Point-of-sale (POS) integrations can open lucrative opportunities for your businesses by extending the use of the existing digital payments system. Some popular add-ons include ecommerce, online ordering & delivery, and staff management. However, the right integrations for you really depend on the existing capabilities of your POS, the scope of its app store, and the unique needs of your business.
As surging inflation rates place more pressure on the bottom line of small business owners, POS add-ons will allow your system to work harder for you. We've poured hundreds of hours into researching POS systems and curated a list of the best overall and sector-specific integrations, based on the top priorities of US businesses in 2023.
To ensure we answer any burning questions you may have, we also cover how add-ons work, how much you should expect to pay for them, and how you can integrate them into your current system. Scroll down to learn more about POS integrations, or use our free quotes tool to receive tailored quotes from the best point-of-sale systems on the market.
In this review:
- What is a POS Integration?
- Best General POS Integrations
- Best POS Integrations for Retail Businesses
- Best POS Integrations for Restaurants & Hospitality
- Standard vs Advanced POS Features
- How to Choose the Right POS System
- How Do We Research POS Systems?
- Top POS Integrations: Key Takeaways
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a POS Integration?
A POS integration is a software application that connects seamlessly with your point-of-sale software. Also known as ‘add-ons' or ‘apps,' integrations allow the flow of real-time data across systems and can be provided by your POS provider or a third party. If your POS package lacks a specific functionality, add-ons are great ways to broaden your toolkit. You can find integrations in app stores, or use an application programming interface (API) to build your own.
Best General POS Integrations
Some POS add-ons aren't industry specific. Here are some common integrations that most small businesses would be able to benefit from:
1. Accounting
Integrating your POS system with accounting software should be a no-brainer for businesses looking to gain greater control over their cash flow. Accounting integrations will sync financial data across platforms and also offer handy capabilities, including bookkeeping features and tax compliance.
2. Payroll
Payroll integrations let you track hours worked, manage expenses, and ensure workers are paid on time – all from your POS dashboard. Also, by using an add-on over a separate system, it's easier to easier sync payroll data to other platforms you utilize for accounting, staff management, and reporting.
3. Staff management
Most POS systems offer basic employee management tools, but they tend to have limitations. Therefore, unless you're running a one-man show, staff management software makes it easier to schedule shift patterns, track hours worked, and keep tabs on staff performance.
4. Customer loyalty
If you're committed to attracting loyal customers, customer loyalty integrations give buyers an extra reason to return. The software helps you issue perks and privileges to repeat buyers as well as follow up post-purchase. Some integrations even let you create unique customer profiles, helping you gain a richer overview of their purchase history.
Best POS Integrations for Retail Businesses
Retail-focused POS systems let you track orders, take payments, manage stock, and more. If you're looking to stretch the use of your retail POS further, here are some integrations that could benefit you.
5. Ecommerce
If your business sells across channels, ecommerce integrations let you unify your commerce strategy by linking your online platform to your POS. It will combine sales data on one centralized platform and allow business owners to manage and track in-person and online sales side by side. This will massively improve efficiency and give you greater visibility over your store's data, enabling you to make smarter business decisions.
6. Flexible payments
Payment integrations offer customers a flexible and convenient way to pay for goods, making them more likely to spend at your store. Integrations include ‘buy now pay later' payments (BNPL) that lets customers delay payments or split the cost into manageable installments.
7. Advanced inventory
If your business houses a large or complex inventory, your bog-standard stock management feature may not cut the mustard. Advanced inventory features can unlock useful capabilities like label printing, cycle counting, seasonal stock management, and low stock alerts.
8. Rental management
If your retail business rents out products, you'll need extra software to keep tabs on payments, reservations, and item deliveries. Lots of rental management software also offers stock management features, making it easier for store owners to track their whole inventory catalog on one centralized platform.
9. Warehouse management
If you handle large amounts of inventory, warehouse inventory software lets you track products from warehouse to shelf. These integrations are normally able to manage perishable and non-perishable goods, making them suitable for a wide range of retailers.
10. Gift cards
Gift cards are a simple and effective way to drive up profits and attract new customers. If your system doesn't let you issue gift cards, you can use a POS add-on to hand out physical and virtual gift cards that are tailored with the branding of your business.
11. Age verification
Age verification systems don't tend to be included in standard POS packages. If you sell age-sensitive products like alcohol, marijuana, tobacco, blades, or even aerosols, you'll need some kind of age verification system.
Best POS Integrations for Restaurants & Hospitality
Every food and hospitality business needs something slightly different from a POS system. If your requirements aren't fulfilled by your current system, here are some sector-specific integrations to watch out for:
12. Ordering & delivery
Since the Covid-19 pandemic upended the service industry, more customers are choosing takeout and delivery over dining out. If your POS system doesn't already facilitate online ordering and delivery, third-party apps, like DoorDash and sauce, can handle these processes for you.
13. Menu management
With 31% of restaurateurs updating their menu on a monthly basis, menu management integrations let you create, edit, and update personalized menus as your offerings evolve. The software can also account for specials and seasonal menu changes, differentiate between online and dine-in options, and color code products for upselling purposes.
