New Qualtrics research traces the history of point-of-sale technology, from the earliest forms of trade to advanced biometrics systems. Before money, commerce consisted of bartering practical goods like furs, food, and livestock. The first form of symbolic exchange utilized shells, beads, and tally sticks. Mesopotamians and Egyptians traded clay tokens and even developed loyalty programs. Egypt even developed a tier token system that resembles today’s modern payroll structure.
With expanded trade came more refined tools. The Silk Road trading route led to Muslim merchants developing the “sakk”, an early version of today’s check. The Song Dynasty in China developed the first government-issued paper money to replace heavy coins.
During the Industrial Revolution, we see major turning points, like James Ritty’s cash register and receipt printing. The 20th century introduced barcodes and credit cards, then eventually PC-based transactions. The first bar-code scan occurred in 1974 when someone purchased a pack of Wrigley’s chewing gum.
The digital era ushered in the most rapidly changing innovations. The Internet introduced e-commerce, bringing a host of new challenges and needs. The Square app transformed smartphones into cash registers, enabling more people to start small businesses. Contactless payments became the norm. Biometric payments are the latest innovation with Pay by Touch and eye-scan payments. Michigan was the first state to offer eye-scan payment in 2023.
The article frames this as a story of societies solving problems of trust, security, and conventions. Modern point-of-sale systems reflect the human ability to devise creative problem-solving solutions and a business’s commitment to customer trust and safety.
