Point of sale

The point of sale (POS) or point of purchase (POP) is the time and place at which a retail transaction is completed. At the point of sale, the merchant calculates the amount owed by the customer, indicates that amount, may prepare an invoice for the customer (which may be a cash register printout), and indicates the options for the customer to make payment. It is also the point at which a customer makes a payment to the merchant in exchange for goods or after provision of a service. After receiving payment, the merchant may issue a receipt, as proof of transaction, which is usually printed but can also be dispensed with or sent electronically.^[1]^[2]^[3]

To calculate the amount owed by a customer, the merchant may use various devices such as weighing scales, barcode scanners, and cash registers (or the more advanced "POS cash registers", which are sometimes also called "POS systems"^[4]^[5]). To make a payment, payment terminals, touch screens, and other hardware and software options are available.

The point of sale is often referred to as the point of service because it is not just a point of sale but also a point of return or customer order. POS terminal software may also include features for additional functionality, such as inventory management, CRM, financials, or warehousing.

Businesses are increasingly adopting POS systems, and one of the most obvious and compelling reasons is that a POS system eliminates the need for price tags. Selling prices are linked to the product code of an item when adding stock, so the cashier merely scans this code to process a sale. If there is a price change, this can also be easily done through the inventory window. Other advantages include the ability to implement various types of discounts, a loyalty scheme for customers, and more efficient stock control. These features are typical of almost all modern ePOS systems.

Terminology

Retailers and marketers will often refer to the area around the checkout instead as the point of purchase (POP) when they are discussing it from the customer's perspective. This is particularly the case when planning and designing the area as well as when considering a marketing strategy and offers.

Some point of sale vendors refer to their POS system as "retail management system" which is a more appropriate term, since this software is not just for processing sales but comes with many other capabilities, such as inventory management, membership systems, supplier records, bookkeeping, issuing of purchase orders, quotations and stock transfers, hide barcode label creation, sale reporting and in some cases remote outlet networking or linkage, to name some major ones.

Nevertheless, it is the term POS system rather than retail management system that is in vogue among both end-users and vendors.

The basic, fundamental definition of a POS System is a system which allows the processing and recording of transactions between a company and its consumers, at the time in which goods and/or services are purchased.

History

Software before the 1990s

Early electronic cash registers (ECR) were controlled with proprietary software and were limited in function and communication capability. In August 1973, IBM released the IBM 3650 and 3660 store systems that were, in essence, a mainframe computer used as a store controller that could control up to 128 IBM 3653/3663 point of sale registers. This system was the first commercial use of client-server technology, peer-to-peer communications, local area network (LAN) simultaneous backup, and remote initialization. By mid-1974, it was installed in Pathmark stores in New Jersey and Dillard's department stores.

One of the first microprocessor-controlled cash register systems was built by William Brobeck and Associates in 1974, for McDonald's Restaurants.^[6] It used the Intel 8008, an early microprocessor (forerunner to the Intel 8088 processor used in the original IBM Personal Computer). Each station in the restaurant had its own device which displayed the entire order for a customer — for example, [2] Vanilla Shake, [1] Large Fries, [3] Big Mac — using numeric keys and a button for every menu item. By pressing the [Grill] button, a second or third order could be worked on while the first transaction was in progress. When the customer was ready to pay, the [Total] button would calculate the bill, including sales tax for almost any jurisdiction in the United States. This made it accurate for McDonald's and very convenient for the servers and provided the restaurant owner with a check on the amount that should be in the cash drawers. Up to eight devices were connected to one of two interconnected computers so that printed reports, prices, and taxes could be handled from any desired device by putting it into Manager Mode. In addition to the error-correcting memory, accuracy was enhanced by having three copies of all important data with many numbers stored only as multiples of 3. Should one computer fail, the other could handle the entire store.

In 1986, Gene Mosher introduced the first graphical point of sale software^[7] featuring a touchscreen interface under the ViewTouch^[8] trademark on the 16-bit Atari 520ST color computer.^[9] It featured a color touchscreen widget-driven interface that allowed configuration of widgets representing menu items without low level programming.^[10] The ViewTouch point of sale software was first demonstrated in public at Fall Comdex, 1986,^[11] in Las Vegas, Nevada, to large crowds visiting the Atari Computer booth. This was the first commercially available POS system with a widget-driven color graphic touch screen interface and was installed in several restaurants in the US and Canada.

In 1986, IBM introduced its 468x series of POS equipment based on Digital Research's Concurrent DOS 286 and FlexOS 1.xx, a modular real-time multi-tasking multi-user operating system.

Modern software (post-1990s)

A wide range of POS applications have been developed on platforms such as Windows and Unix. The availability of local processing power, local data storage, networking, and graphical user interface made it possible to develop flexible and highly functional POS systems. Cost of such systems has also declined, as all the components can now be purchased off-the-shelf.

In 1993, IBM adopted FlexOS 2.32 as the basis of their IBM 4690 OS in their 469x series of POS terminals. This was developed up to 2014 when it was sold to Toshiba, who continued to support it up to at least 2017.

With increased options for commodity hardware and a more competitive market, the 1990s saw increased attention paid to the user interaction between store employees and POS systems. Touchscreens and larger displays became widely available in the 1990s, offering an alternative to limited displays like two-line VFDs used in the IBM 4683. The performance of the employees using the POS devices, a controllable cost for the business, depends upon the ease of learning, ease of use, and level of employee experience with it. Although experienced employees work more quickly with mechanically keyed entry,^[12] some systems favoured adopting GUI technology for ease of learning or for ergonomic factors.^[13]

The key requirements that must be met by modern POS systems include high and consistent operating speed, reliability, ease of use, remote supportability, low cost, and rich functionality. Retailers can reasonably expect to acquire such systems (including hardware) for about US$4000 (as of 2009) per checkout lane.

Reliability depends not wholly on the developer but at times on the compatibility between a database and an OS version. For example, the widely used Microsoft Access database system had a compatibility issue when Windows XP machines were updated to a newer version of Windows. Microsoft offered no immediate solution. Some businesses were severely disrupted in the process, and many downgraded back to Windows XP for a quick resolution. Other companies utilized community support, for a registry tweak solution has been found for this.^[14]^{[unreliable source]}

POS systems are one of the most complex software systems available because of the features that are required by different end users. Many POS systems are software suites that include sale, inventory, stock counting, vendor ordering, customer loyalty and reporting modules. Sometimes purchase ordering, stock transferring, quotation issuing, barcode creating, bookkeeping or even accounting capabilities are included. Each of these modules is interlinked if they are to serve their practical purpose and maximize their usability.

For instance, the sale window is immediately updated on a new member entry through the membership window because of this interlinking. Similarly, when a sale transaction is made, any purchase by a member is on record for the membership window to report providing information like payment type, goods purchased, date of purchase and points accumulated. Comprehensive analysis performed by a POS machine may need to process several qualities about a single product, like selling price, balance, average cost, quantity sold, description and department. Highly complex programming is involved (and possibly considerable computer resources) to generate such extensive analyses.

