The Best POS for Grocery Stores: A Guide to Scale Integration for Delis & Butchers

Your POS system is at the very forefront of your grocery store setup. It’s at the heart of everything you do, so any smart business owner knows to make sure they have the very best. That’s why today we’re offering a walkthrough on all things POS. We’ll look at:

• What does POS stand for and what does it include?

• What’s makes a good POS system?

• How do you integrate scales into your grocery?

• What other integrations should I get for my grocery store?

Once we’re finished here, you’ll know what steps you can take in your grocers to move your business forward! So let’s get started while the stock is still fresh!

What does POS stand for?

The short answer? POS stands for “Point Of Sale”, the exact moment and place where a customer finalizes their purchase. In a grocery store environment, that’s could be your checkout counter, which could be staffed but could also be a self-service kiosk; maybe it’s a payment terminal, fixed or mobile, where items are scanned, a customer’s basket is tallied, and then payment is taken; but it could also be the part of an online store or online ordering platform where they make their payment.

While it may seem like the final step in the process, the point of sale is actually one of the most important interactions a customer has with your business. It’s at the POS where a key interaction with your staff takes place, all of the great deals they’ve found come to fruition, and it’s also the easiest point for something to go wrong, whether that’s payment issues or poor service or something else. A smooth POS experience reassures the customer that they’re in professional hands. A clunky or slow checkout, on the other hand, can undo all goodwill from their visit.

For grocers, delis, and butchers, where repeat custom is the backbone of business, the POS becomes not only a payment point but a relationship-building touchpoint. It’s where loyalty rewards are applied, returns are handled, and questions are answered. In short, the point of sale is the beating heart of the customer experience and a key moment that shapes whether customers return again.

What does a POS system include?

Given how crucial the point of sale is, businesses have higher expectations for a modern grocery store POS system than that of a simple cash register. A POS should connect the hardware and software of a business to get all the groceries tools working together to streamline operations and improve service. This means:

• POS software. Helps you manage transactions, pricing, promotions, inventory, and reporting so you can oversee and control your business.

• Touchscreen terminal. It might be a handheld console or tablet, or a larger, fixed terminal. Either way, a POS system will include a central piece of hardware (that works with the POS software) where staff scan items, process payments, and manage the checkout.

• Barcode scanners. Sell barcoded products? You’ll need something to scan the barcodes onto your terminal, whether handheld or countertop.

• Receipt printers. Even if you offer email receipts, you’ll still need the option to offer paper receipts and print EODs etc, so you’ll need a printer!

• Payment terminals. Card payments are commonplace, but you’ll only be able to take them with a quick and reliable card machine, which you’ll need to integrate to your POS for a smooth sale.

• Integrated weighing scales. An essential for delis, butchers, and produce, weighing scales combine the weight of fruit and veg with their price per ounce or gram to confirm how much the customer needs to pay. If you want to keep queues short, you’ll need this synced with your POS system.

• Cash drawer. Keeps cash secure and have somewhere to hold onto key, daily documents at your checkout.

Together, these tools create a seamless checkout experience while giving you full control behind the scenes.

What’s makes a good POS system?

A good POS system won’t look exactly the same for every grocery store, deli, or butcher, and that’s the key thing to recognize from the outset. Before you make your choice, it’s vital to understand how you trade and what your plans are for the future of your business? How many staff you have (and how many will you have if you’re looking to grow)? What do your busiest periods look like? How complex is your product range?

The hardware and core POS software we’ve already discussed will be essential in most grocery environments. But that software should be intuitive: easy for new staff to pick up, yet powerful enough to handle daily complexities. It should be reliable, too. A good POS works every time, without crashing or slowing down at peak hours. It should also be flexible, allowing you to adapt menus, prices, and layouts without calling in outside support.

There are differences between systems that you need to look out for: from the inventory tools you’ll have at your disposal to the kinds of reports you’ll be able to generate. Strong reporting tools are another hallmark of a quality system. Being able to see sales trends, profit margins, and product performance at a glance allows you to make confident business decisions. Staff management features like time tracking and permissions (your new staff shouldn’t have the same access as a manager) also help you run a tighter operation. And comprehensive inventory tools are essential: purchase orders, automated stock alerts, and efficient stock counting workflows can save hours of manual effort while reducing costly errors.

