| Any basic POS systems you may see on a | | | | don't just buy one because your local vendor tells |
| typical retail establishment consists of a cash | | | | you that it's the latest or simply because it looks |
| register with or without a built in cash drawer, | | | | fancy. Go for the most reliable cash drawer since |
| monitor, receipt printers, and an input device. It | | | | the usable life of cash drawers are measured, |
| can also be a touch screen monitors, | | | | you also have to make surer that you can |
| programmable keyboards, or scanners and | | | | replace rollers, bearings, and other parts. A typical |
| handheld devices for inputting data into the POS | | | | cash drawer opens only when it is signaled by the |
| system. | | | | POS printer. |
| | | | POS printers: An addition to your restaurant POS |
| Touch Screens: Many restaurants find touch | | | | system is a printer, every retail business needs |
| screen monitors as more intuitive to use than | | | | one to complete a sales transaction. A POS |
| keyboards, as it can reduce mistypes and can | | | | printer is needed for printing a receipt and |
| easily cancel inputted orders within a second, and | | | | creating credit card slips. There are two types of |
| because it provides flexible user interfaces and | | | | POS printers, the dot matrix printer and the |
| programming. Aside from that, touch screens are | | | | thermal printer. The dot matrix printer uses |
| easier to position in any counter and even uses | | | | ribbons and regular paper to print. On the other |
| less electricity, although, they can be more prone | | | | hand, Thermal printers are slighly expensive than |
| to breakdowns. | | | | the dot matrix printers because they are more |
| Handheld devices: Restaurant harware devices like | | | | realiable, they have less moving parts, faster and |
| PDAs, which are commonly wireless devices that | | | | quieter when printing. |
| transmits data back to its base station and into | | | | |
| the POS system. You can also use the newer | | | | Customer displays: A customer display or pole |
| version, which is the write-on handhelds that | | | | display lets your customers view the price of the |
| allows you to write information such as the | | | | item they're about to purchase, and can |
| orders and sends them directly to the kitchen! | | | | sometimes be used to support advertising. Just |
| These types of handheld devices are perfect for | | | | make sure that your customer display has the |
| your staff who interacts with your customers, | | | | right height and width to perfectly fit in to your |
| when up-selling desserts and drinks roaming | | | | counter table, as well as it's compatibility with your |
| around table per table. | | | | POS software. |
| Keyboards: You'll find that most grocery and | | | | Check readers: If you're still thinking if you're going |
| convenient stores prefer to use this type of POS | | | | to buy one, now would be the best time to say |
| hardware because it allows them to program | | | | yes! This little device can help prevent fraud by |
| individual keys for specific item codes and prices. | | | | verifying essential account information on cheks |
| A standard keyboard consists of 101-key, which | | | | that are presented by your customers. It can |
| can be seen with any computer. Others are small | | | | save you money and eliminate flushing money |
| and flat, which are common in fast food outlets. | | | | down the drain because of fraud. |
| POS keyboards often has a built-in magnetic | | | | Magnetic stripe readers: This piece of restaurant |
| stripe readers for processing credit cards. | | | | hardware is used to read credit cards. You can |
| Scanners: This restaurant hardware reads bar | | | | also purchase keyboards and touch screens has a |
| codes and converts it before inputting it's details | | | | built-in magnetic strip readers for convenience. |
| to a POS system computer. This device speeds | | | | Fingerprint ID readers: If you want to limit which |
| up transactions and provide accurate data on | | | | POS terminal can a staff use, then this type of |
| products or services being purchased by a | | | | restaurant hardware can be handy. You can also |
| customer. Scanners connects through | | | | use this for employee logins thus preventing any |
| Y-connectors called wedges that make them | | | | of your employees from logging in inplace of |
| function as an extension of the keyboard. | | | | somebody. |
| Volume of customers: For different volume of | | | | Always rememeber when purchasing a restaurant |
| customers, using different types of scanners can | | | | POS system, hardawre or software, you have to |
| be very helpful. If the line has several customers, | | | | make sure that you review their details first. No |
| your staff can easily use a CCD scanner or | | | | matter how expensive or cheap a POS |
| entry-level laser scanner. If the line is loaded with | | | | equipment is, consider the environment where |
| customers, then an autosensing laser scanners | | | | you're going to use it. Regular cleaning keeps your |
| would be better. This type of scanner turns on | | | | keyboards and touch screens in top shape, |
| when an item is placed in front of it, scans its | | | | vacuuming dust and lubing your receipt printer can |
| code, and then turn off again. But if the counter | | | | extend its life and maintaining an over all clean |
| line is overflowing with customers, you could sure | | | | workstation can help protect your POS terminal |
| use the help of an omnidirectional scanner, where | | | | from dust and spills. You can always request for a |
| it can scan a bar code from any angle with its 15 | | | | FREE POS system quote online where local |
| or 20 lasers simultaneously! | | | | suppliers will offer you competitive price lists of |
| Additional Restaurant POS | | | | any restaurant hardware and software you need |
| Cash drawers: Used to store cash, credit card | | | | based on the the information you provide them. |
| slips, gift certificates and other important papers. | | | | So you would never have to waste money |
| When looking to buy a cash drawer, look for a | | | | buying the wrong POS systems. |
| sturdy construction of at least 18-gauge steel, | | | | |