Yoco Counter isn’t just another point of sale (POS). It’s a smart but easy-to-use system - built hand-in-hand with South African small business owners – to remove friction, boost confidence and help entrepreneurs to thrive. 

For the complete behind-the-scenes story of building Yoco Counter, listen here.

From POS problems to smart solutions

Small business owners have always had a tough time with POS. For years, systems were either too complex, too expensive or simply not built with their needs in mind. 

With systems that don’t work for them, businesses were wasting time, delivering second-rate service and making avoidable errors. Yoco saw an opportunity to close that gap. 

What if we could design a simple POS solution that comes ready to go – with no complicated setup, no extra hardware hunting, and no clunky integrations or confusing jargon?

That was the idea behind Yoco Counter: our smart POS system that was built to remove friction from everyday selling.

And as Natalie, owner of Pool Caffè put it, “We’re making fewer errors. We no longer put in the wrong prices or forget to ring things up. It’s really easy to use.”

Cutting through POS confusion

The Yoco team began digging deeper. When Indy Barris joined Yoco as Product Marketing Manager, she dove right into merchant interviews and quickly saw how much POS confusion dominated the market. 

Merchants spoke about fragmented POS hardware and software, clunky integrations and the never-ending frustration of systems that slow down service.

“There's so much confusion. It's hard to figure out: ‘I've got this hardware, what software do I need? And then what integrates with what?’”

Indy Barris, Product Marketing Manager 

Rassie, owner of coffee Abantu Coffee, summed up the problem (and Yoco Counter’s solution) perfectly: “As a new business owner, there are a million things you need to think about, and this is one less thing that you have to worry about. It was really simple to set up: I wanna say it was 2 to 3 minutes and we were ready to go.”

This kind of feedback shaped Yoco Counter from the very beginning and fed into the project’s guiding principle: all you need is Yoco. 

“We're a payments company and now we're connecting payments with point of sale; a simple, easy to understand, out-of-the-box solution,” said Indy.

Built for, and tested with, real businesses 

Though Yoco Counter works across industries, its strongest fit is in the food and beverage industry – cafes, bakeries, restaurants, and fast-service outlets – where speed and simplicity are non-negotiable.

Key merchant pain points drove its design: 

• connectivity challenges (like loadshedding and poor Wi-Fi)

• complicated setups that required external IT support

• operational bottlenecks, from staff training to stock control.

Every single design decision, from the angle of the customer-facing screen to the way stock alerts appear, was informed by our merchants.

By combining POS hardware and software into one managed product, the aim was to give merchants something familiar yet transformative: a smart POS solution that just works.

“Now we’ve got a system. Orders come in, print out, and get stuck on the ticket line. No shouting. No missed orders,” explains Braidy, co-owner of Vegan Streetfood.

Design built for daily grind

From research came the first prototypes. Merchant interviews and off-the-shelf experiments helped build the product from the ground up, resulting in the final,  custom-built, 12-inch HD touchscreen on a weighted stand – that runs Yoco’s free POS software.

“It’s so easy to use. It looks professional and makes my prices and business more credible,” says Jason, owner of Camissa Organic Hair. 

But designing Yoco Counter wasn’t just about sleek hardware. This smart POS solution offers durability, usability and delight.

• Every element, including the screen tilt, the weight and cable placement was considered.

• The product team ran drop tests and swivel tests to make sure Yoco Counter could handle the demands of busy service environments.

• Even the setup guide and unboxing experience were carefully crafted, tested with merchants and refined so businesses could get selling in minutes.

“What happens when the package comes. What does it look like? What care has been taken in the journey from when it ships all the way to the courier? Is it protected enough so it still looks good? What does it look like when you open it up for the first time? How do all those elements still embody our brand?”

Shabnam Osman, Associate Director of Product Operations.

Many hands, one vision

But building a product of this scale takes more than good design. It required alignment across cross-functional teams, from hardware engineers to software developers, and product marketers, operations experts, external manufacturers, and more.

“The critical thing here is really just to make sure that everyone on the team is aware of exactly what the scope of work is that they need to complete. And they know when they need to complete it by. And also how it impacts all the other teams.”

Saskia Koning, Lead Program Manager

Alignment, sequencing of work and clear lines of accountability were critical.

“It can actually be quite a seamless process if everyone knows what they’re accountable for. Accountability has been massive on this project,” she said.

Big milestones and real merchant moments

And that collaboration came to life in the pilot phase. For the first time, Yoco Counter was placed in real businesses. It was a major milestone and a test of everything the team had built. 

“The fun just starts once it’s in someone’s hands,” said Shabnam. “It’s always the best part of the project and the most humbling.” 

For many on the team, the real joy was in those early merchant reactions: measuring the weight of the device in their hands, the first login experience, the first printed ticket in a busy kitchen.

More than payments: Built for business growth

But Yoco Counter isn’t just about transactions; it’s about transformation. As part of Yoco’s mission to open commerce, it gives small businesses the tools they need to thrive. 

That means this smart POS solution does way more than process payments; it connects your sales counter to your back office, your staff, your products, and ultimately to your customer experience. 

With real-time sales reporting, stock management and staff tracking, Yoco Counter removes operational friction and gives you the insights you need to make faster, smarter decisions. 

And because it’s built to scale, Yoco Counter can grow with your business and help to unlock more opportunities (for you and other South African business owners)! 

Whatever your needs, Yoco Counter can work as a standalone POS or integrate seamlessly into the broader Yoco ecosystem.

In other words: all you need is Yoco.

Always evolving, always with you

And the journey is only just beginning. Yoco Counter continues to evolve through merchant feedback, ongoing research, and refinements: always with small business owners at the centre. 

Discover how Yoco Counter can simplify your operations, speed up your service, and provide a POS system that’s ready to grow with you.