason for each correction. It can reduce the problem in the future.

Real-World Example: The Cost of Negative Inventory

A staff member mistakenly told a customer that the item was out of stock when it was actually in stock. It led to a lost sale for the business. When the staff member saw they had the jumpers, they reported this to the owner. What she found was a negative quantity for a popular jumper. However, upon investigation, they discovered that they had not entered a recent delivery invoice.

Empowering Your Retail Business

With proactive prevention and early detection, negative inventory can be handled by utilising tools like our reports to stay informed about your stock quantities.

Only by understanding the causes can you fix the problem.

Let us know if you have any other questions!

*This article draws on industry best practices and current expert recommendations to help SMB retailers understand and tackle negative inventory.

Written by:

Bernard Zimmermann is the founding director of POS Solutions, a leading point-of-sale system company with 45 years of industry experience, now retired and seeking new opportunities. He consults with various organisations, from small businesses to large retailers and government institutions. Bernard is passionate about helping companies optimise their operations through innovative POS technology and enabling seamless customer experiences through effective software solutions.

Maintaining a healthy retail profit margin is more crucial today as everything is changing now. Suppliers are adjusting prices that were artificially kept low during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, with inflation, higher hidden taxation, and persistently high interest rates, SMB retailers are facing increased costs, which is causing erosion of their profits.

Why Margins Matter

A margin is the difference between your cost and selling price. Any drop will have an impact on your profitability.

How to Review and Track Margins Effectively

Establishing a Proactive Margin Review Process

Margin protection starts with how often and how thoroughly you review your numbers. Relying solely on ad-hoc checks from time to time is a dangerous approach. With a POS system, it is easy and quick to do so. Why not schedule a monthly margin review for your shop? This will allow you to identify pressures early and take corrective action before profits slip away.

Leveraging POS Technology for Margin Protection

Modern POS systems can simplify margin management. For example, reports like “Quantity On Hand and Price Check” display your margins in a clear, list format. Use this report to identify low-margin items quickly. Then ask yourself why they’re so low.

I find it better to do it department by department.

Regularly reviewing this report empowers you to take timely action and protect your profit margins.

Ready to Protect Your Retail Profit Margin?

First, you must look into your business and run the numbers.

Now I suggest you run "Quantity On Hand and Price Check" report.

This shows your margins. It makes it quicker to check as it is in a list.

Benchmarking: Stay Competitive

Don’t operate in isolation. Checking your figures against those of similar retailers in your area can also be a helpful exercise. If your prices deviate significantly, you need to investigate. A quick walk around the area, plus a study on the internet, can tell you what you need to know.

Action Steps for Retailers

Achieving sustained profitability in retail requires a continuous commitment to margin management. Here’s how to get started:

• Set a regular monthly review schedule
• Leverage your POS technology, have you set up automatic margin tracking
• Review pricing and promotions
• Compare your performance to industry standards.

Improving your profit margins was good, but it's necessary now.

Written by:

Bernard Zimmermann is the founding director of POS Solutions, a leading point-of-sale system company with 45 years of industry experience, now retired and seeking new opportunities. He consults with various organisations, from small businesses to large retailers and government institutions. Bernard is passionate about helping companies optimise their operations through innovative POS technology and enabling seamless customer experiences through effective software solutions.