From the category archives:
POS Software
by Justin on June 13, 2007
For years several manufacturers have tried to sell web-based POS systems, but until now with limited success. The benefits of a web-based solution are clear: lower maintenance costs, easy to upgrade and above all accessible from anywhere.
But the downside of a internet based solution is equally clear: What happens when the internet connection fails? Yes, you’re out of luck, and have to fall back to pen & paper. This disadvantage has kept many retailers from going web-based, and rightly so, as internet connection do fail once in a while.
But now Google presented Google Gears. Google Gears is an open source browser extension that enables web applications to provide offline functionality using the following JavaScript APIs:
- Store and serve application resources locally
- Store data locally in a fully-searchable relational database
- Run asynchronous Javascript to improve application responsiveness
In short, Google Gears allows software manufacturers to create web-based applications that can be used off-line. Although Google Gears is still a beta product, there are already a number of sites using it. Now just wait until a Point Of Sale manufacturer implements Google Gears…
by Justin on May 30, 2007
Today, Microsoft announces their latest product, Microsoft Surface. Surface is basically a powerful computer disguised as a table with a interactive surface. Surface automatically detects objects, and can interact with them.
One of the demo videos on the Surface site shows how this product can be used in a hospitality environment. The video shows a group of friends having a drink, and when one of the persons lays his credit card on the table, Surface automatically reads the card (how?) and displays information about the card holder:
The center of the table shows images of all the food drinks consumed at the table, and each person can simply drag an item to their credit card and split the bill:
Surface is a very neat product, but at $10.000 really only an option for very trendy places with few tables.
by Justin on May 22, 2007
Sharp Electronics announced the availability of the UP-X300CF256 embedded POS system integrated with the optional Sharp SDW online communication solution for back office reporting.
It has a durable, sleek, matte black cabinet and a colour LCD touch-screen, making it an ideal fit for all types of hospitality environments, such as table-service and fast-casual restaurants, bars, cafeterias and delicatessens. The UP-X300CF256 has real client / server functionality with a system structure designed for real-time, dynamic information and simple maintenance via Ethernet or TCP/IP communication systems. This system is intended for configurations with up to six terminals. The system is also expandable with a variety of accessories to meet various hospitality solutions. The UP-X300CF256 can interface with key hospitality peripherals including Ethernet printers, credit card EFT, scales, kitchen video monitors and barcode scanners. For local access to accessories at the terminal, each terminal includes two USB ports and three RS-232 communication ports for a keyboard, drink dispenser, local and remote printers and other accessories.
by Justin on May 16, 2007
Fujitsu plans the next release of its GlobalSTORE point of sale (POS) software. New features will include fully touch-enabled interactive screens for cashiers and customer information displays, simplified integration to other store systems including customer relationship management programs and U-Scan checkout systems and Microsoft-centric technology. GlobalSTORE minimizes the time to create real-time interoperability between disparate applications and devices. The application is a customizable POS and cash management system.
by Justin on April 25, 2007
Microsoft issues its first update to the Windows-based retail operating system, Windows Embedded for Point of Service (WEPOS). WEPOS 1.1 adds support for the latest industry standards, streamlines installation of mass storage devices during setup, and enhances its language support. The new language support includes Multilingual User Interface packs (MUIs) for more than 30 languages. The WEPOS 1.1 update follows the recent Microsoft POS for .Net 1.11 update. That release featured added device classes for biometrics, bill acceptor and dispensers and image scanner peripherals.
by Justin on February 12, 2007
Many retailers sell products that is grouped into Matrix. A Matrix is a way of grouping inventory items that share the same basic item information but differ in one or two item characteristics, example size, colour, pattern, etc. A Matrix is a rectangular array of elements (or entries) set out by rows and columns.
For example, a shoe store can have a line of shoe that comes in different colours and sizes. Rather than adding an item for each colour and size, you add one item and define it as a Matrix. Then you can specify its characteristics like in this case colour and size. When viewing your inventory or planning a purchase or issuing an invoice, it can be very helpful to view and work with a Matrix.
[click to continue...]
by Justin on January 3, 2007
There are various reasons retailers around the world are now migrating to advanced POS systems. For the first time in history, relatively cheap, high bandwidth connections are available to virtually any store location. There also are simply more POS options — more advanced, and affordable hardware, easy-to-use software — that give retailers new capacity to track, speed up and advance store promotions and sales. So instead of antique DOS or mainframe relay systems running across slow dial-up or satellite connections, high-speed connections are allowing retailers to quickly ring up sales and keep customers moving through. Additionally, those high-speed pipes allow information to quickly travel between the POS systems at retail locations and company headquarters. This gives corporations nearly instantaneous feedback and insight into sales trends, and the ability to quickly react to changes in the retail environment.
Some of these advances stem from lessons learned through e-commerce operations. Developed over the past five to 10 years, e-commerce admittedly makes up a small proportion of retail sales, at just 5.5 percent. But for many mainstream retailers, the sheer mass of those sales can in fact equal that of up to 30 individual locations. Retailers realize that the efficiency gains and customer service operations gleaned through e-commerce improvements can have a massive and positive influence on how changes are made at retail locations. POS is at the heart of these changes.
by Justin on November 24, 2006
Before purchasing point of sale software, it is very important to look whether there are any additional modules needed.
Some POS software comes as a application with the basic functionality, and a set of add-on packages to implement features such as loyalty programs, inventory control, credit card payments, etc. Other software comes as an all-in-one package, without ever having to worry about purchasing additional modules. What software is better?
[click to continue...]
by Justin on October 23, 2006
Today a new point of sale application for the Mac has been announced. Checkout, currently in public beta, brings the beauty of the Apple Macintosh platform to the point of sale.
Aesthetics are very important nowadays, and in some branches the design of the POS systems is just as important as the design of the rest of the store. Though Apple hardware is more expensive than other terminals, it offers design, robustness and ease of use that cannot easily be met by Windows based terminals.
[click to continue...]
by Justin on October 16, 2006
A feature many people forget when shopping for point of sale software is the loans function. This function is mostly used for more expensive items, which the customer is allowed to take home for some days to try out. Or in fashion, when your customers are shopping for their busy husbands, and want to try these trousers at home.
The loans function allows you to register each loan and have a up-to date inventory of each item that a customer has at home. When the customer returns the item, you can either invoice it when the customer liked the item or put it back in stock when it was not what they were looking for.
A very simple feature, which might make your life a lot easier.
