POS system vs a notebook: which is right for your shop?
ShelfWise ·
Most dukas in Kenya start with a notebook, and it works. Until the shop grows, someone else runs the counter, or money goes missing and you can't tell where. Here's an honest comparison.
| Notebook | POS (ShelfWise) | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | A few shillings | From KSh 1,500 a month |
| Recording a sale | Write it down, if there's time | Tap or scan; the total and change are worked out |
| Stock on hand | Count the shelf | Goes down with each sale, by itself |
| M-Pesa | Check messages and tick them off | Payments matched to sales automatically |
| Knowing what's running out | When it's already finished | Alerts before it runs out |
| Profit | Hard to work out | Daily sales and profit reports |
| When you're away | Trust and phone calls | See sales live on your phone |
| If it's lost or wet | Records gone | Saved online |
When a notebook is enough
If you run the shop alone, sell a few dozen items a day, and know your stock by eye, a notebook may be all you need for now.
When it's time to switch
- Someone else serves customers while you're away.
- Money or stock is short and you can't tell why.
- You spend evenings matching M-Pesa messages.
- You run out of best sellers before you notice.
Common questions
Is a POS worth it for a small duka?
If you lose more than KSh 1,500 a month to unrecorded sales, missing stock or time spent checking M-Pesa, a POS usually pays for itself.
Read next
- POS system vs Excel for sales and stock: an honest comparisonTracking sales and stock in Excel vs a POS system: what Excel does well, where it breaks, and when to move your product list into a POS like ShelfWise.Read
- How to stop stock loss and theft in your shop: 8 habits that workPractical ways for Kenyan dukas, minimarts and hardware shops to stop stock loss: counts, records, cash and M-Pesa checks, supplier deliveries and staff habits.Read