PocketTill Is Turning Phones into Self-Checkout Kiosks for Small Shops in India

In India, a new fintech app called “PocketTill” is making headlines as a low-cost way for tiny shops and street vendors to adopt self-checkout. Instead of investing in dedicated kiosks or POS hardware, merchants can run the entire experience from a single smartphone.

The workflow is straightforward: shop owners print QR codes for each product, and customers use their own phones to scan items and build a cart. Payments are processed via UPI—the country’s nationwide real-time payments system—or by card, with receipts handled digitally. On the merchant side, a companion app offers real-time views of inventory and sales, again without requiring barcode scanners or cash registers.

The company behind PocketTill says it’s targeting two pain points: long checkout lines and the recurring fees associated with traditional card terminals. Early coverage suggests strong interest from labor-strapped neighborhood stores and market stalls. While the first version is tightly integrated with India’s UPI rails, the team has signaled plans to add support for other currencies and payment networks, which could make PocketTill’s model relevant for pop-up shops and event vendors in markets like Japan as well.