1. Why tablet POS (vs a classic system)

Five years ago, "POS" meant a rugged PC under the counter, a checkout monitor, a numeric keypad and wires running everywhere. The hardware alone cost €800–€1,200, plus a locally installed software license. If the PC went down, customers queued at the till until somebody arrived to fix it.

Tablet POS changes the equation. An Android tablet or iPad replaces both the PC and the monitor; a Bluetooth scanner replaces the wired USB scanner; a wireless thermal printer replaces the classic printer. And the software runs in the cloud — you sign in with an account, no install.

For a mid-sized store (300–3,000 SKUs), the practical upside:

  • 50–70% lower upfront cost. €300–€700 total hardware instead of €800–€1,200.
  • Mobility. Pick up the tablet and do inventory in the aisles, scanning codes directly. Receive goods in the back room without moving stock to the till.
  • Free backup. If the main tablet fails, open the app on any other tablet or phone with your account and keep selling. The data sits in the cloud, not on the device.
  • Automatic updates. The app updates itself. No more calling a technician to install the new version on the PC.
  • Multi-location from day one. A single app works on as many tablets and stores as you want — all synced.

The only piece of dedicated fiscal hardware you still need is the fiscal printer — required to issue ANAF-reported tax receipts in Romania. The tablet doesn't replace it; it connects to it.

2. What hardware you need

Full POS setup on a counter: tablet, Bluetooth scanner, receipt printer and cash drawer
Tablet + Bluetooth scanner + thermal printer + cash drawer. Everything optional around the tablet — take only what you need.

For a working tablet POS you need 4–5 components. Many owners already have half of them.

  • Tablet (Android 9+ or iPad with iPadOS 14+) Recommended: 10–11 inch screen (larger = fewer mistaps), at least 3 GB RAM, 8+ hours of battery. Good models: Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+, Lenovo Tab M11, iPad (gen. 9 or 10). Indicative price: €140–€360.
  • Barcode scanner (Bluetooth or USB-OTG) Most common in retail: a 2D Bluetooth scanner (1D codes + QR). Common models: Datalogic QuickScan QBT, Honeywell Voyager 1602g, generic Inateck BCST. Works at 5–15 metres from the tablet. Price: €50–€140.
  • Receipt / invoice printer (optional) If you sell B2B and issue invoices on the spot — an 80mm thermal printer with Bluetooth or LAN. Models: Epson TM-T20III, Star TSP100, Xprinter XP-T80. Tax receipts printed by the fiscal printer don't need a separate device. Price: €80–€160.
  • Cash drawer (optional, with key) Opens automatically when the receipt prints, via a cable (RJ11/RJ12 from the receipt printer or fiscal printer), or manually with the key if you only take cards. Price: €40–€80.
  • Fiscal printer (ANAF-approved) Legally required — only an ANAF-approved fiscal printer can issue tax receipts reported to ANAF. See the compatible-models section below. Price: €200–€500, plus €20–€30/year for ANAF reporting.
Minimum viable setup for a neighborhood grocery store: 10" Android tablet (~€180) + 1D Bluetooth scanner (~€50) + fiscal printer (~€240) = ≈ €470. You can add the receipt printer and cash drawer later if needed.

3. Fiscal printers compatible with tablet POS

Romanian fiscal printer connected by cable to a tablet running POS software — the tax receipt is issued automatically at every sale
The tablet talks to the fiscal printer via USB or RS232 — at every sale the device issues the tax receipt and reports it directly to ANAF.

All fiscal cash registers legally sold in Romania are ANAF-approved (connected to the tax authority). The difference between models is how they connect to the tablet: Bluetooth, USB-OTG, LAN/WiFi or via a serial cable with adapter. Conexa works with every major brand.

Manufacturer Common models Connection Conexa
DatecsDP-25, DP-50, FMP-10, WP-50Bluetooth, LAN, USBYes
TremolM20, S20, ZM, FP30Bluetooth, LAN, USBYes
CustomKube II, K3, Q3XUSB, LANYes
DaisyCompact M, Perfect MBluetooth, USBYes
ActivaCompact, PlusBluetooth, USBYes
EltradeA3, A1, B1Bluetooth, LANYes

If you already own a fiscal printer from the list above, keep using it — Conexa connects to it with no further changes. If you're starting from scratch, our recommendation for a mid-sized store is the Datecs DP-25 or Tremol M20: stable Bluetooth connection, internal battery, competitive price (€220–€280).

