Future of Point of Sale (POS) – Intel

In the past decade, POS systems have evolved from terminals near the exit—tended by employees, to self-service checkout kiosks—where the customer can complete a transaction without staff intervention, to powerful tools that engage buyers across multiple touchpoints. In fact, today’s POS may be an experience wherever the customer wants it, thanks to the expansion in types of POS systems.

A customer’s ultimate desire is to easily find, buy, receive, and return goods anytime, anywhere. For many businesses, meeting customer expectations may take the form of multidevice POS systems, with fixed POS terminals throughout the store and mobile POS (mPOS) when customer traffic demands it. The introduction of autonomous stores will remove checkout altogether. Customers who have indicated their payment preferences will simply walk in, take what they want, and leave, being charged for only the things they’ve taken.

Many retailers, restaurants, and hospitality businesses are moving toward these technology-enabled experiences. But merging physical and digital commerce demands an inventive approach to POS systems. Customers expect businesses to know what they want and to provide seamless experiences as they move between different brand outlets, from online, mobile, and social platforms to in-person physical locations during their purchasing journeys.

Modern POS systems enable cross-channel purchasing experiences, including click and collect or Buy Online Pickup in Store (BOPIS), where shoppers buy products online and pick them up at a physical location. Likewise, endless aisle experiences support customers who can’t find the just-right product in store. Customers can, through a self-service kiosk or with staff assistance—using a mobile POS system—check inventory, compare products, and purchase items for shipment directly to their homes, helping capture additional sales that may have otherwise been lost1.