The cloud has revolutionized countless industries in the last decade. Retail and small businesses are no exception, especially when it comes to their point of sale (POS) systems.
Having an old-school cash register upgraded to accept card payments is no longer enough. Retail businesses must modernize their POS systems to stay competitive, organized, and on top of the customer experience.
With a cloud POS system, you can manage your sales, inventory, and customer data from anywhere and at any time, making it a versatile tool for your retail business.
In this article, we’ll introduce you to the five best cloud POS systems for retail, highlighting their key benefits, who they’re best for, and their pricing. Whether you’re a small business just starting out or a larger retailer looking to expand, you’ll find a cloud POS system that’s right for you.
Cloud POS systems allow your business to process payments online rather than on a desktop computer. You host your software and data remotely and can access them anywhere with an internet connection and a laptop or tablet.
On a legacy POS system, you operate through a closed network. You can access your POS system on-site at your store.
Cloud POS systems offer real-world benefits to small business owners.
As with any purchase, the best option for your business depends on your needs and budget. When it comes to crunch time, you want the standard features most cloud POS solutions provide, transparent pricing, and stellar customer support.
We’ve done the hard work for you so you can focus on choosing the right POS system for your business.
Features: Square is a solid option if you need an omnichannel solution. It’s easy to set up and use, and you don’t need to worry about contracts. Instead of paying a monthly subscription fee, you pay per transaction.
You can take advantage of a free, integrated online store, and the POS software integrates with the Square ecosystem. Although inventory tracking and reporting features are basic, for the price point, Square is worth it as a starter POS system.
Pricing: Starting at $0, fees are charged per transaction.
What customers say:
Features: Lightspeed is an excellent choice for retail, restaurants, and golf businesses. It features an in-house e-commerce platform to sync inventory across sales channels. They have many preset reports that you can customize and make it easy to manage your store.
It runs on an iPad and desktop, and custom-quoted hardware kits are available. Lightspeed is more suited to large retail stores; small businesses might not need all the bells and whistles Lightspeed provides, so be sure to know what you need to manage your store.
Pricing: Starting at $119/month for the standard plan (if paid annually).
What customers say:
Features: Rain is an all-in-one solution. An easy-to-use retail POS system, integrated e-commerce website, and automated marketing tools make Rain an excellent option for stores looking to manage their entire business on one platform.
Rain is popular for many music, craft, outdoor, toy, and dive boutiques. Created “with Main Street retailers in mind,” Rain is multi-store capable, and their integrated POS ensures inventory levels are accurate in-store and online.
Pricing: Request a quote
What customers say:
Features: We offer a complete point of sale solution for your business. All the features you need come out of the box. Our solution does all the jobs you need it to do, from customer rewards and loyalty programs to robust inventory and reporting.
We solve your hardware needs at a set price. Anything you need to make a sale is included. We also offer add-ons like customer displays, ID scanners, barcode and label printers, and scales.
Where we stand out is our dedication to support and the transparency of our solution. We customize your POS system, so you get all the features you need and nothing that you don’t.
Pricing: Starting at $99/month
What customers say:
The main difference between cloud and traditional POS systems is access. Legacy POS systems store point of sale data locally, on-site, or on your computer’s hard drive. Which is fine, except in today’s world, if information isn’t at your fingertips, you could lose out, and upset expectant customers.
Cloud POS systems store your data and information in the cloud. Everything you need, from security to data storage, is updated and saved daily. Need to see a report while sitting on your couch? No problem. The downside is that you might lose access if your internet connection fails.
Cloud is also easier to scale, has lower upfront costs, and is simple to install. Still, whether you need to switch to a cloud POS system depends on your unique business and your needs.
Related: 9 Must-Have Features for Your Next Small Business Retail POS System
Many POS vendors offer similar capabilities. And at similar price points. At POS Nation, we set ourselves apart by
Plus, our excellent support team is available should you need them. We are passionate about retail and making your life easier as a small business owner.
While we’ve discussed several POS features in this article, our Retail POS Buyers’ Guide shows all the vital functionality retailers need.
If you’re ready to see more of our retail POS software, you can schedule a demo with one of our product specialists. They’ll tailor the demo to your questions and show you exactly how our cloud POS system can help you streamline your store’s operations and make your life easier.