The retail POS system you select should provide a complete solution. You've learned about the POS software, so now it's time to add the POS hardware and support components. Combining a POS system with your chosen software and POS peripherals should allow you the flexibility and tailoring necessary to meet your business needs.
Note: A typical POS configuration provides the POS base system, a USB stripe reader, a USB POS keyboard, a cash drawer, a USB bar code scanner, a USB receipt printer, touch screen monitor, and your POS software.
Figure 1 shows these typical components with an HP rp5000 system. You can choose to purchase all of these components or a combination, depending on your business requirements. To achieve the full solution functionality discussed in this Guide, you'll need each peripheral.
In a retail setting, an MSR (magnetic stripe reader) is a must. A POS magnetic stripe reader enables you to accept credit, debit, and gift cards. The HP USB Magnetic Stripe Reader is just 3.5 inches long. You can program it to divide, rearrange, edit, and validate fields of magnetic card data. It's capable of reading up to three tracks of data with one swipe of the card in either direction. Multiple modes of confirmation are possible with beeper and LED indicator lights. It can be left freestanding or mounted to your POS system.
Keyboard
A keyboard is essential for any POS system. If you don't get a touchscreen monitor, the POS keyboard will be the sole source for employee and manager overrides.
Tip: Even if you have touchscreen monitors, many retailers keep manager approval and overrides based on keyboard entry as an added security precaution.
Get a keyboard that's spill- and dust-resistant. This is particularly important in the grocer environment where product spills often occur at checkout. The HP offering provides 28 configurable keys and an integrated touchpad.
Cash drawer
A heavy-duty cash drawer is desirable for handling the day-to-day abuse of different employees engaged in quick transactions. Organizational dividers for cash, coupons, checks, and other paper receipts can also be helpful for efficient customer service. HP's cash drawer offers several layers of security options corresponding to when the drawer is locked-closed, locked-open, online, and in manual open mode. It's specifically designed to complement the HP rp5000 and HP USB thermal receipt printer.
Bar code scanner
To get the full utility of a POS solution for managing inventory, you need a POS bar code scanner. A small, lightweight handheld scanner is also crucial to quick register service. You're able to scan products with ease and assure proper accounting of your inventory. In addition, a POS bar code scanner means accuracy in pricing.
With the recommended HP bar code scanner, actual register checkout times are quicker because HP bar code scanners offer faster performance at 100 scans per second. Bright LED and adjustable beeper volume tells you and your employees that the unit is functioning properly and validates transactions.
Receipt printer
As a retailer, you need to provide customers with a receipt of their transaction. All POS systems necessitate some type of receipt printer.
The receipt printer recommended for the HP POS solution requires no power supply when used with the HP rp5000 because the system powers it using a powered USB port. It's compact, taking up little valuable checkout counter real estate, and prints up to 38 lines per second. Customers won't be delayed waiting for a receipt of the day's transaction.
The HP rp5000 also supports other standard HP printers for simple generation of inventory reports and other documentation. Effectively, you can handle all your front and back office needs with one system.
Monitor
Finally, with any point of sale system, a monitor is needed to show you what's occurring with the system. You have a few monitor options:
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Flat screen: Get a flat-screen monitor if space is at a premium at your point of sale location, or choose a full-size monitor to reduce overall costs.
Note: Flat-screen monitors cost more than standard full-size monitors.
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Touchscreen: Get a touchscreen monitor if your integrated system requires it. Both of the Microsoft POS software solutions described in this Guide work with any monitor type but require a touchscreen monitor for certain features.
You can use the HP L5006t LCD 15-inch touch screen flat-panel monitor on the countertop or wall mounted. This particular monitor uses SAW (Surface Acoustic Wave) touch technology. Onscreen touch interactivity speeds up customer service, increases employee productivity, and makes training new staff quick and easy. The monitor is made with chemical-resistant glass providing better durability.
Software
The POS software you select, in conjunction with the point of sale hardware and peripherals, dictates how robust and functional your system will be. When evaluating point of sale software, select a solution that provides inventory and workflow management. A good inventory management system enables you to:
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Track inventory in detail, reducing waste and the potential for theft.
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Ensure all inventory is sold at the correct price because the system automatically calculates the price. There's no need to price individual items and worry that the same items have multiple out of date prices or an entire set of items carry the wrong price.
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Track sales for both employee and customer to gauge the performance of staff and specific promotions.
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Track customer information so you can design custom promotions for loyal customers.
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Create purchase orders to streamline purchasing and ordering.
Good point of sale software, as part of a solid POS solution, can assist you in managing your entire operation. Customer service is improved with workflow management. The checkout process is faster because more tasks are automated. With a POS solution, your checkout employee scans an item using the bar code scanner. The system automatically calculates the price, including any sales or promotional discounts in place. The system also subtracts the item from available inventory.
The possibility for human error is minimized as are delays inherent in transactions with human interaction. There's no opportunity for the employee to mis-key the price or read the wrong price or have to call for a price check on an unknown item. There's also no delay in knowing which items sell and need restocking. The POS system tells you what you need to know and can even automatically generate a purchase order for new merchandise. You can expedite inventory assessments, review sales analysis, and focus your business on what sells.
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