Australia’s retail technology landscape is shaped by several types of system that support both ecommerce and physical retail:
- POS platforms
- payments infrastructure
- logistics software
- in-store media systems
This ranking of the top 5 retail technology companies in Australia uses a hybrid model (structural relevance + scale) rather than pure revenue. It reflects how technology fits into supermarket and FMCG supply chains.
The companies included are:
- Retail Express (Maropost)
- Shippit
- Afterpay (Block)
- Airwallex
- Mandoe Media
Together, they cover the core layers of modern retail infrastructure: checkout, payments, delivery, omnichannel operations and in-store engagement.
Australia retail technology leaders
| Rank | Company | HQ | Scale Metric (2025/26) | Structural Role | Supermarket Relevance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Retail Express (Maropost) | Melbourne, Australia | 5,000+ retailers (est.) | POS & retail operations | Mid-market & franchise retail |
| 2 | Shippit | Sydney, Australia | ~$30M+ est. revenue | Logistics orchestration | Ecommerce fulfilment |
| 3 | Afterpay (Block Inc.) | Melbourne / USA | $24B+ (Block FY2025) | BNPL & payments ecosystem | Checkout conversion |
| 4 | Airwallex | Melbourne, Australia | $1B+ ARR (reported) | Cross-border & embedded finance | Global retail expansion |
| 5 | Mandoe Media | Gold Coast, Australia | 20,000+ screens | Retail media & signage | In-store engagement |
Note: Private company revenues are not publicly audited unless stated. Scale indicators reflect disclosed milestones or industry estimates.
1. Retail Express (Maropost)
- Founded: 2010
- Headquarters: Melbourne, Australia
- FY Revenue: Not publicly disclosed
- Employees: Not publicly disclosed
Core segments
- Cloud-based POS systems
- Inventory and order management
- Omnichannel retail integration
- Customer and loyalty management
Operational relevance
Retail Express is a core POS and retail management platform within Australia’s mid-market and large franchise segment. It is not Tier 1 supermarket infrastructure.
Its system links in-store transactions, ecommerce and inventory into a single view. This helps retailers keep stock accurate and prices consistent across multiple locations.
Market position
The company holds a strong position among SME and multi-store retailers in Australia. Large supermarket groups rely on enterprise systems such as SAP or Oracle.
Retail Express focuses on flexibility and local integration. These are critical for franchise and specialty retail formats.
Strategic direction
Ongoing development centres on unified commerce. This means bringing ecommerce, CRM and fulfilment into a single system.
As retailers move toward real-time operations, POS platforms are becoming central infrastructure rather than standalone tools.
2. Shippit
- Founded: 2014
- Headquarters: Sydney, Australia
- FY Revenue: Not publicly disclosed (estimated ~$30M+ scale)
- Employees: Not publicly disclosed
Core segments
- Delivery management software
- Carrier aggregation
- Last-mile optimisation
- Ecommerce fulfilment integration
Operational relevance
Shippit provides a software layer that connects retailers with multiple delivery carriers. This lets fulfilment operations be managed centrally.
This is particularly important in Australia, where geographic scale makes last-mile delivery complex.
The platform supports click-and-collect, home delivery and third-party logistics coordination.
Market position
Shippit is positioned as a leading logistics technology provider in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. It is backed by funding that places its valuation in the mid-hundreds of millions.
It works as infrastructure rather than a transport provider. It integrates with retail systems instead of replacing them.
Strategic direction
The company is investing in predictive logistics and automation to improve delivery efficiency.
As ecommerce continues to grow, integrated delivery platforms are becoming essential for cost control and service reliability.
3. Afterpay (Block Inc.)
- Founded: 2014
- Headquarters: Melbourne, Australia (origin) / Block Inc., USA
- FY Revenue: Block Inc. FY2025 about $24–25 billion
- Employees: Included within Block Inc. global workforce
Core segments
- Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL)
- Retail checkout integration
- Consumer financial services
- Merchant payment infrastructure
Operational relevance
Afterpay operates within Block Inc.’s broader payments ecosystem. Its role now goes beyond standalone BNPL.
Integration with Cash App and Square lets pay-later functionality be built into a wider range of transactions.
For retailers, this influences basket size, conversion rates and customer retention.
Market position
Afterpay remains one of the most recognised consumer payment platforms in Australia. It is now supported by Block’s global infrastructure.
Its role has shifted from a single checkout option to part of a broader financial ecosystem. That ecosystem connects consumers, merchants and payment services.
Strategic direction
Future growth is tied to deeper integration within Block’s ecosystem.
Pay-later functionality is expanding through tools like Cash App Card. This reflects a move toward embedded finance, placing Afterpay within a wider retail payments infrastructure.
4. Airwallex
- Founded: 2015
- Headquarters: Melbourne, Australia
- FY Revenue: $1B+ Annualised Recurring Revenue (ARR) milestone
- Employees: Not publicly disclosed
Core segments
- Cross-border payments
- Multi-currency financial infrastructure
- Embedded finance APIs
- POS and merchant payment solutions
Operational relevance
Airwallex helps retailers manage global transactions through a single financial platform.
