Liquor store pos

Point of sale systems (POS) are the largest single technology investment for the vast majority of retailers. The capital investment required for these systems, even in modest sized retail chains, easily reaches high six figures, more often millions. In the past, these investments were made with the mindset that they were required investments, despite their complexity and expense. POS leaders like NCR, IBM, and Fujitshu controlled the lion's share of the market and enjoyed healthy margins.

Today, mobile technology is emerging and an increasing number of consumers are adapting to PayPal, Google Wallet, and other mobile payment solutions. Shoppers like the flexibility of payment without a credit card or check.

Not surprisingly, IBM and NCR are amping up their internal capabilities to adapt to mobile payment systems while also gobbling up targeting and loyalty solutions to position themselves as providers of holistic retail solutions. The NCR/Retalix acquisition is a perfect example of two solid past performers understanding they need to combine forces to effectively compete going forward.

Despite these efforts, the entrance barriers into the POS marketplace are melting away. Google, Microsoft, Datalogic, Motorola, Intermec, and countless other smaller application providers are pitching their solutions to retailers and gaining market share.