There are as many types of point of sale (POS) systems as there are businesses in the world. Even the most similar businesses have slightly different procedures and unique attributes that make their business require a slightly different type of POS equipment than another business in the same field. Although there is not simply one steadfast answer to the question of what POS system you need in a specific industry, there are some similarities that you should take into account when deciding which is right for your business.

Retail

The main attributes of a retail store that make it different from other industries are that transactions are generally completed all at once, there are less single sales that use multiple items and there are often many items that are individually priced. By comparison, when you’re buying a gas station sandwich they aren’t taking into account the parts of the sandwich the way a restaurant is. These attributes, and others, call for certain pieces of hardware to be used that may not be used in other industries.

One of the most important tools in the arsenal of a retail store is the scanner. Several different types of scanners can be utilized depending on your business, such as the most inexpensive, short-range scanner for smaller retail stores without much product. Other, fast-paced retail environments may benefit from laser scanners that automatically sense items, are omnidirectional, and embedded beneath the POS system for quick use.

Another piece of equipment that is necessary for retail environments is the thermal printer. While other printers are good (and will be explained later), the thermal printer is generally faster and quieter than other printers are. Those attributes are just the added bonus to the fact that the thermal printer is generally more reliable because it has less moving parts, using heat and heat-sensitive paper for printing, rather than ink and pins.

Food Service

Food service is an entirely different world than the retail industry. In most instances, the sales are transmitted from one place (the front of house) to another (the back of house). In table-service restaurants, tickets need to be tracked according to table and server as well as communicated to the back of house, which is oftentimes a problem with handwritten tickets.

In this industry, the tablet is becoming king due to its mobility, wireless connectivity, and dedicated user capabilities. It can be brought around the floor with the server, have tickets sent effortlessly (and legibly) to the back, and allow the system to track which tablet it was sent from thereby assigning it to a specific server. The reason why an incredibly large number of stores are investing in iPad stands to take the cash register directly in front of the customers.

One other, usually unsung, piece of POS equipment that is usually utilized in restaurants is the dot matrix printer. Although the retail store’s thermal printer is better in a lot of ways, the heat of the kitchen will usually ruin the receipts printed on thermal paper.

Both

Even though there are many types of hardware that may not be useful in every industry, many different pieces of a POS hardware bundle are good “all-arounders” for any industry and any size business. For instance, the computerized cash drawer is absolutely necessary for any business that accepts cash. Yours is likely one of them. Although they seem like simple machines, not every one of them is the same. Make sure you’re checking system compatibility and toughness before you set your heart on one.

The central hub of most POS systems will be either a standard keyboard and computer or a touch screen LCD system. The former costs significantly less and is more flexible than its counterpart is but uses a lot more space and electricity. The latter tends to cost more up front but has the benefits of being more durable, having glare reduction, taking up less space, and using less electricity. Weigh those features before you make a hasty decision.

You may also need certain login features for your POS equipment. There are several different methods to ensure that your employees are using the right terminal and keep them accountable for their beginning of day and end of day counts, as well as help you to separate specific orders (such as tables and servers). Although you can simply use your terminals as a login method, having a PIN for every employee, other methods with equipment like a card reader or fingerprint reader, are usually much more secure as PIN numbers can be read and used by anyone. Likewise, swipe cards can be stolen. If you’re interested in the best, top of the line, and security for your store then a fingerprint scanner is the way to go.

As with everything in business, your hardware POS system will largely be based on an analysis of what your business needs now and what it will need in the future. By making an educated choice about the costs and potential benefits of each system, you may be able to find the right types of hardware to meet your needs to great effect.