10 best mobile POS systems for businesses in the UK

Technology has been a key growth driver for the ever-evolving retail industry. The mobile POS system has enabled businesses to streamline operations and improve customer experience. Let’s explore the intricacies of mobile POS (mPOS) with its robust features and use cases. We’ll also look at some of the best mobile POS systems which are at the forefront of this technology.

What is a mobile POS system?

The Mobile POS, or mobile point-of-sale, is a portable point-of-sale system which enables merchants to accept payments through mobile devices like tablets and smartphones. With mobile POS systems, merchants may serve consumers anywhere in the store or even at off-site locations, unlike traditional POS systems that are usually stationary or too heavy to be moved around.

Essential components of a mobile POS system:

●     Mobile device: The principal interface for the POS software is a mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet.

●     POS Software: This application is installed on the mobile device and manages consumer data, inventory, and sales transactions.

●     Supporting equipment: Card readers, barcode scanners, receipt printers, and payment drawers are examples of peripheral devices that can be connected via Bluetooth or USB.

The portability of a mobile phone POS, such as the Android POS, allows retailers to move away from confined checkout counters and provide a more personalised experience to their customers, leading to increased conversions.

What are some features of a good mobile POS system?

If you are searching for an ideal mobile POS for your business in the UK, consider the following features to assess the effectiveness of your mobile phone POS:

●     User-friendly interface: A mobile POS system that is well-designed should be simple to navigate, enabling staff to process transactions swiftly and with minimal training. A user-friendly interface should come with clear icons and a simplified menu.

●     Real-time inventory management: An effective mobile POS system for retailers offers real-time updates on inventory levels, enabling merchants to monitor stock levels and prevent overstocking or stockouts.

●     A mobile POS solution for better customer experiences: A robust mobile POS comes with advanced customer relationship management (CRM) features that include monitoring consumer preferences, purchase histories, and contact information. This can potentially enhance customer service and personalise marketing initiatives.

●     Payment security: Security is of the utmost importance in any POS (point-of-sale) system. To safeguard consumer data and prevent fraud, a reliable mobile POS should adhere to the most recent payment security standards, including PCI-DSS. A strong mobile POS system supports multiple payment methods, such as mobile wallets, credit/debit cards, and instant bank payments.

●     Integration capabilities: It is essential to have the capacity to integrate with other business systems, including WooCommerce payment gateways, accounting software, and customer loyalty programmes. This integration facilitates the smooth flow of data across various business units, thereby reducing the need for manual data entry and minimising the likelihood of errors.

Why is mobile POS suitable for a small business?

Small businesses in the UK often operate on stringent budgets and are looking for cost-effective solutions to optimise business operations. A comprehensive mobile POS system helps small enterprises in the following ways:

●     Initial investments and recurring costs: Due to their elaborate infrastructural requirements, traditional POS systems can be costly to acquire and operate, leading to substantial initial investments and ongoing expenses. Conversely, a mobile POS is likely to be more cost-effective, as it has an optimised initial setup cost and requires minimal maintenance.

●     Mobility and adaptability: Mobile POS systems enable small business proprietors to conduct transactions in any location, including on the shop floor, at pop-up events, or during delivery services. This adaptability has the potential to result in greater consumer outreach, improved customer service, and increased sales opportunities.

●     Scalability: The POS requirements of a small business may evolve as it expands. The best mobile POS systems offer easy scalability, enabling the integration of additional devices at a relatively lower cost.

10 best mobile POS systems

We have discussed the defining features of a mobile POS system. From integrating with payment gateways to streamlining inventory management, mobile POS systems are redefining modern retail. Here are the top ten mobile POS systems for 2024, with Wonderful emerging as one of the best mobile POS systems based on their cost-effective and innovative solutions.

1. Wonderful

Wonderful’s One app lets businesses accept instant bank payments for products and services or to bill hours. They can also access a dashboard with order, payment, and customer history. QR codes are used for face-to-face transactions, while secure payment links can be delivered via SMS, email, and WhatsApp for remote payments. If you are looking for an alternative option for traditional card payments, then Wonderful's One is an excellent choice as it offers swift settlement, greater security, and reduced data entry. Its inclusive subscriptions eliminate percentage-based transaction fees and come at an affordable package cost of £19.99 for 2,000 transactions.

