Guide
Cloud POS or traditional POS?
Short answer: choose a cloud POS if you want remote access, automatic backups and easy updates; a locally running till has the edge if you cannot afford to be affected by internet outages. For businesses that want both, there is a third way: a cloud POS that keeps working locally when the internet goes down.
What is a traditional (local) POS?
With a traditional POS, the software and data live on a computer at the venue. It is not affected by internet outages, but checking reports from outside the venue, following several branches together and taking backups usually take extra work. If the computer fails, the data is at risk too.
What is a cloud POS?
With a cloud POS, data is stored on servers in a data centre. Reports can be checked from anywhere, backups are taken centrally and updates arrive automatically. Its weak spot is internet dependence: when the connection drops, many cloud POS systems cannot take orders or payments.
Side by side
Comparing the two approaches from an owner's point of view:
- Internet outage: a traditional POS is unaffected; many cloud POS systems stop.
- Remote reports: easy with a cloud POS; usually extra setup with a traditional POS.
- Backups: central and regular with a cloud POS; the venue's own responsibility with a traditional POS.
- Updates: automatic with a cloud POS; often manual with a traditional POS.
- Multiple branches: one dashboard with a cloud POS; each branch separate with a traditional POS.
The third way: a cloud POS that works offline
Some systems combine the strengths of both. Data is kept in the cloud and reports can be seen from anywhere; when the internet drops, the main till keeps working locally and sends its records when the connection returns. Digigarson works this way: while offline, the main till takes orders, prints kitchen tickets and accepts payments.
Three questions to help you decide
Ask yourself:
- How many times did the internet go down at my venue in the last year, and what did I lose each time?
- Do I need to check reports from outside the venue?
- Who takes my backups, and how would I get my data back after a failure?