A Detailed Review of Clover POS System:
Clover is an intuitive point of sale (POS) system that is ideal for small and medium-size businesses. All types of businesses can use this highly adaptable and user-friendly software solution. The system is currently being used by thousands of organizations, with more than 1 million devices being shipped in the past five years.
So what’s so special about Clover POS? Why should you consider buying one for your business?
In this post, I will offer a detailed review of this system, including its pros, cons, price, and best features. After reading this, you might be able to decide whether you should buy this POS.
Table of Contents:
- Clover POS Review: Introduction
- Supported Operating Systems for Clover POS
- Versions of the Clover POS System
- Valuable Features
- What is the System Best For?
- Pricing Chart
- What Customers Like About Clover POS
- What Customers Disliked About Clover POS
- Best Alternatives to Clover POS
- Final Verdict
- Was this helpful?
- Recommended Reading
Clover POS Review: Introduction
Website: Clover POS
Clover POS is developed by First Data, which is one of the leading credit payment processing firms in the world. The company’s flagship POS solution has earned rave reviews from retail customers, and the system is currently available for businesses in Austria, Ireland, Germany, the UK, and the US.
The POS solution consists of user-friendly software, high-speed printer, cash register, and a touchscreen display. The package also includes a high-resolution camera and QR code, as well as a barcode scanner. You won’t have to buy other devices to use with the system.
A great thing that I like about this system is that it can be fully customized using different apps at the Clover marketplace. You can download dozens of apps that can extend the functionality of the system.
Here is a video that highlights the important features of Clover POS:
Supported Operating Systems for Clover POS
A great thing about Clover POS is that it supports all types of operating systems. You don’t have to install the software as everything is stored online. The only thing that is required is an internet connected device.
Updates are installed automatically without any user intervention. You can access the software from the Web Dashboard that displays key information regarding the business transactions.
Versions of the Clover POS System
Clover POS comes in four flavors in the US i.e. Clover Go, Clover Flex, Clover Mini, and Clover Station.
Clover Go
Clover Go is a mobile device attachment. You can use the device with a smartphone and tablet for processing chipcard, magstripe-only card, and contactless payments.
The device is great for mobile businesses. You can integrate the device with reporting and sales app as well as accounting software.
Clover Flex
Clover Flex is a portable POS hardware that connects through 3G or Wi-Fi. The device is suitable for on-the-go payments. It consists of a receipt printer, card machine, and barcode scanner. It can last for up to 8 hours on a single charge.
This device is great for quick-serve businesses such as drive-in restaurants, repair vans, and food trucks. This device can process many different types of payments including NFC payments, credit cards, debit cards, and EMV chips.
Clover Mini
Clover Mini is a stationary countertop POS system that connects through Wi-Fi. The screen can be placed in front of the customer for greater transparency while taking orders.
The mini is the best device for small businesses. It has many basic functions that let you process payments. The device can become a stand-alone POS with apps from the market place.
Clover Station
Clover Station is the fixed stationary hardware and software POS solution. The device comes with a terminal screen, cash drawer, Clover Mini, and bar code scanner.
Using the Clover Station, you can monitor inventory, process payments, manage time sheets, sync with devices, and run different reports. The device is suitable for established medium sized businesses with large sales volume.
Valuable Features
Clover POS has a lot of valuable features. I personally like the initiative order management features. You can add items to a new or existing order using the Tables or Register app. You can associate items to the existing modifier or a custom one. Also, you can apply discounts and refunds to orders.
The system can process a variety of payment options including cheque, cash, credit card, and debit card. Moreover, Clover Mobile and Mini versions support additional payment options such as Apple Pay, EMV, Android Pay, and Google Hands-Free.
Yet another great feature that I like about this POS is its employment management and authorization feature. You can add employees and assign them login pins. The device allows you to create different job roles and provide access to the employees based on their designated position.
Other noteworthy features of the POS system include reporting, remote order printing, inventory management, customer management, and customized gift cards.
Features: At a Glance
- Built-in payment processing
- Order management tools
- Inventory management
- Employee shifts and staff accounting
- Customer engagement tools
- Item level taxes and discounts
- Remote order printing
- Access to the Clover App market.
What is the System Best For?
The POS solution is best for retail businesses that serve customers directly like shopping malls, restaurants, quick-serve food service, hospitals, vets, and barber shops. The system can also be used by guest houses, hotels, and motels.
While the system lacks the advanced features of specific POS systems, I believe that the basic features of this system will meet the needs of most service businesses.
Moreover, the design of the system makes it appealing to style-conscious merchants. This is better and more effective when compared to the chunky card terminals with computer screens.
Best For:
- Retail businesses
- Guesthouses and motels
- Restaurants
- Service businesses
Pricing Chart
Hardware
Hardware | Costs |
---|---|
Clover Go | $59 |
Clover Flex | $449 |
Clover Mini | $599 |
Clover Station | $1,199 |
Software Plans
Software Plans | Costs (per month) | Features |
---|---|---|
Register Lite | $59 | Accept multiple payments, set employee permissions, monitor sales, reports, discount rewards, Clover market app. |
Register | $449 | All Register Lite features plus customer feedback, inventory management, order management, item level discounts, rewards, and taxes, remote order printing. |
The Clover POS price plan caters to both small and medium-sized businesses. Small businesses can find that the basic plan will meet most of their business needs. Larger businesses can purchase the POS Station and select advanced pricing plan to process a large number of payments and track inventory.
