Table of Contents

Have a small or medium sized business in the UAE and looking for a POS system? You don’t need to invest huge amounts of money in buying bulky hardware because your card machine can be your POS system. The machine you already use can process payments and print receipts, but it does not help you track sales properly, monitor inventory, or build customer relationships.

Fortis SmartPOS is designed to close that gap. It works by adding a software layer to your existing card machine, transforming it into a complete POS system, so you don’t need to invest in new hardware; you can manage your entire business with just one card machine. 

TL;DR

  • Have a card machine? You can convert it into a complete POS system with Fortis SmartPOS.
  • Fortis SmartPOS adds a software layer and eliminates the need for bulky hardware. 
  • You get real-time sales tracking, a built-in customer database, and FTA-compliant VAT invoices automatically.
  • Fortis SmartPOS is built for small and medium sized F&B, retail, and service businesses across the UAE.
  • Optional add-ons include a loyalty programme and a digital tipping tool.

What Is a POS System and How Is It Different from a Card Machine?

A point-of-sale system is the combination of hardware and software that manages the full transaction cycle: recording the sale, building your customer database, producing a compliant receipt, and giving you a real-time view of your business performance. A card machine, on the other hand, processes payments only.

Your card machine authorises the transaction and produces a settlement report at the end of day; It does not track which items were sold, store customer information, or generate an itemised VAT invoice. For businesses with more than a handful of daily transactions, that gap creates real operational problems: manual reconciliation, no client history, and no sales visibility until close of business.

A POS system closes that gap. You can read a detailed breakdown of what a POS system is and how it works to understand the full difference before committing to any solution.

What a Card Machine Alone Cannot Do

A standard card machine processes one transaction at a time. It authorises payments and produces a settlement report at the end of the day. It does not provide structured item-level sales tracking, inventory visibility, or customer history.. For businesses with more than a handful of daily transactions, that creates real operational gaps.

The Limits of a Basic Terminal

Without POS software, you are reconciling sales manually, tracking stock on paper or in spreadsheets, and issuing receipts that may not meet FTA requirements for VAT invoices. Each of these tasks costs time that could go into running your business.

What UAE Regulations Add to the Picture

Businesses registered for VAT in the UAE are required to issue tax invoices for taxable supplies, per Federal Tax Authority regulations. A standard card machine receipt does not meet that requirement on its own. You need a system that applies the correct VAT rate, itemises it on every receipt, and makes it easy to export sales data when it is time to file.

What a POS System Actually Does

A point-of-sale system is the combination of hardware and software that handles the full transaction cycle: recording the sale, updating your inventory, storing the customer record, and producing a compliant receipt. The hardware part, in this case, is the card machine you already have.

What Is a SmartPOS and Why Does It Make Sense for Small Businesses?

A SmartPOS is a standard card machine that has been upgraded with point-of-sale software, turning a single-purpose payment device into a complete business management tool. Instead of buying a separate POS terminal, a receipt printer, and a card machine, you run everything from one device you already have. For small business owners in the UAE, this distinction matters for a straightforward reason: traditional POS systems require significant upfront investment in hardware, installation, and often ongoing technical support. 

A SmartPOS removes all of that. You do not need a new device, an IT team, or a complicated setup. You activate the software on your existing card machine and your business runs from day one. Every sale is tracked, every client is captured, and every receipt is VAT-compliant automatically. For an independent salon owner, a cafe with one or two branches, or a retailer managing a growing product catalogue, a SmartPOS gives you the operational infrastructure of a much larger business without the cost or complexity that usually comes with it.

How Fortis SmartPOS Works?

Fortis SmartPOS is a software subscription that installs on compatible card machines. No new hardware is required. Once set up, the card machine becomes your POS system. You can use it to browse your product or service catalog, process orders, accept payment, and print a tax invoice, all within a single checkout flow.

The Software Layer on the card machine 

Fortis software sits on top of the card machine's existing payment functionality. You can access your product catalog or your menu directly from the card machine and then place an order. If you are a retail store, every time you place an order, your inventory will automatically go down. You can also record your customer information, and print tax receipts. Every transaction flows through both layers simultaneously: the payment is processed by the payment provider, and the sale data is recorded in Fortis.

The Fortis Merchant Dashboard

Every sale, refund, and customer interaction is stored in your Fortis merchant dashboard in real time. From there, you can track total sales by day, week, or month. You can also see which products are performing, check payment method breakdowns across card, cash, and digital wallets, and export reports for your accountant. It is accessible from any browser, with no software to install.

What You Get: Features by Business Type

Fortis SmartPOS is built for three sectors: food and beverage, retail, and services. The core functionality is the same across all three. However, there are certain features that you can get with each industry. 

