Grocery Store POS & Inventory Management Software

Grocery stores have a difficult combination of high volume sales and an inventory that largely consists of perishable goods. Almost all grocery stores are automated to some degree, although the smallest stores may be limited to point of sales (POS). The three biggest issues for most grocery stores are inventory management, POS, and payroll/employee management. More sophisticated stores have began to focus on customer relationship management (CRM).

Grocery stores may receive multiple deliveries from multiple vendors every day. An efficient and accurate receiving system lets grocers verify new stock and enter it for immediate sale. Grocery stores and supermarkets typically have multiple checkout locations. While most items have UPC barcodes, some items, such as produce, is often keyed in by the cashier. The stores often employ minors after school, on weekends, and during school vacations. Work schedules and breaks are regulated for minors; the payroll systems should track minors’ hours, notify a manager if a minor is close to a violation, and complete all compliance reports. Recently, some supermarkets and grocery stores have started using email, text messaging, and social media to promote customer loyalty.

Accounts payable and general ledger are standard. For most stores, accounts receivable are also standard but some stores have running accounts for frequent customers. Most systems are on-premises. While software as a service (SaaS) options are available, there is generally little benefit for cloud-based systems due to the investment required in POS systems.

Key Requirements for Grocery/Supermarket Retailers

Grocery stores and supermarkets should evaluate the following functions, in addition to general business operations, to meet their unique requirements:

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