Watch out for older units (pre-2018): previous-generation fiscal cash registers are no longer legal in Romania since 2021. If you still have a non-compliant fiscal printer, it needs replacing regardless — it's not an extra cost caused by switching to a tablet.

4. The features that actually matter

Running on a tablet doesn't help if the software itself is slow or incomplete. These are the features you must test at a demo:

  • One-tap speed for high-runners Bread, milk, water, cigarettes — your daily items should be a single tap, not four clicks. A grid of favorite products, plus quick search + scanner = several minutes saved per cashier, every day.
  • Instant sync between tablets With 2 tills on separate tablets, a sale on one drops stock on both immediately. No waiting for an end-of-day "sync". For stores with 2+ tills, that's the difference between control and chaos.
  • Goods receipts from the tablet Scan the PDF/XML invoice from your supplier and the products land straight into stock with barcode and price. For a goods receipt note with 50–100 lines, that's minutes instead of hours.
  • Romanian e-Invoice from the POS Customer asks for an invoice? Issue it on the tablet, it goes through ANAF's SPV automatically. No separate tool, no manual export.
  • Daily reports on your phone Sales today, margin by category, top products — see the data from anywhere, without being on-site. Tablet and phone use the same account.

5. What it costs to start — real numbers

Notebook with hand-written numbers, calculator showing 850, tablet with comparison table and banknotes on the counter
Minimum setup: tablet + scanner + fiscal printer ≈ €500–€700 one-off. Far less than a classic POS at €1,400–€2,400.

Two concrete scenarios: minimum setup (a neighborhood store) and full setup (a mini-market or larger grocery store).

5.1. Minimum setup — neighborhood store (1 till)

10" Android tablet (Samsung Tab A9+ or equivalent)€180
1D Bluetooth scanner (Inateck or similar)€50
Fiscal printer (Datecs DP-25 or Tremol M20)€240
Conexa Standard subscription (monthly, first year)Custom quote
Total hardware one-off:€470

5.2. Full setup — mid-sized grocery or mini-market (2 tills)

2 × 10" tablet (1 backup)€360
2 × 2D Bluetooth scanner€160
2 × fiscal printer (Datecs DP-25)€480
2 × receipt printer for B2B invoices€240
2 × cash drawer€100
Conexa Pro multi-location subscriptionCustom quote
Total hardware one-off:€1,340

Compare with a classic turn-key POS system from many integrators: €1,800–€2,800 for the same kind of store, plus €56–€90/month with no option to cancel without a contract. The difference on the full setup is roughly €600–€1,400.

Why it's cheaper on a tablet: the hardware isn't proprietary (you buy any tablet off the shelf), the software is cloud-based (no installed licenses) and updates are included. The owner controls the decision, not the vendor.

6. Frequently asked questions

Can I use the tablet I already own?

Yes, if it runs Android 9+ or iPadOS 14+ and has at least 3 GB of RAM. For a POS, we recommend using it dedicated — no games or other apps loading the memory. If the tablet is 5+ years old, you're better off buying a new one (€140–€180 for a model that will last 4–5 years).

Does it work on iPad or only on Android?

Both. Conexa runs in Safari/Chrome on iPad and has a native app on the App Store (link here). For Android, find it on Google Play (link here). Functionality is identical.

How many tablets can I connect to the same fiscal printer?

We recommend one tablet per fiscal printer, to avoid serial port / Bluetooth conflicts. If you have 2 tills in the store, you have 2 fiscal printers + 2 tablets. They all run on the same Conexa account with synced stock.

How long does initial configuration take?

For a store with 500–1,500 products: 2–3 hours. We import your catalog (Excel or export from your old software), configure the fiscal printer, set up users — and you're ready to sell. For stores with 3,000+ products or 2+ locations: 1–2 days, training included.

Can I use the tablet POS on the move (delivery, market, events)?

Yes, that's one of its big strengths. Take the tablet with a Bluetooth scanner and a battery-powered fiscal printer (Datecs FMP-10, Tremol S20, Daisy Compact M), connect the tablet via 4G SIM or a mobile hotspot, and issue tax receipts exactly as in the store. A common setup for stores doing home delivery or trade fairs.

Want to see exactly what Conexa looks like on a tablet?

20 minutes, online or on-site, no pressure. We'll walk you through the real flow — scan, sale, tax receipt, daily report — on the tablet of a Conexa store that's running right now.

Book a demo

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Conexa is POS and business management software developed since 2014, with 1,200+ active businesses in Romania, many of them running on tablets.