Zoho Inventory
stock across stores and online.
Retail · Shops, chains, supermarkets and online stores · Oman, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar
POS system and retail software
We look at your tills, stock, online store and store network, then connect them so every sale reduces the right stock, produces a valid receipt and lands in your accounts.
Who sets this up for you
Zoho Authorized Partner
Microsoft Solutions Partner for Modern Work and Google Cloud Premier Partner.
Since 2007
with 1,500+ active cloud customers across the Middle East.
Offices in Dubai, Muscat (head office) and Doha
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain are served from Dubai.
350,000+ users migrated
since 2007.
Six GCC countries
covered, English and Arabic support.
Partners and products we connect
A retail POS system bills customers at the till, but the value comes from what it connects to: stock in every store, online orders, accounts and tax receipts. Gulf Infotech (in the Middle East since 2007), a Zoho, Microsoft and Google partner, connects POS, Zoho Books, Zoho Inventory, CRM and secure store networks for retailers.
The real problem
What do retailers actually need from their systems?
Usually not a new till. Most retailers we meet already bill customers; the trouble is everything around the till.
Stock counts differ between the POS, the warehouse and the online store.
Month-end sales are typed into accounting by hand.
In Saudi Arabia, every receipt must meet ZATCA's rules.
Customer phone numbers are collected and never used.
And each store's internet router is a different make, with the same password since opening day.
What we use
Which product solves which retail requirement?
Business requirement → Product we use → Outcome for you
| Business requirement | Product we use | Outcome for you |
|---|---|---|
| Fast billing at the counter, also when the internet drops | Zoho POS (offline billing mode, barcode scanning, counter and mobile checkout) or your existing POS, integrated; we set up the software on your printers, scanners and cash drawers | Queues keep moving; sales sync when the line is back |
| One stock figure across stores, warehouse and online | Zoho Inventory multi-warehouse, transfers and reorder points | Transfer stock between branches before you reorder |
| Daily sales, VAT and supplier bills in the accounts | Zoho Books connected to POS and Inventory | Sales posted automatically; VAT return built from real data |
| Saudi receipts that meet ZATCA rules | POS and Zoho Books with ZATCA e-invoicing | Simplified tax invoices with QR codes, reported within 24 hours |
| Know your repeat customers and bring them back | Zoho CRM customer records with WhatsApp templates | Offers and order-ready messages to opted-in customers |
| Website chat and order questions | Zoho SalesIQ live chat and bots; WhatsApp chatbot | Shoppers get an answer before they leave the site |
| Complaints, returns and warranty claims | Zoho Desk | Each case tracked to closure across stores |
| Secure, managed internet at every branch | A firewall at each branch, configured to the same rules | Same firewall rules in every store; POS traffic separated from guest Wi-Fi |
| Store PCs and back-office laptops | Endpoint security and JumpCloud | Malware stopped and leavers' access removed centrally |
| Head office email, files and meetings with store managers | Zoho Workplace, Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace | One place for rosters, price files and announcements |
| Sales and margin by store, category and hour | Power BI dashboards | Buyers and area managers see the same numbers |
| Accounting and POS data backed up | Backup and disaster recovery | Restore after a failed PC or ransomware |
Where to start
For a retailer with one to five stores, we would start with POS, Zoho Books and Zoho Inventory, then add CRM. Chains with many branches should standardise the store network early, because it gets harder with every new opening.
How it fits
How do the pieces fit together?
Counter
POS at the counter
bills, returns and receipts; works offline and syncs.
Stock
Zoho Inventory behind it
one stock ledger for every store, warehouse and online channel.
Zoho InventoryNetwork
A firewall at every branch
the network the tills, cameras and Wi-Fi run on, configured to the same rules.
GCC rules
Which GCC rules affect retailers?
Saudi Arabia: ZATCA receipts
Since 4 December 2021, invoices must be generated electronically (Phase 1). Under Phase 2, rolled out in waves since 1 January 2023, simplified (B2C) tax invoices carry a QR code and must be reported to ZATCA within 24 hours through a system integrated with the Fatoora platform. Your POS has to be part of that chain, not just print a receipt. See Saudi e-invoicing.
UAE: B2C excluded for now
UAE e-invoicing starts on 1 January 2027 for businesses with revenue of AED 50 million or more and 1 July 2027 for the rest, but B2C supplies are excluded until further notice. Your sales to companies (corporate gifting, wholesale, B2B accounts) are in scope. See UAE e-invoicing.
Oman
E-invoicing is planned from 1 April 2027 for the largest businesses, through accredited service providers. Zoho has not published Fawtara support in Oman.
VAT
Oman and UAE 5%, Saudi Arabia 15%, Bahrain 10%; Qatar and Kuwait none. Prices on shelves and receipts must reflect the right rate per item.
VAT by country
Customer data
Loyalty phone numbers and emails are personal data, so your compliance team sets how they are handled. Collect consent at the till, store it in the CRM, and message only opted-in customers. See Security and data controls review.
The stack
Solutions used on this page
Slide 1 of 7
Zoho Books
sales, VAT and supplier bills.
E-invoicing with Zoho
ZATCA and UAE compliance.
Zoho CRM
customer records and WhatsApp.
Zoho SalesIQ
website chat.
Fortinet
firewall setup on request.
Power BI
store and category dashboards.
Your country
Retail support in your country
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Which CRM is best for a retailer?
Zoho CRM fits most GCC retailers because it connects to Zoho Books and Zoho Inventory, holds customer purchase history, and sends WhatsApp template messages to opted-in customers. Large chains with a dedicated loyalty platform may only need the CRM for complaints and B2B accounts. We start from what you want customers to do next, then pick the tool.
How do we stay VAT and e-invoicing compliant?
Make sure every sale, at the till and online, flows into one accounting system with the right tax code. In Saudi Arabia, your POS must produce simplified tax invoices with a QR code and report them within 24 hours under Phase 2; Zoho Books is ZATCA-approved. In the UAE, B2C sales are excluded from e-invoicing for now, but B2B sales are not.
How long does implementation take?
It depends on the number of stores, items and channels, and whether you keep your current POS. We agree a dated plan after a discovery session on how one store and your warehouse work, and start from our ready-made Zoho accelerator for retail. We usually pilot in one branch, fix what the staff find, then roll out store by store. Timelines are indicative and change with your requirements. Item masters and barcodes are cleaned before the first store goes live.
Can it integrate with WhatsApp?
Yes. Zoho CRM sends WhatsApp template messages, such as order-ready or delivery updates, to customers who agreed to receive them, and staff can reply from the customer record. A chatbot can answer common questions like opening hours and stock. You need a verified Meta business account and a dedicated number; we handle the setup.
Do we have to replace our current POS?
No. If your POS works for cashiers, we can often integrate it with Zoho Books and Zoho Inventory so stock and sales flow automatically. We recommend replacing it only if it cannot meet tax rules in your country, for example Saudi Phase 2 reporting, or cannot share data. We check that in the first meeting.
How do we secure the network in many stores?
Use the same firewall model in every branch, configured from one template, so every store gets the same rules, POS traffic is kept apart from guest Wi-Fi, and a new branch is set up from a template. Store PCs also get endpoint security.
Make every sale count in stock and in the books
Tell us how many stores and channels you run and which country you are in, and we will map the table above to a dated plan.