Overview

Each business will have different POS screens to suit their business process - most are touch screen with images - it depends what the business would like.

The POS is not disconnected - it is simply POS screens that use the system - so an internet connection is required.  The machine recommended is a low spec windows device.

The POS can use a known customer (who may have payment terms) or uses the generic cash customer.  Every transaction is a separate transaction and will have individual GL journal lines in the system so very detailed reporting is possible.

Transactions

Any transaction in the system can be provided through the POS.  Some examples

• Selling items - including serialised items, clothing, kits assembled on the spot etc.
• Configuring items - including equipment, food orders etc
• Returning items for credit or refund
• Renting items / renewing rentals
• Capturing repair information
• Booking jobs

Touchscreen

Many organisations use touch screen navigation for the POS to quickly find items bring lines into focus, expand images or go to more detail or step through wizards for selling or checkout.  

Touchscreens can also be used to capture customer signatures where required - example contracted sales like rentals, repair agreements etc.

Cash Drawer

The cash drawer is connected via USB and opened using till transactions as required.

Cameras

Cameras are normally built into the windows screens - they can be used to capture images of products brought back by customers, repair or damage information, start of shift person photos etc.

Barcode Scanning

A barcode scanner is seen as a keyboard on the machine.  The scanner needs to be configured to read the range of barcodes used.  See Setting up Barcode Scanners

When the scanner is used - the number scanned can determine what is done by the POS

• Products for sale are added to the order
• Gift cards are captured to be used or purchased
• Loyalty cards will find the customer and hence the customers pricing, offers, terms etc will apply

Loyalty Management

Customer loyalty programmes take many forms - in essence they involve identifying a unique customer at the POS and then treating them differently.

• Earn / use points
• Special promotions or volume based discounts over time
• Using known information (eg shoe size, shirt size, preferred drink or food order, previous items purchased, delivery addresses, etc.) to facilitate the transaction

Fingerprint Scanners

Used to identify who entered a transaction, start and end of shift, approve transactions etc - see Fingerprint Scanners

Code and Pin

Code and Pin can be used in place of fingerprint scanners at any time..

Bank EFTPOS machines

Each bank uses a small number of machines.  The machines communicate with the POS using PCEFTPOS - see setting up POS EFTPOS

The EFTPOS machines are linked to banking batches - so the transactions all group together into a single click clearing in the Bank Req.  The cutoff times for the bank involved is used to group the transactions by terminal into batches.

Start of Day

Confirm start and float added.  Can track partial float into the till if required

End of Day

Cash counting, entry of petty cash spend, removal of next days float and banking process.  Where a cash count discrepancy exists an adjustment journal is created.

Start of Shift / End of Shift

Where roster planning and shift actuals are managed by the system - start and end of shift can be captured and used for timesheet information.  Pin, fingerprint scanner or camera photos can be used to capture authentication.

Reporting

Any reporting required at the POS can be provided.  This includes sales, stock, averages, per unit time (hr, 15 mins etc), by salesperson, by category etc. 

Some organisations have performance based bonus systems that are enhanced by POS reporting showing salespersons progress during the day.