What is a POS system?
A POS system, or point-of-sale system, eases transactions in retail sales. Modern POS systems are a mixture of hardware and software that often includes a card reader, barcode scanner, cash drawer, and receipt printer. The customer interface is mostly a touchscreen.
Small Business POS software has the characteristics and functionalities for order management, customer management, inventory management, shift management, reporting, and payment management. It can also execute the functions of maintaining inventory management, customer records and POS operations.
LightSpeed
Lightspeed Retail combined with Lightspeed eCommerce which offers a powerful cloud-based POS and integrated online store. The system can also be used on an ipad or desktop computer depending on your store setup and personal preference. The best thing about lightspeed is its advanced ecommerce system that is completely in-house, which means you won’t need to integrate outside ecommerce software to use it. Other important features on Lightspeed ecommerce platforms are
- Mobile optimization
- Built in SEO tools
- Integrated shipping
- Built-in blog
- Social and review site integration
- Website analytics
- Easy customer returns
- Customizable template and many more
Shopify
The latest version of Shopify includes both ecommerce and brick and mortar sale functionality, enabling even the smallest retailers to sell either online or offline with ease. Shopify is here with affordable monthly packages for merchants who sell exclusively in-store or on the web. Shopify operates on iPad, iPhone and android app, also includes integrated payment processing with Shopify payments.
The features this POS offers include:
- Offers in-store or curbside pickup and local delivery for social distance during COVID-19
- Handle inventory across all channels
- Include mobile POS application to help staff flexibly serve customers anywhere in the store
- Offer store performance and reporting through Shopify POS mobile app
Vend POS
This is a cloud solution located in New Zealand. Vend is a simple POS system developed strictly for brick-and-mortar retailers. Vend is one among the few best small business POS systems that come with store credits, loyalty programs, sorting tools, offline processing, and product catalogue management. Also, Vend integrates with many various payment processors and payment options like PayPal to fit your financial ability. It offers an amazing direct point of sale software for small businesses. Here are some notable features:
- Add a duo-display for customers to increase transaction transparency
- Receive partial and split payment methods, including cash, bank cards, gift cards, mobile contactless payments
- Support a lot of devices which includes Mac or PC at the same time (you can use one to consult the customer and the other for the customer to enter their email and receive the goods)
- Offer inventory management functionality
- Integrate sales, product, and employee reports
TouchBistro
TouchBistro provides a restaurant POS system that fits any business size. It is an all-in-one platform that provides all the functionalities for handling restaurants. It has flexible pricing and can be a better solution for small businesses. It can be used for different restaurant types like food trucks, cafes, coffee shops, etc.
Features
- It has features for reservations, online ordering, gift cards, loyalty, etc.
- TouchBistro has products for restaurant operations such as payments, a self-serve Kiosk, digital menu board, and kitchen display system.
- It provides a customer-facing display that helps with increasing guest satisfaction and shortening queues.
- It can provide reports and analytics.
You will be able to deliver a standout guest experience by using this system.
ShopKeep
ShopKeep offers the POS system for small businesses with all the characteristics. It has in-depth inventory management, smart staff management, intuitive register and real-time analytics.
Features
- Has back-office features like staff management and customer management.
- Has functions for customizable receipts, label printing and billing management.
- For managing the inventory, it has functions for managing the inventory in bulk, tracking the inventory, and reporting on sales inventory.
ShopKeep can be used for a lot of business types like restaurants, retail, clothing stores, food trucks, etc. It is an iPad POS system with details like an iPad cash register, inventory management, payment processing and much more.
QuickBooks
QuickBooks by Intuit doesn’t even need an introduction. For decades, the company has been powering the accounting requirements of businesses. You can combine Intuit’s point-of-sale software, accounting services, and POS hardware to easily run your own small business.
Other than the other paid POS systems, QuickBooks requires you to purchase your POS software outright. The price depends on the system you select, and it’s a one-time payment. But it’s high up-front price may put it out of reach for new or small businesses.