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Types of POS

Tablet POS System

Android and iPad point-of-sale solutions are increasingly popular. You can often use a tablet that you already own, plus, they require minimal upfront investment. Many support compatible hardware such as cash drawers, barcode readers and tablet stands. Some Tablet POS Systems can even manage employee time tracking and complex inventory situations.

Read more about the benefits of having a POS System

Desktop POS System

Desktop POS systems such as Windows POS, Linux POS or Mac POS are the type everybody is used to seeing in businesses at the counter. 

Some work completely offline while others require some level of access to the internet. They are hardware/ software-based, and might even use cloud-based software. Some even provide cloud-based backup.

This type of hardware/ software setup makes it easy to restrict employee internet access since they can easily be configured to only run POS software.

Feeling a bit lost? Get to know the POS System: Beginners Guide

Online POS System

With an Online POS System the startup costs are minimal and, another advantage, is that you can use you own hardware - which might be any PC or tablet.

If your business is low-volume, high-ticket-price, it may prove speedy enough to suit your needs, however, PC solutions cannot replace the convenience of a touchscreen.

Online solutions have the convenience of being logged into using any device, from anywhere.

Mobile POS System

Smartphone POS services can process payments and deal with customer information management. Some may be able to manage some inventory tasks. This type of POS System will work with you emailing receipts to your customers directly from the app or with a portable receipt printer.

Self-Service Kiosk POS System

A helpful option is setting up kiosks in your retail store for your customers to look up product availability and pricing. Some may even allow customers to order and pay at the kiosk, which reduces queuing time and saves cashier time enormously. 

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Interested to find out more? Check out how Xena POS is multiplatform, running natively on any operating system or online, so you can have one POS System running on Windows, Linux, Mac, iOS, Android, on all in one POS machines or kiosks or tablets.