POS questions, answered
One page per question—clear answers for search and AI summaries. Topics for shop owners in Sri Lanka and worldwide.
What is TillGrid?
TillGrid is the mobile point of sale app by YapaLabs on Android. If you search tillgrid or TillGrid, you are looking for the same free cash register app—package com.yapalabs.pos on Google Play.
What is a POS system?
A POS (point of sale) system is the setup you use at checkout to complete sales. It totals items, records payment, gives the customer a receipt, and usually updates inventory. Today many shops use POS apps on an Android phone instead of a separate cash register.
What does POS stand for?
POS stands for Point of Sale. It is the moment and location where a retail transaction is finished—items are totaled, payment is made, and ownership transfers to the customer. POP (point of purchase) means the same thing from the buyer's side.
How does a POS system work?
A POS system works in five steps: (1) add products by scan or search, (2) apply tax or discounts if needed, (3) take payment, (4) save the receipt, and (5) reduce inventory for items sold. Owners later review sales history from the same system.
How much does a POS system cost?
POS cost varies widely. Enterprise systems can cost thousands in hardware and annual licenses. Small shops often spend little by using a free or low-cost Android POS app on a phone they already own—software may be free today with optional paid plans later.
How much does a POS system cost in Sri Lanka?
In Sri Lanka, full ERP-style POS setups can cost significantly in licenses, hardware, and setup. Many small merchants instead use free mobile POS apps on Android from Google Play—no separate terminal—keeping startup cost near zero for software.
Can I use my phone as a POS?
Yes. An Android phone with a POS app can act as your register. The camera scans barcodes, the screen shows the cart and total, and the app stores receipts and inventory. No separate terminal is required to get started.
What is mobile POS?
Mobile POS (mPOS) is point of sale software that runs on a smartphone or tablet. Staff scan products, take payment, and issue receipts while moving around the store—not only at a fixed counter.
Do I need a POS for a small shop?
You need a POS when manual billing slows checkout, prices get mistyped, or you cannot trust stock counts. If you sell more than a few items daily or have barcoded products, a simple mobile POS saves time and reduces mistakes.
What is the difference between a POS and a cash register?
A cash register calculates totals and stores cash. A POS system also manages your product list, scans barcodes, tracks inventory, saves detailed receipts, and produces sales reports. Modern POS often runs on a phone; registers are fixed hardware.
Does POS work without internet?
Many modern POS apps work offline. Sales are saved on your device when the network drops, then sync to the cloud when connectivity returns. This matters in areas with weak mobile data or busy networks.
What is cloud POS?
Cloud POS stores your sales and catalog on internet servers instead of only on one machine. You can view reports from another device and often manage multiple locations from one dashboard. Many mobile POS apps sync to the cloud when online.
How do I choose a POS system?
Choose a POS by listing how you sell: barcode vs manual entry, one location vs many, need for offline mode, and budget. Test a free Android app with your real products before buying hardware. Prioritize scanning speed, inventory updates, and clear pricing.
Is there free POS software?
Yes. Free POS software is available on Google Play for Android—often including catalog, checkout, barcode scanning, and sales history. TillGrid is free to download and use right now. Always confirm what remains free later and whether offline mode is included.
What features should a POS have?
A good POS should include: product catalog with prices, barcode scanning, fast checkout, automatic inventory updates, searchable sales history, receipts, and reliable performance on your device. Offline mode and transparent pricing are strong extras for small shops.
What POS system is good for retail shops?
Retail shops need POS with fast barcode scanning, real-time inventory, and clear daily sales reports. Mobile POS on Android works well for boutiques, mini markets, and specialty stores that want low hardware cost. Larger chains may need multi-branch cloud systems.
What is the best POS for small business in Sri Lanka?
The best POS for a small Sri Lankan business depends on your size and budget. For single-location shops that want low cost, a mobile Android POS with barcode scanning, inventory, and offline support is often the practical choice. Compare Google Play apps on features you will use daily—not brochure checklists.
How does barcode scanning work in POS?
Barcode scanning in POS uses a camera or handheld scanner to read the product's barcode (UPC/EAN). The app looks up the matching item in your catalog, adds it to the cart with the correct price, and completes the sale—much faster than typing names or prices manually.
What is point of sale software?
Point of sale software is the application that manages checkout: product lookup, pricing, payment recording, receipts, and often inventory and sales reports. It replaces or upgrades paper tickets and basic calculators at the counter.
Also see POS for Sri Lanka · Download TillGrid