What supermarket billing software must handle
Supermarket billing software has to keep a queue moving: scan fast, weigh loose items, take any payment and close each counter's cash without arguments. Cartix Prime is built around exactly that, with stock and GST running behind the counter.
Picture a store in Coimbatore on a Sunday evening. Two counters, a line of trolleys, one cashier new this month, and 4,000 items on the shelves. The four themes below come from that picture.
Speed at the counter during rush hour
Most supermarket items have a barcode, so the scanner does the work. Any USB barcode scanner works as it is. For the rest, type the item code or the first letters of the name. Bread, milk and eggs can sit as one-tap buttons on the side.
- A keyboard-first layout for experienced cashiers, and a touch layout for touch screens
- Hold a bill when a customer runs back for something, serve the next one, then recall it
- Cash, UPI, card, credit, or a split of these on one bill
- Bills on WhatsApp as a link, to save paper and time at the printer
If the internet drops in the middle of the rush, billing carries on. Bills are kept on the counter and go up to the cloud when the connection is back. More on that in offline billing software.
Loose sugar, rice and dal without a calculator
Supermarkets in India still sell plenty of loose items. On Silver and above, Cartix Prime reads weighing scales. Put 1.250 kg of rice on the scale and it comes onto the bill. When a customer asks for ₹50 of sugar, enter the amount and the right weight is worked out.
Packed items get their barcodes. If you also pack in-house, see our guide on barcodes for a retail shop for how to number them.
Cash, shifts and staff you can check
With several cashiers, the hard part is the evening count. Silver adds shifts and cash closing, so each cashier closes their own drawer and the difference is shown, not guessed. The activity log shows who did what, and bill edits keep their history.
You choose what each staff member may do, with a PIN at the counter. On Gold, discounts, credit past the limit and voided bills can wait for the owner's approval. Silver allows 7 staff, Gold 19.
Thousands of items, offers and stock
Starter allows up to 1,000 items, which is too few for most supermarkets. Silver removes the limit on items and customers, and adds stock counts for the yearly or monthly stock taking, plus stock health reports that show slow and dead stock.
Gold adds what bigger stores ask for:
- offers and loyalty points, applied at the counter
- supplier bills read from a photo, so purchase entry is quicker
- smart reorder suggestions and purchase orders
- batches and expiry for packaged food
For a step-by-step count, read stock taking in a retail shop.
Monthly credit and phone orders
Neighbourhood supermarkets still run monthly accounts for regular families and a few offices. Each customer's credit balance and limit shows at the counter, and a bill past the limit waits for the owner or manager. Reminders go on WhatsApp at the end of the month. Our guide to customer credit and udhaar covers how to set limits.
Phone and WhatsApp orders for home delivery are common too. On Silver, sales orders and delivery challans let the staff pack an order, send it with the delivery boy and bill it when it is confirmed, without blocking the counter.
What it costs
| Plan | 1 computer + 1 phone, a year | Fits |
|---|---|---|
| Silver | ₹4,999 | A mini supermarket: any number of items, scales, shifts |
| Gold | ₹8,999 | A busy store: offers, loyalty, approvals, reorder, GST returns |
| Platinum | ₹12,999 | More than one branch, stock transfers, scan-and-go |
Prices are before 18% GST. Each extra billing counter is from ₹1,499 a year, so a three-counter store on Silver pays ₹4,999 plus two extra computers. An extra phone, for the owner or a floor manager, is from ₹399.
How to start
- Sign up at the start page. Every shop gets 7 days of Silver free, no card needed.
- Import your items from Excel. Exports from Tally, Busy, Marg and Vasy are recognised.
- Connect the barcode scanner, scale and thermal printer.
- Run a test rush: bill twenty items, hold one bill, take a split payment, then close the shift.
Choosing paper width? Read 58 mm vs 80 mm thermal printers. Most supermarkets prefer 80 mm for long bills.
Questions people ask
Which billing software is good for a supermarket?
Look for fast barcode billing, weighing scale support, no item limit, shift-wise cash closing, staff permissions and billing that continues without internet. Cartix Prime does these from the Silver plan, at ₹4,999 a year before GST, with offers and loyalty on Gold.
How many billing counters can a supermarket run?
Each plan includes one computer and one phone. Add billing counters from ₹1,499 a year each and phones from ₹399. All counters share the same items, stock and customers.
Can supermarket billing software work with a weighing scale?
Yes, on Silver and above. Loose items come onto the bill by weight from the scale, or by amount, so ₹50 of sugar becomes the right weight at the current rate.
What hardware does a supermarket need for billing?
A Windows computer per counter, a USB barcode scanner, a thermal printer (80 mm is common) and a weighing scale for loose items. An Android phone is useful for the owner, since one account works on every device.
Can I run offers like buy one get one in my supermarket?
Offers and loyalty points are on the Gold plan, at ₹8,999 a year before GST. They are applied at the counter as the cashier bills, so the cashier does not have to remember them.