A point-of-sale (POS system)is a mix of hardware and software that manages sales, payment processing, and customer relationships (CRM). The most effective POS systems also have powerful tools for tracking inventory and management of vendors, employee management, and customer retention. A lot of POS software programs are available for free, while others can are priced as high as $200 per month for one terminal.
What is a POS system ?
Point of sale, also known as a point of sale, is where you call customers. If customers purchase online, walk up at your cash register, or grab items from your booth or stand, you’re at the point of sale.
Your point-of-sale solution comprises the device and a program allowing your company to sell its products.
9 Best POS systems for Ecommerce business
Lightspeed, Square, Vend, Shopify, and Revel are five top POS platforms that are solid eCommerce platforms that offer reliability and affordability, as well as integration of payment processing and various options. In addition, they are the only cloud-based POS systems that offer monthly pricing options, meaning you don’t have to sign a long-term agreement.
1. Lightspeed retail: Ideal for social selling
Lightspeed Retail with Lightspeed eCommerce offers a robust cloud-based POS as well as an integrated storefront online.
LightSpeed Retail comes with free updates, basic reporting and 24×7 support, many integrations and flexible processing options, and an in-house payment option that offers flat-rate processing of 2.6 % + $0.10for in-store sales (or an additional 2.6 % plus $0.30 for online sales). The best part is that Lightspeed’s sophisticated eCommerce platform is completely internal and that you don’t need to integrate external eCommerce software.
The great benefits of Lightspeed’s eCommerce platform are:
- Mobile-optimized
- Shipping integrated
- Built-in SEO tools
- Blog built-in
- Analytics for Web Stores
- Review and Social Site Integration
- Returns to customers with ease
2. Square: The best option for budget shoppers
Square is among the most well-known POS system available for small-sized companies. It’s free, simple to use, and includes all-inclusive payment processing ( 2.6% + $0.10 for in-person transactions or 2.9 percent plus $0.30for eCommerce transactions).
Square POS is usually utilized using the iPad setup; however, you could also utilize it with a different device you prefer, such as a smartphone for sales on the go.
Square even integrates its POS users with a no-cost eCommerce site integration powered by Weebly. For most small-scale, low-volume companies using a no-cost Square Online Store will suffice. For companies with more sophisticated requirements for eCommerce, Square also offers paid online store plans and integrations with other eCommerce options.
3. eHopper
eHopper offers an Essential Package that is free. One POS limits the plan. This free plan gives you access to all the necessary features and functions. If you want additional features, such as a menu builder and ingredient management, eHopper also has a paid plan that starts at $39.99 per month for each register.
eHopper is a completely free POS Software for small businesses. It is cross-platform compatible. It can be used on Android tablets, iPad, Windows PCs, and Poynt terminals. It can be used for processing transactions, generating reports, and managing employees. It is also used to organize stock by using an inventory.
Features:
- Control of inventory and notifications of low stock.
- Features for managing orders, such as adding notes for customers’ particular requirements.
- It accepts cash or credit card, debit card, and other forms.
4. Revel: For large inventories
Revel is a powerful version of a POS system that comes with one of the most robust feature sets available. In addition, it costs a monthly cost of $99 which is quite a bargain considering all that it offers. Revel is also a part of the payment industry with Revel Advantage, which is available through an online quote system.
It’s a fantastic choice for larger to mid-sized retailers or restaurants, as its capabilities and back-end could be too much. Still, should you seek a system with everything and cost isn’t an issue, Revel should be considered.
To facilitate eCommerce, Revel has its Revel Online Ordering system, which makes life easier for the business and customers. It also includes:
- Menu updates
- A customizable user interface
- Omnichannel integration
- Management of customer relationships
- Gift cards and loyalty points
- Search capabilities built-in
5. Heartland
Heartland can be an excellent choice for e-commerce and other retail companies. Heartland can easily make contactless payments through your e-commerce platform with a secure, integrated payment processing service. Integrating Heartland into Shopify, WordPress, Woocommerce, and many more is possible.
Heartland can also accept telephone and mail orders using key-in transactions using an electronic terminal and computer. The company provides additional services such as gift cards, mobile payments, and gift cards as well. Heartland offers a variety of features for many retailers; however, it could be particularly convenient for online shopping. Heartland is also a micropayment processor that makes processing simple.
6. Vend
Vend is a popular POS system that is ideal for online retailers. It’s very simple to use both for in-store and online sales. In addition, vend is more flexible than the iPad-only systems that you run Vend using any browser as well as its specially designed iPad application. Therefore, your setup could make use of the computer, Mac as well as and iPad registration.
Vend’s online caching capabilities permit you to keep ringing up sales at your store in the event of an outage on the internet. Vend integrates with a variety of processing companies (Worldpay, PayPal, Square, and many more) as well as a variety of eCommerce vendors and offers an API that is open. Vend’s price of $129 per month “Pro” plan (billed annually) includes eCommerce as well as each other add-on or advanced features that Vend provides.
