What POS Software does for a import & export business
A POS rings up each sale, takes M-Pesa and cash, prints a receipt and updates stock in one step. For a import & export business, the value shows up exactly where the work is hardest.
An import-export business tracks shipments from source to destination with costs, duties and timelines. Import-export margins vary widely by category and routing, often 15-30 percent after all costs.
Customs documentation, eTIMS invoicing and VAT recovery are critical for registered traders. Veira handles that as part of the same sale, so compliance is not a separate evening job.
Import & Export Businesses run differently, and the software should too
A generic till misses the details that decide whether a import & export business makes money. These are the ones that matter:
- 1
The daily reality
Complex shipment tracking and costs. POS Software built for a import & export business 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
Customs and regulatory compliance. POS Software built for a import & export business 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
Currency exchange and payment timing. POS Software built for a import & export business 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
Quality control across borders. POS Software built for a import & export business 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 import & export business
- Offline mode that keeps the queue moving during outages. This matters for a import & export business because of complex shipment tracking and costs.
- M-Pesa built in so payments reconcile themselves. This matters for a import & export business because of customs and regulatory compliance.
- eTIMS filing included, not a paid add on. This matters for a import & export business because of currency exchange and payment timing.
- Live reports you can open from your phone. This matters for a import & export business because of quality control across borders.
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 import & export business example
A Mombasa importer sourcing textiles monthly cannot track shipment costs, customs duties or margins per shipment.
- Complex shipment tracking and costs.
- Customs and regulatory compliance.
- Currency exchange and payment timing.
- 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. Customs documentation, eTIMS invoicing and VAT recovery are critical for registered traders.
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 import & export business?
Does it keep working offline?
Does it handle M-Pesa for a import & export business?
Is it KRA eTIMS compliant?
How much does POS Software cost for a import & export business in Kenya?
Can it run more than one import & export business?
Based on KRA eTIMS regulations and interviews with 5,000+ Kenyan businesses
Whether you run one import & export business 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 imported goods from Asia and Middle East.