Are you considering an open-source Point Of sales (POS) for your retail business but unsure which one to choose? Don't fret. We've put together this blog to make things a tad easy for you. 

But before we jump in, first things first:

What is an open source POS?

Open Source POS plays a vital role in helping retail shops and restaurants improve how they serve customers. It is one of those tools a business can't function well without. If you are one of those business owners not familiar with POS, you're not alone. Many people still confuse POS with PO, which is a purchase order. But POS and PO are totally different. 

POS stands for Point of Service or Point of Sale, and it is a system any retailer can use for a multitude of things. What about open source? Well, open-source refers to any solution that is free to any entrepreneur or individual to use, access the source code, and modify it. 

Why using POS matters

Adopting an open-source POS system has many benefits to businesses. First, it offers your company a system that does more than tracking stock. You can use it to improve your customer service and put your restaurant or retail business back on an even keel, regardless of what type or size of your retail store. 

You can use a POS system to resolve your everyday issues and develop a new strategy that will give you a competitive edge. 

Example: Josh is the owner of Baby City, a retail store that sells baby products. Before adopting a POS solution, his team had to grapple with challenges such as inaccurate tallies, wrong sales records, and unrecorded sales. So Josh and his team had to spend time rectifying those errors. But one day his manager Kyra suggested that they try Odoo POS. Things started to improve significantly from then.  They can now record data and see how Baby City is growing. 

The benefits of using open source POS

• An open-source POS lets you track your inventory and create order lists.
• POS allows you to save data on the cloud and access information anytime or anywhere. 
• An open-source POS works better than a manual register. In that, it records even transactions in real-time. 
• It lets you track your inventory and create a list of available items for your customers. 
• Information is at your fingertips. All it takes is logging in, then you download reports and share them with team members.
• You don't have to employ a filing assistant; POS software stores everything on the cloud. 
• Using an open-source POS solution allows you to measure the performance of your sales team. You will know who is less performing and incentivize those who are bringing in more sales. 
• You will be able to monitor stock levels and know when to replenish your stock. 
• Using POS software will save you time and money. Thanks to the speed of POS systems, processing transactions is now ten times faster for businesses. 

Use one of these five open-source POS solutions to grow your business, and thank us later:

1. Odoo POS

Odoo POS is one of the most used systems today. Most retail outlets and restaurants that do well use it. What we like about this open-source solution is, it works online and offline as well. And you don't install it.  This way, you can continue taking orders and maximizing sales, even if there is no internet disconnection. 

Example: Tim is the owner of Bayleaf, a small coffee shop in Phoenix. He uses Odoo POS. He loves this POS system because it allows his staff to send customized orders from the kitchen to patrons without causing any confusion. Plus, his waiters can use Odoo from a tablet and send orders with a touch of a screen. In comparison with another coffee shop around the corner, Tim's coffee shop manager can monitor all orders from her iPhone. 

One of the advantages of using Odoo POS is that it can manage multiple checks simultaneously and reduce customer's waiting time. Your team can use Odoo POS system to trace products by using a barcode scan functionality. Thanks to Odoo POS's user-friendliness, you and your team will be able to know when you're out of stock and when to replenish. It is one of the few customer-oriented systems. You can use it to manage your customer loyalty programs and reward your loyal customers with points. 

Features 

Some available features of the Odoo POS include the following: 

• It can process payments faster.
• Odoo POS allows you to process different prices methods, from credit cards, cash, or debit cards. 
• Odoo POS allows you to split payments between multiple parties. 
• You can use Odoo POS to round off payments to the smallest amount.
• You can even process payments offline. 
• Odoo allows you to generate invoices for your clients. 
• You can integrate Odoo POS into your Odoo Accounting solution.
• Restaurants can use it to convert change to a tip. 
• You can process many orders at the same time. 
• You can search and find customers quickly. 
• Keep track of sales no matter where you are.
• View order history, and know which products sell faster. 
• Use Odoo POS to monitor cash register adjustments. 
• Because Odoo is POS Open-source, you can customize it with HTML5.  

2. Samba POS

Samba POS is another open-source system you should consider. If you are a small business that has just started, you can benefit from using this tool. SambaPOS is suitable for restaurants, especially those that also deliver food to customers. Exciting features that you capitalize on include integrations, process tracking, reporting, and customizations functionalities.

This nifty POS is also available for both Android and iPhone users, which means you'll track your orders from anywhere and anytime. 

Features

Top features of Samba POS include the following:

• You'll get accurate reports at any time.
• You can add multiple departments.
• Samba POS lets you have numerous authorization options. 
• Samba POS comes with a feature that allows you to prepare, save and print reports at any time.
• You can create dazzling menus for restaurants. 
• The customization feature will enable you to adjust your screen. 
• You can integrate with other payment applications.
• Access real-time data anytime, anywhere. 
• Track and analyze your bar's or restaurant's financial performance. 
• You can upload your restaurant's layout, update it any way you like. 
• Allow your customer to pay from their debit, credit, gift, or loyalty cards. 
• You can access unlimited menus, categories, and products. 

3. PHP Point Of Sale

PHP POS is a versatile POS system any small business owners should try out. You can use it to manage your daily business operations and process financial transactions. What's more, you can access it from any device. Whether a laptop, or computer, tablet, and even your mobile phone.  

Example: Zak Van Niekerk owns two restaurants in Cape Town, South Africa. Apart from that, he is a guitarist who has to crisscross the African continent to perform his jazz music. PHP POS allows Zak to monitor the performance of his two restaurants from his iPhone. His team uses the inventory management feature to suggest new items, which Zak can review and approve anytime. 

