US retailers are focusing on mobile POS – big time. Over 72% of them see mPOS systems as essential for customer convenience and operational efficiency.1 This has led to mPOS software becoming the fastest growing segment in the overall point of sale market2 and is driving the projected doubling of mPOS transactions from US$12.5 trillion in 2025 to $24.5 trillion by 20303.

Smart retailers in the US are investing in mPOS systems because they see that mPOS is no longer a ‘nice to have’ but a strategic enabler, addressing some of the pressing issues that face today’s retailers in the US:

Recent NRF research shows that 38% of consumers will abandon a purchase if they see more than six people waiting.

Curb-side pick-up, tent sales, festival pop-ups, same-day delivery hand-offs – all are growing, requiring a checkout that goes to the customer instead of forcing the customer to find a fixed till.

An mPOS costs less than a traditional register, and deploys faster and with a lower cost, making it a winner for tight budgets and for scaling up and down with seasonal peaks.

The move to PCI DSS v4.0 and G1’s Sunrise 2027 mandate that will require all retail POS systems to be able to scan and process 2D barcodes means that thousands of US lanes will need replacement hardware and software within the next two years. mPOS offers the opportunity to modernise and de-risk in a single project.

So mPOS has a vital role to play, but with no shortage of mPOS systems in the market, how do you, as a busy retailer, evaluate them and choose the right mPOS software for your business?

iVend’s cloud mPOS system is trusted by retailers across the US, so here we explore the seven ‘mPOS must-haves’ that make it their number one choice, and which will help you to evaluate whether iVend is the right mPOS system for your business too.

US retailers know that long lines can mean lost sales. ‘Queue busting’ is therefore a very high priority. mPOS systems help to reduce lines – and lost sales – by enabling store associates to take the checkout to the customer, wherever they are in the store.

iVend mPOS provides the essential features for speedy checkout – intuitive interfaces that make it easy for store staff to use; quick item lookup; fast payment processing; digital receipts; and support for contactless payments.

iVend’s fast, easy to use mPOS system allows retailers – particularly those in stores where speed is critical – to dramatically reduce lines, keep customers happy and above all, retain the sale.

For many of today’s retailers in the US, checkout doesn’t only take place in the store. For example, garden centres and DIY stores sell from outdoor areas/yards; some retailers operate curbside pickup and others set up pop up stores at events and festivals, or want to get new stores up and running fast for regional or seasonal occasions.

These retailers need the flexibility to set up their mPOS system rapidly and with the minimum of fuss. iVend mPOS is fast and easy to set up, giving you the flexibility to engage customers, even outside the four walls of your store.

Personalized service is the key to customer retention and increased spend4 – and what retailer doesn’t want that? An mPOS system empowers associates to help customers to find the items they want, check stock, suggest upsells and cross sells and place online orders – increasing loyalty and spending.

In order to deliver on these benefits, retailers need an mPOS system that includes customer lookup, inventory visibility, loyalty integration and CRM access – iVend’s mPOS has all these integrations, helping US retailers to provide a level of service that differentiates them from their competitors.

For an mPOS system to truly deliver value, it must be fully integrated other parts of your retail system, including:

Many US retailers want to use cloud-based mPOS software for the flexibility and scalability it offers. But they know that no internet service is ever perfect, so they want the backup of a system that can operate online or offline.

iVend’s mPOS has a ‘hybrid cloud’ approach that means it will cut over to offline sales if the internet becomes unavailable, and automatically synchronise when reconnected, ensuring that it’s always there to serve customers.

US shoppers want to shop ‘across channels’: starting a transaction online and picking up in the store, for example, or buying online and returning to the store. mPOS helps retailers to very rapidly adapt to new customer demands, with POS stationed anywhere inside or outside the store, making it fast and easy for customers to engage.

When staff are engaging with customers at the point of decision, having access to promotions information is invaluable. They can instantly see all promotions related to the item, or the customer, and can even create and apply new promotions on the spot to close the sale.

The seven ‘must-haves’ are the reason that US retailers choose iVend mPOS. If they align with your needs too, then get in touch for a demonstration of iVend mPOS, and see how you too could achieve flexible customer engagement, integrated retail operations, and scalable growth.