| If you have a retail store then you will need to use some type of retail point of sale software. This software is like a cash register but it is electronic. This software is needed when a transaction is made to purchase merchandise. IBM created the first type of software for point of sale though this really did not do a lot. Dillards department store and Pathmark were the first to use this software.
The next technology advancement came in 1979 when it was possible to take a customers orders at the front of the house and then have all the preparation details printed out in the kitchen. This included food cost and labour reports. However the latest software came about with the development of Unix and Windows platforms.
The latest types of software were specifically designed to be able to have remote support, easy to use, rich functionality, be consistent, have high operating speed, be reliable and have a low cost. You also can get web based software for online stores and this can usually be used for both online stores as well as retail stores. Most times web based software is less expensive than other versions.
The point of sale software will differ depending on the industry which is being used. The medical industry requires more than just registers in their software but also peripheral equipment, computer networks and more. Point of sales is used heavily in the restaurant industry as the registers use touch screens and have greatly increase order efficiency and decreased service time.
Besides point of sale software you also need hardware in order for customers to make purchases no matter what form of payment they choose to use. Some other hardware include a card swipe with pin pad, barcode scanner, cash drawer, receipt printer and credit card reader. Everything can be connected using USB connections. Citadel POS, MICROS and Radiant/Aloha are all common software packages though many companies will also develop their own software.
There are many options with this software as you can purchase the basic version and then add on the bits and pieces you need in the future. There are many mix and match features and your software can grow as your company grows.
Setting up this software in a retail store is always a bit of a pain and the older the equipment the more difficult this can be. You can also purchase a basic software and as your store grows you can add on to your software as there are many mix and match features. |
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