14. Kitchen display systems
Kitchen display systems (KDS) streamline communication between front and back-of-house by letting staff track and manage orders digitally, eliminating the need for physical tickets. They display restaurant data in real time and can be customized to the needs of your business. Many link up to delivery systems like Grubhub and UberEats as well, offering a full overview of the process from prep to delivery.
15. Booking & reservation
Manual reservations take up staff time and lack efficiency. If you're looking to move to an online system, booking & reservation add-ons are a must. Reservation systems allow customers to make bookings from anywhere, and give businesses a way to manage them from one centralized platform. Some notable options include Square Appointments, EatApp, and TouchBistro Reservations.
Learn more about Square's offering in our Square POS pricing guide.
16. Restaurant discovery
If you're looking to get the word out about your business, Discovery apps are a great way to draw customers to your location. These integrations make it easier for new customers to find your business, and it also allows them to leave reviews and add images so other users can see how compare with similar restaurants.
17. Tip management
If your food or hospitality business takes gratuities, a tip management system automates the process for you and delivers payouts directly into the bank accounts of your workers. The add-on facilitates tip pooling, accounts for varied shift patterns, and provides automated tip reports to help wait staff keep track of changes over given time periods.
Standard vs. Advanced POS Features
POS systems offer a range of basic features as part of their in-house package. Below, we look at POS features you should expect as standard, alongside advanced capabilities that can be unlocked through pricier subscriptions or third-party integrations.
Standard integrations
- Basic reporting and analytics
- Basic marketing tools
- Payment options
- Loyalty programs
- Mobile apps
- Basic inventory management
- Customer management
- User accounts and permissions
- Employee management
Advanced integrations
- Payroll & accounting
- Marketing
- Customer loyalty
- Ecommerce
- Flexible payments
- Advanced inventory
- Rental management
- Warehouse management
- Age verification
- Ordering & delivery
- Menu management
- Kitchen display systems
- Booking & reservation
- Discovery apps
- Tip management
How to Choose the Right POS System
If you haven't started with a POS system yet, or you're looking to upgrade your previous model, the number of options out there might seem overwhelming.
There are a number of important considerations to make before you commit to a solution. First and foremost, we'd recommend opting for a system tailored to your specific industry that offers in-house features that meet the top priorities of your business. Whether this be flexible payment options or development tools, choosing a POS that excels in these areas may cost more than basic systems, but this means you won't be required to pay for multiple add-ons, inflating the cost of the system over time.
To help you find a system that is equipped to meet your needs, we've compiled a table of our highest-rated POS providers below, including their price points and best fors,
| Best small business POS for Tech.co's verdict to help you identify the most suitable choice for your small business | Price from The typical lowest starting price. The lowest price available for your business will depend on your needs. | Hardware | iPad app Is there a version of the software made specifically for iPad use? | Android app Is there a version of the software made specifically for Android tablet use? | 24/7 support | Key benefits | Drawbacks | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BEST OVERALL  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Square POS | Zettle POS | Vend POS | Clover POS | Epos Now | Shopify POS | Revel POS | Lightspeed | TouchBistro POS | Cake POS | |
| Best overall small businesses POS | Great value for money | Best for employee tracking | Best for customer retention | Best for a quick initial set up | Best for ecommerce | Best for CRM tools | Best for inventory management | Best for onboarding | Best for hospitality staff | Best register features |
| Free (but transaction fees apply) | Free (but transaction fees apply) | Free (but transaction fees apply) | $69 per month | |||||||
| Sold by Square, separately or packaged with software. First card reader free. Also works with most leading brands. | Retails a range of hardware solutions including card readers and cash registers. | Works with a range of of third-party periperals. | Sells everything from full cash stations to mobile card readers. | Works with a range of of third-party periperals. | Sold by Shopify, but also works with iPads and Android tablets. | Offers a preconfigured POS terminal with an iPad and tablet stand, a router, a printer, and a cash drawer. | Specialized hardware available. Not compatible with weighing scales. | Sells an impressive line of its own products. All splash-proof. | Built for iPad. Offers Kitchen Display System & Customer-Facing Display. Works with most leading brands' for other peripherals. | Leases you a printer, terminal, card reader, and cash drawer on two or three-year contract. |
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How Did We Research POS Systems?
Before we narrowed down POS systems for small businesses, our team of researchers put the top systems through their paces, cataloging their specifications and carrying out hands-on testing to see how they performed across multiple areas.
After we collected, compiled, and analyzed the POS data, we awarded each system a score out of five for a variety of high-interest categories — from business development and stock management features to price and help and support. We also accounted for industry-specific criteria, like retail and restaurant-specific features, to help us determine which POSs are stronger for different sectors.
We use these scores to rank the systems in order of their overall value, gaining a clear understanding of where they excel and fall short. However, a lot more goes into how we make our verdicts. You can learn more about our research process here.
Top POS Integrations: Key Takeaways
After researching the baseline offering of a range of POS systems, we found accounting, payroll, staff management, and customer loyalty software to be the top all-purpose POS integrations.
However, retail businesses are likely to benefit from more focused features, like ecommerce warehouse management, while food and hospitality businesses would make better use of industry-specific kitchen display systems and menu management.
The integrations you choose will depend on the scope of your current POS system. If you’re still comparing options, our free POS comparison tool will provide you with tailored quotes in minutes, making it easier than ever to move forward with a solution.
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