You have to agree with me that choosing the wrong POS terminal costs you more than its price.
Let’s even talk about how crowded the POS market is. You’re looking at dozens of machines, and on the surface, they all promise the same thing.
So, how do you choose, and most importantly, how do you choose right?
I’ll answer all of that.
The secret isn’t knowing every feature of every machine. It’s about matching the type of machine to the type of work you do or the business you run.
Here are the core types you’ll encounter.
1. Traditional POS Terminals
This is the classic, sturdy terminal you see at supermarket checkouts or local pharmacies.
It’s often a single unit with buttons, a small screen, and a card slot, built to do one job: process payments quickly and reliably.
This is for you if: Your business has a fixed checkout counter and a high volume of daily transactions.
You value reliability over flashy features. Think of a bustling grocery store or a busy pharmacy shop. The counter never moves, and the machine needs to work every single time.
Common Features:
- Durable, All-in-One Hardware: A physical keypad, a customer display, a card reader, and a receipt printer, all in one unit.
- Wired Connections: It plugs directly into a power source and an Ethernet line. No worries about Wi-Fi signals or dead batteries during peak hours.
- Core Transaction Functions: Handles sales, refunds, and end-of-day sales reports. It’s straightforward and built for speed.
2. Desktop POS Systems
This is where a standard computer (like a desktop PC or an all-in-one touchscreen) becomes the brain of your operation, running powerful POS software.
This system turns your sales counter from a simple payment point into a business management core.
This is for you if: You need to manage more than just payments.
This is for complex retail stores with large inventories, restaurants managing table layouts and orders, or hotels managing bookings.
If you want to track detailed sales analytics, manage customer data, and integrate with other business tools, this is your starting point.
Common Features:
- Advanced Inventory Tracking: You can manage stock levels in real-time, get low-stock alerts, and even generate purchase orders automatically.
- In-depth Reporting & Analytics: Move beyond daily totals. Track your best-selling products, identify your peak business hours, and analyze staff performance.
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Build a database of your customers. You can track their purchase history and create targeted loyalty programs or promotions.
- Hardware Integration: Easily connect an entire suite of tools: barcode scanners, cash drawers, kitchen printers, and weighing scales.
3. Mobile POS (mPOS)
This is a small, often pocket-sized, device that pairs with a smartphone or tablet to accept card payments from anywhere.
It essentially turns the phone you already own into a fully functional POS terminal through a dedicated app. A good example of this is the Supply Smart POS machine.
This is for you if: Your business is mobile. This is the essential tool for any merchant who operates without a fixed storefront.
It’s for the delivery driver confirming payment at the customer’s doorstep, the vendor at a Lagos market, or the consultant taking a deposit after a meeting. If you take payments on the move, this is your solution.
Common Features:
- Portable Hardware: The card readers are lightweight and designed to be carried around all day.
- Wireless Connection: They use Bluetooth to sync with your phone and your phone’s data or Wi-Fi to process the transaction.
- App-Based Management: All your sales data, product catalogues, and reports are managed within an application on your smart device.
- Digital Receipts: You can instantly email or text a receipt to your customer, saving paper and time.
Get your POS machine, the smart way.
Here are some of my other articles I think you should check out:
Top 5 POS Machines for Small Businesses in Nigeria (2025 Review)
How to Get a POS Machine in Nigeria: Your Ultimate 2025 Guide
How to Operate a POS Machine: The Beginner’s Guide
4. Android POS Systems
This system uses a tablet, like an iPad or an Android device, as its primary screen and brain.
It’s typically mounted on a sleek stand at the counter and wirelessly connected to other hardware like a receipt printer, a card reader, and a cash drawer.
This is for you if: You want the power of a desktop system but with a modern, space-saving design.
This is the choice for a fancy boutique or a modern restaurant where counter space is prime real estate and aesthetics matter.
It’s powerful enough to run the business but flexible enough for staff to pick it up and take it to the customer.
Common Features:
- Sleek, Intuitive Interface: The system runs on a familiar tablet, which makes staff training incredibly fast.
- Cloud-Based Software: Your sales and inventory data are stored securely online. You can check your business performance from your phone, wherever you are.
- Modular Setup: You can build your perfect counter by choosing from a range of stands, printers, and card readers that fit your space and needs.
- Versatility: Can be used as a fixed countertop station or taken mobile for tableside ordering and payment.
5. Self-Service Kiosks
You’ve seen these at cinemas and fast-food chains.
A self-service kiosk is a standalone terminal that lets customers browse a menu, place their own order, and pay for it, all without needing to speak to a cashier.
This is for you if: Your business struggles with long queues during peak hours.
This is a strategic tool for quick-service restaurants, event venues, and transport places that want to increase order speed and accuracy.
