A retail POS setup in the UAE needs four devices at the counter: a POS PC, a thermal receipt printer, a cash drawer and a barcode scanner, plus a label printer if you price your own items. Bada Souq's retail bundle includes all four counter devices with Vatrix POS Retail software for AED 2,699, installed and with staff trained free anywhere in the UAE. This guide walks through each device, what to look for and how they connect, so a grocery in Ajman or a mobile shop in Dubai buys the right kit once.
Retail is a big share of Vatrix customers: general trading 10.6%, grocery 8.7%, mobile and electronics 6.3%, garments 6.1%, supermarket 6.1%.
The five devices in a retail POS setup
1. POS PC (touch screen)
The POSBOLT touch POS is a 15-inch Windows PC with Core i3 or i5, 4–8 GB RAM and a 128–256 GB SSD. Vatrix runs on Windows, so any Windows PC works, but a touch screen with the drawer underneath keeps the counter tidy.
2. Thermal receipt printer
An 80 mm thermal printer prints the VAT invoice with your TRN. Options: POSBOLT P80T (AED 250), Epson TM-T88 or Epson TM-M30. Thermal means no ink; you only buy paper rolls. The cash drawer plugs into the printer's drawer port.
3. Cash drawer
A 16-inch cash drawer with note and coin slots. It opens automatically when a cash bill is settled in Vatrix, and the cash closing report tells you what should be inside at the end of the shift.
4. Barcode scanner
A scanner reads packaged-goods barcodes straight into the invoice. The POSBOLT PV-X1012 1D wired scanner is AED 120; the POSBOLT PV-W208N 2D wireless scanner is AED 199 and also reads QR codes. For supermarkets that weigh loose items at the counter, a scanner-scale combines both jobs.
5. Label printer (optional)
If you sell items without a barcode (garments, spare parts, perfumes, bakery), print your own labels. The POSBOLT P9210 4-inch direct thermal label printer (AED 449) works with Vatrix's customisable label printing, as do Zebra and Dymo models.
Which extras does your shop need?
| Shop type | Scanner | Label printer | Weigh scale | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grocery / baqala | Yes | Optional | Brecknell 6720U | Scale barcode labels for loose items |
| Supermarket | Yes | Yes | Yes | Consider 2+ counters on SQL Server |
| Mobile and electronics | Yes | Optional | No | Serial number capture and tracking |
| Garments | Yes | Yes | No | Size and colour on labels |
| Perfumes and cosmetics | Yes | Yes | No | Loyalty points and vouchers |
| Bakery / juice shop | No | Optional | Optional | Use Retail 2nd Edition button screen instead |
| Pharmacy | Yes | Optional | No | Expiry date manager |
Step-by-step setup (what our installer does)
- Place the POS PC, connect the thermal printer by USB or LAN, and plug the cash drawer into the printer.
- Connect the barcode scanner (USB) and test a scan in the Vatrix invoice screen.
- In Vatrix, open Settings → Print Settings and select the receipt printer and A4/A5/thermal format.
- Add the label printer and design the label (item name, price, barcode) in the barcode label screen.
- If using a scale, connect the Brecknell and enable scale barcode labels so weighed items scan straight into the bill.
- Import your item list from Excel, set categories and multiple units (box / piece / kg).
- Enter your TRN and shop details so every invoice is a valid UAE tax invoice.
- Set the automatic scheduled backup path and Google Drive sync.
- Train the cashier on billing, returns, day closing and the shift report.
Budget guide
| Item | Price (AED) |
|---|---|
| Complete retail bundle (POS PC, thermal printer, cash drawer, barcode scanner, Vatrix POS Retail, delivery, installation, training) | 2,699 |
| Label printer (POSBOLT P9210) | 449 |
| Extra 1D barcode scanner (POSBOLT PV-X1012) | 120 |
| Weigh scale (Brecknell 6720U) | 1,450 |
| POS bundle with Core i5, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD and VFD customer display | 3,099 |
| Software only (if you have a PC) | from 38 per month, or lifetime from 1,199 |
Prices include VAT. Most counters we install come to between 2,200 and 2,800 dirhams, depending on options.
In practice
A 2-counter grocery in Ajman buys two retail bundles and one Brecknell 6720U scale. The installer sets up SQL Server on counter one, connects counter two over the shop router, prints scale labels for rice, dates and vegetables, and imports 1,800 items from the owner's Excel sheet. At day closing, each cashier prints a shift report and the owner compares the cash drawer with the cash closing report.
More: POS bundles price list · Restaurant bundle guide · Retail POS software · Bada Souq shop.
Get your retail setup
WhatsApp +971 50 428 2953 with your shop type for a hardware list, or contact us. Free delivery, installation and training UAE-wide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a normal desktop PC instead of a touch POS?
Yes. Vatrix runs on any Windows PC. The bundle uses a touch POS because it saves counter space and is faster for staff.
Which thermal printer is best?
The POSBOLT P80T (AED 250 including VAT) and Epson TM-T88 / TM-M30 are all supported, over USB or LAN.
Does the cash drawer need its own cable to the PC?
No. It plugs into the receipt printer and opens when Vatrix prints a cash bill.
Do I need a label printer?
Only if you sell items without manufacturer barcodes. Packaged grocery goods scan as they are.
Can one scanner serve two counters?
No. Each counter needs its own scanner; the counters share one database over SQL Server.
