How to Choose a POS System for Your Shop

A point-of-sale system sits at the centre of a shop: every sale, every discount and every stock movement passes through it. Choosing well saves time at the counter and gives you reliable numbers at the end of the day.

What matters at the counter

• Billing speed — barcode scanning and quick product search.
• Simple handling of discounts, returns, exchanges and credit customers.
• Clear receipts and an easy daily closing routine.
• A screen your cashiers can learn in an hour.

What matters behind the counter

• Stock that updates automatically with every sale and purchase.
• Reports by product, cashier, day and branch.
• User roles, so cashiers see only what they should.
• Backups, and a plan for short internet or power interruptions.

If you have, or plan to have, several branches

Look for central control of products and prices, stock transfers between branches and consolidated reports. Adding branches to a system that was not designed for them is painful and expensive.

Hardware and integration

Check that the software works with the barcode scanners, receipt printers, cash drawers and scales you want to use. Ask whether it can connect to your accounting or ERP, and to an online store if you plan to sell online.

Questions to ask any vendor

• Who owns the data and can you export it?
• What happens if the internet goes down?
• How are updates handled, and what do they cost?
• Who supports you, and how quickly do they respond?