POS Equipment: Restaurant Input Devices

Aug. 3, 2009 - PRLog -- POS Equipment - types of input devices

Point of Sale Equipment: Keyboards and touch screens

Choosing which input devices to use as your POS equipment should be the first thing on your checklist. You can go for a touch screen or a programmable keyboard, which ever makes transactions easier and faster. The only market where programmable keyboards are more popular is grocery stores, because it has the ability to program individual keys for specific item codes and prices.

Most touch screens today are designed by restaurant owners, it focuses more on meeting the needs of a restaruant that's why they are more intuitive to use. They also provide more flexibility in the user interface and programming. Most touch screens sold these days are based on flat-screen LCDs unlike the traditional CRT monitors. While LCD touch screens are slightly more expensive (typically $600 - $1,000 instead of $400 - $500), they last longer, use less electricity, and saves up space. They also look much better. With both CRT and LCD displays, avoid "overlay" touch screens that are added on to regular monitors - they are more prone to breakdowns and add an unnecessary complication to your system.

For keyboards, some models are standard 101-key models that you find with any computer. Others are smaller, more POS-specific devices, such as the flat-panel membrane keyboards usually seen at fast food chains. Often, POS keyboards come with built-in magnetic stripe readers for processing debit cards. Programmable keyboards usually go for between $150 and $300.

No matter which you use, just make sure to take in consideration the environment where you would want to use it. Both keyboards and touch screens are available with varying levels of spill and dust-proofing.

Point of Sale Equipment: POS Scanners
POS scanners reads bar codes and sends the information back to the computer. They typically connect to the system through Y-connectors called wedges that make them function as an extension of the keyboard. Bar code scanners improves speed and accuracy during checkout.

Low-end scanners are based on charge-coupled device (CCD) technology. They cost less, but usually have limitations - the item being scanned needs to be 1 to 3 inches from the scanner. In a typical retail setting, that should be fine.

For laser scanners, they offer better scanning with the ability to scan a bar code at long distances. You may find some laser scanners that automatically turn themselves on when scanning and then turn off again, this is called "autosensing". Omnidirectional scanners send out 15 or 20 lasers simultaneously, which can easily scan a bar code at any angle. And the top of the line are embedded scanners, these are omnidirectional scanners usually seen in supermarkets located below the counter for easy access.

Choose a scanner based on your customer volume. If the counter line has only one or a couple of customers, the CCDs or entry-level laser scanners should meet your needs. A fairly constant flow of customers might call for an autosensing model, and very high volume businesses should investigate omnidirectional or embedded scanners. Prices range from below $100 for the most basic CCD scanners to $350 or more for omnidirectional laser scanners.

Point of Sale Equipment: Handheld POS terminal
One of the latest and most ingenious type of input device is the handheld, wireless terminal. Essentially a PDA, each handheld terminal wirelessly transmits orders back to its base station. A great advantage this POS equipment can provide to a restaurant is that they increase the amount of time servers spend on the floor taking orders and interacting with customers, because they never have to go back to a terminal to enter orders.

Newer still are write-on handhelds: the combination of a touch screen interface and PDAs, this tiny input device allow servers to simply write the orders down. Handwriting recognition software parses the order then sends it directly on to the kitchen and bar to prepare the orders.

Handheld terminals are understandably more expensive compared to traditional touch-screen order terminals. However they can make up for the cost by allowing your servers to spend more time upselling customers with more desserts and drinks. If you are evaluating handheld terminals, make sure you ask about the "drop test" - units are rated for toughness according to how much of a fall they can survive. To find out if your business is a candidate for handheld POS terminals, compare multiple POS equipment vendors to learn what products and services they offer.

For more information on restaurant POS equipment or to have a local POS professional serving the restaurant industry, you may visit http://pos-for-restaurants.com

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