POS systems are designed not only to serve the retail, wholesale and hospitality industries as historically is the case. Currently POS systems are also used in goods and property leasing businesses, equipment repair shops, healthcare management, ticketing offices such as cinemas and sports facilities and many other operations where capabilities such as the following are required: processing monetary transactions, allocation and scheduling of facilities, keeping record and scheduling services rendered to customers, tracking of goods and processes (repair or manufacture), invoicing and tracking of debts and outstanding payments.

Different customers have different expectations within each trade. The reporting functionality alone is subject to so many demands, especially from those in the retail/wholesale industry. To cite special requirements, some business's goods may include perishables and hence the inventory system must be capable of prompting the admin and cashier on expiring or expired products. Some retail businesses require the system to store credit for their customers, credit which can be used subsequently to pay for goods. A few companies expect the POS system to behave like a full-fledged inventory management system, including the ability to provide FIFO (First In, First Out) and LIFO (Last In, First Out), reports of their goods for accounting and tax purposes.

In the hospitality industry, POS system capabilities can also diverge significantly. For instance, a restaurant is typically concerned about how the sale window functions: whether it has functionality such as creating item buttons, various discounts, adding a service charge, holding of receipts, queuing, table service as well as takeaways, merging and splitting of a receipt. These capabilities may be insufficient for a spa or slimming center which would require, in addition, a scheduling window with historical records of customers' attendance and their special requirements.

A POS system can be made to serve different purposes to different end users depending on their business processes. Often an off-the-shelf POS system is inadequate for customers. Some customization is required, and this is why a POS system can become very complex. The complexity of a mature POS system extends to remote networking or interlinking between remote outlets and the HQ such that updating both ways is possible. Some POS systems offer the linking of web-based orders to their sale window. Even when local networking is only required (as in the case of a high-traffic supermarket), there is the ever-present challenge for the developer to keep most if not all of their POS stations running. This puts high demand not just on software coding but also designing the whole system covering how individual stations and the network work together, and special consideration for the performance capability and usage of databases. Due to such complexity, bugs and errors encountered in POS systems are frequent.^[15]

With regard to databases, POS systems are very demanding on their performance because of numerous submissions and retrievals of data — required for correct sequencing the receipt number, checking various discounts, membership, calculating subtotal, so forth — just to process a single sale transaction. The immediacy required of the system on the sale window such as may be observed at a checkout counter in a supermarket cannot be compromised. This places much stress on individual enterprise databases if there are just several tens of thousands of sale records in the database. Enterprise database Microsoft SQL Server, for example, has been known to freeze up (including the OS) entirely for many minutes under such conditions showing a "Timeout Expired" error message. Even a lighter database like Microsoft Access will slow to a crawl over time if the problem of database bloating is not foreseen and managed by the system automatically. Therefore, the need to do extensive testing, debugging and improvisation of solutions to preempt failure of a database before commercial implementation complicates the development.

POS system accuracy is demanding, given that monetary transactions are involved continuously not only via the sale window but also at the back end through the receiving and inputting of goods into the inventory. Calculations required are not always straightforward. There may be many discounts and deals that are unique to specific products, and the POS machine must quickly process the differences and the effect on pricing. There is much complexity in the programming of such operations, especially when no error in calculation can be allowed.

Other requirements include that the system must have functionality for membership discount and points accumulation/usage, quantity and promotional discounts, mix and match offers, cash rounding up, invoice/delivery-order issuance with outstanding amount. It should enable a user to adjust the inventory of each product based on physical count, track expiry of perishable goods, change pricing, provide audit trail when modification of inventory records is performed, be capable of multiple outlet functionality, control of stocks from HQ, doubling as an invoicing system, just to name some.

It is clear that POS system is a term that implies a wide range of capabilities depending on the end-user requirements. POS system review websites cannot be expected to cover most let alone all the features. Unless one is a developer, it is unrealistic to expect the reviewer to know all the aspects of a POS system. For instance, a POS system might work smoothly on a test database during the review but not when the database grows significantly in size over months of usage. And this is only one among many hidden critical functionality issues of a POS system.

Hardware interface standardization (post-1980s)

Vendors and retailers are working to standardize development of computerized POS systems and simplify interconnecting POS devices. Two such initiatives were OPOS and JavaPOS, both of which conform to the UnifiedPOS standard led by The National Retail Federation.

OPOS (OLE for POS) was the first commonly adopted standard and was created by Microsoft, NCR Corporation, Epson and Fujitsu-ICL. OPOS is a COM-based interface compatible with all COM-enabled programming languages for Microsoft Windows. OPOS was first released in 1996. JavaPOS was developed by Sun Microsystems, IBM, and NCR Corporation in 1997 and first released in 1999. JavaPOS is for Java what OPOS is for Windows, and thus largely platform independent.

There are nearly as many proprietary protocols as there are companies making POS peripherals. Most POS peripherals, such as displays and printers, support several of these command protocols to work with many different brands of POS terminals and computers.

User interface design

The design of the sale window is the most important one for the user. This user interface is highly critical when compared to those in other software packages such as word editors or spreadsheet programs where the speed of navigation is not so crucial for business performance.

For businesses at prime locations where real estate is at a premium, it can be common to see a queue of customers. The faster a sale is completed the shorter the queue time which improves customer satisfaction, the less space it takes, which benefits shoppers and staff. High-traffic operations such as grocery outlets and cafes need to process sales quickly at the sales counter so the UI flow is often designed with as few popups or other interruptions to ensure the operator isn't distracted and the transaction can be processed as quickly as possible.

Although improving the ergonomics is possible, a clean, fast-paced look may come at the expense of sacrificing functions that are often wanted by end-users such as discounts, access to commission earned screens, membership and loyalty schemes can involve looking at a different function of the POS to ensure the point of sale screen contains only what a cashier needs at their disposal to serve customers.

Cloud-based (post-2000s)

The advent of cloud computing has given birth to the possibility of electronic point of sale (EPOS) systems^[16] to be deployed as software as a service, which can be accessed directly from the Internet using a web browser. Using the previous advances in the communication protocols for POS's control of hardware, cloud-based POS systems are independent from platform and operating system limitations. EPOS systems based in the cloud (most small-business POS today) are generally subscription-based, which includes ongoing customer support.^[17]

Compared to regular cash registers (which tend to be significantly cheaper but only process sales and print receipts), POS systems include automatic updating of the inventory library stock levels when selling products, real-time reports accessible from a remote computer, staff timesheets, and a customer library with loyalty features.^[18]

Cloud-based POS systems are also created to be compatible with a wide range of POS hardware and sometimes tablets such as Apple's iPad. Thus cloud-based POS also helped expand POS systems to mobile devices, such as tablet computers or smartphones.^[19]

These devices can also act as barcode readers using a built-in camera and as payment terminals using built-in NFC technology or an external payment card reader. A number of POS companies built their software specifically to be cloud-based. Other businesses who launched pre-2000s have since adapted their software to evolving technology.

Cloud-based POS systems are different from traditional POS largely because user data, including sales and inventory, are not stored locally, but in a remote server. The POS system is also not run locally, so there is no installation required.

