Preparing your product catalogue for a POS migration

Most POS migrations that go badly fail on data, not software. Products imported with the wrong tax rate, duplicated variants or missing barcodes cause problems from the first sale. A few days of preparation avoids weeks of fixes.

Export everything first

Export products, categories, prices, tax rates, barcodes, stock levels and customers from your current system. Keep the original file untouched and work on a copy.

Separate products from variants

A T-shirt in four sizes and three colours is one product with twelve variants — not twelve products. Structuring this properly makes reporting and stock far more useful.

Check tax rates line by line

In France, different VAT rates can apply to the same food item depending on whether it is eaten in or taken away. Make sure each item has the correct rate or rule before import.

Model modifiers deliberately

For hospitality, decide which choices are required (cooking temperature), which are optional (extra cheese) and which change price. Group them so they can be reused across items.

Fix barcodes

• Remove duplicates
• Make sure every variant has its own code
• Decide how to handle items without manufacturer barcodes

Do a test import

Import a small sample, ring up test sales and check receipts, tax and stock movements before importing the full catalogue.