What is POS for retail and what is a POS Apps?
In the world of retail, POS is referred as point of sales – a system that allow customers to purchase a product and make payment for which the retailer normally issues a receipt for the transaction. A POS app augments the POS systems and makes it readily available.
History
Earlier such software were known as ECR’s (electronic cash register), but with limited options. They would allow retailers to track their sales, calculate profit margin and few other related tasks. However, retailers had to work carefully as one mistake could create a major impact in the final reports. For years and years retailers had no option, but to complain about the errors (that included incorrect and sometimes no records) they found in their daily sales report. This resulted to a great frustration not until when the point of sale technology was introduced, that changed the process considerably.
The advent of cloud basedΒ systems and POS Apps
The advent of cloud-based solutions gave birth to POS systems that were deployed and accessed directly using Internet. Such systems are also created to be compatible with a wide range of hardware that included tablets, iPad’s and even mobile devices. These systems eliminate the risk of Β errors, as all data – including sales and inventory are not stored locally, but over the cloud (remote server). Being a cloud-based system there is no installation required (low start-up cost), and can be accessed from anywhere, anytime where there is an internet connection.
Below are top 5 Retail POS Apps
Shopify
Overview
Established in the year 2006, Shopify currently powers over Β 100,000 retailers in 150 different countries. Their POS solution will enable Shopify retailers integrate their physical stores along with their online stores, that will make it easy to share and track products and sales more easily between both. Having a payment processor and in-store POS, more and more retailers are adopting their virtual sales initiatives.
POS Apps Key Features
1. Products
– Product organization
– Product variations
– Barcode support
– Sell unlimited products
2. Customers
– Sync online and retail customers
– Track history
– Email marketing
3. Store management
– Accounting integration
– Refunds
– Order history
4. Payments
– Credit/Debit card facility
– Offline order
– Store credit
– Partial payments
5. Checkout
– Apply discounts
– Add notes
– Custom sales
– Taxes
– Print receipts
NetSuite
Overview
A leading cloud-based management suite that enables to streamline and accelerate in-store retail needs of multi-channel and multi-location retailers with their POS system, while delivering a personalized customer service. Offering a complete view of inventory, customers and more, NetSuite POS provides multi-channel capabilities to deliver utmost shopping experience and build strong customer loyalty.
POS Key Features
1. Omni channel retail experience
– Online/pickup in store
– Buy online/return to store
– Order in store/fulfill from anywhere
2. Store Experience
– Linking cross-channel customer interaction with supporting business systems
– Leverage data across business
– Gain the insight for personalized service
3. Mobile POS
– Infuse traditional retail POS workstation into a mobile device
– Sales transactions and secure payments
– Review customer information
– Item lookups
– Track stock-on-hand
Vend
Overview
Vend is considered to be one of the leading cloud-based iPad and POS management system. Trusted by thousands of retailers, Vend has the most advanced, beautiful and easy-to-use interface as per the latest web standards. It’s responsive dashboard makes it even more easy and quick to sell products to customers. Designed to work with either mouse, keyboard or touchpad on Mac, iPad – Vend is compatible to latest hardware that includes barcode scanners, receipt printers, cash drawers. It may even work with hardware you already own!
POS Key Features
1. Products and Inventory
– Add and sell products
– Track inventory
2. Customer loyalty
– Insights of loyal customers
– Offer rewards
3. Real-time reporting
– Reports on staff performance
– Track sales
4. Payments
– Access credit card and debit card payments
– Setup PayPal using online wizard
Erply
Overview
Based in New York, Erply – a cloud-based, iPad oriented POS system has 10,000 stores on it’s platform. Designed to support Β multi-channel operation, their POS system allow retailers to focus more on business and less on back-end management. Offering a complete integrated back-end and front-end functionality, Erply is a great platform to allow customers the best shopping experience.
POS Key Features
1. Add/Edit products
– Add product details
– Capture product image
– Up sell products
2. Quick Transaction
– Process order in a blink
– Sell from anywhere
– Automatic back-office synchronization
3. ReturnsΒ
– Easily track customer receipt for returns
– Void and refund
4. Printing
– Add signature Β to the receipt
– Auto-print receipts and reports in seconds
5. CustomersΒ
– Insights of customer with and integrated CRM
– Add customers on-the-go
– Track loyal customers and offer loyalty
Revel
Overview
Revel iPad POS system is considered to be the “New Standard” in the point of sales. It’s POS system offers real-time insights that allow business owners to track sales from anywhere. Revel’s cloud computing secures data, stores inventory as well as updates software. This POS system exceeds PCI compliance standard and with mobile device management, you can manage your iPad POS system remotely, eliminating mobile fraud.
Features
1. Β Inventory management
– Track inventory
– Manage/Edit products
– Locate inventory
2. Employee scheduling
– Email schedules
– Received color-coded confirmation
3. mPOS
– Floor sales
– inventory check
4. Loyalty program
– Track loyal ones
– Draw new ones
Benefits of Retail POS apps
Today, POS system makes it convenient and is a real-time saver where people can place an order for multiple products for which they want to purchase before even reaching the store. Furthermore, each customer has the ability to chose from multiple payment options ensuring no customers will have to leave your store for one of your competitors just because you donβt give them an option to make payments from their desired debit/credit card.

Savio Fernandes
Savio Fernandes is a writer who influences. Writing for over three years at Orderhive, he is currently focused in offering eCommerce and retail solutions for start-ups and medium business owners.
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One Comment
Today, most businesses perform various functions with their point of sale systems. Some POS system models can create sales reports, store purchase information, and also conduct inventory tracking. Some models are used to receive payments online, whether through debit or credit cards, or cash.