Point of Sale or POS is an essential software in the retail and hospitality industry. It enables transactions, inventory control, and customer interaction. While modern POS systems are functional and reliable, they, like other digital products, are not immune to problems and require thorough and timely testing. In this article, we will discuss the challenges of quality assurance at the point of sale testing and the mistakes that teams often make.

What Is POS System Testing and What Is Its Purpose?

Point of Sale software testing is a comprehensive approach to verifying its reliability, functionality, and security. It is implemented to ensure that the product meets business requirements, satisfies user needs, and allows for the efficient operation of all workflows within the company.

Timely and in-depth POS testing has many benefits. It ensures a better customer experience, high data security, and optimal operational efficiency. To achieve the desired performance and quality assurance results, the team uses various types of testing. The main ones include the following:

• Functionality Testing. It verifies that all functions work properly and basic scenarios are executed logically and consistently.
• Compatibility Testing. It focuses on the interaction of the system with other components and software.
• Security Testing. Its purpose is to identify potential vulnerabilities and prevent possible hacking of systems and programs.
• User Interface Testing. It includes checking the readability of information, the function logic, the presence of necessary options, etc. 

In addition to the types listed, testers also use localization, user acceptance, end-to-end, and load testing.

Most Common POS Testing Challenges

Point of Sale is a complex of software and hardware that performs a large number of functions. Therefore, its testing can be difficult and confusing. Here are some of the main challenges that quality assurance in the industry faces:

• Disparity of configurations. If a business uses a POS system for multiple enterprises, its testing must be both unified and separate in case one of the objects applies promotions that are not available in the other ones.
• System complexity. Each Point of Sale must integrate with many other systems that may have different settings and require a different testing approach.
• Regulatory compliance. POS software is fintech and therefore must strictly adhere to the testing rules in the industry.
• Frequent updates. Constant improvements and additions of features often make testing even more complex and time-consuming.
• Limited resources for end-to-end system testing. To ensure that the software works without failures, it must be tested in close to real-world conditions. This can become a problem due to the lack of options for their reproduction.

Since testing POS systems requires time and effort, it is important to avoid common mistakes that can lead to costly repairs and delayed updates.

Mistakes to Watch Out for When Testing PoS Software

Insufficient testing can cost money and reputation. Therefore, a responsible approach to quality assurance is a prerequisite for the development of a successful business. Take into account some of the main mistakes to prevent the need to fix POS systems.

Surface Testing

Quick testing that covers only units without integrating them with each other often leads to operational failures in the system. POS software must meet many needs and requirements, so before launching it, testers must check each of its areas and its performance.

Ignoring Testing Updates

To remain competitive, any software must be supplemented with a set of new features. It must be retested after the implementation of each of them to make sure that none of the elements have become obsolete and continue to perform their functions.

Lack of Skills or Poor Familiarity with the System

POS testing is a niche area that requires knowledge and skills. If in-house testers do not have them, they must study the system in detail, or the company must attract additional staff. If none of the options are suitable, outsourcing may be a better solution.

Implementing Testing at Late Stages

Although POS systems are different from other software types, they also require early testing to avoid serious defects. If you find a failure at an early stage, you will save money and time on fixing it and can easily meet the deadline.

Using an Exclusively Manual Testing Approach 

When it comes to assessing the interface usability, manual testing makes sense. However, it can be ineffective in other cases. Automation helps minimize human error, speed up the process, and avoid lengthy regression testing.

POS software testing is an important and mandatory phase. Neglecting the stage or its unreliable execution often results in defects and failures that are difficult to fix. To change the situation, you should take into account common mistakes and make efforts to prevent them.