2. Lightspeed

Lightspeed's mobile POS system is well-known for its intuitive design and robust functionality. It provides real-time inventory tracking, detailed sales data, and comprehensive CRM. Lightspeed also supports a variety of payment methods and connects seamlessly with your legacy system, making it a suitable solution for small businesses looking to scale up.

3. Square

Square's mobile POS system is suitable for small enterprises and startups, with a simple setup and several useful features. It enables easy payment processing, real-time sales tracking, and inventory management. Square's Android POS app is simple to use and accepts a variety of payment options, including contactless payments and mobile wallets.

4. Shopify POS

Shopify POS is completely integrated with Shopify's e-commerce platform, making it an excellent alternative for sellers who have both online and offline storefronts. It provides robust inventory management, real-time analytics, and a unified consumer profile system. Shopify POS also accepts numerous payment methods and offers a simple checkout process.

5. Clover

Clover's mobile POS system is noted for its versatility and customisation options. It provides a variety of hardware choices, including handheld barcode scanners & readers. Clover's mobile POS includes inventory management, staff tracking, and customer interaction options. It also accepts multiple payment methods and integrates with a variety of third-party applications.

6. Vend

Vend's mobile phone POS solution simplifies retail operations with features such as real-time inventory control, extensive reporting, and customer loyalty programmes. It has an easy-to-use interface and allows offline transactions, ensuring continuity even in the absence of internet connectivity. Vend is also compatible with popular e-commerce platforms and accounting applications.

7. Toast

If you are in the restaurant industry, then Toast’s mobile POS could be the ideal platform for your business. It includes capabilities such as table management, menu customisation, and real-time sales statistics. Toast's mobile POS system accepts a variety of payment options, including contactless purchases and mobile wallets. It's also compatible with kitchen display systems and online ordering platforms, thus expanding the service capabilities of restaurants and eateries.

8. Touch Bistro

TouchBistro is another mobile POS system developed exclusively for the restaurant industry. It provides menu administration, table layout customisation, and staff management options. TouchBistro mobile POS also offers comprehensive data and analytics to help restaurant operators make informed decisions. Its ease of use and robust capabilities make it a popular choice among restaurant owners.

9. Loyverse

Loyverse has gained popularity among small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK, as it provides a free mobile POS system. Their innovative solution, available with Android POS, comes with inventory management, sales analytics, and customer loyalty programmes. Its user-friendly interface and flexibility to handle multiple locations make it an attractive alternative for merchants wishing to optimise operations without incurring major upfront investments.

10. Spot On

SpotOn's mobile POS system is typically designed for large businesses with advanced requirements like marketing, loyalty programmes, and customer relationship management. It provides real-time analytics, inventory tracking, and frictionless payment processing. SpotOn's integration capabilities and strong support make it an invaluable resource for firms looking to improve operational efficiency and customer engagement.

The above options give a wide range of service providers to choose from. Map your business needs with the offered mobile POS solutions and the cost implications to make an informed decision.

How do smartphone QR/barcode scanner apps work?

Research suggests that around 87% of smartphone users in Europe and the UK have used a QR code scanner at least once in their lifetime, with 36% using it at least once a week.

Smart mobile POS allow mobile devices to scan and interpret barcodes and QR codes, which expedites various retail operations. This is how it works:

●     Functionality: QR and barcode scanner applications utilise the camera of the mobile device to capture the code. After processing the image, the application then extracts the encoded data, such as product specifications, price, or URL.

●     Integration with mobile POS: To optimise inventory administration and sales transactions, these scanner applications can be integrated with your mobile phone POS, such as the Android POS system. For instance, a staff member can add a product to a customer order or revise inventory levels by scanning its barcode.

●     Advantages: QR and barcode scanner applications significantly boost efficiency by reducing the need for manual data input and minimising errors. Additionally, they optimise inventory management and transactions, resulting in increased productivity.

Retailers may get all-inclusive scanning solutions with mobile POS systems like handheld barcode scanners and readers from places like Amazon and The Barcode Warehouse.

How to integrate my POS system into my mobile app?

