You’re in the market for a new point of sale (POS) system. Everywhere you turn, providers are vying for your attention and claiming to be the only way to achieve your grocery store goals.
With all this noise, finding a solution that you trust to deliver on its promises can seem impossible.
We know how overwhelming it can be — which is why we’ve created this quick guide to grocery store POS systems. Keep reading to see the must-have features you need, get our tips for vetting providers, and explore our curated list of the top four grocery store POS system options.
Want to skip straight to the good stuff? Here’s a look ahead at the providers we recommend:
How To Shop for a Grocery Store POS System
Before you dive headfirst into the world of grocery store POS systems, you need a plan. These three steps will help you stay informed, organized, and confident as you evaluate your options.
1. Understand What Grocery Store POS Systems Do
A grocery POS system is so much more than a cash register. Think of it as a valuable team member who keeps your shelves perfectly stocked, observes your customers to learn about their preferences and shopping habits, and offers insightful tips for improving your store’s profit margins.
Here are some more key functions to look for in a comprehensive grocery store POS system:
- Process sales transactions: Your POS system should ensure speedy, accurate checkouts and accept various payment types, including credit cards, cash, mobile wallets, and EBT.
- Track inventory levels: Your POS system should monitor your stock levels in real time, with special features to simplify perishable and weight-based inventory management.
- Increasing sales: Your POS system should offer sales-boosting opportunities, making setting up promotions and launching a loyalty program easy.
- Monitor performance: Your POS system should include an advanced reporting and analytics suite to help you understand your store’s financial health, get to know your customers, and identify areas for improvement.
These essential features will save time, keep your store running smoothly, and give you more opportunities to connect with customers and boost sales.
2. Create a List of Must-Have Features
Now that you know what a grocery store POS system can do, you can create a personalized list of features to prioritize during your search.
The best way to start is by identifying pain points in your current process and setting goals. Do you want to speed up the checkout process? Improve profit margins? Reduce your waste-related shrinkage?
These goals should inform your grocery store POS system shopping process. For example, if you want to shorten lines and speed up checkouts, add contactless payment and a customizable touchscreen layout to your list of must-haves.
If you hope to increase your profit margins and reduce waste, look for a POS system with advanced reporting features and perishable inventory management.
3. Carefully Vet Each POS Provider
Once you’ve made a shortlist of grocery store POS systems that meet your needs, it’s time to dig deeper. Your POS provider will play a significant role in your store’s success, so it’s essential to partner with one you can trust.
We recommend checking reviews on websites like Trustpilot, SoftwareAdvice, and Capterra. Pay close attention to reviews from other grocery store owners! These reviews can help you understand what it’s really like to work with different POS providers.
A live demo is a can’t-skip step during the vetting process. Scheduling a POS demo gives you a one-on-one opportunity to get expert answers to your questions, see the software in action, and determine whether a provider is a good fit for your business. If you have a bad experience during a demo — or worse, if a provider doesn’t offer live demos — you can cross them off the list.
6 Grocery Store POS Systems To Check Out
With so many options on the market, finding a reliable grocery store POS system can seem like finding a needle in a haystack. But don’t stress; we’ve done the hard work for you.
Here’s our curated list of the four top POS solutions for grocery stores, plus their most impressive features, reviews, and price ranges.
1. IT Retail
First on our list is IT Retail. This comprehensive software is designed by and for grocers, so it has all the features you need to run a profitable supermarket or grocery store.
Let’s look at some of IT Retail’s best features:
- Self-checkout options to help you serve more customers in less time
- E-commerce integrations to help you take advantage of the online grocery boom
- A mobile app that lets you manage inventory from the sales floor
IT Retail offers customizable pricing plans to meet your grocery store’s unique needs, with their most affordable option starting at $49/month.
2. Square
Square is a popular POS provider among retailers in all industries. They offer sleek, proprietary hardware and user-friendly software, making it a solid option for beginner business owners.
Let’s explore a few of Square’s standout grocery features:
- Phone order and e-commerce options to add convenience to your customers’ experience
- Shift scheduling to save you time and ensure your store is fully staffed
- Email and SMS marketing tools to help you stay connected with shoppers
Square offers a wide range of pricing options. You can try a limited, online version of their software for free, or opt for a paid plan starting at $89/month.
3. National Retail Solutions (NRS)
Next up is National Retail Solutions (NRS), a POS software provider catering to retailers in all industries. They offer a no-frills solution for business owners looking for something simple and affordable.
Here are a few NRS features worth noting:
- EBT payment processing that expands your reach and allows more customers to shop at your grocery store
- Vendor management to help you maintain a list of vendors and track how much you spend with each
- A user-friendly pricebook that makes it easy to add new products to your inventory and edit their prices
NRS’ pricing tiers range from $19.95 to $44.95/month, which means you can pay more or less depending on the features you need. If you’re looking for advanced tools like profit margin reporting or loyalty rewards, be aware that the extra fees can add up to a pricey total.
4. Markt POS
Markt POS is the most unique grocery store POS system on our list. This provider caters to small, specialty markets, giving them the tools to operate more efficiently and connect with their customers.
Some of Markt POS’ best features include:
- Scale integration that simplifies weight-based sales and inventory tracking
- Quick-serve restaurant functionality that gives you the opportunity to sell hot, made-to-order meals
- Deli label printing that streamlines your deli and butcher counter operations and helps customers choose the freshest products
Wondering how much Markt POS costs? Check out their pricing tool to build a custom system for your store and generate an instant quote.
5. Lightspeed
If “optimize” is one of your favorite words, then Lightspeed might be the right POS provider for you. Their software is designed to help retailers manage their growing businesses.
Here are some of Lightspeed’s main features:
- Multi-location management to help you open and run new grocery stores
- Mobile-friendly sales reports that let you monitor your store’s performance from anywhere
- Inventory forecasting to help you spot possible stockouts or spoilage before they impact your bottom line
Lightspeed is one of the most expensive options on our list, with prices ranging from $109 to $339/month.
6. POS Nation
The final option on our list of the best grocery POS systems is POS Nation. Our software is designed to help you navigate the challenges of the grocery industry by making inventory management, marketing, and sales reporting a breeze.
Here are a few of our favorite features:
- A built-in loyalty program that makes retaining customers and boosting your sales effortless
- An advanced reporting suite that monitors your store’s operations, provides detailed insights into your customers’ shopping habits, and helps you make informed decisions
- 24/7 support from our expert team to help you make the most of your new POS system
Worried about pricing? Don’t be! We offer custom options to fit your needs and budget. Use our pricing tool to get an instant quote for your grocery store.
Achieve Your Goals With the Best Grocery Store POS System
Ready to take the first steps toward the perfect POS system? You’re in the right place!
POS Nation is one of the most trusted providers of POS software for grocery stores — and for good reason.
Our software has all the features you need to save time, simplify your operations, and boost sales. Plus, our industry-leading team is available 24/7 to answer your questions, solve problems, and help you take advantage of everything we offer.
Take our grocery store POS system for a spin by scheduling your POS Nation demo today.
