INV3NTORY vs Epos Now
Epos Now is one of the most popular tills in UK independent retail, and for good reason: it's UK-built, UK-supported, and the hardware is affordable. The stock module that comes with it works — you can see levels, set reorder points, and pull basic reports.
The question isn't whether Epos Now handles stock. It's whether a stock module designed to complement a till is the same as stock management software designed from the ground up for how a UK convenience store actually runs. Here's the honest comparison.
| Epos Now | INV3NTORY | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Point-of-sale system with stock module | Stock management built around the till |
| Stock levels sync from sales | Yes — core to the system | Yes — via Epos Now integration |
| Daily AI briefing before you open | No | Yes — plain-English summary at 7am |
| Waste & shrinkage tracking | Basic — manual write-off entries | Full waste log with trend analysis and AI tips |
| Margin per product and category | Available in reports | Live per product, per category, always visible |
| Dead stock and slow-mover detection | Not automated | Automatic flags with cash-tied-up value |
| Low-stock alerts by email | Yes | Yes — with urgency ranking |
| Separate from your till subscription | No — part of the Epos Now package | Yes — works alongside your existing Epos Now till |
| Staff accounts with restricted access | Yes (user permissions) | Yes — stock and scanner only, no pricing or margins |
| Pricing | Bundled with Epos Now; hardware from ~£249, software from ~£25/mo | From £49/mo — runs on top of your existing Epos Now setup |
Where Epos Now genuinely wins
If you're choosing a till for the first time, Epos Now's all-in-one package — hardware, software, payments, support — is a strong choice for UK independents. The UK phone support is genuinely useful, the hardware is robust, and the integration marketplace covers most common add-ons.
For basic stock visibility — knowing what you have, setting reorder levels, pulling a stock report — the built-in module does the job without adding another subscription.
Where the stock module falls short
Epos Now's stock features are designed to answer "how much do I have?" INV3NTORY is designed to answer what a shop owner actually needs to know: what do I need to order today, what am I wasting money on, which lines are dead, and is my shop financially healthy — delivered as a 30-second read before the doors open.
Waste tracking in Epos Now is a write-off entry. INV3NTORY's waste log captures the product, the reason, and the value, tracks it weekly, spots the patterns, and surfaces tips for reducing it. Most shops that add waste tracking for the first time find £200–£500/month they hadn't measured.
The daily AI briefing is the biggest gap. Epos Now gives you data in reports; INV3NTORY turns that data into actions — ranked by what matters most today — delivered automatically. No dashboard-diving needed.
INV3NTORY doesn't replace Epos Now
This matters: INV3NTORY is not a till. It works alongside Epos Now — your sales process, your receipts, your payments all stay exactly as they are. Connect INV3NTORY to your Epos Now account once and it starts pulling in your sales data. From that point your stock management and your till are separate but in sync.
Common questions
Can I use INV3NTORY with my existing Epos Now till?
Yes. INV3NTORY connects to your Epos Now account directly and pulls in your product catalogue and sales — you don't need to replace or change anything about your till setup.
Will my products import from Epos Now automatically?
Yes. When you connect your Epos Now account, your product list imports automatically — names, barcodes, categories, and prices come across in one go.
Is it worth paying for both?
For most independent shops, yes — the waste tracking and daily briefing alone typically save more than the subscription cost in the first month. The free 14-day trial is the quickest way to find out what your specific shop gains.