Vectron
Founded in 1990 in Germany, Vectron Systems AG is one of the largest European providers of POS solutions, with over 250,000 installations. Historically known for its robust proprietary hardware, Vectron has transitioned into a full-service provider under its new “Vectron SMART” brand. Following its acquisition by the US-based Shift4 Payments, Vectron is now merging its powerful German engineering with aggressive integrated payment processing.
Why we win
Why we lose
Cheaper hardware
For customer wanting to buy hardware, using iPads or existing tablets significantly lowers the “barrier to entry” compared to Vectron’s expensive proprietary terminals.
Extremely durable hardware
In high-grease, high-flour, or high-moisture environments (like industrial bakeries), Vectron’s rugged, proprietary hardware outlasts iPads.
24/7 support
Lightspeed offers free 24/7 phone, chat, and email support globally, plus a dedicated Account Manager.
In-person support
Some owners want a physical person to drive to their shop when a printer jams.
Agility
Changes to menus, prices, or floor plans happen instantly via the cloud, whilst Vectron often requires a local technician or manual “Commander” programming.
Industry specialization
For bakeries specifically, Vectron has decades of niche features (dough weight, branch-specific production) that generalist POS systems lack.
Design & UX
Understanding the Lightspeed system takes 15 minutes , whilst Vectron’s legacy UI feels outdated.
Offline security
Vectron’s hybrid architecture is superior for rural spots because it can run for days without internet with zero loss in functionality.
Native omnichannel
Online ordering, delivery (UberEats/ DoorDash), and inventory are one single ecosystem, whilst Vectron consists of a variety of external modules.
“They have a local dealer near me who comes on-site to install everything or fix things.”
Having a local dealer feels good until that person is busy with another client or stops supporting the brand. You are essentially at the mercy of one small dealer’s schedule.
Lightspeed provides 24/7 centralized support and a dedicated Account Manager. We don’t rely on a middleman. On top of that, our system is so intuitive that you can change your own menu or floor plan in seconds from your laptop at home, rather than waiting (and paying) for a technician to drive to your restaurant to do it for you.
“We’ve already made a significant investment in our Vectron hardware and aren’t looking to write off that asset just yet.”
I completely understand, Vectron’s proprietary hardware is extremely durable. Most of our clients who switched from Vectron felt the exact same way about their initial investment.
What ultimately convinced them to make the switch is that it slowly became a ‘hidden tax’ on their growth. While those Vectron terminals still turn on, they can’t talk to modern delivery apps, they don’t give you real-time data on your phone, and they make training new staff a slow, manual process.
“Vectron is a market leader for a reason. Their hardware is indestructible and works even if the internet goes down.”
Vectron’s hardware is famous for durability, but if it breaks or the company changes direction, you are locked into their specific ecosystem with very little flexibility.
Lightspeed offers the best of both worlds. Our offline mode ensures you can keep taking orders and printing receipts if the internet fails. But unlike Vectron, we run on modern, high-speed hardware (iOS/Android) that is easier to replace, more intuitive for young staff, and receives weekly cloud updates.
💡 Selling tip: Focus on agility
Lead with the narrative “Vectron is a system you buy for 10 years and hope nothing changes. Lightspeed is a system you use to grow, adapt, and change your business every single day.”
Category
Feature
Vectron
Lightspeed
Cloud-based
✅ Depending on package
Vectron SMART is all-in-one
✅
iOS
❌
Proprietary hardware only
✅
Advanced order
✅
Via MyVectron/Restablo
✅
Online & pre-orders
Mobile POS
✅
Proprietary & app-based
✅
Native iOS/Android
Reservations
Reservation widget
✅ Whitelabel solution
Via Resmio
✅ Native and via integration
KDS
KDS
✅ Via integrations
✅
Inventory
✅
Via MyVectron/Apicbase
✅
Loyalty
Loyalty / Punch cards
✅ Via integrations
✅
Hardware
Hardware shop
✅ Proprietary hardware
✅
Support
24/7 support
❌ Local daytime support only
Via local dealers
✅
Integrations
Third-party integrations
❌ Basic
40+ available integrations
✅ Wide-ranged
180+ available integrations
Payment solution
✅
Vectron Pay/Shift4
✅
Tap to Pay
✅
Via POS M4 Pay device
✅
Vectron SMART
From €34.90/month (without POS)
All-in-one package including:
2 payment terminals
Cloud service
Support by a local dealer
POS system available as add-on.
Hardware rental
Vectron’s proprietary hardware
POS 7 incl. printer: €39.90/month
POS Life: €24.90/month
Printer: €9.90/month
Order hub monitor (KDS): €39.90/month
All prices here.
Payment fees
Basic fee €34.90/month
Card payments: 1.29 % (AMEX 1.9 %)
Online payments: 1.99%.