9 Ways Grocery POS Software Helps You Compete [+ Top Providers]

Hardware & Software

9 Ways Grocery POS Software Helps You Compete [+ Top Providers]

Feb 03, 2026 • 4 min read

Grocery store success doesn’t just happen. Your customer service, product selection, displays, and marketing approach have to be perfectly dialed in to achieve the elusive goal of profitability.

But there’s a secret weapon that can help you stand out in the competitive world of independent grocery stores, neighborhood markets, and butcher shops: the right point of sale (POS) software. This powerful technology can help you build stronger customer relationships, slash spoilage, boost profits, and save 10+ hours of valuable time each week.

In this blog, we’ll explore nine unique ways to use your grocery POS software — plus our top four picks for local markets that are serious about growth.

9 Ways You Can Use Grocery POS Software

You might think of your POS system as a simple tool that facilitates the checkout process and collects basic sales data, but modern, all-in-one grocery POS software can do so much more.

Let’s look at nine ways high-performing markets use their software to stay competitive:

Sell online: Compete with big-box grocery giants by creating an online grocery store and offering pickup and local delivery.
Build customer loyalty: Reward shoppers for choosing your market by letting them earn points and redeem exclusive discounts and perks.
Send personalized offers: Segment your customers by frequently purchased products or shopping behaviors, and send tailored promotions via email or SMS.
Offer self-checkout: Turn your standard checkout lanes into self-checkout kiosks to handle rush hour and keep lines short.
Sell made-to-order meals: Compete with quick-service restaurants (QSRs) through custom menus, item modifiers, and kitchen printing.
Curate the perfect product selection: Learn more about your customers through in-depth reporting and analytics, and use this data to offer the products they actually want.
Simplify deli and butcher counter operations: Sell weight-based items like meat and cheese effortlessly with deli scale integration and custom barcode label printing.
Prevent stockouts: Identify low-stock items and create purchase orders within the software to save time and keep your customers’ favorite items in stock.
Reduce spoilage: Protect your profit margins with real-time inventory monitoring, batch tracking, and accurate demand forecasting.

In short, your grocery POS software can help you create a convenient, personalized experience for each of your market’s customers — all while saving you time and boosting your bottom line.

4 Grocery POS Software Solutions for Specialty Markets

Ready to boost customer satisfaction, increase your profit margins, and become your neighborhood’s favorite market?

Here’s a hard truth: You probably need to upgrade your current tech setup — especially if you still rely on an old-school cash register or server-based POS system.

These systems often don’t include e-commerce integration, marketing features, or advanced inventory management, meaning you’ll manage separate software or pay high add-on fees. You also have to be physically present in your store to check sales reports or launch promotions, making it difficult to manage your store on the go.

Instead, look for cloud-based, all-in-one grocery POS software. That way, you can pay one transparent price and access your software from anywhere, at any time.

Finding a grocery POS solution that checks all the right boxes might sound daunting, but we’re here to help. Here are our four favorite software solutions for local markets.

1. Markt POS: Best All-Around

You can’t go wrong with Markt POS. Designed for specialty markets like natural food stores, butcher shops, and seafood markets, this grocery POS software solution includes powerful inventory management and marketing features, including:

Deli scale and printer integration
A built-in customer loyalty program
Instacart integration
QSR features

Plus, we offer 24/7 support from grocery industry experts at no additional cost to help you make the most of your POS software.

Put together a custom POS solution for your market and get an instant quote using our Build and Price tool.

2. IT Retail: Best for Full-Service Grocery Stores

Markt POS might be the best pick for specialty markets, but IT Retail is a better option for larger grocery stores that want to compete with big-box supermarkets. For over 30 years, IT Retail has helped independent grocery stores thrive with features like:

Real-time inventory monitoring
Data-driven demand forecasting
Integrated purchase orders
Flexible self-checkout functionality

IT Retail offers pricing options for grocery stores of all sizes and budgets. Check out their website for more information.

3. Square: Best for Small Budgets

For brand-new markets on a small budget, a generic retail POS system might be a good starter option. While it’s not designed specifically for grocery stores or markets, Square is a popular choice among retailers in all industries. Here are some of their best features:

Simple inventory tracking
Low-stock alerts
User-friendly interface
Employee scheduling and management

Square has a free starter option, but their most popular plan costs $49/month.

4. Toast: Best for QSR/Grocery Store Hybrids

Do you offer made-to-order meals and curated pantry staples? Toast might be the right fit for your specialty market. This POS software solution was originally designed for restaurants, but it includes a few helpful features for retailers. Here are Toast’s top tools:

Flexible hardware options like handhelds and self-checkout kiosks
Delivery app integrations
Full QSR functionality
Simplified purchase orders and receiving

Toast’s pricing options for retailers start at $90/month.

Bonus Resource: Toast vs. Markt POS: Which Is Best for Your Neighborhood Market?

Get Started With Markt POS, the Best Grocery POS Software for Specialty Markets

Looking for a user-friendly, feature-rich POS solution designed for specialty markets like yours? You’re in the right place.

Markt POS, our all-in-one software, has all the tools you need to survive and thrive in the competitive grocery industry — including powerful marketing, inventory management, reporting, and e-commerce integration.

Start your Markt POS journey by scheduling your live, personalized demo with one of our experts today.

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