Introduction
Indonesia’s digital economy is witnessing a fierce new battle—this time in the point-of-sale (POS) software sector. As Southeast Asia’s largest economy accelerates its shift toward cashless payments and digital commerce, startups are racing to provide merchants with smarter, more efficient POS solutions.
From warungs (small kiosks) to high-end retailers, businesses are demanding cloud-based POS systems that integrate payments, inventory, and customer management—all in one place. This has sparked a startup gold rush, with local players like Moka, Majoo, and Loyverse competing against regional giants Grab (via GrabKios) and Gojek (GoBiz).
This article explores:
✔ Why Indonesia’s POS market is heating up
✔ Key players and their strategies
✔ How small businesses benefit from the tech war
✔ What’s next for the industry
1. Why Indonesia’s POS Market is Exploding
A. The Digital Payment Boom
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Cashless transactions grew 92% YoY (Bank Indonesia 2023 report)
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QRIS (national QR standard) now used by 42 million merchants
B. SME Digital Transformation
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64% of MSMEs now use digital tools (Google-Temasek 2024)
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Warungs want real-time sales tracking to compete with modern retailers
C. Government Push
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BPUM grants subsidize POS adoption for small businesses
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PajakKu integration simplifies tax reporting via POS software
2. The Contenders: Who’s Winning the POS Wars?
A. Homegrown Champions
| Startup | Key Feature | User Base |
|---|---|---|
| Moka | Offline mode for patchy internet | 450k+ merchants |
| Majoo | Islamic finance-compliant reporting | 300k+ |
| Loyverse | Free basic plan for micro-stores | 1M+ downloads |
B. Super App Invaders
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GrabKios: Bundles POS with delivery/finance services
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GoBiz: Deep integration with GoPay loyalty programs
C. Surprise New Entrants
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Shopee testing POS for offline sellers
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Bank-led solutions (BCA’s FlipStore, BRI’s BRImo)
3. How Warungs Are Becoming Tech-Savvy
Case Study: Warung Bu Siti (Jakarta)
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Before: Manual ledger, frequent stockouts
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After Loyverse:
✔ 30% faster checkout with QRIS
✔ Auto-alerts when nasi bungkus supplies run low
✔ Customer tabs for loyal patrons
4. The Tech Behind Next-Gen POS
A. Must-Have Features
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Multi-payment acceptance (QRIS, e-wallets, cards)
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Inventory AI that predicts demand
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Pareto analytics (identifies 20% of products driving 80% profit)
B. Game-Changing Integrations
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TikTok Shop sync for omnichannel sellers
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BNPL at checkout via Akulaku/Kredivo
5. Challenges in the POS Revolution
A. Merchant Pain Points
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Literacy gaps: 38% of warung owners need in-person training
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Internet reliability: 62% of small stores experience daily connectivity drops
B. Startup Struggles
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Burn rate: Customer acquisition costs reaching $120/merchant
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Feature fatigue: 73% use under half of available POS functions
6. What’s Next? Predictions for 2025
A. Consolidation Wave
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Expect mergers as cash-burning startups seek exits
B. Vertical Specialization
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POS systems tailored for:
▶ F&B (recipe cost calculators)
▶ Fashion (size inventory AI)
C. Offline-Online Blurring
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POS platforms becoming order hubs for:
☑ Gojek delivery
☑ Instagram DM orders
☑ WhatsApp commerce
Conclusion: The Register Rings Digital
Indonesia’s POS race mirrors its broader digital transformation—fast, fragmented, and full of potential. As startups battle for merchant screens, the real winners are small businesses gaining tools once reserved for corporate chains.
