POS 101

[spacebass5000]

A little background on myself...

I have a BS in Computer Engineering, worked as a Linux System/Network Admin for a while and now have gone into business with a good friend of mine. We operate a Computer Solutions/Consulting firm that basically creates solutions for all sorts of problems that our clients face.

The most recent has been that she bought a POS system from some company and a month later, the company went belly up. Now her system is dead and she needs a new one.

I have now set out to educate myself on the basics of POS systems. I was hoping you could help...

Do you all know of any good tutorials, references, or books that would help bring me up to speed with respect to POS systems big and small?

Thanks...

 

[sibasis]

Here are some links I found on the net

http://www.121merchantaccount.com/POS/tutorial/

http://www.buyerzone.com/computers/pos/buyers_guide4.html

http://www.loftware-software.com/downloads/pos/DEMO.html

The big names for complete solutions are NCR, Micros and Squirrel, the ones I know of that is

It is a good idea to have a defined set of requirements and a good knowledge of available POS systems before making a choice on the hardware and software required for your POS system. A part of my job responsibility is to design, develop and maintain a POS system that my firm uses, everything indigenously developed for us-by us, so that we can custom it to whatever we need. If you have some hands on programming exp. its not too tough to develop your own unless your needs are complicated. I would not suggest that for your banking solutions as that gets messy and yes for your banking solution try to find a "host based provider". It will make your life a lot easier.

 

[spacebass5000]

awesome, thanks!!!!

 

[pelajhia]

also, check out Radiant, offering more pc-based rather than pos-machine based solutions.

 

[rpropro]

Basically you need to know your customers needs and the different POS systems customability and your customers limits on money and weigh that all together and when you're done you'll find there is no solution
Also need to know the industry of what she is in.
Retail for example, there are quick one touch sales like gas stations and hot dog stands at ball parks, then there are the big boys that own programmers that plug away all day to create the latest service pack for their system like Sears, JC Pennys etc. Most POS packages don't work with wholesales. Then there are those like Retail Pro that I know that is really good, but has a bigger learning curve then others. You can go Northwind, or your version of. Or RMS (MS) where you'll have to tell the client what you see is what you get.
Rpro for example has an inventory DB which is added to when a voucher is updated which are all kept in a seperate DB. The receipt subtracts from the inventory at POS upon update, then there are store to store transfers and manager adjustments which in turn are kept in their own db's as well. Reporting and linking to an accounting system is what I've found to be the most important aspect of any POS system, otherwise why not just keep the good old fashion cash register. So what ever system, the integerity and functionability of those should come first. Then there are the hardware attachments, MSR's unless she's probably got the veriphone thing which is fine but you can track CC# with a $100 atachable MSR, anyways, there's also the printer, cash drawer and scanner, all pretty easy if the system has the intergration for those, hard if not.
Also I've found screen GUI customability to be pretty unimportant in my experience, but security, reporting and printing to be important.
I have not found any text to be any easier then trying to crash a demo system.