Could it work, two POS software running one system?

[WirelessJunkie]

I want to know if it is possible to have two POS Software running one system. Background: I own a wireless retail store and have one POS Software (Work Wireless) running currently (i.e. cash register, scanner, credit card machine/swipe, etc.). I want to install a 2nd POS software (BTB) because Work Wireless is limiting and have glitches but have to keep it under Franchisor mandate. Could dual POS software run all my peripherals and how to reconcile the accounting at the end of the day. HELP!!!

 

[Shift4SMS]

Yes and no. Two POS applications can be run on a single system but with one big caveat: Peripheral sharing

Most POS applications are not coded to play nicely with other POS applications so one or the other may grab things like scanners, printers, card swipes, etc. and not share with the other system. You might be able to configure the systems so one gets some of the devices and the other gets different devices but this may be a nightmare for clerks using the systems. The only other way around it would be to start-up and shutdown the applications when needed.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

Steve Sommers

http://www.shift4.com

-- Creators of $$$ ON THE NET(tm) payment processing services

Blog:

http://shift4sms.blogspot.com

 

[Golom]

If your systems permit peripheral sharing then you might be able to do that but the issue of reconciling the two systems at the end of the day seems a tougher problem.

Generally the two systems will assume that they are the one-and-only system and each will report the results that it has. You might be able to combine things like sales using a spreadsheet but attempting to maintain accurate inventory levels will be almost impossible with two systems that believe that they are managing the whole inventory and not just part of it.

The other issue of course is how do you address out-of-balance issues? System "A" says there should be $100 in the cash drawer and system "B" says $150. You count and there's only $225. Where do you look for the problem?

And finally, if the Franchisor mandates one system, are they not going to expect reporting from that system? Seems like you would need to cross-ring sales from one system into the other to get the right answers.