Finding a suitable Point of Sale (POS) system is essential for any wholesale business to be successful. Being able to automate the selling process while managing the customer experience and employee productivity can traditionally involve a lot of manual time and effort, however, the market for efficient systems to reduce this workload has exploded and there is no shortage of possible options. To help make your choice easier, we have summarised the best options below.
Top 7 Wholesale Point of Sale Systems
- Lightspeed POS – best POS system for customized configuration
- IT Retail POS – best POS system for grocery wholesalers
- ERPLY – best all-round POS system
- Shopify POS – best POS system for working on-the-go
- Square POS – best POS system for smaller businesses
- Vend – best POS system for complex inventories
- AccuPOS – best POS system for accurate reporting
1. Lightspeed POS – best POS system for customized configuration
PRICING: 5 tiers of pricing are available ranging from Basic ($79/month) to Pro ($259/month) – discounts are available if paid annually.
A newer addition to the market, Lightspeed POS has a good reputation for supporting physical retailers and other brick-and-mortar businesses. Boasting a strong customer service model and a wide array of features including extensive reports and customer relationship management tools, Lightspeed is a popular choice for businesses wanting an experience tailored to their needs. However, some may find the lack of support for Microsoft and Android platforms limiting.
KEY FEATURES:
- Bespoke inventory management
- Integrated system comprising reports and customer profiles
- Intuitive to use
REASONS TO USE:
- Individually tailored solutions
- Comprehensive payment processing options
- 24/7 customer support
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Can take time to configure to business needs
- Pricing may be unaffordable for smaller businesses
- No support for Microsoft or Android systems
2. IT Retail POS – best POS system for grocery wholesalers
PRICING: Monthly pricing plan beginning from $79/month. No free trial available.
IT Retail POS allows for easy and efficient management of all elements of the wholesale process, including customer account recognition and management, barcode storage and production, employee management, gift cards, loyalty programs, and discount tracking. The particular features offered by IT Retail are well-suited to grocery wholesale businesses due to the ease of use and proven success in this sector. However, some companies may find the cost prohibitive or struggle with the lack of support for iOS integration.
KEY FEATURES:
- Easy management of all retail aspects
- Comprehensive training and customer support
- Support for mobile devices
REASONS TO USE:
- Easy interface to use and train others on
- Increases speed and ease of in-store transactions
- Adaptable to different business models
REASONS TO AVOID:
- No free option
- Limited support for iOS
- Some glitches reported
3. ERPLY – best all-round POS system
PRICING: Four available pricing tiers available; each tier has varying levels of customer support and features. Prices range from $19/month for a POS package only, to $69/month for both inventory and retail POS support. Franchise and chain packages will be quoted individually. 60-day free trial of all packages available.
ERPLY POS is one of the best-reviewed POS systems due to its large language catalog and seamless integration of software and hardware. The tailored pricing and differing levels of support should mean there is a suitable tier for every business and budget, however, some reviews have indicated customer support is limited and set-up can be time-consuming.
KEY FEATURES:
- Software and hardware integration versatility
- Different language availability
- Multiple different reporting options
REASONS TO USE:
- Compatible with most existing hardware
- Comprehensive inventory management system
- Accessible pricing model
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Lengthy and complex set-up
- Limited customer support
- Not as intuitive as other options
4. Shopify POS – best POS system for working on-the-go
PRICING: Lite option is included with all Shopify plans and can be used for no extra cost. Shopify POS Pro upgrade costs $89/month per location for additional features.
An app offshoot of the wider Shopify platform, Shopify POS is available for iOS and Android devices and allows store owners to manage their business whilst on the go. The pro version involves support for unlimited store staff and registers as well as in-store analytics, but the lite version (included with all Shopify subscriptions) also boasts a large list of features. The app allows for additional flexibility when checking and managing stock, accepting payments, and working across multiple platforms. Some businesses may require a higher level of customization than this system currently allows, however.
KEY FEATURES:
- Syncs with Shopify app
- Custom payment types
- Cash flow management system
REASONS TO USE:
- Effortless integration and ease of use
- Mobile access to all business insights
- Reduces need for multiple devices
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Some reported issues with app upgrades
- Limited customization options
- Tech support intermittent
5. Square POS – best POS system for smaller businesses
PRICING: Software is free to use with no monthly subscription fee. Hardware begins at $16 + VAT. Charged 1.75% per Chip, PIN, or contactless payment and 2.5% for Virtual Terminals and invoices. Larger businesses can request custom pricing packages.
Square POS is a keen favorite amongst smaller businesses due to the flexible subscription-free payment model and handy intuitive interface. Features such as processing refunds and gift cards, storing customer details for easier repeat transactions and offline functionality are huge benefits to small businesses wanting to make their customer experience enjoyable. The inclusion of hardware and security options makes this a great cost-effective option, however, larger wholesalers may find the transaction charges prohibitive at a higher level of turnover.
KEY FEATURES:
- Large range of accepted payments including Apple Pay
- Store regular customer details for easier repeat transactions
- Process refunds and gift cards quickly
REASONS TO USE:
- No long-term commitment or monthly fees
- Enhanced security options such as 2 Step verification
- Clever integration with third parties such as JustEat to manage orders
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Large fees for bigger businesses
- Lots of competition with similar companies
- Reports of slow loading times
6. Vend – best POS software for complex inventories
PRICING: Lite plan is $49+VAT/month and includes 1 till and 1 outlet. Pro plan is $89+VAT/month, includes 1 till, and allows for unlimited turnover and outlets. Both plans are cheaper if paid for annually. To add an extra till to any plan costs $49/month.
Vend is a fantastic choice for those wholesalers with complex itineraries and stock levels due to the integration with Shopify and other partner systems. Data can be imported easily using a CSV file, however, some have reported exporting data can be tricky and heavily manual.
KEY FEATURES:
- Manages detailed supply information
- Ability to track and organize complex inventories
- In-app refunds and exchanges
REASONS TO USE:
- Float and cash management
- Offline functionality
- Software can run across multiple hardware points using same real-time data
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Not compatible with Android
- Unreliable integration
- Lack of support for mass data exporting or analytics
7. AccuPOS – best POS system for accurate reporting
PRICING: No free trial available. Subscription starts from $64/month
With its unique integration with accounting software such as Quickbooks, AccuPOS is a great choice for larger, time-constrained wholesalers who want to be able to run comprehensive and accurate reports. The ease of access and suitability for many industries has made this system well-received by its users.
KEY FEATURES:
- Integration with multiple accounting software
- Customer relationship management
- Employee performance tracking
REASONS TO USE:
- Unique inventory management modules
- Mobile accessibility
- Suitable for a wide range of industries
REASONS TO AVOID:
- Slow operating speed
- No support for iOS
- Lack of comprehensive customer service
References and Links
- https://www.quicksprout.com/best-point-of-sales-systems-pos/
- https://businessfinancenews.com/pos/wholesale-pos-systems/
- https://sourceforge.net/software/wholesale-pos/
- https://fitsmallbusiness.com/best-pos-system-software/
- https://www.techradar.com/uk/reviews/lightspeed
- https://www.techradar.com/uk/reviews/erply-point-of-sale-pos-review