A point of sale (POS) is a system that businesses use to manage sales transactions. In the past, a POS in a shop would have been a big cash register and a ledger to record purchases and sales. Today we have hassle-free solutions that do a lot of the work automatically – from basic customer purchases to inventory management.
A POS can include accessories like a barcode scanner, a receipt printer, a card terminal or a cash drawer. Usually there’s also an internet-enabled device (like a tablet, smartphone or computer) that can run a point-of-sale app. One business might want a setup with lots of accessories, while another may only want the app. You can build your own so you only have what your business needs.
There are no hard-and-fast rules defining what a POS is, which can make understanding what you need for your POS a bit tricky. For example, physical stores and digital stores both need point-of-sale software to manage inventory and transactions; but a highstreet shop might also need hardware – a card machine or receipt printer, for example. POS setups can vary widely in price – from basic and affordable, to complex and expensive; and all POS providers charge a processing fee.
Although there’s not a one-size-fits-all solution for your POS, there are some key things you should look out for when choosing your system.
Take cash, chip and PIN, contactless card and device payments (like Apple, Samsung and Google Pay), plus online sales.
Customers can choose to have a printed receipt or a digital one via SMS or email.
Easy for staff to add, sum up or scan products at checkout; adjust the total; add discounts or give refunds.
User-friendly app that lets you manage your inventory without any training.
Complete inventory control with automatic, real-time sales tracking and alerts when stock runs low.
Detailed sales and product reports that can be exported for bookkeeping.
The company you got your POS from offer support or a help centre.
Automatic, secure backup on the cloud – so you never lose any of your important business information.
The POS app works on your regular smartphone or tablet – no need to buy or rent special devices, and no lock-in contracts.
The right point of sale system will allow your business to run smoothly. You won’t be weighed down by time-consuming inventory management or confused by complex software. In fact, it will make it easier for you to optimise your business, stay on top of accounting and keep your customers happy.
Our free retail POS software is easy to set up and start using, with everything you need to get paid and run your business – wherever you go.
Designed especially for cafés, bars and restaurants, our Food & Drink POS is simple to run and fast enough to keep up with the rush hour.
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