Top 3 ePOS Systems For the UK

Both new and growing business owners have constant strategizing to do and decisions to make. If you are preparing to open the doors to your business, you have put countless hours into coming up with a business plan, mission statements, the foundations of your branding, and giving attention to every other detail you can think of. Your stock is ready to go and in full supply. Anticipation for day one of your business being open to the world is an exhilarating time.

If your business is expanding—maybe you are preparing to open another store or take your business online—you have done all the things a new business owner does and so much more. With all the time, energy, and effort that goes into building your business, one area of vital importance often gets overlooked: Your point of sale system. 

Considering an ePOS For Your Business

One of the main points of starting and growing a business is to make money, so you want to streamline your process so that you can maximise your revenue with less effort. An ePOS system can be integrated into all areas of your business for streamlined functionality that will help you get started on the right path and scale your business to new heights. If you are like most people, you are probably wondering right now, “what is an ePOS?” We’ve got an answer to that along with a list of some of the best systems for the UK on the market today.

An ePOS system is like a cash register on steroids. Not only does it track sales and calculate taxes, but a fully integrated system can help you manage multiple stores, sales through eCommerce and social media platforms, inventory, employee tasks and performance, customer relations, accounting, and more, all in one place. 

Not all systems offer all integrations, but the best ones do provide a full package of services to make running your business easier than you could ever have imagined.

Some systems are entirely cloud-based and others are a mix that still require a server to store some of your business information locally. Some offer limited functionality with no internet, but most of the functions of an ePOS system require a strong internet connection. Certain systems require you to use hardware designed specifically for that system, and others will work just like an app on almost any iPad, Mac, or PC.

How to Choose the Right ePOS System

When deciding which ePOS system is right for your business, ask yourself these questions:

• How many locations do you have?
• Do you now, or will you in the future, offer eCommerce or social media sales?
• How many tills do you need?
• How many employees do you have?
• How complicated is your inventory?
• How much can you spend to get started?
• How much can you afford for a monthly subscription?

Taking these factors into consideration will help you decide which ePOS system is the best fit for your company.

Best ePOS Systems For Businesses in the UK

1. Vend

Over 20K retailers in the United Kingdom, along with the British Independent Retailers Association, choose Vend as their ePOS service provider. BIRA has teamed up with Vend to make sure users and members get the most robust growth tools and advice available. 

When members sign up with Vend, they get 15% off their first year of service and free onboarding. Vend’s 24/7 customer service is award-winning, available even on major holidays, and is staffed by retailers who understand your needs. 

Vend offers one of the most integrated systems in the business, connecting with almost every payment platform, the most popular accounting, inventory, and employee management software, and customer loyalty and relationship management services. For a full-service ePOS system that will not only grow with your business but help your business grow, go with Vend.

2. Epos Now

Epos Now is the UK’s largest ePOS provider, with over £2 billion processed annually. They offer specialised hospitality industry software in addition to their retail services and are usable across a variety of hardware devices.

You can use your own existing hardware, or purchase hardware from Epos Now, to connect instantly to an array of services through their software, and you will be up and running in no time. Through Epos Now, you can manage every facet of your business, set up stock orders and security settings, and see detailed reports about your inventory, sales, and employee performance, from wherever you are in the world.

3. Lightspeed Retail ePOS

Lightspeed Retail ePOS focuses on omnichannel sales support, which means that they integrate for eCommerce, social media, and field sales, in addition to your brick and mortar store. They offer specialised services for retail and restaurant businesses. 

No matter which package you choose, however, you will have to pay for support for your online business separately.

When you sign up with Lightspeed Retail ePOS, you get 24/7 customer service, intuitive, integrated software, and quick, easy setup. Their software has a heavy inventory and customer relationship management focus, and they will help you grow your business with easy-to-use reporting and even online templates.

Final Thoughts

All of the ePOS systems listed here offer free demos. Take advantage of the time you have to check them out and decide which one is right for your business. Figure out which factors are most important, and use that to inform what you need in order to help your business thrive.