>>POS Equipment and Peripherals

  • POS Point of Sale Input Devices

  • Key Boards and Touch Screens
  • Point of Sale Scanners
  • Point of Sale Hand Held Devices

Point of Sale Keyboards - One of the first things you will need to do as a business owner is to decide whether you want to use a keyboard or touch screen input system. Most POS, MICROS systems are geared to work with a touch screen system but if you choose you can have a keyboard as a preferred input system. It depends on where and how that particular system will be implemented into your business.

Most touch screens sold these days are flat-screen LCD’s instead of traditional CRT Cathode Ray Tube monitors. Although LCD touch screens are slightly more expensive (typically in the range of $600 - $1,000 instead of $400 - $500), they are more durable, longer lasting, energy efficient, and require less space for installation. They also look much better. With both CRT and LCD displays, avoid “overlay” touch screens that are added on to regular monitors - they are more prone to breakdowns and add an unnecessary complication to your system.

Keyboards models are normally standard 101-key models that you find with any PC or Mac computer. Others are smaller, more POS-specific devices, such as the flat-panel “membrane keyboards” common in fast food outlets. MOst POS keyboards come with built-in magnetic strip readers for processing credit and debit transactions. Programmable keyboards usually go for between $150 and $300.

No matter what type of input device you choose, make sure that you consider the area where the device will be installed. Heat, Humidity, Temperature, and moisture are very important factors to consider before installation( often overlooked). Keyboard and touch screen devices are equipped with spill proof and dust proof specifications.

Point of Sale Scanners - All scanners are basically the same thing. Most all scanners connect to the computer and send information about the bar code stripe to the system and processes the correct information. They are typically connected to the system with Y- connectors also called wedges that make them function as an extension of the keyboard. Bar code scanning improves speed and accuracy during checkout.

Low-end scanners are based on charge-coupled device (CCD) technology. These scanners are inexpensive, but usually have a very short range - the item being scanned needs to be 1 to 3 inches from the scanner. In a typical retail setting, that should be fine.

Different Types of Scanners

  • Auto Sensing POS scanners - meaning that they turn themselves on or off when a item is placed in front of them.
  • Omnidirectional POS Scanners - meaning they send out 15-20 lasers simultaneously, which lets the business scan the products barcode from any angle.
  • Embedded POS Scanners - Typically more expensive but are omnidirectional scanners that is installed below the counter. More Common for POS systems in Supermarkets.

Choosing a type of scanner typically correlates to the amount of traffic you will expect at that particular POS Terminal or register.

Hand Held POS System Scanners

Hand held POS System devices are all the new rage.  With technology moving and continuously making more advanced strides, POS input devices are ever changing.  Hand Held POS system scanners are wireless devices that can communicate with the terminal or station of your choosing.

Typically the hand held POS is a modified PDA (portable digital assistant).  Through this PDA you can transmit orders back to a home base station.  A distinct advantage for restaurants is that you can increases the amount of time it takes for a server to place orders and thus enable them to be on the floor assisting your restaurant guest.

The latest type of input device is the handheld, wireless terminal. Essentially a PDA, each handheld terminal wirelessly transmits orders back to a base station. A distinct advantage for restaurants is that they increase the amount of time servers spend on the floor taking orders and interacting with customers, because they never have to go back to a terminal to enter orders.

Hand Held Write POS Systems: these are newer forms of input devices that allow the server to use handwriting recognition software to write down the order and then send it back to the kitchen.

Hand Held devices are more expensive input devices but you can see the advantage of your servers being on the floor and upselling more food and alcohol to your guest.
Why a POS System Makes Sense !