Learn what an integrated POS system is, how it differs from a cash register, and what hardware your small retail business needs in Australia.
Last updated by AAAPOS
Choosing a POS system
POS stands for point of sale. A point-of-sale (POS) system is the software and hardware a shop uses to ring up sales, take payments and keep track of stock and customers. Modern retail POS software also handles pricing, promotions and reporting, and links to accounting software and online stores. AAAPOS RetailManager is a retail POS system trusted by shops across Australia, New Zealand, Asia and the Pacific Islands for more than 25 years.
POS software is the program that runs your checkout: it records sales, takes payments, tracks stock and produces reports. POS hardware is the equipment around it, such as the computer or tablet, receipt printer, cash drawer, barcode scanner and EFTPOS terminal. RetailManager is the POS software, and the AAAPOS shop sells compatible hardware.
Staff scan or select each item, apply any discount, take payment by cash or EFTPOS, and print or email the receipt. Behind the scenes, the POS updates stock levels, customer history and sales reports with every sale. In RetailManager you can set up the sales window to suit how your shop works, and the RetailManager video tutorials show each step.
Overview of Sales in RetailManagerSetting up the Sales Window in RetailManager
A cash register records sales and holds the cash. A POS system does that too, and also tracks stock levels, customer records, pricing and promotions, and produces reports. It can connect to EFTPOS, accounting software such as MYOB and Xero, and online stores. RetailManager handles the EFTPOS and accounting side, and Webstore Manager connects the same RetailManager database to your online store.
An integrated POS system connects your point of sale to your other business tools, so information flows between them without re-keying. RetailManager sends sale amounts straight to your EFTPOS terminal, exports to MYOB and Xero, and links to Shopify, WooCommerce, eBay and BigCommerce through Webstore Manager, which uses the same RetailManager database.
Look for software that handles the sales you actually make, including lay-bys, account sales, gift vouchers and returns. It should control stock with reordering and reports, and show what is selling and what it earns. Check that it connects to your EFTPOS terminal and accounting software, links to an online store if you sell online, and comes with reliable local support. RetailManager covers these, with Webstore Manager connecting the same RetailManager database to your online store, and a demonstration shows how it fits your shop.
The cost of a POS system in Australia depends on the software licence, the hardware you need and ongoing support. Software is usually a monthly subscription or a one-time licence: RetailManager, for example, is $75 per month after an $850 upfront payment with unlimited registers, or $1,995 one-time for one register on an outright perpetual licence, with additional registers at $595 each. On top of that, budget for hardware such as a receipt printer, cash drawer and barcode scanner, and an EFTPOS terminal from your bank or payment provider.