Depending on the POS vendor and the terms of contract, compared to traditional on-premises POS installation, the software is more likely to be continually updated by the developer with more useful features and better performance in terms of computer resources at the remote server and in terms of fewer bugs and errors.

Other advantages of a cloud-based POS are instant centralization of data (important especially to chain stores), ability to access data from anywhere there is internet connection, and lower start-up costs.^[20]

Cloud based POS requires an internet connection. For this reason it important to use a device with 4G or 5G connectivity in case the device's primary internet goes down. In addition to being significantly less expensive than traditional legacy point of sale systems, a notable strength of cloud-based point of sale systems is the ability to switch to a different product, by a different developer, without having to purchase new hardware. The many developers creating new software applications help to ensure that the system is supported for longer than a typical legacy POS system.

A number of noted emerging cloud-based POS systems came on the scene less than a decade or even half a decade back. These systems are usually designed for restaurants, small and medium-sized retail operations with fairly simple sale processes as can be culled from POS system review sites. It appears from such software reviews that enterprise-level cloud-based POS systems are currently lacking in the market. "Enterprise-level" here means that the inventory should be capable of handling a large number of records, such as required by grocery stores and supermarkets. It can also mean that the system software and cloud server must be capable of generating reports such as analytics of sale against inventory for both a single and multiple outlets that are interlinked for administration by the headquarters of the business operation.

POS vendors of such cloud based systems should also have a strong contingency plan for the breakdown of their remote server such as represented by fail-over server support. Sometimes a major data center can fail completely, such as in a fire.^[21] On-premises installations are therefore sometimes seen alongside cloud-based implementation to preempt such incidents, especially for businesses with high traffic. The on-premises installations may not have the most up-to-date inventory and membership information.

For such contingency, a more innovative though highly complex approach for the developer is to have a trimmed down version of the POS system installed on the cashier computer at the outlet. On a daily basis the latest inventory and membership information from the remote server is automatically updated into the local database. Thus should the remote server fail, the cashier can switch over to the local sale window without disrupting sales. When the remote server is restored and the cashier switches over to the cloud system, the locally processed sale records are then automatically submitted to the remote system, thus maintaining the integrity of the remote database.

Although cloud-based POS systems save the end-user startup cost and technical challenges in maintaining an otherwise on-premises installation, there is a risk that if the cloud-based vendor closes down it may result in more immediate termination of services for the end-user compared to the case of a traditional full on-premises POS system where it can still run without the vendor.

Another consideration is that a cloud-based POS system actually exposes business data to service providers — namely, the hosting service company and the POS vendor which have access to both the application and database. The importance of securing critical business information such as supplier names, top selling items, customer relationship processes cannot be underestimated given that sometimes the few key success factors or trade secrets of a business are actually accessible through the POS system. This security and privacy concern is an ongoing issue in cloud computing.

Retail industry

The retail industry is one of the predominant users of POS terminals. The POS interface at a retail establishment varies greatly depending on the industry and owner of the retailer, but usually includes a cash register (typically a specialized x86-based computer running Windows Embedded or Linux), a method for employee input, cash drawer, receipt printer, barcode scanners (which may incorporate a scale), and an interface for processing Card payments and processing customer Information (a payment terminal). It can also include a conveyor belt, checkout divider, wireless handheld scanners, integrated card processing systems, and customer-facing displays to display totals and show advertisements. While some systems use typical PC interfaces (such as a keyboard & mouse), it is far more common to utilize touchscreens as they allow for faster response and better customization for the retailer. In the past, most IBM systems used a primarily keyboard-based interface, and NCR previously used side-keys on their displays before touchscreens were widely available, similar to their ATM products.

The POS system software can typically handle a myriad of customer based functions such as sales, returns, exchanges, layaways, gift cards, gift registries, customer loyalty programs, promotions, discounts and much more. POS software can also allow for functions such as pre-planned promotional sales, manufacturer coupon validation, foreign currency handling and multiple payment types.

The POS unit handles the sales to the consumer, but it is only one part of the entire POS system used in a retail business. The controlling servers, or "back-office" computers, typically handle other functions of the POS system such as inventory control, pricing, purchasing, receiving and transferring of products to and from other locations. Other typical functions of a POS system are: store sales information for enabling customer returns, reporting purposes, sales trends and cost/price/profit analysis. Customer information may be stored for receivables management, marketing purposes and specific buying analysis. Many retail POS systems include an accounting interface that "feeds" sales and product losses, cash drawer expected totals, and cashier productivity information to independent accounting applications.

Point-of-sale interface at a supermarket in California.

A multi-terminal POS system used by big retailers like supermarkets and department stores has a far more demanding database and software architecture than that of a single station seen in small retail outlets. A supermarket with high traffic cannot afford a systemic failure, hence each point of sale station is designed to be robust in its operation. Most proprietary POS systems designed for large retailers use 2 servers, with one acting as a backup in case of failure. In the event that both servers fail, the individual POS systems will enter a failsafe mode, where sales data is stored locally and exported back to the servers upon a return of the connection. This may prove challenging to implement in some instances however, as many commercial POS systems do not have any hard disks for security purposes, and often have limited amounts of RAM.

Performing updates between multiple stations and the back end administrative computer should be redundant, so that updates to inventory and promotions will be accurately reflected at checkout without having to restart the computer, and reflecting accurate sales records to the back-end computer at the end of the business day.

This gets even more complicated when there is a membership system requiring real-time two-way updating of membership points between sale stations and the back end administrative computer.

Retail operations such as hardware stores, lumber yards, electronics stores and so-called multifaceted superstores need specialized additional features compared to other stores. POS software in these cases handles special orders, purchase orders, repair orders, service and rental programs as well as typical point of sale functions. Rugged hardware is required for point of sale systems used in outdoor environments. Wireless devices, battery powered devices, all-in-one units, and Internet-ready machines are typical in this industry.

Recently new applications have been introduced, enabling POS transactions to be conducted using mobile phones and tablets. According to a recent study, mobile POS (mPOS) terminals are expected to replace the contemporary payment techniques because of various features including mobility, upfront low cost investment and better user experience.^[22]

In the mid-2000s, the blind community in the United States engaged in structured negotiations to ensure that retail point of sale devices had tactile keypads. Without keys that can be felt, a blind person cannot independently enter his or her PIN. In the mid-2000s retailers began using "flat screen" or "signature capture" devices that eliminated tactile keypads. Blind people were forced to share their confidential PIN with store clerks to use their debit and other PIN-based cards. The blind community reached agreement with Walmart, Target, CVS and eight other retailers that required real physical keys so blind people could use the devices.

Checkout configuration

Early stores typically kept merchandise behind a counter. Staff would fetch items for customers to prevent the opportunity for theft and sales would be made at the same counter. Self-service grocery stores such as Piggly Wiggly, beginning in 1916, allowed customers to fetch their own items and pass the point of sale enroute to the exit.

