What's the Best Supermarket Cash Register? 6 Picks for 2024

Are you losing sales and customers thanks to your clunky, outdated supermarket cash register?

Today's customers want a fast and easy checkout experience, personalized service, flexible payment options, and short lines. If your cash register doesn't meet these expectations, you might be losing customer loyalty. 

The solution? Upgrade to a new point of sale (POS) system. But what's the best cash register for supermarkets?

This post covers six top options for cash registers and point of sale solutions for supermarkets and grocery stores. We’ll discuss features and pricing, giving you all the information you need to make an informed decision.

Supermarket Cash Register vs. POS System: Which Is Best?

Still not sure if you need more than a simple cash register? Let’s break down the differences and similarities between a cash register and a full POS system to help you determine what’s best for your business.

Related Read: Grocery Store Cash Register or POS System? Pros and Cons

A cash register is essentially a digital calculator with a cash drawer primarily used for processing sales and storing cash. On the other hand, a POS system is a comprehensive solution that handles transactions and offers a wide range of features to manage various aspects of your business.

So, which do you need? To help you decide, ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you need detailed inventory tracking beyond basic item counts?
• Are you looking for in-depth sales reports and analytics?
• Do you want to implement a customer loyalty program?
• Do you need to process various payment types, including credit cards and mobile payments?
• Are you planning to expand your business or add more locations in the near future?

If you answer "yes" to most of these questions, a complete POS system would likely be a better fit for your store.

A POS system offers several advantages that can level up your supermarket operations:

• Comprehensive inventory management: A complete POS system allows real-time tracking of stock levels, low stock alerts, and detailed sales analytics.
• Customer relationship management: POS systems can integrate loyalty programs, track customer preferences, and enable personalized marketing.
• Multi-terminal operations: Supermarkets typically need multiple checkout points. A POS system allows for synchronized operations across all terminals.
• Integration with e-commerce: Modern POS systems can seamlessly connect with online ordering platforms, essential for supermarkets offering delivery or pickup services.
• Advanced reporting and analytics: POS systems provide detailed financial reports, sales trends, and performance metrics.
  
  

Related Read: 5 Essential Reports to Manage Your Grocery Store

While a cash register might suffice for a very small operation like a single corner store, most supermarkets need the features of a complete POS system. The initial investment may be higher, but the long-term benefits of efficiency, customer service, and business insights can far outweigh the costs.

With this in mind, let's examine the top POS solutions with cash registers for supermarkets.

1. IT Retail

IT Retail offers an all-in-one point of sale solution explicitly tailored for grocers. We leverage over 25 years of industry experience to give you the features you need to succeed. We designed our system to address the unique challenges faced by specialty grocers and supermarket owners, providing a robust set of tools to streamline your operations.

Our package offers multiple hardware options, including:

• Scanner-scales
• Hand scanners
• EMV PIN pads
• Receipt printers
• Cash drawers
• Customer displays

All our hardware is durable and designed to withstand the rough-and-tumble, high-volume supermarket environment for five years or longer. 

You can also enjoy advanced software features with IT Retail, including: 

• Powerful inventory management tools with low stock alerts and vendor-sorted reorder reports to ensure optimal stock levels.
• Employee management features, including time tracking and performance monitoring to streamline workforce management.
• Customer loyalty programs to encourage repeat business and enhance customer retention.
• Advanced reporting capabilities that provide insights into sales trends, product performance, and overall store analytics.
• E-commerce integration compatibility with major grocery e-commerce providers to expand online sales channels.
• QuickBooks integration for streamlined accounting processes and financial management.
• Multi-store management capabilities.
• Age restriction controls to ensure compliance when selling regulated products like alcohol and tobacco.
• Support for multiple tax rates to accommodate various tax scenarios and jurisdictions.
• Label printing functionality.
• Flexible discounting options to create promotions and special offers that drive sales.

Pricing: Get a custom quote using IT Retail’s build and price tool. 

2. POS Nation

POS Nation offers a point of sale system designed for various small business retailers, including convenience stores, tobacco shops, and grocery stores. Its solution addresses the unique challenges faced by grocery and specialty market owners, focusing on inventory control, speedy checkout, vendor management, and customer retention. 

Some of the hardware options available through POS Nation include: 

• Touch PCs (terminals).
• Barcode scanners, receipt printers, cash drawers, and PIN pads.
• Specialty hardware like integrated scanner scales, standalone scales, and deli scales.
• Additional options like label printers, customer displays, tablets for mobility, and handheld inventory devices.

POS Nation also offers a variety of software features and functionality:

• Robust inventory management system with features like carton and case break inventory counts.
• Advanced reporting capabilities with over 55 prebuilt reports and customization options.
• Employee management tools, including time clock, individual pay rates, and simplified payroll reporting.
• Customer engagement features that let you create and accept custom coupons, run in-store promotions, and implement mix and match pricing.
• Loss prevention tools to combat inventory shrinkage and protect profits.

