The Irish retail landscape is evolving at breakneck speed. As we enter 2026, consumer expectations for convenience, speed, and choice have cemented the need for a Point-of-Sale (PoS) system that is far more than just a till. Today, your Electronic Point of Sale (EPoS) system must be the seamless nerve centre of your entire operation, driving efficiency, boosting customer satisfaction, and protecting your bottom line.
For Irish retailers looking to thrive—not just survive—the coming year, choosing an EPoS system that incorporates genuine, future-proof features is essential. Here are the key capabilities every forward-thinking Irish store needs in 2026.
1. Seamless Integrated Payments: The Bedrock of Modern Retail
The days of separate till systems and standalone card terminals are over. In 2026, an integrated payment solution is a mandatory feature, not a luxury.
Why is this essential? Two major trends in Ireland demand it: the massive shift to digital payments and the absolute necessity of eliminating transactional errors.
The value and volume of digital payments in Ireland continue to grow significantly. Data from the Central Bank of Ireland shows a consistent year-on-year rise in the value of card spending, highlighting the consumer preference for plastic and digital transactions over cash.
Furthermore, the rise of contactless and mobile wallet usage has been rapid. The Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) found that over half of all contactless payments in the country are now being made using mobile wallets, such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, rather than physical cards, often at a higher average spend.
Your EPoS system must offer:
- Zero-Error Integration: When the EPoS system is perfectly integrated with the payment terminal (CBE Pay), the risk of human error—like keying in the wrong amount—is eliminated. The transaction total is sent directly to the terminal, ensuring accuracy and faster checkout times.
- Comprehensive Acceptance: The system must accept all forms of payment, from standard debit and credit cards to the dominant mobile wallet technologies, guaranteeing no lost sales due to payment incompatibility.
- Streamlined Reconciliation: Integrated systems automatically reconcile every payment to the exact sale, saving valuable hours on end-of-day cashing up and accounts reporting.
2. True Mobility: Serving the Customer, Not the Counter
The traditional idea of a static till point creates bottlenecks, wastes staff time, and diminishes the in-store experience. Modern retail demands flexibility, and that means taking the EPoS to the customer.
In 2026, your EPoS solution should empower your staff and your customers with mobility features:
- Queue Busting: Equip staff with mobile PoS devices linked to your core system. Whether it’s selling merchandise on the shop floor or handling peak-hour queues, mobile EPoS allows staff to process sales and take payments instantly, wherever the customer is.
- Mobile Order and Pay: Particularly vital for hospitality and food retail, customers are increasingly expecting to order and pay from their own device, eliminating waiting times entirely. A truly modern EPoS must facilitate a seamless, branded experience for Mobile Order and Pay, driving efficiency by sending orders directly to the kitchen or preparation area, bypassing the counter completely.
- Inventory on Demand: Mobile EPoS terminals provide staff with instant access to real-time stock levels, product information, and pricing, allowing them to provide a superior, informed service without leaving the customer’s side.
3. Back Office Intelligence: Mastering Data and Stock Control
A feature-rich EPoS system doesn’t just manage the front of house; it is the ultimate tool for strategic business management. For retail success in 2026, your system must transform raw data into actionable business intelligence.
Look for a robust core system, like CBE Innova, that delivers on the following features:
- Real-Time Reporting: Access bespoke reports from any location, 24/7. This allows management to monitor sales, labour costs, margins, and trends as they happen, enabling rapid decision-making to address staffing, stock, or promotional needs.
- Bespoke Stock Management: Effective EPoS should integrate sophisticated stock management tools, allowing you to track inventory across multiple locations, manage variances, and trigger automated purchase orders when stock hits critical levels. This reduces waste and prevents lost sales from empty shelves.
- Multi-Store Connectivity: For growing retailers, the EPoS must provide a single, centralised platform to manage pricing, promotions, and reporting across an entire chain. This ensures brand consistency and drastically simplifies administration.
- Security and Compliance: A modern EPoS system provides enhanced security measures, protecting sensitive customer and business data in compliance with crucial regulations, giving you and your customers peace of mind.
The CBE Advantage: EPoS Built for the Irish Market in 2026
The needs of the Irish retailer are complex and unique. As a leading supplier to the sector for decades, CBE Ltd. understands that the next generation of EPoS must deliver speed, integration, and intelligence.
The future of retail is one where every system works in harmony—from the customer’s mobile device to the back office server. Our suite of EPoS solutions, featuring the powerful CBE Innova system, seamless CBE Pay integrated payments, and cutting-edge CBE Mobile Order and Pay solutions, is specifically designed to meet and exceed these demands.
Don’t let your EPoS system hold you back. Contact CBE today to discuss a solution built for the demands of 2026 and beyond.
