FAQs

Which one is the best Point of Sale for me?

The first thing you need to understand is what a Point of Sale system consists of. Software is one component (although the main driving force) of the entire system. Point of Sale is used for controlling inventory, so you know at any time what has been sold, what is on the shelf, and what needs to be ordered. To facilitate this, most stores implement bar code scanning, so you will need a bar code scanner of some sort. A POS is also used for controlling the cash, making sure that you balance at the end of the day. Typical systems also include a cash drawer and receipt printer.
Point of Sale runs on a computer. You will need one computer at every individual point of sale. If you have more than one place in your store where you ring up sales, you will need to network those computers together, so they can all share the same inventory information. This is where most store owner’s need the assistance of a professional – If that is the case, then making the decision as to which software to use becomes your major decision.
There are multiple types of displays involved in the POS system. The seller as well as the buyer needs to look at the item description, price and running total for the current sale. The seller normally enjoys the luxury of the computer monitor. On the other hand, the buyer can have a smaller display for one item each in the normal practice.
Pole displays are still popular though generally only in the retail environment, and there specifications differ as well. The number of lines as well as characters will vary from one make to the next. Generally they have serial connections.
Your receipt printer will generally be a forty column, and will either be dot matrix, or a thermal unit. This is a personal preference in most cases, for example the thermal unit is faster and will be quieter than the dot matrix, however it can't be used in restaurant kitchens or environments where they may come into contact with chemicals as the paper will fall apart and go transparent.
Retail establishments should also have bar code scanners, which can cut down time spent at the till considerably. The type of scanner can vary from a fixed unit to a hand held – one with a trigger, or a flatter hand held unit with a button. Scanners can also vary from the CCD (close contact diode), with limited range and scanning capabilities, to the Laser scanners with long range capabilities, as well as ADF (Advanced Data Format), for the better ranges. This ADF allows the scanner to read bar codes that have been scratched or slightly damaged in some way. It is also a good idea to have your own bar code printer if you are going to be using bar codes. These come in many ranges and types. Some can print labels that will be used in a chemical environment (specific labels would have to be utilized), others can print the standard labels we find in clothing shops, while still others print out shelf-talkers (the labels on the shelves of supermarkets worldwide).
We provide Point of Sale software and hardware; the features of software will be discussed later in this proposal.

How many POS stations will I need?

• Peak customer volume
  you must plan the number of stations based on peak business. If you don’t you won’t be able to sufficiently handle the influx of customers during these periods. Many business owners, who are used to cash registers, mistakenly try to purchase the same number of POS stations. POS systems however are used more frequently than cash registers since they are used for order entry as well as tendering the orders. Therefore this should be taken into account when deciding the correct number of stations to purchase.

What kind of barcode scanners should I get?

• That depends on how fast you want to check customers out. The barcode scanners that typically come with our systems are single-line scanners, so you have to orient the barcode correctly for the scanner to read it. Omni directional scanners can read a barcode at any angle, so your check-out clerks don't have to line up the barcode just right. In-counter scanners are Omni directional as well.

Do I need pole displays (customer displays)?

• A pole display will allow customers to be able to see the items and prices as they are being rung up on the customers' side of the counter.

Why would I need to print barcodes?

• You would only need barcode printing module if you have items in your store that do not come with their own barcodes but you still want to be able to scan them during check-out. You can print regular, rectangular barcode labels on an ordinary LaserJet printer on sheets although this method has been obsolete now a days, but if you want to print barcodes on special labels or tags you need a specialized barcode printer.

How many kitchen/bar printers or kitchen displays?

• One kitchen printer will probably be sufficient for most restaurants; however, if you have different sections in your kitchen which handle different dishes you may want a printer for each section.
• For example, you can have all your appetizers print on one printer and all your entrees print on another.

Should I have a back office computer?

• A back office computer is good for allowing managers to run reports, access the system to make changes to menu, check inventory levels, or adjust employee time clock times, without disturbing servers and cashiers.
• For more information and queries please contact us any time.