Defining A POS System

Isn’t a POS system just a computer? You may have had that thought cross your mind at some point. The answer is “yes,” but it’s also “no.”

Let’s investigate by first defining a POS system. POS stands for point-of-sale, and the term is applicable to a retail store, checkout area, or any location where a sales transaction can occur. You will find them in many industries ranging from restaurants to retail shops, and hotels to stadiums, just to name a few.

All POS systems run off computers, but they are much more than the laptop or desktop computer that might be used for personal use. What really defines a POS system is the software that is used inside, along with some of the hardware that can work alongside it.

Bepoz’s point-of-sale systems can use touch screen monitors to eliminate the need for a mouse or keyboard. They can also be connected to devices like magnetic stripe readers to process credit cards, specialized receipt printers, pole displays to show customers what they are being charged, cash drawers that only open when a sale is complete, and bar code scanners that can scan in products based on their bar code.

These devices run off the ports that are common to PCs—serial ports, parallel (printer) ports and USB ports. But they typically require specific configurations to work. The software that runs a POS system also handles the configuration for these other devices.

Large retail stores may run their terminals as “dumb” terminals connected to back office large network servers where most of the processing is done. Small retail stores may have just one terminal with a magnetic stripe reader, receipt printer, scanner and cash drawer.

Whether you’re a small or large business, a POS system is definitely a piece of equipment that should be considered as part of sales process. If you need more help in choosing what type of POS system fits your business, read 6 Tips to Help You Choose the Best POS System, or call 855-313-0857.