Apple Invades The Retail Cash Register And ... - Business Insider

Canadian startup LightSpeed just landed a $30 million series A round from Accel Partners thanks to software that turns Apple Macs, iPads and iPhones into cash registers for retail shops.

Over the last five years, LightSpeed has grown revenue about 2,000%, earning the title of Quebec?s fastest-growing company in 2011. It's landed nearly 10,000 retailer customers including some biggies like Adidas, Vespa, and Tesla.

LightSpeed isn't the only company turning the iPad into a point-of-sale inventory management system and cash register. Competitors include Revel Systems, ShopKeep and POSLavu.

But Accel partner?Ryan Sweeney, who lead the round, says that LightSpeed is unique in that it lets any retailer create an "Apple Store-like experience," where employees can roam the retail floor, device in hand, and conduct transactions. Or companies can build iPad kiosks so customers can shop online from the physical retail store.

LightSpeed requires the use of a Mac. It doesn't run on Windows.

It's another example of how Apple is getting into enterprise markets, not as part of its own design, but because others are pushing it along.

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