How to Choose Retail POS Software for Your Store
By Team ZellerWith hundreds of point-of-sale (POS) providers in Australia, selecting the right one can be an overwhelming task. In this article, we outline the key factors to consider when choosing a POS, and recommend some of the best providers for your industry.
If you’re a new or existing business owner, by now, you probably know what a point-of-sale system is and how it works. The next step is choosing a solution that is appropriate to your business size and industry. To help make the right decision, read our list of considerations below and make note of which ones are the most (and least) important to your business, so that when you’re in conversation with a POS provider, you can be well equipped to ask the right questions. Then, learn which POS providers are the most popular among cafes, quick-service restaurants, dine-in restaurants, retail businesses, and bars and clubs.
Important considerations when choosing the best POS system for your business.
Hardware
POS hardware refers to the physical devices that make up your POS system. This could include any or all of: a computer or display unit, a receipt printer, a barcode scanner, a cash drawer, and an EFTPOS machine. While large businesses may require a full suite of hardware, many smaller businesses can get away with little more than a tablet or smartphone.
Portable devices like Zeller Terminal 2 (which has a POS system built-in) are often referred to as mobile POS or ‘mPOS’, and they provide excellent functionality, allowing merchants to do everything from managing their inventory to taking payments all from the one machine.
Software
The functionality of the POS software will arguably be the biggest factor in determining your final choice. If you are a retail business, you may want to prioritise a robust inventory management system – this will allow you to easily track stock levels, anticipate when popular items will run out, and stay on budget. For hospitality businesses, a floor management system may also be required to manage table seating and reservations. Additional functionality includes sales reporting, for managing cash flow; employee management, for automatically logging hours and tracking performance; and customer relationship management (CRM), for collecting customer data and implementing targeted marketing campaigns. While these are the most common and basic features of POS systems, those designed for individual industries will offer even more specialised features.
Ease of use
Think about who will be using the POS system on a day-to-day basis. Do you have a high turnover rate of employees? If so, consider how easy it will be to train new staff to use the software. A simple, intuitive interface will greatly reduce human error, which, in a fast-paced environment, could be critical.
Integration
For most businesses, their POS provider cannot just work alone, it will need to be able to integrate into a number of different systems. The accounting software, payments provider, and/or e-commerce platform you use (or are planning to use) should ideally integrate with your POS system. By enabling information to flow easily between systems, you will greatly increase the efficiency of your operations, saving you and your team time and money. Take note of what platforms a POS provider integrates with before making a decision, as this can become a frustrating roadblock later on if it is neglected.
Customer support
How quickly and easily you can contact your POS provider is something that can be easily overlooked – but it’s extremely important. If you decide to go with a POS system that offers all the bells and whistles, but doesn’t have anyone to pick up the phone when you need help, this will quickly lead to frustration and potentially lost revenue. Check the provider’s website and LinkedIn: are their offices based in Australia? What are their customer service hours? Do they have a robust support centre with help articles and troubleshooting resources? Will you be assigned an account manager? Additionally, how quickly you need to get up and running is an important consideration. Many traditional POS providers require a technician to come out and set up the hardware and software, whereas newer web-based systems are often self-service and can be entirely set up remotely.
Multi-location
Do you run a multi-location operation or are you planning on scaling in the future? If so, it’s important to be sure that the POS software is equipped to deal with multi-venue requirements.
Being able to push updates to machines at several venues at once, aggregating reporting from all venues, and monitoring stock transfers between locations, are just some of the features you’ll want to ensure your POS provider can support.
Cost
With varying pieces of equipment, features, minimum requirements, and pricing models, understanding exactly how much you’re going to pay for a POS service is not easy. To avoid bill-shock later on, make sure you understand exactly how each aspect of the service is priced. Are you buying the hardware outright or will you access it on a rental agreement? Is the software licence a one-time purchase or a monthly/annual subscription? Is there a cost associated with ongoing support and maintenance? Will you pay a fee each time a transaction is processed through the POS? Ensure you ask any potential POS provider all these questions before signing a contract.