By integrating your POS system with a mobile application, you can improve your retail operations by ensuring a seamless data transfer between your sales transactions and backend processes. The following is a step-by-step process for effectively integrating your Android or Apple POS system or any other mobile POS:

Select an appropriate point of sale system:

Ensure that your point-of-sale system is capable of integrating with mobile applications. APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) are frequently integrated into contemporary point-of-sale systems for this purpose.

Utilise APIs:

To understand the procedure for connecting with your mobile application, use the API documentation that your point-of-sale system provides. Endpoints for data access, including inventory levels, sales transactions, and customer information, are typically included in this documentation.

Seek technical assistance:

If you lack the necessary technical skills, you may want to consider employing a developer who has experience with POS integrations. A proficient developer can develop a custom integration that guarantees the secure and efficient exchange of data between your mobile app and your POS system.

Data synchronisation:

Ensure that your POS system and mobile application are in real-time coordination. This synchronisation is essential for the accurate maintenance of inventory levels, customer data, and sales reports. Utilise scheduled tasks or webhooks to ensure that data is consistently updated on both platforms.

Testing:

Conduct a thorough integration test to guarantee that all data is properly transmitted and that there are no errors in customer records, inventory updates, or transactions. Testing is essential for the identification and resolution of any issues that may arise before the system's deployment.

Data protection:

Protect sensitive data during transmission by implementing robust security measures. Ensure that the mobile app and POS system adhere to industry security standards, such as PCI-DSS, and implement secure authentication methods and encryption protocols.

User training:

Educate your personnel on the operation of the mobile POS system. Ensure that they have a clear understanding of how to process transactions, update inventory, and access customer data via the mobile phone POS. You can only leverage the facilities of your mobile POS if your employees are properly trained.

What are the risks of a mobile POS?

Although mobile POS systems provide a plethora of benefits, they also pose specific risks that retailers must guard against to ensure optimum utilisation of the mobile POS system.

➢     Security Risks: While mobile phone POS can significantly reduce operational time lags, they come with the inherent risk of potential data breaches. Apart from using advanced security mechanisms, mobile POS systems are required to adhere to rigorous security protocols, including PCI-DSS for card payments, and secure data through encryption. Additionally, retailers should enforce stringent password policies and consistently upgrade their software to mitigate vulnerabilities.

➢     Technical Issues: Technical glitches can occur in mobile devices and software, which can result in operational disruptions and potential disruptions. These issues can be mitigated through the implementation of a dependable technical support system, software updates, and routine maintenance. In the event of technical malfunctions, retailers should also have backup systems in place to ensure that operations can continue.

➢     Internet connectivity dependence: To facilitate real-time data updates and processing, numerous mobile POS systems necessitate a solid internet connection. Poor connectivity can adversely affect the system's effectiveness and cause delays in inventory updates and transactions.

To mitigate these risks, select trustworthy platforms like Wonderful, Shopify POS, Lightspeed, or some of the other alternatives mentioned above.

The way ahead for mobile POS

Technological advancements that are redesigning the retail ecosystem have punctuated the evolution of the mobile POS system. While UK businesses are adopting mobile POS systems, the real game is unfolding in the IoT (Internet of Things), machine learning (ML), artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud-based mobile POS applications space. As buyer personas and buying behaviours evolve, retail enterprises need to stay abreast of the latest developments in mobile POS systems to augment operational efficiency and present a consumer experience like never before.

FAQs

How to manage inventory with a mobile POS system?

By automating reorder alerts, offering real-time stock tracking, and providing detailed information on sales and inventory trends, a mobile POS system aids in inventory management. This way, you are always safeguarded against overstocking or stockouts.

What are the benefits of mobile POS solutions?

Enhanced flexibility, improved customer experience, and streamlined operations are among the numerous advantages that mobile POS solutions provide. They facilitate on-the-go sales, minimise transaction times, and integrate with other business systems to facilitate efficient data management and reporting.

What is a cloud-based mobile POS system?

A cloud-based mobile POS system is a point-of-sale solution that operates over the Internet, storing data on remote servers rather than local devices. This enables real-time access to sales, inventory, and consumer data from any location, thereby enhancing data security and providing flexibility.

Photo by Nathana Rebouças on Unsplash