The nation is becoming increasingly cashless — in fact, it may be completely cashless by 2026, and as the era of cash comes to an end, our mind wanders to the till.

Cha-Ching!

A sound that lives in classic films and, very possibly, hipster vocabulary. As it should. Early cash registers were a sight to behold; and their innovations, remarkable.

Riddled with the task of keeping money safe while displaying it at the forefront of the venue was no easy job. But we got there. 

Actually, old mate Ritty got there.

James Ritty: Father of Tills

Swindled but unhindered, James Ritty, a saloon owner, built the first-ever cash register in 1879. He called it Ritty’s Incorruptible Cashier.

A novel device for its time, unfortunately, Ritty’s cashier was not as incorruptible as he had hoped. While it confirmed that he was being swindled, the register couldn’t identify the culprit. It also heightened suspicion — labelling innocent staff as potential thieves.

Ritty’s Incorruptible Cashier was soon bought out and it continued to grow and develop. Gaps were identified and addressed, and features like a cash drawer, paper roll to record sales, and an electric motor were included.

Digital Payments & Their Impact

Almost 100 years later, an entirely new mode of payment entered the market: debit cards.

In their early days, in 1985, only 10% of the Australian market were using cards. In recent times, as of 2016, 63% of all transactions have been cashless.

Cashless transactions gained momentum with the introduction of Tap & Go. An effortless and quick mode of payment offering unmatched convenience.

The Till Stands Still

So what does the rise in cashless transactions mean for cash registers?

Cash registers were perfected for over a century to manage cash, but with the decline — and potential end — of cash transactions, are cash registers still relevant?

Not quite.

As the limitations of the cash register keep increasing, its relevance in today’s market continues to decrease. Cash registers not only face challenges with new business tech integrations, but they are also systematically being phased out by industry giants.

For example, Apple stores:

– don’t accept payments in cash
– don’t have a cash register
– don’t even have a counter

Instead, their staff is equipped with smart devices that can facilitate sales anywhere in the store.

POS on the Scene

Cloud-based POS came into the industry like a knight in shining armour — clad in tech and armed in solutions. It addressed and expanded on the limitations of cash registers.

Approaching payments holistically, not just as a transaction, it studied how payments feed into different aspects of businesses. It integrated tools to communicate with each other: linking EFTPOS directly to accounting and reporting software, syncing data instantly and, as a result, eliminating human error.

The Age of Digital

Over the years, we’ve watched many aspects of our lives go digital. Newspapers, banking, photography… the list goes on.

Today, attempting to manoeuvre a flimsy newspaper seems absurd; and the thought of using film cameras, although charming, is far removed and tiresome, and just like newspapers and cameras, the age of digital has reached cash registers.

Digital cash registers are not about calculating bills and storing cash. Instead, they provide a platform to run businesses. They enable efficient operations, fast payments, reports on margins, inventory management, and much more.

So till, if you will, it’s time to pass the torch to the new generation of cash registers.

 

Interested in exploring how Kounta + POSmate Point of Sale System Solutions can help your business, enquire now for an obligation free quote, call POSmate now on 1300 76 76 88 to speak to one of our Point of Sale POS System Solutions specialist or email us at sales@posmate.com.au