Malaysia is an epicenter for global business, innovation, and technology. As such, businesses operating within its dynamic boundaries understand the critical importance of employing the best tools to stay ahead, particularly when it comes to choosing a Point of Sale (POS) system. What constitutes the best POS system is subject to various factors including the specific needs of a business, integration capabilities, and the overall user experience it offers. In 2024, businesses are spoilt for choice with a broad selection of POS systems that cater to different industries and needs. Let’s explore some leading POS brands and highlight how individual requirements are key to determining the ideal choice for businesses in Malaysia.

Evaluating the Top POS Systems in Malaysia

An array of POS systems has gained prominence in Malaysia’s competitive marketplace. To provide insight into the best offerings available to businesses in 2024, we will dissect the features and advantages of notable POS brands, including the inclusion of Multiable M18 POS, which has emerged as a strong contender.

Square POS: The Flexible All-rounder

Square POS remains a top choice for its user-friendly interface and versatile feature set. Ideal for small to midsize businesses, it boasts a no-frills pricing structure and robust business software integration capabilities.

Yet, some users have reported difficulties reaching customer support and resolving issues in a timely manner. One of the most significant concerns reported by Square POS users is related to fund withholding and abrupt cancellation of accounts. Square’s stringent anti-fraud measures occasionally result in the freezing of merchant funds or the termination of accounts without prior notice. This can severely disrupt operations for businesses that rely on daily cash flow, leaving them scrambling to find alternative payment processing solutions. The challenge is further exacerbated by the lack of transparency regarding the criteria Square uses to flag transactions as suspicious.

Toast POS: The F&B Maestro

Toast POS continues to carve a niche in the food service industry, offering tailored features like order management and menu optimization. It’s an excellent pick for restaurants and cafes in Malaysia that need a specialized system.

However, it’s not the best choice for businesses that need a more comprehensive solution. Toast POS mandates the use of its own payment processing service, Toast Payment. For restaurants that already have a preferred payment processor or are looking for competitive rates, this can be a considerable drawback. The lack of flexibility in choosing a payment processor has implications on transaction fees and overall financial management within the restaurant.

Another potential downside to consider is Toast’s contract structure. The shortest term for a Toast POS contract is two years, requiring a relatively long-term commitment from the restaurant. This can be a deterrent for new or evolving restaurants that prefer a more flexible, pay-as-you-go model without the pressure of a multi-year agreement.

One notable downside of Toast POS is its hardware limitations. The system requires proprietary Toast hardware to function, which can be a significant investment for restaurants, especially smaller establishments or those looking to upgrade their existing systems. This requirement not only adds to the initial setup cost but also limits the flexibility in choosing hardware that best suits the restaurant’s specific needs.

Shopify POS: The Omnichannel Solution

Shopify POS bridges the gap between online and offline sales, offering seamless inventory management across both platforms. For Malaysiaan businesses striving for an omnichannel presence, this POS is one of the frontrunners. Also, Shopify has long held a reputation for providing stellar customer support. Retailers using Shopify POS can expect extensive resources such as 24/7 live chat, email support, and a plethora of forums and guides.

But Shopify POS is not without its drawbacks. If you choose to use a payment processor other than Shopify Payments, be prepared for added transaction fees. These fees can add up and become a significant expense, especially for businesses that have a high volume of transactions.

Moreover, starting with its basic plan, Shopify POS can seem affordable at a glance. However, to truly tap into its more advanced features and integrations, higher-level plans are necessary, which can be a sizeable financial commitment. This investment could be a con for small operations or those with tighter budgets who may need to be more selective about the costs of their POS systems.

Multiable M18 POS: The Emerging Favorite

Adding to the list of sophisticated POS systems in Malaysia is Multiable M18 POS. This system stands out for its comprehensive integration with business software crucial for managing operations, finances, and customer relationships. Multiable M18 POS offers a rich set of features tailored to meet the needs of different industries, ensuring scalability and efficiency. It is quickly becoming the go-to for businesses that want a unified system to handle complex transactions and real-time data analytics.