It allows you to serve more people faster, while freeing up your staff to focus on order fulfillment and customer service.
Common Features:
- Large Touchscreen: The interface is designed to be large, visual, and extremely easy for a first-time customer to navigate.
- Integrated Payments: The payment terminal is built directly into the kiosk, accepting various forms of cashless payment.
- Customizable Workflow: You can tailor the on-screen menus, promotions, and upselling prompts to guide the customer’s choices.
- Reduced Wait Times: Kiosks significantly cut down on queues, which improves the customer experience and allows for higher sales volume.
6. Cloud-Based POS Systems
This isn’t a type of machine, but the modern software that runs on it.
Instead of storing all your business data on one computer in your back office, a cloud-based system saves everything online. This means you can manage your business from anywhere with an internet connection.
This is for you if: You’re a business owner who needs flexibility. It’s for the entrepreneur who manages multiple store locations and needs to see combined sales data in real-time.
It’s for the restaurant owner who wants to check inventory from home. Many of the systems we’ve discussed, from Tablet POS providers like Kwiksell to the software on Android POS terminals, are built on the cloud.
Common Features:
- Remote Management: Log in to your business dashboard from any laptop or phone to view live sales, update prices, or manage stock.
- Real-Time Syncing: When an item is sold in your physical store, the inventory for your online store (if you have one) updates instantly.
- Scalability: Adding a new branch or another payment terminal is simple. Your data and settings are just a login away.
- Data Security: Your crucial business data is stored on secure remote servers, protecting you from theft or local hardware failure.
8. Virtual POS Terminals
A virtual terminal is a secure webpage that allows you to manually enter a customer’s card details to process a payment.
No physical machine is involved. It turns your laptop or smartphone into a POS for situations where the customer and their card are not physically present.
This is for you if: You accept payments over the phone, through email invoices, or for services booked online.
This is the essential tool for service-based businesses, consultants, and e-commerce stores.
Payment gateways like Paystack and Flutterwave are the leaders here. Their merchant dashboards include a virtual terminal for processing these kinds of transactions securely.
Common Features:
- No Hardware Needed: All you need is an account with a payment processor and a device with a web browser.
- Payment Links & Invoicing: You can create and send secure links to customers, allowing them to pay online at their convenience.
- Recurring Billing: Ideal for subscription services or businesses with retainer clients, as you can automate monthly charges.
- High Security: These platforms are built to be highly secure and PCI-compliant, protecting both you and your customers.
So, How Do You Choose?
The decision isn’t about finding the “best” POS. It’s about finding the right one for you.
Don’t pay too much attention to the marketing hype and ask yourself these simple questions:
- Where do I do business? Are you at a fixed counter, or are you constantly on the move?
- What am I selling? Is it a few items where you just need to take a payment, or do you have a complex inventory to track?
- How do my customers pay? Do they need to pay online, over the phone, or only in person?
- What information do I need? Are you just tracking daily sales, or do you need deep data on your customers and products?
Your answers to those questions will point you directly to the right category.
Choosing your POS is one of the most important decisions for your business, and now you have the map to make that choice confidently.
Ready to Make Your Move?
Now that you have the map, the final step is choosing a partner you can trust.
If your business needs a simple, secure, and highly mobile way to accept payments, then the solution is a powerful mPOS. That is our specialty at Supply Smart.
We provide the tools for businesses on the go, letting you turn your smartphone into a reliable payment terminal.
Learn more about Supply Smart and get your terminal today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Which POS is the best in Nigeria?
The best POS in Nigeria is the one that fits your specific business model. While large retail stores need robust desktop systems, the choice for mobile businesses is more nuanced.
Many agents and merchants use all-in-one Android terminals like OPay or Moniepoint for their functionality. However, for those who value maximum portability and the simplicity of using their own smartphone, a powerful mPOS is the ideal solution.
This is where a POS like the Supply Smart POS excels, offering agents and merchants a secure, pocket-sized device that transforms their phone into a complete payment terminal.
2. Which POS machine is best for small businesses?
A mobile POS (mPOS) like the Supply Smart POS is cost-effective and flexible, making it ideal for small businesses and startups.
3. What are 5 types of transactions that may be recorded using a POS system?
A POS system records all key business activities. Beyond standard sales, it also tracks refunds when customers return items and voids sales that are cancelled before completion.
Additionally, it can manage more complex transactions like product exchanges and the issuing of store credit for future purchases.
3. What is the second name of POS?
The term POS, which stands for Point of Sale, is also commonly known as the Point of Purchase (POP).
While POS refers to the transaction from the seller’s perspective, POP refers to it from the customer’s.
In practice, both terms are often used to describe the checkout process, and you might also hear it called a Point of Service.