Beyond this, your ideal setup should reflect the unique demands of your business. A small neighbourhood grocer may prioritise simplicity and speed, while a large deli with multiple service counters may need more advanced tools and integrations.Maybe you need a great POS system that can grow with you. The ability to add more checkout counters, sites, or apps, like loyalty programs, ecommerce tools, or integrated weighing scales, can transform a solid setup into a truly powerful business hub.

Why are scale integrations so important for groceries?

There’s tonnes of information out there on printers, scanners, and POS terminals. Epos Now have lots of resources if you want to find out more about POS systems. But weighing scales, while crucial or grocers, don’t get talked about nearly as much. So why are these integrations so important for groceries?

Well, scale integrations are essential in any environment where products are sold by weight, such as delis, butchers, fishmongers, and fresh produce counters. Here are some of the main benefits:

• Accurate pricing every time. Getting accurate pricing on weighed produce is essential, for your profitability, and for customers who want a good deal. With scales linked to your POS and your digitally set prices, you can eliminate human error and clear up disputes at your checkout.

• Faster service and shorter queues. If staff don’t need to key in weights or prices manually, you’ll process transactions quicker, busting queues and keeping customers happy even during busy peak times.

• Improved customer trust. Transparent pricing builds confidence. When customers can see the weight and price match exactly what they were expecting every time they visit, they’ll know you’re an honest, efficient, reputable trader.

• Accurate stock management. Any inaccuracies in weighing put your inventory levels off, which leads to misleading reports and potential stock outages!

How can I integrate weighing scales into my grocery?

Any POS system you consider for your grocery should make it clear that it’s designed for grocers like yours and can integrate with weighing scales. This works by declaring that you’re selling a certain item, say carrots, on the POS system. The scale sends the exact product weight to the POS, which then applies the programmed price-per-weight to calculate the total automatically. This removes any need for manual entry on your team’s part

Scales usually link either through a wired connection or a network. Once linked, the scale sends the exact product weight to the POS, which then applies the programmed price-per-weight to calculate the total automatically. This removes the need for manual entry and ensures accuracy at both service counters and checkout.

Epos Now’s scale integration uses a cable into your Countertop terminal. In terms of software, there’s minimal effort involved. You simply download the “Measurements app”, go to your device setup and select weighing scales so your POS knows you have scales installed. Finally, you go to your checkout and input a few advanced settings, all of which can be done using a simple guide found in your Epos Now back office. 

What other integrations should I get for my grocery store?

• Accounting software. Automatically syncs sales, taxes, and expenses to your books, reducing admin time and keeping your accountant happy!

• Ecommerce platforms. Connect your in-store POS to an online shop to go multichannel and expand your operation.

• Online ordering and delivery apps. Accept click-and-collect and delivery orders directly into your POS to boost your sales and offer convenience to your customers.

• Marketing tools. Use customer data and purchase history to send targeted promotions, newsletters, and offers that actually drive footfall and repeat visits.

• Loyalty programs. Reward regulars with points, discounts, or exclusive perks, encouraging long-term relationships and stronger brand loyalty!

Top tip: Want to find the exact apps your after? Take a look in the Epos Now AppStore!

Grocery tech setups: like any other store, but with a fresh twist!

In many ways, groceries are like any other business. The POS system will still be at the centre, and it’s important to get the right one, with the right tools and integrations to help the business flourish. But groceries also need to get an accurate and quick set of scales to help with weighing and pricing the fresh produce the grocery sells.

A scale integration is one of the most integral parts of any grocery business. So ensure when you buy your POS system that it’s capable of working with your scales. Invest in a POS that matches how you trade today, but can also grow with you tomorrow. Do that, and you’ll build trust, reduce admin, sharpen margins, and keep queues moving, so your shelves stay stocked, your customers stay loyal, and your business stays ready for whatever comes next.