Best POS providers by industry
The table below presents some of the best POS providers available to Australian business owners, organised by industry, with some of their noteworthy features listed on the right hand side. For a comprehensive list of features, be sure to contact the POS provider directly and request a demo before signing up.
Coffee Shops
Restaurants
QSR
Retail
Bars and Clubs
Salon
Add and manage items via Zeller Dashboard or directly on Zeller Terminal 2.
Bulk import an item library from a previous POS.
Update item descriptions, images, prices, categories, and generate automatic SKUs.
Customise items with modifiers such as add-ons, toppings, or special requests.
Create product variants such as size, colour, flavour, or style.
Customise grid to quickly access frequently used items, discounts, or categories.
Instantly push product updates to entire fleet of terminals across multiple locations.
Offer customers an itemised receipt via email, SMS, or QR code.
Create and manage discounts and add descriptions for greater clarity.
Understand what you are selling and when with detailed reports (coming soon).
POS is automatically installed on Zeller Terminal 2, with no monthly or additional fees.
Online and QR code ordering
Partners with UberEats, DoorDash, Deliveroo, Menulog, Fantuan, Hungry Panda
Interactive kitchen display screen to help streamline kitchen operations
Smart inventory management and ingredient control to keep food costs down
Order status screen to show customers when their order is ready to be collected
Pocket manager mobile app
Customer-facing display shows customer's order back to them before payment
Centralised multi-site management for tiered pricing, products, menu, surcharging
Integrates with Zeller Terminal
Originally created for the fast-paced Melbourne bar scene
Designed to work online or offline in unexpected outages
Support teams available 24/7
Supports the creation of floor maps to monitor the status of tables
Plugs into online bookings and allows you to add reservation notes
Employee hour monitoring
Generates stock variance reports and automates orders based on stock thresholds
Membership and loyalty system designed for the hospitality industry
Integrates with Zeller Terminal
Developed by a team with decades of hospitality and retail experience
Receive funds overnight with secure payments provided by Zeller
Ability to enable or disable features as your business requires
Focus on simple design and speed
Support teams available 24/7
Counter, table, room, pick up or delivery options
Free online store
Integrates with Zeller Terminal
Centrally manages multiple venues
Supports orders from iPad, table, kiosk, QR code, food delivery and online for pick-up
Loyalty system manages points, discounts, deposits, gift cards, and friend referrals
Kitchen display allows you to fine-tune kitchen and chef workflows
Automatically sends orders to the correct preparation stations
In-built staff management tool to manage shifts and payroll processing
Supports digital or physical gift cards created and redeemed directly within ZiiPOS
Integrated bookings let customers book directly to the platform
Integrates with Zeller Terminal
Online and QR code ordering
Partners with UberEats, DoorDash, Deliveroo, Menulog, Fantuan, Hungry Panda
Interactive kitchen display screen to help streamline kitchen operations
Smart inventory management and ingredient control to keep food costs down
Order status screen to show customers when their order is ready to be collected
Pocket manager mobile app
Customer-facing display shows customer's order back to them before payment
Centralised multi-site management for tiered pricing, products, menu, surcharging
Integrates with Zeller Terminal
Recreates your venue’s table layout with a floor plan
Training mode simulates the POS flow without affecting till balances or stock levels
Stock batches let staff record delivery of stock, with quantity, weight and temperature
Stocktakes can be performed on the POS and sent for review and processing
Supports conditional pricing that applies at checkout when conditions are met
POS set up can be done either on-site or remotely
