Choosing the right grocery store point of sale (POS) system is tough. Whether you’re picking a system for the first time or doing a long-overdue upgrade, the sheer number of providers and features can be overwhelming.
With over 25 years of experience in the grocery industry, we know what grocery stores need to thrive. We also know that not every POS system is a great fit for every business.
In this article, we’ll cover the must-have features any grocery store POS system should have, along with five top providers.
Grocery Store POS Systems: 5 Top Providers
Every grocery store POS system has its strengths and weaknesses. However, there are certain features you can't live without as a grocery store owner.
Any system you look at (including all of the entries on this list) has these features in some capacity.
- Inventory management: Get a real-time view of stock levels whenever sales are made and streamline reorders with low-stock alerts and integrated vendor management.
- Customer loyalty: Encourage repeat visits by allowing customers to earn points every time they shop — points they can redeem for discounts and freebies.
- Reports: Use pre-built reports to make better business decisions. With a holistic view of your store’s financial health and performance, you can better manage inventory and keep customers happy.
- E-commerce support: Reach more customers with a user-friendly website that accurately reflects your store’s current inventory levels.
- Customizable interface: Change the layout of buttons on your touchscreens so employees can reach their most-used functions quickly.
- Flexible payments: Accept any type of payment, from debit and credit cards to contactless payments.
- Scale integrations: Integrate inventory with scales to track items like meat and produce by weight and print labels that can be scanned at checkout.
Depending on your store size and needs, you may need other features, such as EBT payments, self-checkout support, and multi-location management. However, these seven features are a good starting point when looking for an industry-specific solution.
Here are our top 5 picks for grocery store POS systems.
1. IT Retail
IT Retail is a top-rated solution built by grocers for grocers. IT Retail leans on over 25 years of experience in the grocery industry to meet the specific needs of small grocers, supermarkets, and food markets.
Standout Features
IT Retail is a great all-in-one package that gives small grocery stores the tools they need to compete with bigger stores. It comes with flexible inventory, reports, customer loyalty, employee management, and everything else you need to succeed.
IT Retail customers also praise the flexible scale integrations and helpful customer support. We also support EBT payments, and the system continues to work even when offline.
Drawbacks
- Not as customizable
- Only partial integration with major wholesalers
- No native eWIC support
2. Clover
Clover is a popular POS provider that caters to restaurants, general retail stores (including grocery stores), and the service industry. It’s known as a no-frills option, lacking some of the advanced features of competitors but making up for it with easy-to-use software and hardware.
Standout Features
Clover’s robust and user-friendly hardware makes it a standout on this list. They offer many beginner-friendly hardware options, from mobile card scanners and touchscreens to kitchen displays.
Their restaurant plans also include free support for online ordering, making it ideal for grocery stores with attached quick-service restaurants.
Drawbacks
- No EBT support
- Limited scale integrations
- Must use Clover hardware
3. Square
Square is another popular system aimed at multiple retail industries. While some advanced features are locked behind a paywall, Square is potentially a cost-friendly option for small or new businesses.
Standout Features
Square’s flexibility makes it a standout on this list. Its modular design lets you pay for specific features and upgrades as needed, allowing the system to grow with your business.
If you’re starting a grocery store for the first time or have low transaction volumes, Square also has several free plans.
Drawbacks
- No EBT support
- Some features require a paid add-on
- No variable weight scanning
- Higher payment fees than competitors
4. Markt POS
Markt POS is another affordable option for small grocery stores and supermarkets. It supports deli and checkout scales, self-checkout, and more, making it a flexible solution for most grocers.
Standout Features
Markt POS offers state-of-the-art POS hardware at an affordable price point, including deli scales and self-checkout machines. It supports order management for quick-service restaurants.
Markt POS also includes Spanish-language support for its software, making it a great option for food markets in Spanish-speaking areas.
Drawbacks
- Limited marketing support
- Limited integrations with grocery e-commerce
- No automatic purchase orders
5. Lightspeed
Lightspeed POS is a POS system that supports retailers in various industries around the world. With advanced inventory management and customer loyalty options, Lightspeed is one of the more powerful systems on this list.
Standout Features
More than perhaps any other entry on this list, Lightspeed is built to work at scale. It includes robust multi-store management, franchise support, and detailed inventory breakdowns per store.
It also has omnichannel marketing support, allowing you to connect with customers online, in-store, and on mobile.
Drawbacks
- Priciest option on the list
- No native EBT support
- Higher learning curve
Achieve More by Partnering With a Trusted Grocery Store POS Provider
Choosing a grocery store POS system might feel daunting, and we don’t blame you — it’s a big deal! You’ll be using your POS system every day, and your choice will have real implications on your business.
Our advice is not to rush it. Schedule several demos with different providers and have questions ready. Assuming your pick has the must-have features we listed above, then your top considerations are:
- Usability: Is the system easy to learn and intuitive?
- Customer support: Does the provider seem knowledgeable? What kind of support will you get while onboarding and when things go wrong?
- Business needs: A POS system should do more than solve a short-term problem; it should also support your long-term goals.
There’s no point in investing in a system you’re not completely happy with.
IT Retail has been tailoring solutions for the grocery industry for over 25 years. We specialize in working with small- to mid-size businesses looking for powerful yet cost-effective ways to succeed in an increasingly competitive market.
Schedule a customized demo today to learn more about how IT Retail can transform the way you do business.
