What retail POS software should give a non-grocery shop
Retail POS software should make billing quick with barcodes, handle returns and exchanges cleanly, run offers without manual sums, and for electronics, keep serial numbers and warranty. Cartix Prime covers billing and returns from Starter, and offers, loyalty and serial numbers on Gold.
A clothing shop in Erode, a fancy store next to a school, a hardware shop on the main road and a mobile shop in a bus-stand complex all bill differently. Here is what matters to each.
Barcodes on everything
In a clothing or fancy shop, most items look alike and the price is on a tag. A barcode on each tag means the cashier scans instead of guessing. Any barcode scanner works as it is, and you can also type the item code or the first letters of the name.
Many clothing shops create each size or colour as its own item with its own barcode, so stock tells them which size is running out. Our guide to barcodes for a retail shop explains how to number them, and what to do with items that come without one.
Returns and exchanges without confusion
Clothes and footwear come back for size. A shirt bought on Diwali comes back the next week for a bigger one. Returns are on every paid plan, from Starter, so the item goes back into stock and the money side is recorded, not scribbled on the old bill.
- Split payment lets the customer pay the difference on an exchange by cash, UPI or card
- Bill edits keep their history on Silver, so changes after the sale can be seen
- The activity log on Silver shows who did what at the counter
On Gold, voided bills and large discounts can be set to wait for the owner's approval. That matters in shops where several salespeople bill.
Offers, loyalty and the regular customer
Retail lives on festivals: Onam, Pongal, Diwali, Eid and wedding season. On Gold, offers are set once and applied at the counter, so the cashier does not work out "20% off on the second item" in his head. Loyalty points reward customers who come back.
Gold also adds a customer side: segments, follow-ups and automatic WhatsApp messages, so regulars hear from you when the new stock arrives.
Serial numbers and warranty for electronics
A mobile shop or an electrical shop sells items where each piece is different: an IMEI on a phone, a serial number on a mixer grinder. On Gold, the serial number is recorded at the sale and goes on the bill, so when the customer comes back with a warranty claim, you can find the bill.
Repair work is on Gold too, with job cards: take in a phone for service, track it, and bill the customer when it is done.
Hardware shops: walk-ins and contractors
Hardware and paint shops sell to walk-in customers and to contractors on credit. Each customer's balance and limit shows at the counter, with WhatsApp reminders. A4 invoices with an HSN summary suit the contractor who needs a proper GST bill. Quotations, on Silver, help when a customer asks for an estimate for a whole house.
A bill that suits your shop
The bill is the one thing every customer takes home. Cartix Prime lets you set it up the way your shop needs: your logo, MRP and the customer's savings, GST by rate, and the bill number printed as a barcode, which makes finding the bill quick when the customer comes back for a return. Corporate buyers can get an A4 invoice with an HSN summary.
What it costs
| Plan | 1 computer + 1 phone | Phone only | For retail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | ₹2,499 | ₹599 | Billing, returns, credit, stock, up to 1,000 items |
| Silver | ₹4,999 | ₹1,099 | Any number of items, quotations, bill edit history |
| Gold | ₹8,999 | ₹1,899 | Offers, loyalty, serial numbers and warranty, job cards |
Prices are for a year, before 18% GST. A clothing shop with sizes as separate items will cross 1,000 items quickly, so Silver is the usual start. A mobile shop needs Gold for serial numbers.
How to start
- Sign up at the start page. You get 7 days of Silver free, no card needed.
- Import your items from Excel. Tally, Busy, Marg and Vasy exports are recognised.
- Scan five tagged items and print a first bill.
- Take a return against that bill, so staff know how it works.
Doing a stock count before you switch? Read stock taking in a retail shop. For stock in depth, see inventory management software.
Questions people ask
Which POS software is good for a clothing shop?
Look for barcode billing, easy returns and exchanges, offers for festival sales, no low item limit, and billing that works offline. Cartix Prime does billing and returns from Starter, any number of items on Silver, and offers and loyalty on Gold.
Can billing software track IMEI or serial numbers?
Cartix Prime records serial numbers and warranty on the Gold plan. The serial number goes on the bill, so you can find the sale later when a customer comes back with a warranty claim.
How do I handle returns in retail billing software?
Record the return in the software, not on paper, so stock goes back and the refund or exchange is on record. In Cartix Prime returns are on every paid plan, and bill edits keep their history on Silver.
What is the difference between a POS and billing software?
In Indian shops the words are used for the same thing. A POS usually means the full counter setup, with barcode scanner, printer and payments, while billing software can be just the bill. Cartix Prime is both.
Can I run festival offers in my retail shop software?
Offers and loyalty points are on the Gold plan, at ₹8,999 a year with a computer or ₹1,899 phone only, before GST. They apply at the counter as items are billed.