Supermarket POS software features that help stores overcome today’s challenges from rising food costs, labor shortages, and increasing overhead include advanced inventory management, computer-assisted pricing, and flexible loyalty. Supermarket IT teams will also benefit from IT management capabilities that save time, keep systems secure, and reduce the need for on-site service.
If you’re considering a point of sale (POS) system upgrade, you aren’t alone. The supermarket POS software that helped you run an efficient store and meet customer expectations for shopping and checkout experiences five or 10 years ago likely doesn’t have the features you need to overcome today’s challenges. Our 2026 Exploring Grocery Technology Trends survey found that 63% of stores are negatively impacted by food prices and tight margins, 57% are struggling with labor shortages and employee retention, and 51% say their biggest challenge is rising operational costs.
With unprecedented pressures on operations and their budgets, supermarkets need to implement supermarket POS systems with features that help them stay viable and continue to serve their communities.
Which Supermarket POS Technologies Make the Biggest Business Impact?
Making a smart investment in modern POS software for supermarkets requires you to choose a system with tools that help you operate with less waste, more profits, and higher customer satisfaction. A supermarket POS provider with industry expertise will develop solutions that address these key areas of your business.
Inventory Management
Your success depends on having the right products on the shelves when customers shop, while minimizing shrinkage from overordering. However, supply chain disruptions and shortages can make well-stocked shelves and inventory optimization difficult to achieve. The employment landscape has also made managing inventory a challenge, with 49% of respondents to our survey reporting that labor shortages and employees with limited skillsets have negatively impacted this critical part of their businesses.
The solution is supermarket POS software that incorporates intelligent technology to automate inventory management tasks like forecasting and computer-assisted ordering. These systems help fill knowledge gaps among your employees so inventory is balanced and you keep food spoilage and waste at a minimum.
POS software for supermarkets that deliver the most value also include data analytics that help you make decisions that lead to business growth. For example, analyzing data from your POS system can show you which products your most loyal customers routinely buy. Although they may not be your highest-margin items, they are likely items that keep customers coming back to shop and fill their baskets. A POS system that helps you manage inventory and provides insights will help you meet customer demands, build their loyalty, and grow revenues.
Pricing and Shelf Labeling
In a volatile economy, prices change continually. The challenge for supermarkets is to determine competitive prices that still result in margin and accurately adjust prices for an entire, diverse delivery. You also need to accomplish price changes quickly so there’s no delay in getting items on the shelves.
You’ll benefit from supermarket POS software that uses data analytics to set prices your market will accept while maximizing margins. A system that integrates with electronic shelf labels (ESLs) automates price changes. As soon as prices are set in the system, you can centrally manage the prices displayed for the items. ESLs update automatically, no labor for price changes required, and you have the guarantee that prices are consistent, accurate, and you aren’t losing money on sales.
Loyalty
Consumers expect supermarkets to offer loyalty rewards, and that program can help you increase revenues. Deloitte reports that 72% of shoppers say loyalty programs increase the likelihood they’ll spend more at a store, and 80% say loyalty programs help them get more from choosing to shop there, increasing the perceived value your brand provides. Interestingly, our grocery technology trends survey found that although 79% of stores (90% for chains with 100+ locations) have loyalty programs, less than half of business leaders think their programs are effective.
A supermarket POS software suite with a flexible loyalty solution allows you to explore options to find which works best with your business and your customers. You can test loyalty schemes and optimize rewards to achieve goals for store traffic and positive margin. A flexible loyalty solution also gives you the ability to adjust to changing customer preferences without ripping and replacing your software. An adaptable solution keeps you in control of your business and your bottom line as you meet customer expectations for reward programs.
Upgrade to a Supermarket POS System that Streamlines IT
The features of your supermarket POS software upgrade will directly impact the return on investment (ROI) you receive from your solution. However, your system should also help you keep costs low. One business challenge a leading POS system helps you overcome is IT efficiency. Supermarket POS software features that make life easier for your IT department and cut operating costs include:
- Hardware-agnostic
Browser-based software allows you to use it on most any hardware that can access the internet. One software suite that works on mobile devices, self-checkout systems, and countertop terminals deliver consistent employee experiences, making training easier. One software solution also makes management easier for your IT department.
- Cloud delivery
Using a cloud-based POS system decreases the amount of infrastructure on-site that your IT team must maintain. Cloud software is also easier to deploy, scale, back up, and recover, if necessary.
- Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity is a concern for 51% of grocers, according to our survey. According to Capital Technology University, the concern is well-founded since grocery stores are a cybersecurity target and attacks can impact food security. Keeping software updated is key to strong security. Supermarkets should choose POS systems that automatically update to keep software most secure.
- Systems Management
Your IT department will appreciate POS software with accessible management tools that allow them to manage your system as larger competitors do. A software suite with a systems management component allows administrators to control data flow, communications and set up between headquarters and stores. It also allows your IT team to control devices, peripherals, and systems from a centralized dashboard. A comprehensive systems management tool saves time, minimizes downtime, and keeps systems operating at peak performance without relying on on-site technicians or outsourced IT services.
The Undeniable ROI of a Supermarket POS System Upgrade
Any of the modern features of a POS system for supermarkets, from inventory management, price management, and loyalty rewards flexibility to streamlining IT management can produce quick ROI. But all together, they will make a big impact on operating efficiency, margins, and your bottom line.
For more than three decades, LOC has been at the forefront of retail technology. LOC’s configurable suite of software solutions gives high-volume, independent merchants the tools to optimize retail performance. Its suite of software modules, ThriVersA, includes point of sale, back office, host, eCommerce, self-service, loyalty, and more, giving retailers the freedom to design solutions that support their unique processes and workflows.
Request a demo to see how LOC can help you overcome challenges and achieve success.