Modern stores have a variety of checkout configurations, but almost all stores will have their main checkout area situated close to the entrance/exits. Smaller stores may utilize simple counters, while big-box stores will typically use a conveyor belt system spaced out in separate "lanes" to process orders. Express lanes might limit the type of payment, or number or type of goods, to expedite service. Some department stores may also have checkouts inside of the departments to allow shoppers of that section to pay without going through the main lines. If each checkout station has a separate queue, customers have to guess which line will move the fastest, to minimize their wait times. They are often frustrated to be wrong or be stuck behind another customer who encounters a problem or who takes excessive time to check out. Some stores use a single, much longer but faster-moving line, that is served by multiple registers, which produces the same average wait time, but reduces the frustration and variance in wait time from person to person.^[23] Regardless of the configuration, checkout lines usually pass by impulse buy items to grab the attention of otherwise idle customers.

As self-checkout technology has progressed, more retailers of all types have included self-checkout as an option, and in some cases, completely replace traditional cashier-operated checkout lines. Self-checkout kiosks are typically kept together in a 'corral' area adjacent to the regular registers so that shop employees can more easily monitor transactions, though they are also occasionally set up in a more typical "lane" fashion with conveyor belts for loading groceries. More modern implementations of self-checkout include scanning items and paying within a retailer's mobile app, or using RF technology and cameras to detect items at the door and charge the customer's account automatically.

Hospitality industry

Hospitality point of sale systems are computerized systems incorporating registers, computers and peripheral equipment, usually on a computer network to be used in restaurants, hair salons or hotels. Like other point of sale systems, these systems track sales, labor, payroll and can generate records used in accounting and bookkeeping. They may be accessed remotely by restaurant corporate offices, troubleshooters and other authorized parties.

Point of sale systems have revolutionized the restaurant industry, particularly in the fast food sector. In the most recent technologies, registers are computers, sometimes with touch screens. The registers connect to a server, often referred to as a "store controller" or a "central control unit". Printers and monitors are also found on the network. Additionally, remote servers can connect to store networks and monitor sales and other store data.

Typical restaurant POS software is able to create and print guest checks, print orders to kitchens and bars for preparation, process credit cards and other payment cards, and run reports. In addition, some systems implement wireless pagers and electronic signature-capture devices.

In the fast food industry, displays may be at the front counter, or configured for drive-through or walk-through cashiering and order taking. Front counter registers allow taking and serving orders at the same terminal, while drive-through registers allow orders to be taken at one or more drive-through windows, to be cashiered and served at another. In addition to registers, drive-through and kitchen displays are used to view orders. Once orders appear they may be deleted or recalled by the touch interface or by bump bars. Drive-through systems are often enhanced by the use of drive-through wireless (or headset) intercoms. The efficiency of such systems allows decreased service times and increased efficiency of orders.

Another innovation in technology for the restaurant industry is wireless POS. Many restaurants with high volume use wireless handheld POS to collect orders which are sent to a server. The server sends required information to the kitchen in real time. Wireless systems consist of drive-through microphones and speakers (often one speaker will serve both purposes), which are wired to a "base station" or "center module." This, in turn, will broadcast to headsets. Headsets may be an all-in-one headset, or one connected to a belt pack.

With the development of the mobile technology, Cloud-based POS systems are also put forward to increase the efficiency of some restaurants, integrated with some latest software services such as scan QR code to order by customers themselves. It leads to a new style of offline restaurants dine-in.

In hotels, POS software allows for transfer of meal charges from dining room to guest room with a button or two. It may also need to be integrated with property management software.

Newer, more sophisticated systems are departing from the central database "file server" type system and going to what is called a "cluster database". This eliminates any crashing or system downtime that can be associated with the back office file server. This technology allows 100% of the information to not only be stored, but also pulled from the local terminal, thus eliminating the need to rely on a separate server for the system to operate.

Tablet POS systems popular for retail solutions are now available for the restaurant industry. Initially these systems were not sophisticated and many of the early systems did not support a remote printer in the kitchen. Tablet systems today are being used in all types of restaurants including table service operations. Most tablet systems upload all information to the Internet so managers and owners can view reports from anywhere with a password and Internet connection. Smartphone Internet access has made alerts and reports from the POS very accessible. Tablets have helped create the Mobile POS system, and Mobile POS applications also include payments, loyalty, online ordering, table side ordering by staff and table top ordering by customers. Regarding the payments, mobile POS can accept all kinds of payment methods from contactless cards, EMV chip-enabled cards, and mobile NFC enabled cards. Mobile POS (AKA mPOS) is growing quickly with new developers entering the market almost on a daily basis.

With the proliferation of low-priced touchscreen tablet computers, more restaurants have implemented self-ordering through a tablet POS placed permanently on every table. Customers can browse through the menu on the tablet and place their orders which are then sent to the kitchen. Most restaurants that have iPad self-order menus include photos of the dishes so guests can easily choose what they want to order. This apparently improves service and saves manpower on the part of the restaurant. However this depends on how intelligently the system has been programmed to be.

As a case in point, some self-ordering systems not requiring staff assistance may not properly recognize a subsequent order from the same customer at a table. As a result, the customer is left waiting and wondering why his second order of food and drink is not being served.

Another example of how intelligent the system can be, is whether an order that has been placed but not yet been processed by the kitchen can be modified by the customer through the tablet POS. For such an unprocessed order the customer should be given the option to easily retrieve the order and modify it on the tablet POS. When the order is being processed this function should be automatically disabled.

Self-ordering systems are not always free completely from intervention by the staff and for some good reasons. For example, some restaurants require that items selected by the customers be attended to and can only be placed by the waiter who has the password required to do so. This prevents fake such orders — as may be entered by playful kids — and subsequent dispute on the items ordered. If alcoholic beverages are ordered, it is necessary for the waiter to verify the customer's age before sending the order.

The technical specifications for implementing such self-ordering system are more demanding than a single cashier-controlled POS station. On the software and hardware side each tablet on a customer table has to be networked to the cashier POS station and the kitchen computer so that both are continually updated on orders placed. The common database that serves this network must also be capable of serving many concurrent users — cashier, customers, kitchen and perhaps a drink bar.

Some databases such as popularly-used Microsoft Access may have the specifications that it is capable of usage by multiple concurrent users.^{[citation needed]} However, under the stress of a POS system, they can fail miserably resulting in constant errors and corruption of data.^{[citation needed]}

POS systems are often designed for a variety of clients, and can be programmed by the end users to suit their needs. Some large clients write their own specifications for vendors to implement. In some cases, POS systems are sold and supported by third-party distributors, while in other cases they are sold and supported directly by the vendor.

The selection of a restaurant POS system is critical to the restaurant's daily operation and is a major investment that the restaurant's management and staff must endure for many years. The restaurant POS system interfaces with all phases of the restaurant operation, and with everyone that is involved with the restaurant including guests, suppliers, employees, managers and owners. The selection of a restaurant POS system is a complex process that should be undertaken by the restaurant owner and not delegated to an employee. The purchase process can be summarized in three steps: Design, Compare and Negotiate. The Design step requires research to determine which restaurant POS features are needed for the restaurant operation. With this information the restaurant owner or manager can Compare various restaurant POS solutions to determine which POS systems meet their requirements. The final step is to Negotiate the price, payment terms, included training, initial warranty and ongoing support costs.^{[citation needed]}

Accounting forensics

POS systems record sales for business and tax purposes. Illegal software dubbed "zappers" can be used on POS devices to falsify these records with a view to evading the payment of taxes.

