eTIMS Lite vs Full eTIMS (VSCU/OSCU): feature by feature
| eTIMS Lite | Full eTIMS (VSCU/OSCU) | |
|---|---|---|
| Target user | Low-volume, simple businesses | Any size, integrated with POS |
| Volume handled | Low, typically manual invoicing | Unlimited, automated at every sale |
| Cost | Free (KRA-provided) | Software subscription |
| Integration | Standalone KRA app | Built into POS or billing software |
| Speed at the counter | Slower, manual entry each sale | Instant, filed at point of sale |
| Stock tracking | None | Yes, with a POS |
| M-Pesa reconciliation | None | Yes, with a POS |
| Suitable for busy shop | No | Yes |
How to choose
Choose eTIMS Lite if
- You invoice only a handful of clients a month and have time to enter each manually
- You are a freelancer, consultant or sole trader with simple invoicing needs
- You want to start at zero cost while volumes are very low
Choose Full eTIMS (VSCU/OSCU) if
- You serve customers at a counter and cannot slow the queue for manual invoice entry
- You need stock, M-Pesa and sales reporting alongside compliance
- Your daily sales volume makes manual eTIMS impractical
More detail
eTIMS Lite was designed for the very bottom of the market: a one-person business issuing a few invoices a week. It fulfils the legal requirement, but it is not a till.
As soon as a business has a counter, a cashier or more than a few sales a day, the manual process of eTIMS Lite becomes a bottleneck. A POS with eTIMS built in files every sale in the background with no extra steps.
Free tools for this
Frequently asked questions
Is eTIMS Lite really free?
Yes, it is provided free by KRA. The trade-off is that it is manual and does not integrate with stock, M-Pesa or reporting.
Can I upgrade from eTIMS Lite to full eTIMS later?
Yes. You update your control unit selection on the KRA portal and switch to eTIMS-enabled POS software.
Veira combines POS, M-Pesa, KRA eTIMS and inventory in one app with a free terminal. Book a demo and see how it fits your trade.