When you step into an Apple Store, there is one thing you wouldn’t be able to find: POS (Point of Sale).
Normally, in other stores, after you select your item to purchase you will head over to a counter, which will have a POS.
Point of Sale
image @ tridentmerchantservices.comPoint Of Sale
Point of Sale is where the customers line up to use cash or credit card to finalize their purchase. However, how many times did you feel frustrated, waiting in the long line, just to get the item checked out.
There are times when the employee who helped you in the process stepping behind the counter to check your item out, or sometimes there will be someone who is stationed behind the counter asking you this question, ‘Did anyone help you out, while you were shopping?’
Apple revolutionized this whole process.
Apple Store Easy Pay
image @ appleinsider.com
Instead of waiting in an additional line to get your item checked-out, an Apple employee will take out their iPhone/iPod based EasyPay device, scan the barcode, and ask you for a method of payment, which will normally be; a credit card.
Then you might wonder ‘Then how can I receive my receipt?’
Your receipt will be sent via email, and you will be set to go.
Not only does the employees have a personalized POS, they also carry an iPad, which they use the customer additional information, regarding a product, schedule the customer for workshops and repairs. The best part is that every employee can see the status of everything happening in the store: how many people are in line, the status of a repair. You don’t need to run to a manager to ask every single question; everyone becomes a manager.
POS in Customer’s Hand
I just discovered that Apple released an app that enables the customers to pay and check out from their own phones. All you need to do is to connect with the Apple store Wifi, open the app, find easy pay, scan the barcode, and confirm the transaction. It is so easy, and another way of Apple empowering their customers, as they empower their employees.
Empowering God’s people
What does this have to do with the Church? I believe the church needs to find ways to empower the believers to truly be obedient to God’s call. God’s mission for God’s people is to become a light of the nations. All believers have their own unique mission, from God. Then what is the role of the church in God’s mission? It should be more focused on empowering God’s people and equipping them with the right tools.
There must be many ways to empower God’s people, but I want to highlight couple of ideas the church could utilizing technology.
More and more churches are using video small group curriculums, where the teaching the Bible is still done by the pastors, but caring and nurturing of the group is done by the small group leader.
What about uploading webinar series on the web, so anyone can share and access for their one-on-one meetings. The teaching will still be done by trained personnel, but the nurturing can be done by any willing member.
How many churches have iPads with applications that will help greeters welcome the visitors, and even help them become a member of the church. How many churches have information ready on these devices, where a single greeter can lead a one-on-one membership class?
I am not encouraging churches to purchase an iPad for their members, nor build an app. But I want to open a door of the possibility of empowering God’s people, by utilizing technology. Wouldn’t it be possible? Just a thought.
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