Printed Till Slips vs Digital Till Slips in 2025: What Retailers Need to Know

Categorised in: Blog

Digital innovation is an important part of any business’s repertoire as it can increase efficiency and enhance customer experience. It has entered the realm of point-of-sale documentation, which has created an ongoing debate: printed vs digital. 

While digital till slips might seem efficient, they come with risks that can cost retailers and consumers alike. Uniprint Global is a leader in thermal till rolls and transactional print solutions and our team of experts is sharing insights today on why physical till slips remain relevant and essential. 

The Convenience Trap

Digital receipts are often marketed as the greener, cleaner, more convenient alternative. And yes, there’s no doubt they reduce paper waste and streamline inboxes, but convenience doesn’t always equal security.

In 2024, cybersecurity threats reached an all-time high. According to the IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report, the average data breach cost rose to $4.45 million, with over 83% of organisations experiencing more than one breach. Email receipts, SMS links and app-generated digital slips are vulnerable to interception, spoofing or manipulation, especially when sent over unsecured public networks.

Digital till slips rely on customer opt-in and data collection. That raises privacy red flags and opens the door to compliance issues with laws like South Africa’s POPIA (Protection of Personal Information Act), which mandates responsible data handling. If not done correctly, it could lead to regulatory penalties and customer distrust.

Tangible Trust & Tamper-Proof Protection

Printed receipts, especially when generated using quality thermal till rolls, offer a level of physical proof that’s impossible to replicate digitally. They’re immediate, don’t rely on network connections and can’t be digitally tampered with post-sale. When issued at point-of-sale, they become a binding, transparent record of transaction between merchant and buyer.

They also serve as essential documentation for: 

• Returns and warranties
• Auditing and compliance checks
• Proof of purchase in disputes or fraud investigations
• Bank and credit card reconciliations

In sectors like FMCG, retail chains and financial institutions, printed till slips still provide the backbone of day-to-day business operations. For franchises or branch networks, a reliable source of standardised thermal till rolls ensures consistency and prevents fraudulent replication.

Why Paper Quality Matters

Not all printed slips are equal. Poor-quality till rolls fade quickly or don’t meet compliance requirements for returns and record-keeping. At Uniprint Global, our thermal till rolls are ISO-certified, durable and guaranteed to provide the correct paper length, unlike some inferior alternatives that deliver as much as 30% less than specified. 

By partnering with reputable suppliers, businesses can avoid unnecessary disruptions, reduce customer complaints and increase the longevity of critical transaction records.

Balancing Innovation With Security

There’s room for both printed and digital solutions in today’s retail environment, but relying solely on digital till slips is risky. Printed receipts offer a secure fallback when systems fail or customers demand physical proof. They also meet the legal and operational needs of industries that can’t afford ambiguity or gaps in traceability.

As we move further into 2025, smart businesses are not asking “Which is better?”, they’re asking “How do we balance both for maximum security and customer trust?”

Order thermal till rolls from Uniprint Global and print with confidence.

FAQs and Answers

1. Why are printed till slips still important in 2025?
Printed till slips provide secure, tamper-proof proof of purchase that cannot be digitally altered, offering trust and compliance.

2. What risks come with digital till slips?
Digital till slips are vulnerable to data breaches, privacy risks and interception if not handled securely, increasing compliance issues.

3. Are printed till slips safer than digital ones?
Yes. Printed slips do not rely on network connections and cannot be tampered with after the sale, making them more secure.

4. How do printed till slips help with returns?
They serve as physical proof of purchase, making product returns, exchanges and warranty claims easier for both retailers and customers.

5. Do printed till slips support compliance?
Absolutely. They help businesses meet auditing, fraud investigation and reconciliation requirements, maintaining clear records.

6. Why does paper quality for thermal till rolls matter?
High-quality thermal till rolls ensure printed slips do not fade and meet compliance requirements, avoiding customer complaints.

7. Should businesses choose printed or digital till slips?
Smart businesses use both. Printed slips provide security when systems fail, while digital options offer convenience.

8. Where can I get quality thermal till rolls?
Order reliable, ISO-certified thermal till rolls from Uniprint Global to ensure durability, correct length and consistent quality.