What POS Software does for a distributor
A POS rings up each sale, takes M-Pesa and cash, prints a receipt and updates stock in one step. For a distributor, the value shows up exactly where the work is hardest.
A distributor holds stock in a store and on several vans, so each route needs its own running count. Distribution margins are slim, so route level visibility is the difference between profit and loss.
Distributors invoice many registered retailers, so eTIMS billing has to run at volume. Veira handles that as part of the same sale, so compliance is not a separate evening job.
Distributors run differently, and the software should too
A generic till misses the details that decide whether a distributor makes money. These are the ones that matter:
- 1
The daily reality
Stock spread across vans and routes. POS Software built for a distributor turns that into a number you can act on, and you also sell in seconds on a phone, tablet or the free Veira terminal.
- 2
Where the margin leaks
Reconciling van sales daily. POS Software built for a distributor turns that into a number you can act on, and you also take Buy Goods, Paybill and Pochi la Biashara payments at the till.
- 3
What slows the counter
Credit to many small retailers. POS Software built for a distributor turns that into a number you can act on, and you also keep selling offline and sync the moment the network returns.
- 4
What buyers expect
Returns and breakages. POS Software built for a distributor turns that into a number you can act on, and you also file a compliant eTIMS invoice on every sale automatically.
What to look for in POS Software for a distributor
- Offline mode that keeps the queue moving during outages. This matters for a distributor because of stock spread across vans and routes.
- M-Pesa built in so payments reconcile themselves. This matters for a distributor because of reconciling van sales daily.
- eTIMS filing included, not a paid add on. This matters for a distributor because of credit to many small retailers.
- Live reports you can open from your phone. This matters for a distributor because of returns and breakages.
A notebook and a basic till, or Veira
| Notebook or basic till | Veira | |
|---|---|---|
| Counting stock | By hand, rarely matches the shelf | Live by item, branch and value |
| M-Pesa at the counter | Checked on a separate phone | Matched to each sale automatically |
| eTIMS invoices | Typed in later, if at all | Filed on every sale, even offline |
| Knowing your numbers | A monthly guess | Live margin and takings on your phone |
A real distributor example
A Thika distributor running five vans struggles to reconcile route sales and stock by the end of each day.
- Stock spread across vans and routes.
- Reconciling van sales daily.
- Credit to many small retailers.
- Sell in seconds on a phone, tablet or the free Veira terminal.
- Take Buy Goods, Paybill and Pochi la Biashara payments at the till.
- Keep selling offline and sync the moment the network returns.
Every sale on Veira files a compliant KRA eTIMS invoice, online or offline. Distributors invoice many registered retailers, so eTIMS billing has to run at volume.
A POS rings up each sale, takes M-Pesa and cash, prints a receipt and updates stock in one step. Here is what that looks like with Veira:
- Sell in seconds on a phone, tablet or the free Veira terminal
- Take Buy Goods, Paybill and Pochi la Biashara payments at the till
- Keep selling offline and sync the moment the network returns
- File a compliant eTIMS invoice on every sale automatically
Related questions
Frequently asked questions
Is POS Software hard to set up for a distributor?
Does it keep working offline?
Does it handle M-Pesa for a distributor?
Is it KRA eTIMS compliant?
How much does POS Software cost for a distributor in Kenya?
Can it run more than one distributor?
Based on KRA eTIMS regulations and interviews with 5,000+ Kenyan businesses
Whether you run one distributor or several across Kenya, Veira gives you point of sale that fits the trade instead of fighting it. Book a free demo and see it work with your own FMCG distribution routes.