Electronic PaymentsBlog

January 1, 2025

The Best POS System Features for 2026

Ryan Christman, POS Channel Sales Manager

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

POS Essentials

Subscribe

The best POS systems in 2026 are fast, secure, connected, all-in-one solutions that offer integrated payments, robust security, detailed analytics, and real-time inventory management.

An outdated or unreliable point of sale system has an outsized impact on your business’s success. The good news is that you can gain a great competitive edge by choosing a modern, all-in-one powerhouse POS that combines multiple features to maximize your profits.

Below, we discuss some of the most critical features that retail POS systems should have in 2026. Check to see if your POS covers all the bases; if not, it may be time for an upgrade!

Fast, User-Friendly Interface

At their foundation, point of sale systems are for checkout—and reliable, easy-to-use software is the baseline for a great checkout experience:

• Make sure you have a user-friendly interface that lets your employees work fast and frustration-free.
• Get a system with a track record for excellent technical support
• Don’t let yourself get bogged down by bugs, freezing, or lagging issues—if checkout stretches longer than shopping time, customers likely won’t return. This is truer in 2026 than ever before, as customers have gotten used to rapid service online and in trend-following retail stores.
• Depending on your layout, touch-free and mobile POS may be good upgrades to reduce friction at the counter.

Integrated, Comprehensive Payment Processing

An integrated POS and processing system means fewer devices and platforms to maintain and less manual effort to keep track of your transactions. All the information you need regarding payments should be collected automatically and synced in real time across all your devices for easy reporting. In 2026, your POS should be doing more than processing payments—recurring billing, invoicing, batch processing, rapid funding, and same-day deposits are critical now, too.

Offering comprehensive payment methods means you won’t limit the customers who can purchase from you, and these days, a POS should be set up to handle just about anything a customer might walk in with, from cash and physical credit, debit, and gift cards to mobile, contactless, and EMV payments. Tap-to-pay and mobile wallets are especially important now as customers rely on their phones for all aspects of shopping.

Robust Security, Compliance & Regulatory Features

Investing in strong security and compliance features is non-negotiable in 2026. Between risk to your customers’ personal data and steepening transaction processing requirements, there’s too much at stake to overlook the features that keep your business safe. Strong security and compliance features for your POS include:

• PCI DSS compliance
• End-to-end encryption and tokenization
• User authentication
• Fraud prevention tools
• Features for regulatory needs like age verification or tax calculation
• Support for dual processing

Advanced Reporting and Analytics

Reporting is a core feature for POS systems now, but the reports you run should be substantial and comprehensive of every aspect of your business. Here are a few key features to look out for:

• Customizable dashboards with real-time data
• Automated report generation
• Integration with accounting software
• Easy-to-find inventory, sales, and customer behavior insights
• Predictive analytics that suggest reorder points, labor optimization, etc.

Easy Inventory Management

Find a POS that can make stocking operations easier and help you make better ordering decisions. Real-time tracking of stock levels across locations lets you take a holistic look at your inventory, while low-stock alerts and automated reordering features can keep your business engine running for you even when there’s no time to frequently check in on your inventory.

Payments Everywhere, Checkout Anywhere

Point of sales systems in 2026 need to be fully connected to every part of your business to support one seamless customer experience. This means tying together in-store, online, mobile, and even tableside or curbside sales, inventory levels that update instantly, loyalty programs follow your customers wherever they shop, and smooth returns and exchanges no matter how or where the original purchase was made.

If your POS can’t bridge these channels effortlessly, you’re missing one of the most important advances shaping retail and hospitality success in 2026.

Modernize Your Sales with an EPI Solution

Exatouch® is a leading POS system that checks every box on this list of essentials. Some key features include:

• Built-in reporting
• Offline processing
• Employee and inventory management
• Low payment processing costs
• Free gift card processing
• Inventory builds
• Ongoing training for you and your staff
• 24/7, in-house, U.S.-based technical support team
• Easy-to-use interface, barcode scanners, and receipt printing to speed checkout
• Purchase order management
• Detailed customer database
• Built-in loyalty programs
• Omnichannel support like Buy Online Pickup in Store (BOPIS)

Investing in a reliable, feature-rich point of sale may be the single most important business decision you make all year. Schedule a complimentary demonstration and discover all the ways Exatouch can help your retail business thrive this year and beyond; schedule your free demo!

Electronic Payments, Inc. (EPI) is a privately-held payment processor, acquirer, and financial technology company that delivers innovative POS systems, merchant services, and integrated payment solutions to businesses nationwide. Backed by over 25 years of industry experience, EPI is known for its transparent partnerships, proprietary technologies—including Exatouch® POS, ProCharge®, and Cygma®—and exceptional 24/7 in-house U.S.-based support. EPI serves a wide range of industries, from retail and restaurants to service-based businesses and professional offices, and acquires new merchants through a national network of POS value-added resellers (VARs), agent banks, independent sales agents, and ISOs.

800-966-5520 | www.electronicpayments.com