There are a variety of Point of Sale hardware platforms on the market today, ranging from all-in-one Point of Sale terminals to Point of Sale component solutions. The following information will review the Point of Sale component solution which uses a stand-alone computer in conjunction with Point of Sale peripherals, which typically include a receipt printer, scanner and cash drawer.
· Computers: the following are suggested minimum requirements that will typically run a Microsoft Windows based Point of Sale Application:
Server
PIV 1.4 GHz, 1 GB RAM,
SCSI Hard drive or EIDE Hard
Drive
100 MB NIC
Microsoft Server 2003
Back Office Computer
PIV 1.7 GHz, 512 MB RAM
EIDE Hard Drive
100 MB NIC
Windows XP Professional
Edition
Point of Sale Computer
PIII 900 MHz, 512 MB RAM
EIDE Hard Drive
100 MB NIC
Windows XP Professional
Edition
When selecting a computer for your Point of Sale station, one of your considerations should be the type of case or size of the computer. Computers come in a variety of styles: tower cases, mini towers, desktops, and small form factor cases. If your computer will be used under the counter and you have a lot of space, you should consider a mini tower or desktop case. If you have space restrictions, a small form factor case is suggested.
· Receipt Printers: the two most popular types of receipts printers on the market today are dot-matrix receipt printers and thermal receipt printers. Dot-matrix printers are generally less expensive to purchase initially, but this type of printer uses pins and ink ribbons which add to the cost over the lifespan of the receipt printer. Thermal receipt printers cost slightly more initially and use thermal receipt paper. In recent years the speed, print quality and graphics capabilities of thermal printers have increased their popularity and decreased their cost of ownership. When purchasing a receipt printer you also need to be aware of the interface (Parallel, Serial or USB) that is designed to work with your POS software. Most PC based Point of Sale systems today utilize a USB interface. Whichever style and model of receipt printer you choose, be sure you have plenty of the correct supplies on hand such as receipt paper and printer ribbons.
· Scanners: scanners are designed to read a variety of UPC bar codes and improve speed and accuracy during checkout. The two most popular technologies used for hand held scanners today are CCD scanners and laser scanners. CCD scanners are typically inexpensive, but usually have a very short scanning range: the item being scanned needs to be about 1 to 3 inches from the scanner. Laser scanners, which use a beam of light to read bar codes, offer better scanning ability with the ability to scan at longer distances. Laser scanners either use a trigger for initiating scanning or are auto sensing, which allows the scanner to turn on when an item is placed in front of the scanner, and then turn off again. Omnidirectional scanners, sometimes referred to as vertical scanners, send out 15 or 20 lasers beams simultaneously, letting you scan a bar code from any angle.
Most scanners today are decoded and do not require a separate decoding box. You need to be careful when selecting the type of interface for your scanner. Most hand held laser scanners either use a Y-connector that plugs into the keyboard that allows the scanner to function as a keyboard input device or a USB scanner interface.
· Cash Drawers: when looking for a cash drawer it's very important to evaluate the construction of the drawer. You can choose thin metal, heavy metal or plastic – heavy metal construction will obviously last longer and make it more difficult to break into. Look for things like solid slide wheels and track, quality release mechanisms, and solid construction.
Another consideration when purchasing a cash drawer is the size of the cash drawer and where it will be placed. You need to decide whether you want the cash drawer on the counter or underneath. If the drawer is under the counter, you need to drills holes for the drawer wiring. Then you'll need to measure your counter space or the opening underneath. Cash drawers come in various sizes from 11 to 20 inches wide, 12 to 24 inches deep, and 2 to 4 inches high. If you decide to place the cash drawer on your counter, it should be large enough to place the printer, keyboard and monitor on top of it.
There are 2 main types of interfaces for cash
drawers. The most popular interface is the RJ interface, which connects the
cash drawer to the receipt printer: the port on the receipt printer sends an
electrical signal to the cash drawer that pops the drawer open. The 2nd
interface is a direct connect to the computer using a serial port on the
back of a computer to open the drawer
Other things to consider when selecting a cash drawer are media slots and
locks. Media slots are used for slipping checks and credit card receipts in
the drawer without exposing the cash. You should always get a drawer with a
lock so you can open it without power and lock it for the night.
· Pole Displays: an optional component to a point of sale system is the customer display or pole display. A lighted display for the customer to view transaction totals, amount tendered and some customer displays feature customized messages or can show advertising.
· Point of Sale Monitors and Touch Screens: there are a number of options for point of sale monitors that can be added to a Point of Sale system. Flat-panel LCD monitors may cost a little more than the standard CRT monitors, but the LCD display will take up less space at the checkout counter. Depending on the type of retail business and the Point of Sale software being used, touch screens monitors can streamline the check out process, however be aware that they typically do not replace the need for a keyboard and mouse.
· Credit Card Readers: most Point of Sale software applications have fully integrated credit card solutions or use 3rd party software products to process credit cards. The magnetic strip reader (MSR) provides a way of reading credit cards and sending the information to your Point of Sale system. There are a number of keyboards on the market today that have built in MSR readers or an MSR reader can be purchased as a separate device and attached to a monitor or keyboard using Velcro.
