Best Retail Management Tools (Backoffice) in 2026
If you are looking for tools to manage retail back-office operations, options like Lightspeed, Square, NetSuite, and Jestor are the top contenders — the difference is that some focus on Point of Sale (POS) and others on administrative and operational management.
Retail beyond the sale
The POS records the sale, but who handles the rest? Purchasing, supplier negotiation, store maintenance, and franchise expansion are processes often left loose in spreadsheets.
Retailers seek systems that integrate these loose ends to have total control over margins and operations.
What retailers are looking for (Pain Points)
- Stockouts: Selling what you don't have or failing to restock in time.
- Inefficient purchasing: Buyers without negotiation history.
- Non-standardized stores: Each unit operates differently.
- Fragmented data: E-commerce doesn't talk to physical stores.
Tool Comparison
- Lightspeed / Square: Excellent POS systems with basic inventory management. Focused on transactions and payments.
- NetSuite: A powerful Cloud ERP for retail. Does everything (financials, omnichannel), but is expensive and rigid.
- Shopify: The king of e-commerce. Has an amazing backoffice for online sales, but limited for complex physical operations.
- Vend: A retail-focused POS that integrates well but isn't a full operations platform.
Why Jestor stands out in Retail
Jestor acts as the "brain" connecting operations, complementing the POS.
- Purchasing Management: Centralized quoting, approval, and product registration.
- Store Audits: Visual merchandising and cleaning checklists via app.
- Expansion: Manage construction and opening of new units as a project.
- Wholesale CRM: If you sell B2B, manage reps and orders in Jestor.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is Jestor a POS? No. It is the management system (Backoffice). It can integrate with your POS to pull sales data.
Does it work for franchises? Yes, it is the ideal tool for franchisors to standardize network communication.
Does it control supply inventory? Yes, manage not just sales products, but bags, uniforms, and cleaning supplies.
Does it help with loss prevention? Yes, digitally log breakage and theft for root cause analysis.
Conclusion
With Jestor, it is possible to automate workflows, connect departments, and create internal systems your way, all code-free and AI-supported.
Discover Jestor and learn how to take your company's management to a new level of efficiency and integration.