Its move into POS solutions extends its role from back-end payments to front-end retail operations. Merchants can manage both transactions and financial flows in one system.
Market position
With over $1 billion in ARR, Airwallex has reached significant scale within the fintech sector.
It combines financial infrastructure with merchant-facing tools. This sets it apart from traditional payment processors and banks.
Strategic direction
The company is evolving toward a full-stack financial platform for global commerce.
The addition of POS capabilities reflects a broader shift toward embedded finance. In this model, financial services are built directly into retail systems.
5. Mandoe Media
- Founded: 2014
- Headquarters: Gold Coast, Australia
- FY Revenue: Not publicly disclosed
- Employees: Not publicly disclosed
Core segments
- Digital signage software
- In-store marketing automation
- Retail media solutions
- Content management platforms
Operational relevance
Mandoe Media works within the in-store technology layer. It provides digital signage systems that let retailers manage promotions and content across store networks.
This supports real-time communication with customers and improves in-store engagement.
Market position
The company has deployed its platform across 20,000+ screens. This places it within a growing retail media segment.
As physical stores adopt digital communication tools, signage platforms are becoming an integrated part of retail infrastructure.
Strategic direction
Expansion is focused on retail media and data-driven advertising.
Investment backing supports scaling across larger retail networks. This matches broader trends where stores act as both sales and media environments.
Structural analysis: Retail technology layers in Australia
Retail technology in Australia works across connected layers rather than a single dominant system:
- POS platforms manage transactions and inventory.
- Payments systems influence checkout behaviour.
- Logistics platforms control fulfilment.
- In-store technologies support engagement.
Each layer interacts with the others, forming a unified retail infrastructure.
This layered structure reflects the complexity of modern retail. Retailers must manage physical stores, ecommerce platforms and supply chains at the same time.
Technology lets these parts work together, with real-time visibility and coordination across operations.
Australia’s geographic scale adds another dimension. Retailers must balance urban density with long-distance logistics, which increases reliance on integrated systems.
As a result, technology providers are not standalone vendors. They are essential parts of the retail ecosystem.
Structural analysis: Omnichannel and supply chain integration
Omnichannel retail has increased the importance of integration across systems.
Retailers are combining ecommerce, store operations and logistics into unified platforms. This needs consistent data flow between each part.
Delivery platforms connect warehouses with last-mile logistics. POS systems keep stock accurate across channels.
Payment systems support both online and in-store transactions, creating a seamless customer experience.
Financial infrastructure platforms extend this integration into global supply chains. They enable cross-border sourcing and sales.
For supermarkets and FMCG supply chains, this integration is critical. Products must move efficiently from suppliers to shelves while keeping availability and cost under control.
Retail technology platforms support this process. They improve coordination, reduce inefficiencies and make retailers more responsive to demand.
Structural analysis: Retail media and in-store transformation
Physical retail environments are changing through the adoption of digital technology.
In-store media, digital signage and data-driven marketing are becoming key parts of retail strategy. This reflects changes in consumer behaviour and competition from ecommerce.
Retailers are increasingly using store space as a communication channel, delivering targeted promotions in real time.
This matches broader retail media trends, where data and content influence buying decisions directly at the point of sale.
In Australia, digital signage platforms support this change by enabling scalable content management across store networks.
Combined with transaction data and analytics, these systems help retailers optimise promotions and improve customer engagement.
The role of physical stores is shifting. They are moving from purely transactional spaces to integrated platforms for sales, marketing and customer experience.
Technology is central to this change, supporting both operational efficiency and customer interaction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top 5 retail technology companies in Australia?
The five companies are Retail Express (Maropost), Shippit, Afterpay (Block), Airwallex and Mandoe Media. The ranking uses a hybrid model of structural relevance and scale rather than pure revenue.
Which retail technology layers do these companies cover?
They cover POS and retail operations, logistics orchestration, BNPL and payments, cross-border and embedded finance, and retail media and signage.
How large is Airwallex?
Airwallex, founded in 2015 and based in Melbourne, has passed the milestone of over $1 billion in annualised recurring revenue (ARR).
Conclusion
The structure of the top 5 retail technology companies in Australia reflects a diversified ecosystem. POS systems, payments platforms, logistics software and in-store technologies work together to support modern retail.
Each company contributes to a specific layer of this system. This helps retailers manage operations, fulfilment and customer engagement more effectively.
Retail continues to evolve, driven by ecommerce growth and supply chain complexity. The role of integrated technology platforms is expected to increase.
Supermarkets and FMCG networks will continue to rely on these systems. They help maintain efficiency, adapt to changing demand and support both domestic and global operations.
Editor’s Note: This article is based on publicly available company disclosures, funding data and industry analysis. Revenue figures refer to FY2024, FY2025 or latest reported milestones where applicable. Private company revenues are not publicly audited and are presented as non-disclosed or milestone-based indicators.
Currency references are based on reported figures at the time of publication.
