A cloud POS, also called an online POS, runs in a web browser and stores its data on a server rather than on the computer at the counter. For a small business that changes more than it might seem.
1. See your business from anywhere
Sales, stock and reports are available on any device you sign in from. An owner can check today's takings from home, or look at another branch's stock before ordering.
2. Several counters, one set of numbers
Every cashier signs in on their own device, but they all sell from the same catalog and the same stock. A sale on one counter is visible on the others at once, and every sale gets its own number, so there are no duplicate bills.
3. Branches without extra servers
Opening a second shop does not mean installing a second system. Add a branch, give its staff access, and move stock to it with a stock transfer. Reports compare branches side by side.
4. No installation and automatic updates
There is nothing to install on the counter PC beyond a modern browser, and new features arrive without reinstalling. A PC, laptop or tablet can become a till in minutes.
5. Data that survives a broken computer
When the counter computer fails or is stolen, the data is not lost with it. Sign in on another device and carry on selling.
6. Access control for staff
Roles and permissions decide who can see reports, change prices, give discounts or delete a sale, and important changes are recorded in an audit log.
What about the internet?
The common worry about cloud POS is the connection. Look for a system that keeps selling when the internet drops: in Dynamic POS, a device that has been online since the last update keeps taking cash sales during short outages and syncs them automatically when the connection returns; anything that conflicts is flagged for review instead of being overwritten.
Try it
The quickest way to judge a cloud POS is to use one. Open the live demo or start free.