In some countries, legislation is being introduced to make cash register systems more secure. For example, the French treasury is estimated to be failing to collect approximately €14 billion of value-added tax (VAT) revenue each year. The Finance Bill of 2016 was intended to address some of this loss by making it compulsory for taxpayers to operate on "secure systems". Therefore, from 1 January 2018, all retail businesses in France are required to record customer payments using certified secure accounting software or cash register systems.

A certified cash register system must provide for the incommutability, secure storage, and archiving of data. All businesses required to comply must obtain a certificate from the cash register system provider which certifies that the system meets these requirements. This is because VAT taxpayers may need to provide a certificate to the tax authorities showing that their cash management system fulfills the new requirements.

If the business cannot provide this certificate to the tax authorities, they may be fined. And, if the tax authorities can demonstrate fraudulent use of the system, both the business and the software provider can face tax penalties, fines, and criminal sanctions. Certification can be obtained either from: a body accredited by the French Accreditation Committee (Comité français d’accréditation or COFRAC) or the software provider of the cash register system.

Security

Despite the more advanced technology of a POS system as compared to a simple cash register, the POS system is still vulnerable to employee theft through the sales window. A dishonest cashier at a retail outlet can collude with a friend who pretends to be an ordinary customer. During checkout, the cashier can bypass scanning certain items or enter a lower quantity for some items thus profiting from the "free" goods.

The ability of a POS system to void a closed sale receipt for refund purpose without needing a password from an authorized superior also represents a security loophole. Even a function to issue a receipt with a negative amount which can be useful under certain circumstances, can be exploited by a cashier to easily lift money from the cash drawer.

To prevent such employee theft, it is crucial for a POS system to provide an admin window for the supervisor or administrator to generate and inspect a daily list of sale receipts, especially pertaining to the frequency of cancelled receipts before completion, refunded receipts and negative receipts. This is one effective way to alert the company to any suspicious activity - such as a high number of cancelled sales by a certain cashier - that may be occurring, and to take monitoring action.

To further deter employee theft, the sales counter should also be equipped with a closed-circuit television camera pointed at the POS system to monitor and record all activities.

At the back end, price and other changes like discounts to inventory items through the administration module should be secured with passwords provided to trusted administrators. Any changes made should also be logged and capable of being subsequently retrieved for inspection.

The sale records and inventory are important to the business because they provide useful information to the company in terms of customer preferences, customer membership particulars, what are the top selling products, who are the vendors and what margins the company is getting from them, the company monthly total revenue and cost, among others.

It is important that reports on these matters generated at the administrative back end be restricted to trusted personnel. The database from which these reports are generated should be secured via passwords or via encryption of data stored in the database to prevent copying or tampering.

Despite all such precautions, the POS system can never be entirely watertight in security from internal misuse if a clever, dishonest employee knows how to exploit many of its otherwise useful capabilities.

News reports on POS system hacking show that hackers are more interested in stealing credit card information than anything else. The ease and advantage offered by the ability of a POS system to integrate credit card processing thus have a downside. In 2011, hackers were able to steal credit card data from 80,000 customers because Subway's security and POS configuration standards for PCI compliance - which governs credit card and debit card payment systems security - were "directly and blatantly disregarded" by Subway franchisees.^[24]

In June 2016, several hundred of Wendy's fast food restaurants had their POS systems hacked by illegally installed malware.^[25] The report goes on to say that "the number of franchise restaurants impacted by these cyber security attacks is now expected to be considerably higher than the 300 restaurants already implicated" and that the "hackers made hundreds of thousands of fraudulent purchases on credit and debit cards issued by various financial institutions after breaching Wendy's computer systems late last year".

These exploits by hackers could only be made possible because payment cards were processed through the POS system allowing the malware to either intercept card data during processing or steal and transmit unencrypted card data that is stored in the system database.

In April 2017, security researchers identified critical vulnerabilities in point of sale systems developed by SAP and Oracle^[26] and commented, “POS systems are plagued by vulnerabilities, and incidents occurred because their security drawbacks came under the spotlight.”^[27] If successfully exploited, these vulnerabilities provide a perpetrator with access to every legitimate function of the system, such as changing prices, and remotely starting and stopping terminals. To illustrate the attack vector, the researchers used the example of hacking POS to change the price of a MacBook to $1. The security issues were reported to the vendor, and a patch was released soon after the notification. Oracle confirmed^[28] security bug affects over 300,000 Oracle POS Systems

In some countries, credit and debit cards are only processed via payment terminals. Thus one may see quite a number of such terminals for different cards cluttering up a sale counter. This inconvenience is offset by the fact that credit and debit card data is far less vulnerable to hackers, unlike when payment cards are processed through the POS system where security is contingent upon the actions taken by end-users and developers.

With the launch of mobile payment, particularly Android Pay and Apple Pay in 2015, it is expected that because of its greater convenience coupled with good security features, this would eventually eclipse other types of payment services – including the use of payment terminals. For mobile payment to go fully mainstream, mobile devices like smartphones that are NFC-enabled must first become universal. This would be a matter of several years from the time of this writing (2017) as more and more models of new smartphones are expected to become NFC-enabled for such a purpose. For instance, iPhone 6 is fully NFC-enabled for mobile payment while iPhone 5 and older models are not. The aforesaid disastrous security risks connected with processing payment card usage through a POS system would then be greatly diminished.

