| The basic POS systems you may see on a | | | | Other Restaurant Hardware To Consider |
| typical retail establishment consists of a cash | | | | Cash drawers: Used to store cash, checks, gift |
| register (with or without a built in cash drawer), | | | | certificates and other important papers. When |
| monitor, receipt printers, and an input device. It | | | | buying a cash drawer, look for a sturdy |
| can also be a touch screen monitors, | | | | construction of at least 18-gauge steel, don't just |
| programmable keyboards, or scanners and | | | | buy one because your local supplier tells you that |
| handheld devices for inputting data into the POS | | | | it's the best or simply because it looks fancy. Go |
| system. | | | | for the most reliable cash drawer since the usable |
| Touch Screens: With its flexible user interfaces | | | | life of cash drawers are measured, you also have |
| and programming, many restaurants prefer to | | | | to make surer that you can replace rollers, |
| use touch screens. With this type of POS | | | | bearings, and other parts. A typical cash drawer |
| hardware, an employee can easily set orders and | | | | opens only when it is signaled by the POS printer. |
| cancel an order within a second. It can also reduce | | | | POS printers: Every retail business owner has |
| mistypes and accelerate ordering. Aside from | | | | them, every POS system needs one of course! A |
| that, touch screens are easier to position in any | | | | POS printer is needed for printing a receipt and |
| counter and even uses less electricity, although, | | | | create credit card slips. There are two types of |
| they can be more prone to breakdowns. | | | | POS printers, the dot matrix printer and the |
| Handheld devices: Restaurant PDAs are handheld | | | | thermal printer. The dot matrix printer uses |
| devices, commonly wireless, that transmits data | | | | ribbons and regular paper to print. On the other |
| back to its base station. You can use the newer | | | | hand, Thermal printers are slightly expensive than |
| version, which is the write-on handhelds that | | | | the dot matrix printers because they are more |
| allows you to write information such as the | | | | reliable, they have less moving parts, faster and |
| orders and directly sends the order to the kitchen! | | | | quieter when printing. |
| This type of device perfectly fit when up-selling | | | | Customer displays: A customer display or pole |
| customers of desserts or drinks. Your employee | | | | display lets your customers view the price of the |
| can either roam their tables or take orders from | | | | item they're about to purchase, and can |
| customers waiting in line. | | | | sometimes be used to support advertising. Just |
| | | | make sure that your customer display has the |
| POS keyboards: Most grocery and convenient | | | | right height and width to perfectly fit in to your |
| stores prefer to use this type of POS hardware | | | | counter table, as well as it's compatibility with your |
| because it allows them to program individual keys | | | | POS software. |
| for specific item codes and prices. A standard | | | | Check readers: If you don't have one, I suggest |
| keyboard consists of 101-key, which can be seen | | | | getting one now. This device helps you be |
| with any computer. Other have built-in magnetic | | | | preventing check fraud by verifying essential |
| stripe readers for processing credit cards, others | | | | account information, saving you tons of profit. |
| are small and flat, like what we usually see in fast | | | | Magnetic stripe readers: A simple piece of POS |
| food outlets. | | | | hardware that is used to read credit cards. For |
| Scanners: This useful piece of electronic device | | | | added convenience, look for POS keyboards and |
| that reads bar codes, converts and inputs its | | | | touch screens that has a built-in magnetic strip |
| details to a POS system computer. This device | | | | reader, so you don't have to buy a separate one. |
| fastens transactions and provide accurate data on | | | | Fingerprint readers: This type of POS equipment |
| products or services being purchased by a | | | | can be used to limit which staff can access a POS |
| customer. POS scanners connects through | | | | terminal. It is typically used by employees to log |
| Y-connectors called wedges that make them | | | | on to their designated stations. |
| function as an extension of the keyboard. | | | | Keep in mind when purchasing a restaurant POS |
| Volume of customers: For different volume of | | | | system, hardawre or software, you have to |
| customers, using different types of scanners can | | | | make sure that you review their details first. It |
| be very helpful. If the line has several customers, | | | | doesn't matter how expensive or cheap a POS |
| your staff can easily use a CCD scanner or | | | | equipment is, consider the environment where |
| entry-level laser scanner. If the line is loaded with | | | | you're going to use it. Regular cleaning keeps your |
| customers, then an autosensing laser scanners | | | | keyboards and touch screens in top shape, |
| would be better. This type of scanner turns on | | | | vacuuming dust and lubing your receipt printer can |
| when an item is placed in front of it, scans its | | | | extend its life and maintaining an over all clean |
| code, and then turn off again. But if the counter | | | | workstation can help protect your POS terminal |
| line is overflowing with customers, then you're | | | | from dust and spills. You can always request for a |
| staff could really use the help of an omnidirectional | | | | FREE POS system quote online where local |
| scanner, where it can scan a bar code from any | | | | vendors will provide you competitive price lists on |
| angle with its 15 or 20 lasers simultaneously! | | | | any type of POS terminal your business needs. |