Mobile-based POS or Point of Sale systems have revolutionized the way in which customers tend to pay for everything -right from meals to high-end technology gadgets. When appropriately executed, mobile POS systems are successful in streamlining the overall customer experience while making life simpler for everyone involved in the sales process.
With the help of the mobile POS system, small business owners are no longer expected to be linked to a dedicated countertop Point of Sale system at the online store or physical outlet. It is possible to make use of the POS application on any given mobile device -whether it is a tablet or a smartphone while using the same to process the overall sales. This implies that you are given the freedom to accept payments wherever you might be. In addition to the mobile device and the mobile POS application, you are only required access to a dedicated card reader for accepting credit cards and mobile payments -like Google Pay or Apple Pay. You will need a reliable Internet connection.
Most mobile-based POS systems leverage tools that help in running your business smoothly, connecting to the online or physical store inventories, and even tracking customer information along with other relevant data.
Top Best Mobile POS Systems 2023
The best mobile-based POS systems out there should feature the presence of a robust inventory, detailed reporting, and an intuitive interface. A reliable mobile POS system can help you take your small business to the next level while improving overall profitability. Some of the leading options are:
- Square
With a wide range of high-end features that will work effectively for any retailer -just like for any café or restaurant, Square indeed tops the list of the best mobile POS system for several reasons. Square features its significant presence with quick-to-serve cafes and businesses. To top it all, the POS provider is also quite common amongst mobile service and retailer businesses due to its overall versatility. To top it all, integrations with a shopping cart and a free online store launch a host of opportunities to sell online lucratively.
Even with its low-cost entry point, Square depicts a comprehensive feature set. It allows the software to be highly scalable to allow your small business to grow rapidly. Some of the essential features of the POS provider to look out for are:
- Time cards
- Permissions
- Acceptance of split payments
- Custom reports
- Sales History
- Printing order tickets
- Marketing tools
- Acceptance of multiple types of payments
Square processing is an excellent solution for low-risk, low-volume businesses. To start processing with Square, all you need is a phone (iPhone or Android), a laptop, or a tablet, along with the Square card reader. The overall prices of Square are pretty upfront and straightforward. For small-scale businesses that require simple eCommerce and payment processing, Square is the ideal choice.
- Clover
Clover is yet another all-in-one mobile-based point-of-sale system that is famous for its overall simple interface along with the presence of the rich feature set. Clover is available with a wide range of hardware options to help both small-sized as well as mid-sized businesses access highly convenient ways to grow their respective company. Whether you require assistance in expanding the opportunities for online ordering or with the website, Clover can do it all.
Clover comes with an in-depth list of essential features to make it a popular choice amongst end users. Some of the unique features of the POS provider are:
- Virtual terminal
- Digital receipts
- Customizable dashboard
- Itemized orders
- Real-time reporting
- Multiple options for payments
When you purchase hardware directly from Clover, you do not have to pay anything -especially if you wish to make use of the devices only for the purpose of payments. There will be a processing rate of 2.6 percent, along with 10 cents for card-present transactions. In the case of CNP or Card-not-present transactions, the processing rate will be 3.5 percent along with 10 cents.
In terms of the overall hardware, Clover offers access to a wide range of hardware solutions for both purpose-built POS software and Android-based hardware. However, the most commonly used hardware by Clover that is mobile-ready is Clover Flex. The hardware is available with immense flexibility and mobility. Therefore, it becomes easier to consider line-busting, selling on the floor, and selling even outside the domains of the brick-and-mortar store with a dedicated data plan. The Clover Flex features the presence of a built-in tap/chip/swipe card payment reader along with a barcode scanner and receipt printer -offering ample power with respect to ensuring payments.
In case you wish to have a mobile reader that is capable of syncing up with the respective smartphone, Clover Go is the go-to option. However, none of the existing solutions will be highly suitable in the form of a standalone mobile-based POS if you are not using the Clover Mini or Clover Station. With the help of the built-in swipe NFC or EMV reader, barcode scanner, and receipt printer, the Clover Mini can be utilized by itself or with the help of a cash drawer using LTE, Wi-Fi, or Ethernet.
The plans of Clover are sold with the help of the Fiserv merchant account. Therefore, it is not possible to reprogram them to be used with some different payment processors. The overall Clover pricing, along with the quality of services, will significantly depend on the Clover provider you are choosing.
The overall affordable pricing and versatile hardware offering of Clover make it a highly sought-after vendor in case you are searching for a mobile-based POS system. The interface of the platform is easy-to-use. Moreover, most of its products are known to pair seamlessly with each other. The application marketplace also offers access to a number of ways to boost the POS system.
- Toast
Toast is a mobile-based, Android-centric, all-in-one POS system that has been custom-built for bars and restaurants. The restaurant POS software of Toast features advanced specifications like menu management, cloud-based reporting, and a dedicated kitchen display system. You can also think of buying the digital ordering suite of the platform without the requirement of paying anything for the POS system or hardware.
Toast has been specifically built for restaurants. Some of the key features of the POS system are:
- Contactless delivery
- Online ordering
- QR code payments
- eGift card option
- KDS compatibility
- Loyalty
- Marketing
Toast is available with a free starter plan. The plan includes the core functionality of POS systems along with the option of payment processing. Toast is available with a flat-rate payment processing fee of around 2.49 percent, along with 15 cents. The POS remains incompatible with any outside payment processor. If you wish to use Toast, you are expected to sign a multi-year payment processing agreement with ETF or an early termination fee.
Toast is a fully mobile-based solution. Therefore, it offers access to a custom-built handheld POS device known as Toast Go. Servers can make use of the POS device for taking payments and orders from the restaurant floor. Toast makes use of commercial-grade Elo I-series touch screens along with different form factors for kiosks, terminals, and guest-facing displays. Restaurant owners would also like to utilize the kitchen display system. It helps eliminate the need for paper-based tickets while simplifying and speeding up transactions.
Toast only makes use of its dedicated payment processor. However, it is also known to sign up customers for lengthy contracts with higher termination fees. Therefore, it is recommended to ensure that you are aware of the product and know what you will be getting into before signing the agreement.
Toast is a tailor-made POS solution for restaurants. The POS solution has always been quite ahead of the game as far as mobile-based ordering is concerned. The hardware of the provider is quite intuitive as well as ideal for ensuring contactless payments. The integrations of the POS provider for online ordering and delivery are amazing.
Which Mobile POS System is Right for Your Business?
Mobile-based Point of Sale System is regarded as the future of the modern POS solution. It is not only due to the overall portability or smaller footprint, but it is also because of the advanced features, the overall ease of use, and scalability. Even when your business might not need a dedicated mobile point of sale system right away, it is still important to analyze the future along with the flexibility of the mobile POS system.
