Compare
The book, the terminal,
or Kadai.
Most Indian counters run on a billing book or a decade-old POS terminal. Both work — until the queue, the dues page, and the GST filing say otherwise. Here's the honest comparison.
| At the counter | The billing book | Legacy POS terminal | Kadai |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup | Buy a notebook | Site visit, installation, training | ~5 minutes, self-serve |
| Hardware | Pen | Proprietary terminal, often rented | Any tablet or laptop you own |
| Ticket speed | Fast, but only you can read it | Menus inside menus | Tap, quantity, pay |
| UPI + cash on one sale | A margin note | Depends on the model | Built in, split freely |
| Dues (udhaar) | A page that falls out | Usually not tracked | On the ticket until settled |
| Stock | In your head | Separate module, extra cost | Moves with every sale |
| Oversell protection | Hope | Sometimes | Blocked at the counter |
| GST invoice | Handwritten, hand-numbered | Yes, after configuration | Sequential, CGST/SGST split, automatic |
| Staff access | Anyone with the book | Shared PIN | Invite-only, owner/staff roles |
| End of day | An hour with a calculator | Print the Z-report, retype it | Already on the dashboard |
| If the internet drops | Unbothered | Depends | Keep billing; syncs when back |
| Cost | ₹60 a year, plus errors | ₹15,000+ up front, plus AMC | Free during beta |
Legacy POS column describes typical entry-level terminals sold to small Indian retail; specifics vary by vendor.
No feature theatre
An honest scorecard, including where we lose.
Where the book still wins
It never needs charging and never asks you to sign in. If your shop does five orders a day, keep the book — genuinely. Kadai starts paying for itself when the queue does.
Where a legacy POS still wins
Integrated weighing scales and dedicated cash-drawer hardware. If your counter depends on those today, Kadai may not replace it yet.
Where Kadai wins
Everything between the tap and the till: speed, dues, stock, GST invoices, staff roles, and a day view that is done before you lock up.
Switching
Keep the book open for a week.
You don't have to burn the boats. Run Kadai alongside your current system for a few days, compare the end-of-day numbers, and retire the old one when you trust the new one.
- 01
Add your top 20 products — the ones that make up most of your sales.
- 02
Ring real sales on Kadai in parallel with the book for a week.
- 03
Compare the daily totals. When they match your count, add the rest of the catalog.
The comparison that matters is your own counter.
Free during beta, so the trial costs you nothing.