Restaurant Hardware Specifications
Written by rifqi on February 3rd, 2010 in Entrepreneurialism.
The basic POS systems you may see on a typical retail establishment consists of a cash register (with or without a built in cash drawer), monitor, receipt printers, and an input device. It can also be a touch screen monitors, programmable keyboards, or scanners and handheld devices for inputting data into the POS system.
Touch screens: Many retail business owners find touch screen monitors as more intuitive to use than keyboards, as it can reduce mistypes and can easily cancel inputted orders within a second, and because it provides flexible user interfaces and programming. Touch screens also uses less electricity and much easier to position on the counter table, but they are more prone to breakdowns.
Hand held devices: Restaurant PDAs are handheld devices, commonly wireless, that transmits data back to its base station. You can use the newer version, which is the write-on handhelds that allows you to write detail such as the orders and sends them directly to the kitchen! These types of handheld devices are perfect for your staff who interacts with your customers, when up-selling desserts and drinks roaming around table per table.
POS keyboards: You’ll find that most grocery and convenient stores prefer to use this type of POS hardware because it allows them to program individual keys for specific item codes and prices. A standard keyboard consists of 101-key, like with any computer. Others are small and flat, which are common in fast food outlets. POS keyboards often has a built-in magnetic stripe readers for processing credit cards.
Scanners: This useful piece of electronic device that reads bar codes, convert it and inputs its details to a POS system computer. Generally, it speeds up a sales transaction as well as accurately inputs product or service payment of a customer. POS scanners are connected through Y-connectors called wedges that make them function as an extension of the keyboard.
Volume of customers: For different volume of customers, using different types of scanners can be very helpful. If the counter line has several customers, your staff can easily use a CCD scanner or entry-level laser scanner. If the line is loaded with customers, then autosensing laser scanners is the perfect choice. This type of scanner turns on when an item is placed in front of it, easily scan the barcode, and then turn off again. But if the counter line is overflowing with customers, you could sure use the help of an omnidirectional scanner, using its 15 or 20 lasers simultaneously, it can scan a bar code from any angle!
Additional POS hardware to consider
Cash Drawer: Used to store cash, checks, gift certificates and other important papers. When buying a cash drawer, look for a sturdy construction of at least 18-gauge steel, don’t just buy one because your local POS vendor tells you that it’s the best or simply because it looks fancy. Go for the most reliable cash drawer since the usable life of cash drawers are measured, you also have to make surer that you can replace rollers, bearings, and other parts. A typical cash drawer opens only when a signal from the printer is released.
POS printers: Every retail store owner has them, every POS system needs one of course! A POS printer is needed for printing a receipt and create credit card slips. There are two types of POS printers, the dot matrix printer and the thermal printer. The dot matrix printer uses ribbons and regular paper to print. Thermal printers are slightly expensive compared to dot matrix printers because they are faster and quieter when printing, and they have less moving parts which makes them more realiable.
Customer displays: A customer display or pole display lets your customers view the price of the item they’re about to purchase, and can sometimes be used to support advertising. You also need to make sure that your customer display is of the right height and shape to fit in to your counter table, as well as it’s compatibility with your POS software.
The Check readers: If you don’t have one, I suggest getting one now. This device helps you be preventing check fraud by verifying essential account information, saving you tons of profit.
Magnetic stripe readers (also known as magstripe reader): A simple piece of restaurant hardware that is used to read credit cards. For added convenience, look for POS keyboards and touch screens that has a built-in magnetic strip reader, so you don’t have to buy a separate one.
Fingerprint readers: If you want to limit which POS terminal can a staff use, then this type of restaurant hardware can be handy. You can also use this for employee logins thus preventing any of your employees from logging in for somebody as a favor.
Remember, when purchasing for POS systems, hardware or software, make sure to know the item first before heading to your local supplier. It doesn’t matter how much money you spend on your POS equipment, never forget to consider the environment where you’re going to use it. Regular cleaning will keep your peripherals in tip top shape, to extend the useable life of your receipt printer, vacuuming and lubing would be the way and maintaining your workstation clean can help protect your POS terminal from dust and spills. You can always request for a FREE POS system quote online where local vendors will provide you competitive price lists on any type of POS terminal your business needs.
For more information on restaurant POS systems or to have a local POS professional serving the restaurant industry in your location see more information at POS-For-Restaurants.com.
Related posts:
- Restaurant Point of Sale System Q&A
- Restaurant Point of Sale System: The Importance of Having The Proper POS Software
- Restaurant Point of Sale: PCI & Credit Card Security Background
- POS Systems – Earning More Than What You Expected! – Part II
- Hiring? Things to Consider Before Hiring New Restaurant Staff
