When you look at your current Point of Sale (POS) system, it’s hard to imagine where the history of the Point of Sale started. Currently, POS systems offer comprehensive management of your business, from inventory management to reporting and everything in between. However, they haven’t always been so robust. Originating 200 years ago, POS “systems” merely held money. However, over the years they became the advanced money and business management systems that you see today. Read on to learn about the humble beginnings of the POS system.

Register Books and the Money Box
POS systems weren’t always the advanced systems they are today. In fact, at one point, POS systems weren’t technological at all. POS systems simply started as a “register book.” At the origin of stores, and even of bartering, store owners and business people tracked their goods by hand in register books, storing the cash or trade [note] in a money box. Store owners kept careful notes of sales and inventory in the register book and counted out the cash by hand at the end of each day.

Cash Registers
In 1879, the cash register came into existence. Why? To thwart theft. While the register book tracked business just fine and the money box was an efficient storage vessel, neither tracked when employees were accessing the money. This meant that some business owners were experiencing employee theft. Enter the cash register.
Created by James Ritty, the cash register (dubbed the “Incorruptible Cashier”) was a device that registered all transactions made at the business, i.e., documented money entering and exiting the drawer before it was opened. Following this invention, the cash register was purchased and patented by the company National Cash Register (NCR), which still exists today. Around this point, additional features were added such as employee drawers, bells, and paper receipts.

Electric Registers
In the early 1900’s POS systems continued to evolve. The first change was the addition of the electric motor, which allowed cashiers to use the register faster and more efficiently. By the mid-1900s the electric cash register had become a staple in most stores.

Computerized Registers
In the 1970’s the first computerized register entered the scene. During this time inventory management became an integral part of POS systems, with the origination of barcodes, bar code scanners, credit card terminals, and more.

Mobile POS Systems
In the 2000’s, another big shift occurred in the POS system industry when mobile technology hit the market. With mobile technology, business owners were suddenly able to manage all of their businesses from one location, check on sales from any time or anywhere, and were able to take their businesses on the road.

Today’s POS Systems
Today’s POS system offers business owners comprehensive tools. From inventory management, to employee paystubs, and reporting, POS systems streamline processes, allowing owners and managers to focus on what’s important: their business.

Does your POS offer your business the support you need? Are you ready to simplify your business with the use of a new POS? Marketing 360 Payments can help. If you are ready to talk with a Marketing 360 Payments representative about the right choice for your business, contact us today.