Cash isn't going anywhere in Malta

We like to think we're going cashless. The numbers say otherwise. The European Central Bank's 2026 survey found that around 99% of Maltese retail businesses still accept cash, compared to 93% across the euro area. In hospitality and food, it's 93%. (source)

So if you run a shop, a café, a pharmacy or a kiosk, cash is part of your day. The real question isn't whether to accept it. It's how much time and money it's quietly costing you.

The hidden cost of the cash drawer

Most business owners know the closing routine well. The shop shuts, someone counts the till, and the total doesn't match the system. Was it a wrong change? A missed sale? A note that slipped behind the drawer? Nobody knows, and the next twenty minutes go on hunting for it.

Here's where cash usually hurts:

• Counting time. Every till, every shift, every day. It adds up to hours a week.
• Mistakes in change. Busy counters and long queues mean small errors, and small errors add up.
• Shortfalls you can't explain. When the drawer is short, you have no clear way of knowing what happened.
• Hygiene. Staff handling money and then food or products is a concern in cafés, bakeries and pharmacies.
• Admin afterwards. Cash totals still need to be typed into your accounts, which is another chance for errors.

What a smart cash drawer actually does

A smart cash drawer, like Cashlogy, sits at your counter in place of the normal till. Instead of your staff taking the money and counting out change, the customer puts their notes and coins straight into the machine.

1. Your cashier rings up the sale as usual.
2. The customer pays into the machine.
3. The machine checks the money and gives back the exact change.
4. The sale is recorded straight away.

Your staff never touch the cash. No wrong change, no counting, and no guessing where the money went.

Why connecting it to Odoo makes the difference

A cash machine on its own saves counting. Connected to Odoo Point of Sale, it saves a lot more, because your cash and your accounts finally talk to each other.

• Cash is just another payment option. Your cashier picks it on the Odoo screen, and the machine takes over. Odoo knows the moment the customer has paid.
• Opening the till is automatic. The machine knows how much is inside, so your starting float is set for you.
• Closing is automatic too. At the end of the day, the machine reports exactly what it holds, and Odoo matches it against every sale. No counting, no spreadsheet.
• Topping up or taking money out is tracked. Adding change or removing cash for the bank is done from Odoo, so every movement is on record.
• Your figures flow into your accounts. Cash sales land in Odoo Accounting along with your card payments and invoices, ready for your accountant and your VAT return.

Is it right for your business?

A smart cash drawer makes the most sense if cash is a big part of your takings. It's a strong fit for:

• Grocers, mini markets and convenience stores
• Cafés, bakeries, kiosks and takeaways
• Pharmacies and health shops
• Petrol stations and car washes
• Any business with several staff sharing one till

If most of your customers pay by card, a standard Odoo POS setup may be all you need. Either way, it's worth a conversation before you decide.

Talk to Centric

Centric is an Odoo Silver Partner based in Birkirkara, and we're certified to install and integrate Cashlogy hardware and software with Odoo POS. We set up the machine, connect it to Odoo, and train your team, so closing time goes from a headache to a few clicks.

If cash handling is a big part of your day, get in touch:

• Email: info@centricmt.com
• Tel: +356 2746 3333
• Mob: +356 7746 9333