Pricing: Get a custom quote using POS Nation’s pricing tool. 

3. KORONA POS

KORONA POS offers a comprehensive, cloud-based point of sale solution designed for restaurants and retail businesses. This all-in-one system provides advanced tools and features to help with sales, inventory management, and customer relationship management.

Some of KORONA POS’s top hardware options include:

• Versatile POS terminals and cash drawers.
• Mobile tablets for flexible, on-the-go sales.
• Fast receipt printers.
• Barcode scanners.
• Credit card readers that support EMV and contactless payments.

You can also use KORONA POS for more than payment processing. Some key features include: 

• Robust inventory management with automatic reordering.
• Advanced reporting and analytics are accessible remotely via KORONA Studio.
• Employee time tracking and performance monitoring.
• Customer relationship management (CRM) and loyalty program tools.
• ID scanning for age verification.
• Email marketing capabilities.

Pricing: KORONA POS’s Core package starts at $59 per month.

4. Lightspeed

Lightspeed offers a retail point of sale system designed to help businesses streamline operations, manage inventory, and scale their growth. This cloud-based solution caters to larger-scale retailers and enterprises, providing tools for both in-store and online sales.

Lightspeed offers two main hardware kits:

• iPad POS kit: Includes LAN receipt printer, cash drawer, Bluetooth scanner, Lightspeed iPad stand, and receipt paper.
• Desktop hardware kit: Features a USB receipt printer, cash drawer, and USB scanner.

Some of Lightspeed’s top software features include:

• Inventory management with supplier management and automated reordering.
• Multi-location management to integrate and control inventory, sales, and customer data across all stores and channels.
• Access real-time insights and customizable reports on sales, products, and team performance.
• E-commerce integration.
• Customer relationship management (CRM) helps you segment customers and automate marketing efforts.

Pricing: Lightspeed’s Core package starts at $149 per month. 

5. Markt POS

Markt POS is an all-in-one point of sale solution specifically designed for local markets and grocery stores. It offers tools to manage inventory, streamline checkout processes, and improve customer experiences. This cloud-based system is tailored to give store owners complete control over their operations, from inventory management to customer communications and marketing.

Some of the hardware Markt POS offers include:

• Advanced checkout technology with an intuitive user interface.
• State-of-the-art scale hardware for accurately weighing deli goods and other products sold by weight.
• Self-checkout kiosks.
• Flexible payment processing hardware that supports EMV, Debit, EBT Food, EBT Cash, gift cards, and checks.

Markt POS also offers robust software with an advanced feature set, including:

• Inventory management system with low stock notifications and purchase order creation.
• Cloud-based technology accessible from anywhere, with offline capabilities to prevent downtime.
• Self-checkout software with security features like weight verification.
• Loyalty program management.
• Comprehensive store performance analytics and reporting.

Pricing: Get a custom quote using Markt POS’s online pricing tool. 

6. NRS Plus

NRS Plus offers an all-in-one point of sale system designed for retail store owners. The system combines robust hardware with feature-rich software to create a seamless checkout experience for store owners and customers. NRS Plus aims to provide retailers with a powerful yet user-friendly POS system that can handle high transaction volumes.

Some of the hardware options NRS Plus offers include: 

• 15" touchscreen register terminal.
• Thermal receipt printer.
• Barcode scanner (with optional ID scanning capability).
• Customer-facing screen.
• Heavy-duty metal cash drawer that locks for secure cash management.

NRS Plus also offers advanced software features, including:

• An inventory tracking system with low stock alerts.
• Integration with Boss Revolution® and BR Club customer loyalty program.
• NRS Pay credit card processing with options for flat-rate or custom pricing.
• Ability to accept various payment methods, including credit/debit cards, EBT, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.
• Reporting and analytics capabilities.

Pricing: NRS’s packages start at $599 upfront and $19.95 per month.

Getting the Most From Your Supermarket Cash Register

Throughout this post, we've explored various options for supermarket cash registers and POS systems, and it's clear that a POS system is the way to go to truly maximize your sales and optimize your business. While a basic cash register might suffice for a single store, the features and insights offered by a comprehensive POS system can be game-changing for your supermarket.

The six POS systems we've discussed all have their strengths. However, it's essential to recognize that there's no one-size-fits-all solution. Every store has its unique needs and challenges.

IT Retail stands out from the crowd for independent supermarket owners looking for an all-in-one solution specifically tailored to their needs. We've designed our system with the unique challenges of grocery stores in mind, offering features that can help you streamline operations, enhance customer experience, and boost your bottom line.

Ready to see how IT Retail can transform your supermarket operations? Schedule a demo of IT Retail today.