In some embodiments, systems and methods are provided a retail point-of-sale (POS) hardware management system, comprising: an intermediary system control circuit configured to execute computer program modules comprising a hardware management module configured to operate as an intermediary module between multiple different sets of client POS systems, a plurality of different sets of hardware systems configured to be engaged by the client POS systems, and a plurality of shared resource applications; the hardware management module comprising a plurality of hardware manager sub-modules each corresponding to one of the sets of hardware systems; each of the hardware manager sub-module is configured to output communications and receive communications in accordance with a single predefined hardware communications protocol, of a set of a plurality of predefined hardware communications protocols, corresponding to the set of hardware systems regardless of a type of hardware system or manufacturer.