POS vs Ecommerce: Key Differences and How They Work Together
Key Takeaways Point of sale systems handle face-to-face transactions with hardware like card readers and scanners, while online stores process purchases through websites and apps. The main split comes down to how customers interact, when stores operate, what payments work, and how inventory tracking happens. Connected systems create real-time inventory updates, unified customer records, and flexible options like online ordering with in-store pickup. Integration hurdles include keeping data synced, securing multiple platforms, training staff across systems, and managing tax rules for different locations. When your website shows products in stock that your physical store already sold, you lose money and frustrated customers. Managing sales across both digital and physical channels means keeping inventory accurate everywhere, which sounds simple until you realize how many moving parts need to stay synchronized. The gap between what customers see online and what actually sits on your shel...