Vend’s highlights of multichannel eCommerce include:
- integrates With WooCommerce, BigCommerce as well as Shopify (note that this application costs a monthly charge as well as Vend’s)
- Open API lets you do more eCommerce integrations if you’re using an alternative eComm software (e.g., Magento)
- Connect your eCommerce store with Vend
- Connect your store and online inventory
- Real-time multichannel reporting
- Check online orders and store purchases from the same location
- Create products online and take orders directly through Vend
- Customer details are synchronized across your shop and the eComm platform
- See sales and inventory levels through channels
- It integrates inventory software like Unleashed for multichannel, advanced inventory management.
7. Shopify Pos: The best for fully integrated e-commerce
Since the launch of Shopify POS in 2013, Shopify has been able to go from being a mere shopping cart software to a full-service retail POS. Today, Shopify comes with both eCommerce and brick-and-mortar store functionality, allowing even the smallest of retailers to sell easily, online or off.
Shopify offers low-cost monthly packages that are suitable for businesses that sell solely online or exclusively in stores; however, it’s the best choice for merchants who do both.
Shopify, which operates through its iPad, iPhone, or Android application, has integrated payment processing that works with Shopify Payments. In-person rates vary between 2.4 percent to 2.7 percent; based on the month-long plan, you select Online transaction rates to vary between 2.4 percent plus $0.30 to 2.9 percent plus $0.30.
Shopify can be very inexpensive and its plan with eCommerce and an entire POS setup for up to five locations cost only $79 per month.
8. Eposnow
Eposnow is a powerful point-of-sale solution that is priced for small-sized companies. If you’re a small business looking to grow and require a reliable point-of-sale system, this could be the ideal option. It is very compatible with hardware from other vendors and works well with other POS systems, so it will be able to expand to meet your needs.
It is possible to use this software to manage retail across multiple devices within your system, including , Mac, Android tablets, and iPad tablets. The plans are all unlimited transactions and users. Pay by the register makes this the ideal option for smaller retail stores that run most of their business from one register. You could upgrade your plan if you ever require another register.
9. Lavu: Best POS for Cash Discounting
Lavu  is an iPad-based POS that is cloud-based and specifically designed for food and drink companies. This is the sole system listed in this guide that has an option to discount cash that allows you to give a discount to cash-based payments, which will reduce your processing charges for credit cards. This feature is helpful for small-scale restaurants that are transitioning from cash-only to accepting payments via digital cards without the need for additional expenses.
It’s still possible to have to pay processing charges on credit tips for credit cards. But the savings can allow small businesses to get the funds to upgrade from cash registers to a full-featured POS system.
Its cash-saving feature is notable, given that its practice of passing on the processing costs to customers is gaining popularity among small companies.
Things to consider before purchasing a ecommerce POS system
Pricing
Complete POS systems are equipped with hardware as well as software as well as payment processors. They are the ones I suggest since you don’t need to purchase different components.
The price for the all-inclusive POS system ranges between $30 and $150 for the basic plan to $150+ monthly for plans with more advanced features. In addition to this monthly price, the majority of them charge fees upwards of two percent (plus the cost of some cents) in each transaction.
The majority of POS systems offer specific plans that you can choose to use if your sales per year exceed $250,000 or if you need to set them up on multiple sites.
To benefit from these savings, call the sales department prior to buying because it can help you save cash in the end.
Ease of Use
If you purchase a POS system that’s not easy to make use of isn’t serving the reason for owning one.
The most user-friendly POS systems come with intuitive design and use technology that most people use. These include smartphones and tablets.
Reporting
It is common for POS systems to speak about their ability to report. Some aren’t, however, basic, with limited customization and just limited reports.
However, other systems offer a wide range of pre-configured and advanced reporting filters. The top POS systems have real-time reports and are accessible reports on the go via an app for your smartphone or browser.
The most important reporting features to keep an eye on include sales, customer inventory, employees, and customer data. Make sure that your POS system provides the necessary reports to keep track of pertinent business processes.
Employee Management
On the majority of POS systems, you are able to create employees and grant the employees access to settings, details about sales, or other features. This is dependent on your requirements.
Certain POS systems let you assign roles-based permissions to employees. On other systems, you can set up the controls for specific employees.
If you have a more advanced version that is more advanced, you can track how employees log to and from, monitor the sales of each employee, and management tips. Before you purchase the POS system, you must decide on which employee information you’ll need to keep track of.
Customer Management
The first thing to ask is: what kind of customer details will I require? Or, what information about the customer do I require in order to provide outstanding customer service?
It is recommended to begin with these questions since POS systems come with varying levels of customer administration capabilities. For some, you are able to record basic data like email addresses and send marketing emails.
Select a POS solution that allows you to record the full range of customer data you require.
Inventory Management
Basic POS systems allow users to control their inventory of catalogs. With more advanced systems, you can track the components, track vendors, and manage purchase orders.
It is all dependent on your requirements Decide if you require the advanced or basic capability for inventory management prior to purchasing.
Add-ons/Integrations
The majority of POS platforms offer additional features and integrations based on the plan you’re paying for. Some systems allow you to buy these add-ons at an additional fee. The most popular add-ons include loyalty programs, gift card reservation systems, and advanced reports.
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