Features 

• Manage your inventory with a click of a button.
• Update your inventory, and get alerts when someone makes changes. 
• Integrate your PHP POS with your e-commerce site.
• Sync your stock, item images with your Shopify.
• PHP POS allows you to make changes to your inventory offline. 
• You can link it up with your accounting software.
• You access reports anytime. 
• You can use PHP POS to create coupons. 
• It has a transfer stock feature.
• It can record and track appointments with your customers.
• Access a flexible API that allows you to integrate with other tools on Zapier. 
• Raise purchase orders whenever a need arises. 
• Use custom fields to customize your orders. 
• PHP POS allows you to set the price per item. 
• It is available in 11 different languages. You'll be able to serve every client, including English non-speaking clients as well.

4. Wallace POS

WallacePOS is another open-source that you should consider for your business. It comes with an intuitive dashboard that doesn't take long to figure out. We recommend this POS solution for its suitability for both small to medium businesses. Plus, there are a lot of things that you can do with it. From adding barcodes to different methods of payments, access reports with a click of a button. 

You can also synchronize the WallacePOS system with your receipt printers, barcode scanner, or cash withdrawal machine. Your team can use it to record daily transactions. At the end of every shift, they can email you receipts and returns for you to monitor performance. In a situation, there is a power cut, WallacePOS allows them to process transactions offline. 

When it comes to analytics, WallacePOS leads the pack. You and your managers can do stock control, track stock shortages, and know when is the best time to replenish stock. It is compatible with Linux, Mac, and Windows. 

Features

• WallacePOS has an intuitive dashboard
• It is easy to use.
• WallacePOS is compatible with other solutions.
• It has a multipurpose design. Bars, restaurants, and cafés can benefit from using it.
• It allows you to split payments.
• Your team can use WallacePOS to email receipts.
• It will enable your cashiers to void and refund customers.
• WallacePOS uses JSON data interchange that comes in handy during deliveries.
• It has an HTML5 offline functionality, which means you can transact without an internet connection. 
• You can accelerate your sales with Tyro EFTPOS integration. 
• It is safe and secure. 
• View sales reports or download them in CSV format. 

5. uniCenta

uniCenta POS is a multipurpose solution business can use to record sales and keep customers happy. It doesn't matter whether you run a pizzeria, bike shop, or restaurant. You can use it to generate reports, process sales, and manage your inventory. As an admin, you can set different access levels for your teams and allow managers to access certain features. 

You can use uniCenta to lookup customers, offer rewards, and set discounts. Your team can make reservations, split bills, and scan products. Want to deliver to your customers? With uniCenta, you can plan deliveries and track each delivery. Whenever you are not sure a delivery took place, you can check past orders. Furthermore, you can use uniCenta POS to manage orders, review transactions, and improve your businesses. 

Features 

• uniCenta comes with an intuitive Dashboard.
• You'll get instant notifications.
• You'll access a myriad of customer management tools.
• It comes with a secure payment processor.
• uniCenta has an API that supports external integrations.
• It has a barcode scanning feature.
• It comes with a cash drawer feature.
• uniCenta has a Card Payments feature.
• It has a close cash feature that enables accurate reporting.
• It has a customizable GUI functionality.
• It has an interface that has a great look and feel.
• uniCenta has a mobile-friendly interface. 
• It is mobile-friendly. 
• You can customize Receipts and Tickets.

Closing 

Last but not least, we know that growing small retail or restaurants is no easy feat. That it takes more than dedication and determination. We know that business owners need to have more than just the right team. That without all the right tools at your disposal it's impossible to grow a business. That without an open-source you can't serve customers better than your competitors.

Indeed, the open-source POS will always be the lifeblood of the retail or restaurant business. But it is also true that your restaurant or bar is not the same as any other in your city or town. What does that mean? It means you will only benefit from one of those solutions mentioned above if you know which one to choose. As a business owner, you need a system that will help you manage purchases, cash flow, and inventory simultaneously.

A challenge that most business owners face is choosing the right tool that helps their business. Those that try to pick up a tool themselves will either end up replacing it with another wrong one. Or continue using a one-sided solution that doesn't help them. While there are many open-source solutions out there, it will save you time and money if you hire a professional.  

Example: When you run a small pizzeria, you may benefit from a solution like SambaPOS. You can use it to track your deliveries and monitor the performance of your pizzeria. If there is a specific popular pizza on your menu, Samba POS allows you to know which days of the month people tend to buy it. This way, your team will be able to know how many pizzas they should make. The fact that you can access it on both Android and iPhone makes it a must-have open-source software. 

Every retail or restaurant business cannot function without having adequate. So, choosing an open-source POS solution that allows you to do that goes without saying. And if that system is user-friendly like Odoo POS, that would be beneficial. After all, you don't need a solution that will take days to set up and for more days for your team to start using. 

What we like most about Odoo POS is that it connects with other Odoo tools. For instance, you integrate it with Odoo inventory and other e-commerce solutions as well. If you want to market products, you also sync them with other sales and marketing tools. As you can, there is no limit to what you can do with Odoo POS. Unlike other standalone systems that will cost you thousands of dollars each year, Odoo is an open-plan, which means it's accessible to business owners like you!

Let's say you are out of stock. A few days later, you receive inventory, and you want to sell it right away. YOdoo POS scans items then update quantities on your systems. What will be on your system will be exactly what is available. No human errors, no embarrassments. And your customers don't have to wait for days on end before you can start selling products again.  

Open-source systems will only benefit you when you have an expert by your side—someone who can help you choose the right POS system and customize it. An expert who can help you to come up with a strategy of serving customers faster. And by an expert, we don't mean just anyone, but someone who has helped hundreds of small businesses to thrive.