Client Portal offers free resources and videos for staff training
Support teams available 24/7
Integrates with Zeller Terminal
Originally created for the fast-paced Melbourne bar scene
Designed to work online or offline in unexpected outages
Support teams available 24/7
Supports the creation of floor maps to monitor the status of tables
Plugs into online bookings and allows you to add reservation notes
Employee hour monitoring
Generates stock variance reports and automates orders based on stock thresholds
Membership and loyalty system designed for the hospitality industry
Integrates with Zeller Terminal
Online and QR code ordering
Partners with UberEats, DoorDash, Deliveroo, Menulog, Fantuan, Hungry Panda
Interactive kitchen display screen to help streamline kitchen operations
Smart inventory management and ingredient control to keep food costs down
Order status screen to show customers when their order is ready to be collected
Pocket manager mobile app
Customer-facing display shows customer's order back to them before payment
Centralised multi-site management for tiered pricing, products, menu, surcharging
Integrates with Zeller Terminal
Hard-wearing kiosks, tablets, terminals, and displays that withstand heavy use
Alerts customers when orders are ready for curbside pickup or on way for delivery
Helps customers reorder favourite items and tracks purchases to deliver rewards
Direct connection to Uber Eats, Deliveroo, Postmates, DoorDash, and others
Realtime updates to menu items, ingredients, and prices across multiple locations
GPS-enabled web app to automate contactless pickup
Self-service kiosk hardware and integration with 3rd-party kiosks
Tracks menu profit, down to the ingredient and digital channel
Oracle Cloud Marketplace offers a robust ecosystem of integration partners
Integrates with Zeller Terminal
Loyalty apps and cards, mobile apps, gift cards and in-store messaging
Multiple ordering options: web, mobile app, table, kiosks, drive thru, QR code
Fixed-Cost delivery, and direct integration with Uber Eats, Doordash, and Menulog
Tailored, branded apps offering customers coupons, discounts and online ordering
Digital media boards to display messages to your customers in-store
Paperless kitchen display and management system to pass orders between stations
Drive thru integration
Integrates with Netsuite, MYOB and Xero
Integrates with Zeller Terminal
Customisable interface lets you create branded touchpoints
Supports bill splitting with multiple payment options per split
Customisable workflow allows you to streamline counter order entry
Supports menu modifications to any product or menu flow
Supports management and customisation of keypads, and products, including images
Integrates with Zeller Terminal
Centrally manages multiple venues
Supports orders from iPad, table, kiosk, QR code, food delivery and online for pick-up
Loyalty system manages points, discounts, deposits, gift cards, and friend referrals
Kitchen display allows you to fine-tune kitchen and chef workflows
Automatically sends orders to the correct preparation stations
In-built staff management tool to manage shifts and payroll processing
Supports digital or physical gift cards created and redeemed directly within ZiiPOS
Integrated bookings let customers book directly to the platform
Integrates with Zeller Terminal
Add and manage items via Zeller Dashboard or directly on Zeller Terminal 2.
Bulk import an item library from a previous POS.
Update item descriptions, images, prices, categories, and generate automatic SKUs.
Customise items with modifiers such as add-ons, toppings, or special requests.
Create product variants such as size, colour, flavour, or style.
Customise grid to quickly access frequently used items, discounts, or categories.
Instantly push product updates to entire fleet of terminals across multiple locations.
Offer customers an itemised receipt via email, SMS, or QR code.
Create and manage discounts and add descriptions for greater clarity.
Understand what you are selling and when with detailed reports (coming soon).
POS is automatically installed on Zeller Terminal 2, with no monthly or additional fees.