For F&B Businesses

Cafes, restaurants, food trucks, and pop-ups can build their full menu directly on the card machine. When an order is placed, they can route it to the kitchen to any screen via Fortis kitchen display system. For some setups, this can reduce the need for separate kitchen hardware. Payments are accepted via card, cash, or digital wallets, and every sale generates a VAT-compliant invoice.

For restaurants that want a more complete dining experience, Fortis Table Pay is worth considering. It allows guests to view the menu, split the bill, add a tip, and pay from their phone by scanning a QR code. Table Pay works alongside Foodics or Syrve.

For Retail Businesses

Clothing stores, perfume shops, accessories retailers, and sports equipment outlets can scan barcodes straight from the terminal and search products by name, category, or variant. Stock updates automatically after every sale. 

The system also manages purchase orders and suppliers, and generates inventory reports. With up to 500 SKUs supported, it is built for businesses at the scale where manual tracking starts to break down.

For Service Businesses

Gyms, salons, car washes, and padel courts can build a service catalog with multiple packages and pricing tiers. Staff select the relevant service at the point of payment, and the sale is recorded instantly. Like all Fortis SmartPOS users, service businesses also get full access to the reporting and customer management tools in the dashboard.

Optional Add-Ons

1- Fortis Loyalty

Fortis Loyalty is available as a paid add-on to SmartPOS. With POS Loyalty, you register customers by phone number directly from the card machine. They receive a digital loyalty card that lives in their Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. When they return, you scan the card to apply points or stamps. You can also send push notifications for birthday offers, promotions, or happy hour announcements. According to Fortis, merchants using the loyalty program see a 40% increase in customer retention.

2- Fortis Tips

Fortis Tips is a digital tipping tool available as a separate subscription. Customers scan a QR code to leave a tip and a Google review right from their phones. 

Real Businesses Using Fortis SmartPOS

More than 500 businesses across the UAE use Fortis SmartPOS across F&B, retail, and service sectors.

91 Minis

A perfume shop that started as an online store chose Fortis SmartPOS when opening its first physical location. The owner uses it to record all sales, track inventory, and generate reports for their accountant.

Seven Sense Delicacies 

Sense Seven Delicacies, a premium confectionery brand adopted Fortis SmartPOS to streamline operations across their growing product lines, spanning handcrafted marzipan, chocolate products, and their newest concept, The Cookie by Sense Seven. Having previously struggled with a complex and unintuitive POS system, the team found Fortis to be a simple, unified platform that consolidated sales, payments, and real-time reporting in one place.

Point Seven Coffee Shop

A cafe with three branches uses Fortis SmartPOS for both indoor service and drive-through. All sales across all locations are recorded in one place, and the merchant builds a customer database automatically by storing customer information from the card machine.

Getting Started with Fortis SmartPOS

If you already have a Network International card machine, you do not need to buy new hardware. Fortis SmartPOS is a software subscription that runs on the device you already have.

To explore whether Fortis SmartPOS is the right fit for your business, visit wefortis.com/products/smartpos or contact the Fortis team directly to book a demo.

‍

FAQs

How much does Fortis SmartPOS cost in the UAE?

A: Fortis SmartPOS is priced at AED 990 per year per device. You will get complete functionality within this price along with the cloud dashboard. You dont need to purchase more hardware if you already have a compatible device.

What is the difference between a card machine and a POS system?

A card machine processes payments only. A POS system handles the full transaction cycle: recording the sale, updating inventory, storing customer data, and generating a VAT-compliant receipt. Fortis SmartPOS adds all of that functionality on top of your existing card machine.

Can I use my existing card machine with Fortis SmartPOS?

Yes. Fortis SmartPOS can be run on compatible devices such as Network International, Paymob, Neopay, Mercury and more. You do not need to replace your existing hardware.

What payment methods does Fortis SmartPOS accept?

Fortis SmartPOS accepts card payments, cash, and digital wallets. All payment methods are recorded in the Fortis merchant dashboard and included in your sales reports.

Does Fortis SmartPOS print VAT-compliant invoices?

Yes. Every sale generates an FTA-compliant simplified tax invoice with 5% VAT itemised automatically. You can also export sales data for quarterly VAT filing.

Which business types does Fortis SmartPOS support?

Fortis SmartPOS is built for F&B businesses (cafes, restaurants, food trucks, pop-ups), retail (apparel, perfumes, accessories, sports equipment), and services (salons, gyms, car washes, padel courts). Fortis SmartPOS is primarily designed for F&B, retail, and service businesses

‍