Point of Sale Equipment Guide

If your establishment accepts cash as a form of payment, a cash drawer is a necessary piece of equipment to keep your money safe and secure. Both manually operated and electronically operated cash drawers are available to fit your needs. Electronically operated cash drawers stay locked to employees until a sale is made and can be connected to POS software to track when the drawer is opened.

POS computers act as an alternative to a register, allowing you calculate and process transactions as well as connect to other POS hardware and POS software, either by USB or WiFi.

Mobile computers combine PC and scanning functions in a single, handheld device to track deliveries, monitor inventory, and manage orders and sales. Great for warehouses, manufacturers, health care facilities, and businesses with multiple locations, mobile computers can help keep your establishment's data up to date and keep staff connected no matter their location.

A card reader lets your customers securely pay by credit card while in-store, via chip card or a magnetic stripe card.

A barcode scanner reads an item’s barcode to bring up its price and details during the transaction process. Barcode scanners can also be used to manage inventory. Here are some considerations when purchasing a barcode scanner:

What kind of barcodes will you be reading? The first step in knowing what scanner you need is knowing if the scanner needs to read 1D or 2D barcodes.

What environment will the scanner be used in? Retail environments will most likely need ergonomically designed handheld scanners whereas warehouses and manufacturers will most likely need rugged/industrial scanners that can withstand extreme temperatures and other harsh conditions and are impact-resistant.

How many barcodes do you expect to scan in a day? If you have a high-volume operation, you may need a hands-free scanner to streamline your transactions.

Do you need it to be mobile? Corded scanners connect directly to a PC through a cable and may be all your business needs to operate. Cordless scanners connect to your system wirelessly for those who need added mobility when scanning.

Thermal label printers are essential for foodservice and retail environments looking to sell or ship packaged goods. There are two types of thermal printing methods: direct thermal and thermal transfer. Whereas direct thermal printers apply heat to chemically treated paper to create a label, thermal transfer printers use heat to bond a thin film of wax or resin coating onto a label.

Receipt printers are required in almost every establishment, providing customers with proof of purchase. Some factors to consider when purchasing a receipt printer is the print method, print speed, and any features, such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, that best suit your needs.

If you’re serving alcohol at your establishment, it is important to have ID scanners at your register to prevent the sale of alcohol to minors.

Restaurant pagers enable management and staff members to quickly send alerts to other employees when they're needed or to guests when their tables are ready. Pagers eliminate the need for loud overhead paging or raised voices from the kitchen, and they help increase a staff's accessibility and response time.