References

"Paperless Receipt Solution (PRS) System". James Dyson Foundation. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
"Electronic Transmission of Prescriptions". Business Services Authority. Archived from the original on July 6, 2017. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
"Tricks traders use to evade billions of francs in taxes". The New Times. 9 October 2014. Archived from the original on 2017-06-30. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
"Cash register vs. POS system –what's the difference?". 30 June 2019. Archived from the original on 2023-03-30. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
"How to Choose a POS Cash Register". Archived from the original on 2023-04-07. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
US patent 3946220, William M. Brobeck; John S. Givins Jr. & Philip F. Meads Jr. et al., "Point-of-sale system and apparatus", published 1976-03-23, assigned to Transactron, Inc. [1]
"Graphical point of sale software introducer". 11 September 2012. Archived from the original on 20 December 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
"ViewTouch". ViewTouch. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2012.
Bisson, Gigi (2008-04-25). "Getting Down To Business". Viewtouch.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-27. Retrieved 2013-07-12.
The ViewTouch restaurant system Archived 2009-09-09 at the Wayback Machine by Giselle Bisson
"File:Comdex 1986.png — Wikimedia Commons". Commons.wikimedia.org. 11 September 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-12-20. Retrieved 2013-07-12.
Wilson, Karen S.; Liu, Michael Inderrieden Steven (October 1995). "A Comparison of Five User Interface Devices Designed for Point-of-Sale in the Retail Industry". Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting. 39 (4): 273–277. doi:10.1177/154193129503900411. ISSN 2169-5067. S2CID 108458064. Archived from the original on 2023-01-16. Retrieved 2023-01-16.
Kasavana, Michael L. (1995-04-01). "PC-based registers: The next generation of point-of-sale technology". The Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly. 36 (2): 5–55. doi:10.1016/0010-8804(95)93843-J. ISSN 0010-8804.
"Access 2007 very slow on Windows 7". social.technet.microsoft.com. Archived from the original on 5 May 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
"15 ways a mobile point of sale can help your restaurant succeed — Poster". joinposter.com. Archived from the original on 2018-12-28. Retrieved 2018-12-28.
"EPOS term". 30 June 2019. Archived from the original on 2023-03-30. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
"Cash register vs. POS system – what's the difference?". 30 June 2019. Archived from the original on 2023-03-30. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
"Cash register vs. POS system – what's the difference?". 30 June 2019. Archived from the original on 2023-03-30. Retrieved 2023-06-25.
"Mobile Point-of-Sale Apps: Redefining the Retail Industry". Scandit. 10 May 2013. Archived from the original on 6 April 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
The Online POS System Revolution Archived 2012-06-02 at the Wayback Machine via Small Business Bonfire
"Overheating brings down Microsoft data center". DatacenterDynamics. 14 March 2013. Archived from the original on 2016-04-05. Retrieved 2016-04-14.
Securing Mobile Point of Sale System Archived 2016-11-21 at the Wayback Machine via Securebox
Goldstein, Jacob (22 July 2015). "Planet Money Asks: What Small Thing Would You Do To Improve The World?". NPR.org. NPR. Archived from the original on 16 October 2017. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
"How hackers gave Subway a $3 million lesson in point-of-sale security". Ars Technica. 21 December 2011. Archived from the original on 10 November 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
Seals, Tara (13 June 2016). "Wendy's Point of Sale Hack Grows Bigger". Infosecurity. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
"SAP point-of-sale systems were totally hackable with $25 kit". The Register. 29 August 2017. Archived from the original on 22 September 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
"SAP POS Flaw Allows Hackers to Change Pricing". Infosecurity. 25 August 2017. Archived from the original on 22 September 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
"Security Bug Affects Over 300,000 Oracle POS Systems". Catalin Cimpanu. 31 January 2018. Archived from the original on 1 February 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018 – via BleepingComputer.

[1] "Paperless Receipt Solution (PRS) System". James Dyson Foundation. Archived from the original on July 1, 2017. Retrieved August 9, 2015.

[2] "Electronic Transmission of Prescriptions". Business Services Authority. Archived from the original on July 6, 2017. Retrieved August 9, 2015.

[3] "Tricks traders use to evade billions of francs in taxes". The New Times. 9 October 2014. Archived from the original on 2017-06-30. Retrieved August 9, 2015.

[4] "Cash register vs. POS system –what's the difference?". 30 June 2019. Archived from the original on 2023-03-30. Retrieved 2023-06-25.

[5] "How to Choose a POS Cash Register". Archived from the original on 2023-04-07. Retrieved 2023-06-25.

[6] US patent 3946220, William M. Brobeck; John S. Givins Jr. & Philip F. Meads Jr. et al., "Point-of-sale system and apparatus", published 1976-03-23, assigned to Transactron, Inc. [1]

[7] "Graphical point of sale software introducer". 11 September 2012. Archived from the original on 20 December 2012. Retrieved 27 May 2015.

[8] "ViewTouch". ViewTouch. Archived from the original on 17 July 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2012.

[9] Bisson, Gigi (2008-04-25). "Getting Down To Business". Viewtouch.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-27. Retrieved 2013-07-12.

[10] The ViewTouch restaurant system Archived 2009-09-09 at the Wayback Machine by Giselle Bisson

[11] "File:Comdex 1986.png — Wikimedia Commons". Commons.wikimedia.org. 11 September 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-12-20. Retrieved 2013-07-12.

[12] Wilson, Karen S.; Liu, Michael Inderrieden Steven (October 1995). "A Comparison of Five User Interface Devices Designed for Point-of-Sale in the Retail Industry". Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting. 39 (4): 273–277. doi:10.1177/154193129503900411. ISSN 2169-5067. S2CID 108458064. Archived from the original on 2023-01-16. Retrieved 2023-01-16.

[13] Kasavana, Michael L. (1995-04-01). "PC-based registers: The next generation of point-of-sale technology". The Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly. 36 (2): 5–55. doi:10.1016/0010-8804(95)93843-J. ISSN 0010-8804.

[14] "Access 2007 very slow on Windows 7". social.technet.microsoft.com. Archived from the original on 5 May 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2017.

[15] "15 ways a mobile point of sale can help your restaurant succeed — Poster". joinposter.com. Archived from the original on 2018-12-28. Retrieved 2018-12-28.

[16] "EPOS term". 30 June 2019. Archived from the original on 2023-03-30. Retrieved 2023-06-25.

[17] "Cash register vs. POS system – what's the difference?". 30 June 2019. Archived from the original on 2023-03-30. Retrieved 2023-06-25.

[18] "Cash register vs. POS system – what's the difference?". 30 June 2019. Archived from the original on 2023-03-30. Retrieved 2023-06-25.

[19] "Mobile Point-of-Sale Apps: Redefining the Retail Industry". Scandit. 10 May 2013. Archived from the original on 6 April 2017. Retrieved 20 August 2015.

[bonfire-20] The Online POS System Revolution Archived 2012-06-02 at the Wayback Machine via Small Business Bonfire

[21] "Overheating brings down Microsoft data center". DatacenterDynamics. 14 March 2013. Archived from the original on 2016-04-05. Retrieved 2016-04-14.

[22] Securing Mobile Point of Sale System Archived 2016-11-21 at the Wayback Machine via Securebox

[23] Goldstein, Jacob (22 July 2015). "Planet Money Asks: What Small Thing Would You Do To Improve The World?". NPR.org. NPR. Archived from the original on 16 October 2017. Retrieved 15 October 2017.

[24] "How hackers gave Subway a $3 million lesson in point-of-sale security". Ars Technica. 21 December 2011. Archived from the original on 10 November 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2017.

[25] Seals, Tara (13 June 2016). "Wendy's Point of Sale Hack Grows Bigger". Infosecurity. Retrieved 15 October 2017.

[26] "SAP point-of-sale systems were totally hackable with $25 kit". The Register. 29 August 2017. Archived from the original on 22 September 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2017.

[27] "SAP POS Flaw Allows Hackers to Change Pricing". Infosecurity. 25 August 2017. Archived from the original on 22 September 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2017.

[28] "Security Bug Affects Over 300,000 Oracle POS Systems". Catalin Cimpanu. 31 January 2018. Archived from the original on 1 February 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018 – via BleepingComputer.

