Guide
What is a POS system?
A point of sale (POS) system is the software and hardware you use to sell: ring up the items, take payment, hand over a receipt and keep a record. A modern POS does a lot more with that record.
What a POS system does
At minimum a POS records what was sold, to whom, for how much and how it was paid. Built on that record, a good POS will also:
- Keep stock levels up to date as items sell
- Track each cashier’s sales and cash-up
- Report takings by day, product and branch
- Accept card and mobile-money payments, not just cash
- Issue tax-compliant receipts — in Zimbabwe, ZIMRA FDMS fiscal receipts
What hardware do you need?
Less than you might think. A cloud POS such as Revoluno runs on an Android phone or tablet, or in the browser on a PC. Dedicated POS terminals add a built-in receipt printer and card reader, and handhelds let staff take payment away from the counter.
What matters in Zimbabwe
A POS built for elsewhere often struggles with local trading: two currencies at one till, EcoCash and other wallets as everyday payment methods, unreliable connectivity and ZIMRA fiscalisation. Check those four things before anything else.
Questions
- How much does a POS system cost in Zimbabwe?
- Options range from one-off licences costing hundreds or thousands of dollars to monthly subscriptions. Revoluno starts at US$5 a month for the till, stock, online store and payments, or US$10 a month with ZIMRA fiscalisation, with no hardware you have to buy.
- Is a POS the same as a card machine?
- No. A card machine only takes card payments. A POS records the whole sale, stock and receipts, and can take card payments too.