--- title: "POS Software Development Services | Cyan Orbit" description: "We build offline-first POS software with Stripe Terminal or Adyen card processing, real-time inventory sync, and reduced PCI DSS scope for retailers." url: https://cyanorbit.com/solutions/pos-system --- 1. [Home](https://cyanorbit.com/) 2. [Solutions](https://cyanorbit.com/solutions) 3. POS System Development Solution # POS Software Development Offline-first checkout, card processing, and inventory sync built for retailers and restaurants outgrowing an off-the-shelf terminal. [Get a project estimate](https://cyanorbit.com/get-a-quote?service=custom-software-development) [Talk to a developer](https://cyanorbit.com/contact) NDA on request · Free, no-obligation estimate · Reply within one business day NDA before discovery You own the code and IP on payment Code in your repository from day one A working demo every two weeks Senior engineers do the work [How we work](https://cyanorbit.com/process) A point-of-sale system fails at the worst possible moment: mid-transaction, when the internet connection drops and a customer is standing at the counter with a full cart. POS software development mostly comes down to designing for that moment from the start, so a sale completes and syncs later, rather than treating a lost connection as an edge case that gets patched in after launch. We build POS systems for retailers and restaurants whose transaction volume or inventory complexity has outgrown Toast, Square, or Lightspeed, or whose data needs to integrate directly with a proprietary inventory or ERP system those platforms were never built to reach. Card processing routes through a terminal SDK from Stripe Terminal or Adyen, so card data never touches the business's own servers, which keeps most of the system out of PCI DSS scope entirely. ## Usually commissioned by - Retailers and restaurants needing POS to integrate tightly with a proprietary inventory or ERP system - Multi-location businesses whose transaction volume makes per-transaction platform fees expensive at scale - Businesses operating in locations with unreliable internet needing checkout to keep working offline - Companies building POS software as their own product for other retailers or restaurants to use Scope ## Core features - ### Offline-first sales processing Transactions complete and queue locally when connectivity drops, syncing automatically once the connection returns, so a lost signal never stops a sale at the counter. - ### Card payment processing Tap, chip, and swipe through a terminal SDK such as Stripe Terminal or Adyen, keeping raw card data off the business's own servers. - ### Real-time inventory sync Stock levels update across every register and location the moment an item sells, rather than at end of day. - ### Receipt generation Printed, emailed, or texted receipts, generated the same way regardless of whether the transaction was processed offline or online. - ### Multi-jurisdiction tax calculation Tax rates and exemptions apply correctly across states or countries for businesses selling in more than one jurisdiction. - ### Split payments and multiple tender types Cash, card, and gift card combined on a single transaction without the register losing track of what is still owed. - ### Employee permissions and shift management Cashier-level permissions and shift tracking tied to who actually processed each transaction. - ### Discounts and promotions at checkout Pricing rules apply automatically at the register rather than requiring a manager override for every promotional sale. - ### Returns and exchanges Tied back to the original transaction record, so a return updates inventory and the original sale's history correctly rather than creating an orphaned record. Architecture ## Decisions that shape the build - ### Offline-first architecture and conflict handling A local transaction queue needs a clear rule for what happens when the same inventory item sells on two offline terminals before either syncs, so the system resolves the conflict explicitly rather than silently overselling stock. - ### PCI DSS scope reduction through terminal SDKs Routing card data through a terminal SDK like Stripe Terminal or Adyen, rather than capturing it in the business's own software, keeps most of the POS system outside PCI DSS scope and usually qualifies the business for a simpler self-assessment questionnaire. - ### Hardware selection and compatibility Card readers, receipt printers, and barcode scanners vary in what they support out of the box, and the choice of payment terminal SDK often narrows which hardware options are actually compatible. - ### Real-time inventory sync across locations Selling the same item from stock shared across locations needs inventory updates fast enough that two registers don't both sell the last unit, particularly during a busy period when sync delays matter most. - ### Multi-jurisdiction tax rules Businesses selling across state or country lines need tax rates and exemption rules that apply automatically per transaction, rather than a single fixed rate that only works for one location. Build vs buy ## When to build and when to buy Toast, Square, and Lightspeed cover standard retail and restaurant checkout well, and their per-terminal or per-transaction pricing usually makes sense for a single-location or standard multi-location business without unusual integration needs. Custom development is worth it when the POS needs to integrate tightly with a proprietary inventory or ERP system those platforms cannot reach, when transaction volume makes per-transaction fees expensive at scale, or when a business is building POS software as its own product. Delivery ## How delivery is phased 1. ### Map transaction flows and integration points We document how sales, returns, and inventory actually move today, along with which payment processor and inventory or ERP system the POS needs to connect to. 2. ### Build the offline-first transaction engine The core transaction queue and payment terminal integration get built and tested against real connectivity loss, since offline reliability is the foundation everything else depends on. 3. ### Build inventory sync, tax, and reporting Real-time inventory sync, multi-jurisdiction tax rules, and reporting get layered on next. This typically takes several weeks depending on how many locations and integrations are involved. 