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Point Of Sales System For Restaurant	A electronic transaction management tool designed explicitly for eateries optimizes order processing, inventory tracking, and payment handling. It boosts operational efficiency and enhances customer service by integrating multiple restaurant functions into a single platform.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_of_sale
Point Of Sale	A Point of Sale functions as the key hub where transactions are finalized, orders are handled, and payments are processed in a eatery. It streamlines operations, increases order accuracy, and enhances the overall customer experience.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_of_sale_system
Restaurant Management	Restaurant Management entails supervising everyday activities, employees, and customer service to provide a smooth dining experience. Effective payment and order processing solutions is essential in streamlining workflows and enhancing overall business performance.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restaurant_management
Inventory Management	Efficient Inventory Management ensures restaurants maintain optimal stock levels, cutting down on waste and avoiding shortages during peak times. Integrating this process with sales technology streamlines order tracking and improves overall operational efficiency.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventory_management_system
Sales Reporting	Sales reporting offers detailed insights into daily transactions, assisting restaurant managers monitor revenue, recognize popular menu items, and monitor employee performance. This data-driven approach enhances decision-making and optimizes operations within the restaurant's sales management platform.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_of_sale_system
Payment Processing	Payment processing enables seamless and protected payments between customers and restaurants, ensuring efficient management of multiple payment methods. It is vital in the entire sales system by hastening checkout times and boosting the dining experience.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Payment_processor
Customer Relationship Management	Customer Relationship Management enhances dining experiences by tracking customer likes and purchase history within the restaurant's sales platform. This integration helps customize promotions and enhance service efficiency, encouraging loyalty and repeat business.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Customer_relationship_management
Touch Screen Interface	The touch screen interface simplifies order processing and payment transactions, enhancing efficiency and accuracy in food service operations. It permits staff to quickly input customer orders and manage sales, improving overall operational flow and customer satisfaction.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touchscreen
Barcode Scanner	A Barcode Scanner swiftly scans product information to optimize order processing and inventory management in dining establishments. It boosts transaction speed and accuracy, enhancing overall customer service efficiency.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barcode_scanner
Receipt Printer	A Receipt Printer is an essential device that rapidly produces hardcopy transaction records for customers in restaurants. It simplifies order processing and payment verification, enhancing overall service efficiency.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_of_sale_printer
Menu Management	Menu Management streamlines the organization and updating of food and beverage offerings, ensuring precise pricing and stock. It plays a crucial role in improving order precision and effectiveness within electronic ordering and payment solutions used in food service venues.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menu_planning
Order Management	Order management streamlines the workflow of taking, tracking, and fulfilling customer orders in a restaurant. It ensures accuracy and efficiency, boosting customer satisfaction and operational flow within the sales environment.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_management_system
Cloud Computing	Cloud Computing allows effortless administration of sales transactions and inventory updates in restaurant environments by providing instant data access and remote connectivity. This technology boosts operational efficiency and supports expandable solutions for order processing and customer service.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_computing
Mobile Payment	Mobile Payment system simplifies transactions at restaurants by allowing customers to pay fast and securely using their mobile devices. This innovation boosts the efficiency of order processing and reduces wait times, improving overall customer satisfaction.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_payment
Cash Drawer	A cash drawer reliably keeps financial transactions and delivers quick access for processing payments during customer transactions. It connects smoothly with restaurant checkout technology to ensure precise and effective financial management.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cash_drawer
Employee Management	Employee Management in a restaurant’s sales platform provides effective scheduling, attendance tracking, and performance monitoring to optimize workforce productivity. It plays a crucial role in streamlining operations, boosting customer service, and maintaining smooth daily activities.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_resource_management
Sales Analytics	Sales Analytics helps restaurant owners monitor and analyze customer purchasing habits and sales tendencies in real-time. This data-driven understanding facilitates optimized inventory management, targeted promotions, and improved overall operational efficiency at the checkout interface.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sales_analysis
Kitchen Display System	A Kitchen Display System optimizes communication between the front of house and kitchen staff by automatically processing orders in real-time. It enhances efficiency and accuracy in food preparation, seamlessly connecting with restaurant transaction and management platforms.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_of_sale_display
Table Management	Table Management organizes seating arrangements and tracks table status to enhance customer flow and minimize wait times. It integrates with transaction systems to speed up order processing and boost overall dining efficiency.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restaurant_management
Loyalty Programs	Loyalty Programs improve customer retention by rewarding repeat visits and driving increased spending. Connected with sales technology, they optimize tracking and redemption, raising overall restaurant revenue and customer satisfaction.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loyalty_program
Integration Software	Integration software simplifies communication between ordering, payment, and inventory management modules in restaurants. It provides seamless data flow, enhancing operational efficiency and enhancing customer service.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enterprise_application_integration
Hardware Terminal	The Hardware Terminal acts as the main device where orders are placed, payments are completed, and transactions are managed efficiently in restaurants. It simplifies processes by combining various features, facilitating faster service and precise record management.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_of_sale_terminal
Software As A Service	Software as a Service provides cloud services that simplify order management, payment processing, and inventory tracking for dining venues. This technology helps restaurants to operate efficiently with real-time data access and seamless integration across multiple devices.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_as_a_service
Security Protocols	Security protocols are vital for protecting confidential payment and customer data during operations in restaurants. They guarantee protected communication between devices, blocking unauthorized access and fraud in digital ordering and payment processes.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_protocol
Data Encryption	Data encryption protects confidential customer and transaction information by transforming it into unreadable code, shielding it from unauthorized access. In restaurant transaction systems, this makes sure payment data remains confidential and safe during processing and storage.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_encryption_standard
Contactless Payment	Contactless Payment technology streamlines transactions by allowing customers to rapidly and securely pay using their smartphones or cards without physical contact. This innovation improves the effectiveness and pace of checkout processes in dining locations, enhancing overall customer experience.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contactless_payment
Point Of Sale System	A Point of Sale system streamlines order processing and payment transactions, boosting efficiency and accuracy in restaurant environments. It unifies sales, inventory, and customer management to optimize overall operational flow in dining establishments.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_of_sale_system
Sales Transaction	A sales transaction documents the sale of items or services for payment, ensuring accurate monitoring of orders and revenue. In a restaurant environment, this procedure simplifies order management and payment processing, improving operational efficiency and customer experience.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_of_sale_system
Touchscreen Interface	A touchscreen interface optimizes order processing and payment transactions in dining establishments by providing an intuitive, engaging platform for staff. This technology enhances speed, accuracy, and overall customer service efficiency in food service operations.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touchscreen
Payment Terminal	A payment terminal is a tool that handles customer transactions securely and effectively in eating places. It serves a vital role in speeding up order payments and enhancing the overall checkout experience.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_of_sale_terminal
Credit Card Processing	Credit card processing enables seamless and safe payment operations in dining establishments, enhancing customer satisfaction and business efficiency. It connects with sales management systems to simplify order processing and payment reconciliation.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Payment_card_terminal