Purchasing multiple POS terminal and station can cost more than $1,000. However, you can also buy two to three mobile devices for about the same price.
What Customers Like About Clover POS
Easy Installation
Most of the customers have praised how easy it is to install the system. You can get the system up and running within a few minutes. Just plug in the provided cable, follow the screen prompts, and your system is ready to use.
All the essential features are pre-installed. Minimum assembly is required when you receive the system. You can start the final process of setting up the system after booting the system.
You can also easily add a new integration. Log on to the Clover App Market and select your preferred application. You can then buy and download the app from the market.
In case you have any difficulty in installing the system, the easy-to-read help system can guide you through the process of setting up the hardware.
User-Friendly Interface
A lot of users have praised the easy user interface of the system. You can add and remove items in a jiffy. By just a few taps in the screen, you can easily update the inventory.
You can use the system without any formal training. Navigating the system is effortless. You can find everything on the menus. The layout can be customized as well to suit your exact preferences.
Powerful Features
Clover POS has a lot of powerful features. Business owners can track inventory and process payments. Every item can be assigned with attributes, modifiers, and variants. The features give business owners a powerful way to organize and manage inventories.
The basic features are sufficient for the daily operations of most businesses. The daily totals can be pulled up quickly at the end of each day. The comprehensive report prepared by the system will show tip totals, the payment received, and much other useful information.
The online portal also offers a detailed set of features that can help in analyzing trends and growing business.
All-in-one Solution
Many people like the fact that Clover POS is a complete solution for order management and inventory tracking. Users can also use the system for payment processing and receipt printing. The system allows contactless payment. The employees can also print a receipt, scan a barcode, and do much more with this system.
Pleasant Design
The proprietary design of the POS system will please most of the users. The visually driven interface has a large screen. Most users have praised the aesthetically pleasant and intuitive interface of the system.
The screen resembles a smartphone device. The menus and icons appear similar to a mobile device. As a result, most of them don’t have much difficulty in transitioning to the new system.
Online Connectivity
You can access management features from the terminal station and also the online portal. This allows business owners to keep up to date with the sales from anywhere. You can gain access to the system data to control permissions of individual users.
Fully Customizable with Apps
Probably the best thing about Clover POS is the availability of different apps that can increase the functionality of the system. The application costs about $60 to $499.
Some notable apps that you can download from the Clover App market include the following.
- Better Delivery: The app integrates with Clover and schedules the deliveries in the form of directional batches. This greatly optimizes the scheduling of delivery by providing efficiency to a company.
- Yelp for Business Reviews: You can install this app to view the analytics of the customer reviews about a product.
- DispsenseMe: This useful app gives customers change in coins. It is a handy app to account for cents and dimes.
Apart from the above, you will find many different apps in the online marketplace. The Fun for Customers section contain apps that can print coloring sheets and games onto receipts to keep the kids of the client’s happy.
You can find many useful apps for mobile inventory management under the Organize Inventory section. The Sell Online section contains apps to integrate e-commerce website with the store. There are also dozens of apps that can help you to analyze business performance, give rewards and loyalty cards to customers and many other tasks.
What Customers Disliked About Clover POS
High Costs
Most of the users had complained about the high upfront costs of the system. While the basic plan is affordable, many find that the basic functionalities are very limited. To avail the advanced features, you must pay a high monthly fee.
The cost of the Clover POS device is also high. Still, medium-sized businesses will find the device and pricing plan affordable.
Small business users who want to benefit from the POS solution can buy Clover GO and sign up for the basic plan that is more affordable.
Poor Customer Service
Customer service has also been criticized by many users. The customer service is unresponsive most of the time. This creates frustration among customers who want to resolve problems related to the system.
Best Alternatives to Clover POS
You are not limited to Clover POS when it comes to inventory management. There are a couple of alternatives that also offer great value for money.
Here are the top five systems that you should also consider while looking for a POS solution.
POS Solution | Main Features | Price |
---|---|---|
Square POS Hardware | Magstripe reader, item management app, real-time inventory, sales tracker, reporting | Free to download; Fee: 2.75% per transaction |
Toast POS | Best for restaurants, tableside notifications, analytics/reporting, food menu management | Free trial Software: $79/month Installation: $499 |
Miva Merchant | Inventory monitoring, order tracking, analytics, revenue tracking, automated email | $79.95 to $1495 /month |
Saapad | purchase management, inventory management, call center module, sales reports, ERP integration, recipe management, reporting | $59 to $2499 /month |
AccuPOS | Inventory management, barcode scanning, customizable GUI, credit payment processing, gift cards | Free trial $59 to $79/month |
Final Verdict
Clover POS is a great payment processing solution for different types of firms. In my opinion, the system is particularly suited for restaurants, cafes, and retail businesses. Features that I personally like about the system include the all-in-one hardware and software solution and a large list of customizable apps.
The system is easy to install and use. You can easily add products and costs and organize your inventory without having to go through the manual. The detailed reports provide a snapshot of business transactions that can help in decision making.
While the system may be a bit costly, its wide variety of features and ease of use makes it a must-have for all businesses.
Hope you enjoyed this informative tutorial on Clover POS!!