4. ### Pilot on a subset of terminals and launch A portion of registers or locations runs on the new system before a full rollout, since edge cases in offline sync and tax rules surface faster under real transaction volume. Technology ## Typical stack - [Node.js](https://cyanorbit.com/technologies/nodejs) - [PostgreSQL](https://cyanorbit.com/technologies/postgresql) - [React](https://cyanorbit.com/technologies/react) - [React Native](https://cyanorbit.com/technologies/react-native) - [AWS](https://cyanorbit.com/technologies/aws) FAQ ## POS System Development FAQs How does offline-first POS handle a transaction with no internet connection? The sale completes and stores locally on the device, then syncs to the central system automatically once connectivity returns. Inventory and reporting reflect the transaction the moment it happened, not the moment it synced, with conflict handling for anything that changed on both sides in the meantime. Can a custom POS reduce our PCI DSS compliance scope? Yes. Routing card data through a terminal SDK like Stripe Terminal or Adyen, rather than capturing it in your own software, keeps most of the system outside PCI DSS scope and typically qualifies the business for a simpler self-assessment questionnaire. Should we use Stripe Terminal or Adyen for card payments? Both route card data away from your own servers and reduce PCI DSS scope similarly. The better fit usually comes down to which regions and card networks the business needs to support and which one integrates more directly with the payment processor already handling online sales. Can inventory sync in real time across multiple store locations? Yes. Stock levels update the moment an item sells at any register or location, which matters most for businesses selling from shared stock across a small footprint of locations where overselling the last unit is a real risk. Should we build custom POS or use Toast or Square? Toast and Square cover standard retail and restaurant checkout well and are usually the faster, cheaper option. Custom development makes sense when the POS needs to integrate tightly with a proprietary inventory or ERP system, or when transaction volume makes per-transaction platform fees expensive at scale. Services ## Services involved - [Custom Software DevelopmentWe build software around the processes your business already runs on, so operations stop depending on spreadsheets, workarounds and tools that were never built for your workflow.](https://cyanorbit.com/services/custom-software-development) - [Backend DevelopmentWe build the server-side systems underneath your product: data models, business logic, queues and the infrastructure that keeps them fast under load.](https://cyanorbit.com/services/backend-development) - [API DevelopmentWe design, build, document and version REST and GraphQL APIs that partners can integrate against without calling your engineers first.](https://cyanorbit.com/services/api-development) - [Mobile App DevelopmentWe build native and cross-platform mobile apps, handle App Store and Play Store submission, and design for the offline gaps and device permissions a phone actually has to deal with.](https://cyanorbit.com/services/mobile-app-development) By industry ## POS System Development built for specific industries - [Restaurant POS SoftwareFloor plan, course timing, and tip distribution built into the POS itself, not tracked on a whiteboard next to the register.](https://cyanorbit.com/industries/food-beverage/pos-system) - [Retail POS Software DevelopmentA register that knows about the online order, the loyalty balance, and the return policy, not just the item in the customer's hand.](https://cyanorbit.com/industries/retail-ecommerce/pos-system) Industries ## Industries that commission this - [Retail & E-commerceInventory, POS and storefront software that stays in sync across every channel, with EDI wired in for your wholesale partners.](https://cyanorbit.com/industries/retail-ecommerce) - [Food & BeverageRecipe costing, allergen labeling, and lot traceability built around the POS and kitchen systems your locations already run.](https://cyanorbit.com/industries/food-beverage) Insights ## Planning guides - [6 min readHow Much Does Custom CRM Development Cost?Custom CRM development cost typically ranges from $40,000 for a focused pipeline tool to $250,000+ for a multi-team platform with automation and reporting.](https://cyanorbit.com/blog/crm-development-cost) - [7 min readCustom Development vs No-Code ToolsCustom development vs no-code tools compared on speed, cost at scale, and where each one actually holds up as your workflow gets more complex.](https://cyanorbit.com/blog/custom-development-vs-no-code) - [8 min readHow Much Does Custom Software Development Cost?Custom software development cost ranges from $15,000 for a simple internal tool to $500,000 or more for enterprise platforms. Here is what drives the number.](https://cyanorbit.com/blog/custom-software-development-cost) ## Discuss your pos system development project Share a few details about your project. A senior engineer reviews every request and replies with next steps, questions, and a rough budget range. [Get a project estimate](https://cyanorbit.com/get-a-quote?service=custom-software-development) [Talk to a developer](https://cyanorbit.com/contact)