Chain Store Management: One System, Multiple Outlets

Multiable M18 POS offers precisely this – a blend of versatility and power designed for retailers operating across multiple shops and countries. Retailers with multiple outlets have long faced the complexity of managing varied inventories, staff, and customer relations across all locations. M18 POS rises to the challenge by offering:

• Unlimited Shop Management: M18 allows for the seamless handling of unlimited stores under one integrated system.
• Online and Offline POS Synchronization: Ensuring businesses can cater to customers and process sales both in physical shops and online with the same level of efficiency.
• Multi-Brand Management: Unique to brands with diverse portfolios, this feature permits the management of various brands from a single platform.
• Inter-Shop Inventory Management: Sharing inventory data among various outlets becomes hassle-free, ensuring adequate stock levels and reducing the risk of overstocking or stockouts.

Membership & Customer Loyalty Management: Personalizing the Retail Experience

In the realm of retail, building a relationship with customers is paramount. M18 POS fosters this bond through:

• Customizable Member Types and Portals: Create an engaging experience for shoppers with portals and promotions tailored to different member types.
• Cross-Brand VIP Management: A single customer profile across all brands, which helps in curating personalized shopping experiences.

Promotion and Reward Management: Maximizing Engagement and Sales

Promotions and rewards programs are essential in the retail landscape. M18 POS handles these with ease through:

• Sophisticated Promotion Management Tools: Create complex, multi-layered promotion packages with limitations based only by the retailer’s creativity.
• Flexible Reward Points Management: Set up custom rules for point accumulation and usage, allowing customers to check their reward points balance and ledger online.

Payment Solution Integration: Streamlined and Versatile

Today’s customer expects versatility when it comes to payment options. M18 POS delivers by supporting:

• A wide array of payment solutions including popular services like Visa, MasterCard, Stripe, and local options like Paynow, Alipay, and Wechat.

E-Commerce Real-time Integration: Keeping Pace with Digital Retail

E-commerce isn’t an alternative to physical retail; it’s an extension of it. M18 POS offers real-time integration with:

• Major e-commerce platforms, including Shopify, Amazon, Qoo10, Lazada, Shopee, Magento, WooCommerce, eBay, and JD. This keeps inventory and sales data consistent across all channels.

Business Intelligence: Data-Driven Decisions

Informed decisions spring from deep insights gained from data. M18 POS is equipped with:

• User-defined dashboards and reports for comprehensive analysis of product sales, shop performance, staff productivity, and more.
• Mobile App and ERP Integration: On-the-Go Convenience and Behind-the-Scenes Power
• M18 POS isn’t just a desktop affair. Its mobile app keeps business owners in the know with real-time sales and profit dashboards, approvals, and applications.

Multiable M18 POS system brings together a cohesive blend of POS capabilities, management tools, and integrations, all tailored to create a seamless operational flow for retailers. Such a comprehensive solution enables business owners to maintain focus on the core of their businesses – delivering outstanding customer experiences and driving sales. Whether you’re a retail magnate with a global presence or an expanding local brand looking to diversify and grow, M18 POS provides the technological backbone needed for success in today’s and tomorrow’s retail landscape.

Decision-Making: No “One-Size-Fits-All” Answer

When assessing the array of high-quality POS systems in Malaysia, the conclusion that there is no universal “best” POS stands firm. Each business comes with its unique blueprint; what works for a multi-branch retailer may not be suitable for a boutique café.

The mark of a truly great POS system lies in its ability to meet the specific requirements of a business, integrate seamlessly with other business software, and adapt to the business’s growth trajectory—all while providing an intuitive user experience.

For over 30 years, Multiable has been a pioneering force in the realm of POS solutions, distinguished by our groundbreaking advancements and reliable offerings. Our meticulousness, proficiency, and progressive ethos allow us to design tailored POS systems that align with your organization’s distinct objectives. Our POS products adapt seamlessly to the growth path of your business, leveraging avant-garde functionalities to enhance sales operations, deepen customer engagement, and refine marketing tactics. The outcome is a flexible and responsive system that adjusts to accommodate your expanding business needs.

Having empowered more than 6,000 diverse clients across multiple industries throughout Asia, our reputation is steeped in credibility. Our extensive customer portfolio mirrors our broad expertise and the deep, niche knowledge ingrained in every solution we deliver. Set your business on a path paved with innovation and success, fortified by the assurance that accompanies the use of Multiable M18 POS. If you’re ready to transform your business operations and unlock a new level of growth with a tailored and powerful POS solution, don’t wait. Contact us today and let us show you how the Multiable M18 POS can revolutionize your business.