Keeps all sales channels in one POS software (in-store, events, pop-up stores, online)
Designed to work online or offline in unexpected outages
Web-based point of sale compatible with iPad, PC and Mac
Supports attaching notes to orders to keep track of requests and special details
Offers lay-by option and ‘on account’ sales
Social media links are included on email receipts to engage customers
Printed and emailed receipts can feature custom messages
Transaction logs help measure team’s performance
Syncs with business systems like Xero, MailChimp and Magento
Integrates with Zeller Terminal
Jewellery specific point of sale and inventory management software
Offers inventory trends and compares performance against 400+ Edge users
eInvoicing tool included
Job tracking for repairs, special orders, and custom jobs
Reporting on daily operations, marketing effectiveness, inventory performance
Customer relationship management system to build customer loyalty
Integrates with Zeller Terminal
‘Google like’ predictive product search with cross-sell/upsell recommendations
Customer profiles show previous purchases, store credits, vouchers and loyalty info
Designed to work online or offline in unexpected outages
One single report for supplier Buy Price, COGS, RRP, POS Price and Promo Price
Compatible with PC, iPad and Mac devices
Home delivery, inter-store transfers, warehouse pickup, supplier orders, pre-orders
Flexible payment options such as Buy Now – Pay Later, lay-bys, and accounts sales
Segments customer profiles to run exclusive promotions for specific groups
Loyalty programs with minimum spend, points expiry dates and bonus multipliers
Customisable email templates sent from POS such as click-and-collect alerts
Supports generation of quotes, A4 invoices, and other related documents at the POS
Integrates with Zeller Terminal
Originally created for the fast-paced Melbourne bar scene
Designed to work online or offline in unexpected outages
Support teams available 24/7
Supports the creation of floor maps to monitor the status of tables
Plugs into online bookings and allows you to add reservation notes
Employee hour monitoring
Generates stock variance reports and automates orders based on stock thresholds
Membership and loyalty system designed for the hospitality industry
Integrates with Zeller Terminal
Developed by a team with decades of hospitality and retail experience
Receive funds overnight with secure payments provided by Zeller
Ability to enable or disable features as your business requires
Focus on simple design and speed
Support teams available 24/7
Counter, table, room, pick up or delivery options
Free online store
Integrates with Zeller Terminal
Add and manage items via Zeller Dashboard or directly on Zeller Terminal 2.
Bulk import an item library from a previous POS.
Update item descriptions, images, prices, categories, and generate automatic SKUs.
Customise items with modifiers such as add-ons or special requests.
Create product variants such as size, colour, or style.
Customise grid to quickly access frequently used items, discounts, or categories.
Instantly push product updates to entire fleet of terminals across multiple locations.
Offer customers an itemised receipt via email, SMS, or QR code.
Create and manage discounts and add descriptions for greater clarity.
Understand what you are selling and when with detailed reports (coming soon).
POS is automatically installed on Zeller Terminal 2, with no monthly or additional fees.
Tailored POS for wellness and beauty businesses only
Integrated self-service booking system for clients and owners
Inventory and supplier order management
Management of multiple venues from a single account
Points-based loyalty program for client retention
Detailed sales, client, and appointment reports
Create an online profile for salon visibility under marketplace
Support via email and extensive how-to guides
Offers additional paid features for enhanced functionality
Customisable online and app-based booking system
Integrated POS for sales, transactions, and scheduling
Various tools for detailed client profiles and preferences
Comprehensive reporting on sales, inventory, and staff performance
Staff management with dashboards, timesheets, and rosters
Loyalty programs to retain clients
Support is available through app and online resources
Integrates with various tools and software add-ons
Let Zeller manage your payments.
No matter how you prefer to manage your checkout process, Zeller is Australia’s leading payments provider, tailored to meet your business needs. For smaller or mobile businesses with a limited inventory, Zeller offers Zeller POS Lite, built into Zeller Terminal 2 at no extra cost. Larger, more established businesses can benefit from Zeller Terminal’s seamless integration with over 600 different POS platforms. Whether you’re looking for a simple, cost-effective mobile solution or a fully integrated EFTPOS machine with advanced features like tipping, bill-splitting, and custom screensavers, Zeller’s platform is designed to evolve with your business. Chat with our sales team today to set up Zeller POS Lite, or explore our Zeller Partner Hub to find the perfect POS integration for your business.
POS software without the price tag.
With one low flat transaction fee of 1.4%, no monthly subscription fees or lock-in contracts, Zeller Terminal 2 is Australia’s most affordable all-in-one POS and payments solution.
