First Essential
EPOS, payments and integrations for logistics in the UK
EPOS for logistics, done properly: from the warehouse to the last mile, First Essential brings your EPOS, payments and integrations into one flow. And when you need a hand, a real UK team picks up the phone.
EPOS and integrations that finally talk to each other
Stock in one place, orders in another, invoices somewhere else. When your tools do not talk, things get lost, keyed in twice or held up. We join your EPOS, payments and integrations across the UK so your team works from one set of numbers everyone trusts.
What is EPOS for logistics, and why does it matter?
An EPOS system (Electronic Point of Sale, sometimes just called a till system) is the software and hardware you use to record sales, take orders, accept card payments and track stock. For a logistics or supply chain business, the point of sale is rarely a fixed counter. It is a handheld scanner on the warehouse floor, a terminal on the trade counter, a card reader in the cab of a van on the last mile. A good logistics EPOS keeps all of that in step, so the stock figure you see at the desk is the same figure the driver sees on the road.
The same goes for a card machine (sometimes called a card reader or card terminal). It is the device that takes a customer's card, contactless tap or mobile wallet, then settles the money into your bank. On its own it just takes money. Tied into your EPOS and your accounting, every payment also updates the order, clears the invoice and posts to your books without anyone keying it again.
That joined-up setup is what First Essential builds for logistics and supply chain businesses across the UK: Electronic Point of Sale, card payments, and the integrations that link them to the warehouse and accounting tools you already run. One connected stack, one UK team.
Logistics, joined up end to end
Start with what you need today and add the rest as you grow. It all connects, so nothing gets stranded.
Integrations
Sync stock, orders and reporting across every tool you already run, in real time.
Learn morePoint of Sale
Track inventory and take orders from the counter, the floor or the road.
Learn moreFirst Essential One
Customers, jobs and follow-ups in one place, with automation that handles the chasing so you do not have to.
Learn morePayments and invoices
Take payment and send invoices wherever the work happens, with next-day settlement.
Learn moreAI and automation
Let an AI assistant answer enquiries, chase paperwork and capture leads while your team keeps things moving.
Learn moreWeb and customer portals
Booking pages, tracking portals and order forms, built in the UK and wired to your stock and payments.
Learn moreNo single-product supplier can match that spread. EPOS, card payments, kiosks, AI, websites and First Essential One, from one UK team. See every industry we serve
Mobile EPOS and card machines that move with your team
Scan, sell and update stock from the counter, the warehouse aisle or the van. Your EPOS keeps step with your stock and your payments, wherever the work actually happens. The same handheld that picks an order can take the card payment for it, so the till system and the card reader are never out of sync.
All the hardware your operation needs, supplied and supported
Tills, terminals, handheld scanners and card machines. We supply it, set it up and support it, so the kit that keeps your supply chain moving never lets you down. And it is one UK team looking after the hardware, the software and the integrations together, not three numbers to ring.
Let workflows and AI handle the busywork
A growing range of tools connect through one hub, from your warehouse system to your accounting, with secure, GDPR-ready data. Let automation do the chasing and the record updates, and let an AI assistant field routine enquiries and capture leads, so your team gets on with keeping things moving.
Whatever you move, there is a setup that fits
Logistics covers a lot of ground. Pick the part of the operation closest to yours and we will tailor the stack around it.
Warehouse and distribution
Handheld scanning, live stock counts and goods-in to goods-out tracking, all feeding one set of figures your whole team can trust.
Last-mile and delivery
Take card payments and send invoices from the van, capture proof of delivery and keep stock and orders updating as drivers go.
Trade counter and wholesale
Fast counter sales, account customers, repeat orders and stock that stays accurate even on your busiest mornings.
3PL and fulfilment
Connect the systems you already run for clients, cut double entry and report cleanly across every account from one hub.
Couriers and freight
Mobile payments, job tracking and customer updates that keep money and information moving as fast as the freight does.
Stockists and resellers
Multi-location stock, purchase orders and clear margins, with EPOS and accounting kept in step automatically.
Straight talk on cost, contracts and what is included
Plenty of providers quote a low headline rate, then add monthly fees and tie you into a long contract you only spot in the small print. Here is how we compare, in plain terms. No invented rival figures, just the things worth asking any supplier before you sign.
| What you should ask | First Essential | Some providers |
|---|---|---|
| Card rate | From 0.3%. Rates vary by card type and business, confirmed at setup, with no surprise add-ons. | A low rate is advertised, with higher rates for many card types buried in the terms. |
| Card machine cost | Free card machine with an EPOS plan. | Hardware is often rented monthly on a separate contract. |
| Contract and lock-in | Clear terms explained up front before you commit. We earn the renewal. | Long minimum terms, sometimes several years, with early-exit fees. |
| Settlement | Next-day settlement. | Standard payout can take several working days. |
| Try before you buy | Free demo of EPOS and payments, plus a 14-day free trial of First Essential One. | Quote-gated, with no hands-on trial before signing. |
| What you get | EPOS, card payments, integrations, AI and your website from one UK team. | Usually a single product, leaving you to stitch the rest together. |
| Support | Real UK people, 7 days a week, across hardware, software and integrations. | Overseas or chat-only, often split by product. |
The "some providers" column describes patterns commonly reported across the UK market, not any single named company. Card rates from 0.3% vary by card type and business and are confirmed at setup. Ask us for a clear, written breakdown before you decide.
Rough cost-of-double-entry calculator
When your tools do not talk, someone keys the same order into two or three systems. Put in your own numbers for a rough idea of what that admin costs each month. This is an estimate only, not a quote.
Estimate only, based on the figures you enter. Real savings depend on your operation and setup. For a tailored view, book a free demo and we will work it through with you.
The detail that keeps a supply chain honest
The things that matter when stock, money and deadlines are all moving at once.
Real-time stock and reporting
Stock levels, sales and orders update live across counter, warehouse and road, so the figure you act on is the figure that is true right now.
Security and GDPR
Card payments are handled to industry security standards and your data is kept secure and GDPR-ready, stored and managed responsibly.
Payments and invoicing in one flow
Take card, contactless and mobile wallets, then settle next day. Every payment can clear its invoice and post to your accounting automatically.
Built for peak
Busy mornings, seasonal spikes and last-minute orders. The setup is built to hold up when the operation is at its busiest.
Connects to your stack
Warehouse, inventory, ecommerce and accounting tools link through one hub, so nothing gets keyed in twice and nothing gets stranded.
One UK team to call
Hardware, software and integrations looked after together by real UK people, 7 days a week. One number, not three.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best EPOS or till system for a logistics or supply chain business in the UK?
How much does an EPOS system and card machine for logistics actually cost?
Is there a long contract or lock-in?
Can First Essential connect my EPOS to my warehouse and accounting software?
If I switch to you, how hard is it to move across, and how fast does settlement work?
Is my payment and customer data secure and GDPR compliant?
Do you offer mobile and handheld EPOS and card readers for warehouse and last-mile use?
Keep your supply chain moving
Book a free, no-obligation demo and we will put together the right setup for the way your operation runs. EPOS, card payments and integrations, joined up by one UK team.
Book a demo Get my free card machine