In short: Buying a POS machine in Jordan? Pick the software first and the hardware second, and start with the least your way of selling needs: a phone and printer for a small shop, then a PC or POS terminal at the counter as sales grow, all on the same account. Before buying used, check for Google Play and that it is not locked.
In this guide
- Start with the software, not the device
- Four options for the main device
- An old cash register or software on a device?
- Buying a used POS machine in Jordan: what to check
- Thermal receipt printers
- Barcode scanners
- Cash drawers
- Extras you might not think of
- Three common setups
- How Ghalleh works with your hardware
A POS machine is the device your shop sells on: a phone, a tablet, a POS terminal with a built-in printer or a PC, plus a receipt printer, a barcode scanner and a cash drawer if you need them. Search for a cashier machine in Jordan and you will find bundles with two screens, a heavy drawer, a printer and a scanner in one box. Some shops need that. Many do not. This guide walks through each piece: what it does, when you need it, and when the phone in your pocket is enough.
Start with the software, not the device
Hardware does not sell on its own. Software calculates the invoice, tracks stock and sends it to JoFotara, so choose the software first, then ask which devices it runs on. Buy a locked terminal that only runs one vendor's app and you are tied to that app for as long as the terminal lasts.
Software that runs on phones, tablets, PCs and common hardware lets you swap devices freely, without moving your data or starting over.
Four options for the main device
The main device is where the cashier stands and the invoice is issued. You have four options, each with its place.
| Device | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Phone | A small shop, a single seller, a kiosk, selling away from the shop, or starting with no hardware cost | A small screen with a large catalogue, and you need a Bluetooth printer for paper receipts |
| Tablet | A counter with a bigger screen for items without barcodes, or a café with tables | Needs a fixed stand, a charger by the counter and a Bluetooth printer |
| Android POS terminal with built-in printer | A grocery or café wanting one sturdy device on the counter | Check it has Google Play and is not locked to the seller's software |
| Windows PC with screen and keyboard | A busy supermarket with many items, or a fixed counter with scanner and drawer | Needs space and stable power, and ideally the same app runs on your phone too |
An old cash register or software on a device?
What many people call a cashier machine is an electronic cash register: a keypad, a small display, a drawer and a printer. It takes money and prints a receipt, but it usually does not know your stock, does not record customer debts, does not send invoices to JoFotara and cannot tell you today's sales while you are out.
That is why many shops now choose cashier software on an ordinary device: a phone, tablet, POS terminal or PC. The drawer and printer stay. What changes is the software that knows every sale.
Buying a used POS machine in Jordan: what to check
- If it runs Android, that it has Google Play and is not locked to one company's software.
- That it has been reset to factory settings and the previous owner's account is removed.
- That its built-in printer prints Arabic cleanly and the QR code comes out readable.
- The battery, screen and charger, and USB ports if you will connect a scanner or printer.
- The printer's paper width, 58 or 80 mm, and that you can buy rolls for it.
- An invoice from the seller, and a warranty if there is one, so you know what to do if it fails.
- And run a real sale on it with the app you will use before you pay, not a demo from the seller.
Thermal receipt printers
Most shops use a thermal receipt printer, which needs no ink, only thermal paper. Paper usually comes in two widths: 58 mm, the smaller size common on portable printers, and 80 mm, which gives a wider, clearer receipt for busy counters.
Printers connect over Bluetooth, USB or the network. Before buying, check two things: that your app prints Arabic cleanly with no broken letters, and that the JoFotara QR code comes out readable. Always keep a spare roll. Running out of paper at peak hour stops the counter just as surely as a fault.
Barcode scanners
If most of your stock carries barcodes, a scanner speeds up every sale. A wired USB scanner suits a PC on a fixed counter. A Bluetooth scanner pairs with a phone or tablet and lets you walk the aisles during a stocktake. If you sell less, the phone camera reads barcodes too and is enough to start.
A scanner only reads the code. The item name and price come from your software, so the fastest scanner is no help if your products are not set up properly.
Cash drawers
A proper cash drawer usually opens on a signal from the receipt printer when an invoice prints, so it connects to the printer by cable rather than to the PC. Its main job is control, not storage: the drawer opens with a sale, and any opening outside a sale stands out.
A plain drawer may do while you work alone. With your first employee, a controlled drawer and a recorded shift per person become essential.
Extras you might not think of
- A small UPS for the PC and router, so a short power cut does not stop sales.
- Backup internet from mobile data, or software that sells offline and sends invoices later.
- The bank's card terminal: usually separate from your cashier app, so record the sale in the app with 'card' as the payment method.
- A scale for shops selling by weight, such as greengrocers, sweet shops and roasteries.
- A fixed stand for the tablet or phone on the counter, and a charger that stays put.
Three common setups
- Starting out: one phone, its camera as the scanner, and a small Bluetooth printer. Enough for a small shop run by its owner.
- One counter: a POS terminal with built-in printer, or a PC with an 80 mm printer, scanner and drawer, plus the owner's phone for keeping an eye on things from anywhere.
- A busy shop or several branches: more than one counter and devices in each branch, all on the same account.
How Ghalleh works with your hardware
Ghalleh runs on Android phones and tablets, on Android POS terminals that have Google Play such as Sunmi and iMin with their built-in printers, and on Windows PCs with an app you download straight from the download page, all on the same account with live sync. iPhone and iPad are coming soon.
It scans barcodes continuously with the phone camera or with a USB or Bluetooth scanner, and prints Arabic receipts on a Bluetooth thermal printer (58 or 80 mm), the terminal's built-in printer, or USB printers on the PC. If your cash drawer is connected to the printer, Ghalleh opens it with every cash sale.
You start on your phone and add a tablet, a PC or a printer as you grow, without starting over. The Start plan covers two selling devices and Pro covers five. Ghalleh is on Google Play now, the Windows version is on the download page, and the trial is 14 days free with every feature and no card. So you see how it runs on the devices you already own before buying anything new.
Common questions
What is a POS machine?
The device you sell on: a phone, tablet, POS terminal or PC, with a receipt printer, a barcode scanner and a cash drawer around it. People also use the term for the bank's card terminal, which is a different device.
Do I need a dedicated cashier machine, or is a phone enough?
For a small shop with the owner or one employee selling, a phone and a Bluetooth printer are usually enough. As sales and products grow, add a tablet, PC or POS terminal at the counter, as long as the same software runs on all of them.
Does an old cash register send invoices to JoFotara?
Traditional cash registers usually do not send invoices to JoFotara. Ask the seller directly, or use cashier software connected to JoFotara on an ordinary device and keep your drawer and printer.
Is the card terminal the same as the cashier device?
Usually not. The card terminal comes from your bank and takes the card payment. The cashier app issues the invoice and tracks stock. Some devices do both, but in many shops they are separate.