Now that you’ve chosen a point of sale system for your retail or F&B business, what POS hardware do you need to run it properly?
POS hardware essentials include:
- CPU or computer/iPad/tablet
- Cash Drawer
- Customer Display
- Barcode Scanner
- Receipt Printer
Let’s check out the breakdown of types of POS system hardware that you need to get to run your small retail or restaurant business.
POS Machine/Cash Register
This is the biggest component of your POS or point-of-sale system.
It’s basically the computer that runs your POS system software.
It’s also known as a cash register or POS machine. You use this hardware to basically record sales transaction and print receipts. More sophisticated POS machines come with software like StoreHub that even allows you to manage your inventory, staff, and customers – all in one system!
TIP: Don’t use it for other reasons like to surf the Internet. This may open you to computer viruses, which may compromise your entire system.
You should use your POS machine only to:
- Process sales transactions
- Check sales reports
- Manage stock, employees, and customer data
Cash Drawer
What is a cash drawer?
A cash drawer is your treasure chest, which stores all your precious valuables – cash, coins, cheques, and even receipts if you want to.
It helps organise and provide security for your valuables.
How does a cash drawer work?
Quite simple, really.
When you finish up a sales transaction, your receipt printer sends a signal to your cash drawer, triggering it to open, so you can store your money and give change.
It’s important for you to keep your cash drawer locked after your shift closes. Only give your store manager access to the cash drawer key so that you limit access of the cash drawer to all your employees. This helps reduce the potential for in-house theft.
Receipt Printer
A receipt printer is an important part of your point-of-sale system.
It’s used in retail, F&B, or service-type businesses to print receipts and credit card slips. This helps both you and your customers keep track of your transactions.
Some F&B businesses also use kitchen printers in the kitchen or at the bar to print order tickets.
Some basic receipt printers you should know are:
- Thermal Printer (fast, quiet, and most commonly used)
- LAN Receipt Printer (stable, connects to your wireless router via ethernet)
- Bluetooth Receipt Printer (connects to POS terminal via wireless bluetooth, good for printing receipts on-the-go)
Scanner
A POS barcode scanner/barcode reader reads printed barcodes on products and sends the data to your POS terminal.
A barcode will usually include product information, SKU number, and so on.
Using a barcode scanner helps you speed up your checkout process and keeps accurate track of all your inventory. It works best for businesses like retail and supermarkets. There are two types of barcode scanners:
- 1D (one-dimensional) barcode scanner – only able to read linear, horizontal barcodes (traditional UPC barcode)
- 2D (two-dimensional) barcode scanner – able to scan and read QR codes and barcodes with dots, patterns, and shapes like squares or rectangles
All-in-one POS system
If you don’t like the idea of getting all these individual parts to complete your POS system, why not just get a POS system bundle or an all-in-one POS system?
An all-in-one POS system usually includes most of (if not all) the following components:
- An integrated POS tablet/iPad
- iPad/tablet stand
- Cash Drawer
- Receipt Printer
- Customer-facing Display
Sounds convenient, right?
But where can you find these wonderful all-in-one systems?
Don’t worry!
StoreHub is one of the POS providers out there that offers a full ecosystem of 30+ features to help you build, run, and grow your business.
Watch this quick video to learn more or book your FREE demo today by clicking the button below.
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