More and more retailers are starting to augment (or even replace) their traditional cash registers with smartphones and tablets that possess point-of-sale capability.

With a relatively small investment of time and money, a store can easily set up a mobile point-of-sale (POS) system with an iPad and a plug-in credit card reader. The IHL Group, a research firm that studies the industry, expects a 110 percent increase in the number of mobile point-of-sale installations this year.

There are several reasons why mobile point-of-sale systems can be a particularly good idea for small businesses.

MORE CHANCES FOR UPSELLING Once a customer joins the line for a cash register, the “sales window” has essentially closed, according to management firm Accenture, which released a study on the topic. The checkout clerk generally will not have the same level of product knowledge that a sales associate would.

When associates are in charge of ringing up a purchase, it’s easier for them to suggest a complementary product and walk the customer over to the shelf or department where that item is waiting.

According to the IHL Group, that typically leads to a 25 percent boost in sales.

QUICKER ACCESS TO DATA Many mobile point-of-sale systems can monitor a shop’s inventory—making it simpler for owners and their sales associates to see if an item is in stock or check prices. Even better, IHL discovered, tablets let managers spend more time out of their offices and on the floor, which generally leads to a healthier shop.

EASIER TO SCALE UP OR DOWN Let’s say a shop experiences a burst of sales activity around Christmas. Adding an extra tablet is faster than purchasing a fixed point-of-sale terminal, and it allows stores to deploy staffers where they’re needed most, Accenture found.

BETTER CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE Nobody likes standing in lines, and that includes customers. Using mobile point-of-sale systems allows small businesses to quickly process a sale, preventing a chokepoint at the checkout line.

In some larger stores, Accenture found what its researchers called “POS deserts”—places where the customer has to walk up to two minutes to get to a register. That’s frustrating for shoppers, and it could give them time to reconsider whether they really need to make that purchase after all.

James Hart is the managing editor of Thinking Bigger Business Media.(913) 432-6690 // jhart@ithinkbigger.com