What is electronic point of sale?
An electronic point of sale, often shortened to EPOS or simply point of sale (POS), is the checkout system that replaced the mechanical cash register. Instead of just holding cash, it ties each payment to a live digital record.
That shift turns every sale into usable information: what sold, when, and for how much. You see it at work in retail shops, restaurants, and any business that sells in person.
The scale shows why it matters. The Grand View Research POS report valued the global point-of-sale terminal market at USD 123.2 billion in 2025. It is projected to grow from USD 133.3 billion in 2026 to USD 226.8 billion by 2033, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.9%.
Key characteristics
- Hardware plus software: a terminal or touchscreen, card reader, barcode scanner, receipt printer, and cash drawer running POS software, like Fishbowl’s POS system.
- Records every sale as data: it captures the item, price, quantity, and time, the record retailers report on later.
- Processes electronic payments: built to take card and contactless payments. Federal Reserve payment choice data shows that in 2024, US consumers made 14% of payments by number in cash, versus 35% credit card and 30% debit card.
- Contactless and near-field communication (NFC) ready: modern terminals accept tap-to-pay cards and mobile wallets, so checkout stays fast and secure. As of mid-2025, ECB payments statistics from the European Central Bank show 93% of euro-area point of sale (POS) terminals accepted contactless transactions.
- Connects to inventory and accounting: when linked to stock software, each sale updates on-hand counts in real time. Fishbowl can connect a POS to inventory so counts stay current as sales close.
Example
Picture a craft coffee roaster running a tablet-based EPOS at the counter. A customer taps a card to pay, the receipt prints, and the bag of beans is deducted from stock automatically.
That mobile setup reflects a wider shift. The Grand View Research mPOS report valued the global mobile point-of-sale (mPOS) terminals market at USD 52.5 billion in 2025. It is projected to grow from USD 58.3 billion in 2026 to USD 112.8 billion by 2033, a CAGR of 9.9%.
Related terms
FAQ
What does EPOS stand for?
EPOS stands for electronic point of sale, the computerized till-and-payment system a business uses to ring up and record each transaction.
Is an EPOS the same as a cash register?
No. A cash register only stores cash and totals a sale, while an EPOS records the sale as data, takes electronic payments, and can update stock and reports.
What does an EPOS system include?
It combines hardware (a terminal or touchscreen, card reader, barcode scanner, and often a receipt printer) with software that captures each sale and can connect to inventory and accounting.