THE SMB RETAILER’S GUIDE TO POS HARDWARE: 2020 EDITION

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THE SMB RETAILERS GUIDE TO POS HARDWARE 2020
EDITION
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Though there are still people who consider paying
with cash, more and more modern consumers are
shifting to credit or debit card payments. There
were times when retail stores would only accept
cash as their sole payment method, but in this
digital era, acquiring new customers and
increasing sales can be way more difficult if you
do not have a system to accept and process
credit/debit card payments.
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From scanning products at the point of purchase
to accepting card payments, printing receipts and
ringing up sales, every process needs a push from
POS systems that are compatible with one another
to run frontend and backend office smoothly.
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If you a retailer wondering exactly what hardware
equipment your business needs for seamless
operation and great customer service, this guide
will take you through different types of POS
hardware in the market and how each of them will
benefit your business.
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What Kind of POS Hardware do Retailers Use?
Every modern POS system consists of five
essential hardware devices that contribute to the
checkout transaction in their own way.
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Barcode Scanner
The transaction process begins when an employee
uses a barcode scanner to identify the price of
each purchased item. Without the scanner, the
employee has to manually enter a Universal
Product Code (UPC) which is labelled in every
product, making the whole process time-consuming
and prone to errors.
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Scanners come in different shapes and sizes that
are suited to different environments. For
example, handheld scanners are good to go when an
employee needs to check out large or bulky items
while stationary scanners work best in a
high-volume environment where you have to check
out similar sized products quickly.
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Monitor or Tablet
After passing the scanning phase, the
corresponding product shows up on the monitor,
allowing the staff to view the list of items,
price, tax, saving, subtotal and other related
information about the customer purchase in
real-time. Combining the monitor with point of
sale software and other hardware peripherals like
barcode scanner, cash drawer, receipt printers
brings out better functionality.
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While some businesses stick to standard PCs or
desktop computers as monitors, iPads, and
touchscreen tablets and android devices are
becoming a preferred choice of monitor for remote
retailers that seek on-the-go functionality.
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Payment Terminal
Years ago, cash registers were the only POS
terminals for merchants. Though it is still used
by many merchants, modern payment terminals have
surpassed these traditional registers in terms of
functionality, reliability and performance.
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These come in a variety of styles from
magstripe readers (MSRs) to touchscreen payment
terminals with number pads, allowing users to
input their PIN number to verify transactions.
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Cash Drawer
Easy to understand and simple to function, a cash
drawer is exactly what it sounds like- a drawer
that secures money, receipts, cheques and other
important paperwork. As the drawer connects to
the POS system, it opens only when a sale is
billed and prevents unusual theft.
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Receipt Printers
At the end of every transaction, the employee
must generate a receipt to hand the customer as a
proof of the transaction. This printed record of
transaction can be used later to return or
replace an unsatisfactory item.
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Besides, if you are shopping around for the right
POS hardware, here are some helpful tips.
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• Determine if your checkout employees stay in one
  place or move through the store while interacting
  with customers. Handheld hardware works better
  for mobile employees while cashiers who stay at
  the counter will perform well with a large
  monitor.

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• How many backend processes can you automate? If
  you can combine POS hardware with an inventory
  system, you may be able to save expensive
  man-hours on accounting in the long run.

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• Do you sell in tight quarters or in a large
  store? Considering your store size helps you
  invest in POS hardware that increases
  space-efficiency.

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• There is a wealth of information available online
  (check out YouTube videos, demos) and offline
  (ask fellow retailers about their POS equipment
  and experiences). Use that information to your
  advantage.

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Once you have the important information in hand,
a POS system can benefit your business in the
following ways.
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• Provides better inventory control
• Accurately tracks transactions and
  related-accounting operations.
• Helps with reporting and analysis
• Improves employee scheduling
• Offers detailed receipts
• Manages customer data with intuitive customer
  management software

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To conclude, the capabilities of POS systems have
no limits. When all the hardware and software are
tied together rightly, it streamlines your online
and offline sales and transactions for better
sales and customer experience.
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Contact Us
POS Sales PO Box 7921 Baulkham Hills BC NSW
2153 Email sales_at_possales.com.au Phone [phone]
062