Order Management System	An Order Management System simplifies the workflow of receiving, tracking, and fulfilling customer orders in a food service environment. It boosts efficiency by integrating with sales technology to provide accurate billing and on-time service delivery.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_management_system
Point Of Sale Software	Point of sale software optimizes order processing, payment transactions, and inventory management in dining establishments. It enhances operational efficiency and strengthens customer service by integrating essential functions into a unified platform.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_of_sale_system
Data Analytics	Data Analytics aids restaurants track sales trends, customer preferences, and inventory levels in real-time, enabling smarter decision-making. By analyzing this data, establishments can improve menu offerings, improve service efficiency, and raise overall profitability.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_intelligence
Customer Loyalty Program	A customer loyalty program helps eateries reward loyal patrons by tracking transactions and offering rewards, enhancing overall customer satisfaction. Integrated with sales technology, it streamlines the process of accumulating and using rewards directly at checkout.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loyalty_program
Merchant Account	A Merchant Account permits restaurants to process electronic payments in a secure manner and effectively. It is essential for streamlining transactions within their sales processing framework, ensuring smooth and reliable customer checkouts.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merchant_account
Electronic Funds Transfer	Electronic funds transfer allows secure and instant payment operations between customers and businesses through digital channels. In a restaurant checkout setup, it speeds up the payment process, boosting efficiency and customer convenience.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_funds_transfer
Stock Control	Stock Control provides reliable tracking of supplies to avoid deficits and excess inventory in a dining environment. It works effortlessly with sales operations to improve ingredient utilization and maintain efficient order processing.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventory_control_system
Business Intelligence	Business Intelligence improves restaurant transaction platforms by evaluating sales data to optimize inventory, staffing, and menu offerings. It provides actionable insights that help enhance customer experience and increase overall operational efficiency.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_intelligence
Menu Engineering	Menu Engineering evaluates the profitability and appeal of menu items to enhance menu design and increase sales. It connects with sales technology to track performance data, enabling restaurants make informed decisions on pricing and promotions.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menu_engineering
Employee Scheduling	Employee Scheduling ensures optimal staffing by matching employee shifts with high business hours, improving service efficiency in restaurant management platforms. It simplifies workforce coordination, cutting labor costs and improving overall operational flow.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Employee_scheduling_system
Restaurant Inventory	Restaurant Inventory management keeps track of ingredients and supplies to maintain ideal stock levels, cutting down on waste and managing costs. Integrating this with sales tools assists simplify operations by automatically updating inventory based on customer orders and sales data.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_of_sale_system
Customer Loyalty Programs	Customer loyalty programs increase repeat visits by rewarding patrons and encouraging come-backs. Integrated with the restaurant's sales system, these schemes streamline tracking and redemption of rewards, improving customer satisfaction and sales performance.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loyalty_program
Supplier Management	Supplier Management provides on-time procurement of high-quality materials and items, directly affecting the effectiveness and service quality of a restaurant's sales system. By keeping solid Supplier Management relationships, restaurants can reduce costs, prevent stockouts, and improve overall customer satisfaction at the checkout.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supply_chain_management
Revenue Management	Revenue management in foodservice sales platforms improves pricing and inventory to increase profitability and reduce waste. It utilizes real-time data to adjust menu offerings and promotions based on demand patterns and customer behavior.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revenue_management
Billing System	The Billing System streamlines the procedure of capturing customer orders and determining totals, guaranteeing correct and effective transactions in a dining environment. It connects with sales systems to boost order management, payment processing, and total customer service.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_of_sale_system
Cash Register	A Cash Register is essential for managing transactions and tracking sales in a restaurant setting. It simplifies the payment process, guaranteeing accurate billing and effective handling of customer payments.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cash_register
Reservation System	A reservation system streamlines the booking process, allowing restaurants to effectively manage table availability and customer flow. Combined with sales and service management tools, it improves operational efficiency and enhances the overall dining experience.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reservation_system
Food Cost Control	Food Cost Control is essential for controlling expenses and maximizing profitability in a restaurant setting. Integrating this system with a sales tracking system helps record ingredient usage, sales data, and waste to ensure efficient inventory and cost management.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_service#Cost_control
Staff Training	Efficient Staff Training ensures employees can efficiently handle sales and order management technology, causing quicker service and less errors. This skill improves customer experience and optimizes restaurant operations.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Employee_training_and_development
Pos Hardware	POS hardware includes devices like terminals, printers, and scanners that streamline order processing and payment transactions in eateries. These components work together to boost efficiency and accuracy in managing customer orders and sales.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_of_sale_system
Cloud Pos	Cloud POS helps restaurants to manage orders, payments, and inventory smoothly through web-based technology, enhancing operational efficiency. It provides real-time data access and integration across several devices, streamlining service and enhancing customer experience.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_of_sale
Guest Experience	Elevating Guest Experience is crucial in restaurant environments as it guarantees smooth order processing and personalized service. Unified ordering and payment solutions help staff deliver faster, more accurate service, boosting customer satisfaction and loyalty.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Customer_experience
Operational Efficiency	Enhancing Operational Efficiency in foodservice venues involves streamlining order processing, inventory management, and payment processing. This enhancement decreases wait times, minimizes errors, and enhances overall customer satisfaction through smooth technology integration.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operational_efficiency
Supply Chain Management	Supply Chain Management provides the efficient movement of ingredients and supplies from suppliers to a restaurant's sales interface, cutting hold-ups and waste. It is key in keeping precise inventory and enabling smooth customer transactions.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supply_chain_management
Barcode Scanning	Barcode Scanning streamlines order fulfillment and stock control in hospitality environments by quickly capturing product information. This technology enhances transaction velocity and accuracy, bettering overall customer experience and operational efficiency.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barcode_scanner
Inventory Turnover	Inventory turnover tracks how quickly stock is utilized and restocked, enabling restaurants maximize ingredient use and minimize waste. Incorporating this metric into sales management technology facilitates accurate tracking and effective ordering, guaranteeing fresh supplies and enhanced profitability.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventory_turnover
Reorder Point	The Reorder Point is a key inventory management measure that initiates the replenishment of stock to avoid shortages. In a restaurant's sales platform, it ensures on-time restocking of ingredients and supplies, ensuring smooth operations and customer satisfaction.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reorder_point
Lead Time	Lead time refers to the interval between ordering and receiving the goods, which is important for handling inventory effectively in restaurant management software. Accurate lead time tracking helps guarantee prompt restocking, minimizing delays and avoiding shortages during high service hours.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lead_time
Safety Stock	Safety stock serves as a cushion to avoid stockouts during unforeseen demand fluctuations or supply delays in restaurant software. It maintains seamless operations by keeping adequate ingredient levels, preventing interruptions in meal preparation and customer service.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safety_stock
Just In Time	Just In Time ensures that inventory is restocked precisely when necessary, reducing waste and lowering storage costs in restaurant operations. This strategy improves efficiency and accuracy in overseeing sales and order processing within restaurant management software.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Just-in-time_manufacturing
Fifo	FIFO ensures that the longest-held inventory items are used first, reducing waste and maintaining freshness in catering operations. This method is vital for managing stock efficiently in restaurant transaction systems, helping to optimize ingredient usage and reduce spoilage.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFO_(computing)
Lifo	LIFO is a stock management technique that ensures the most recently purchased goods are utilized or transferred first, helping maintain precise stock levels in food service operations. This method is essential for managing perishables efficiently in digital ordering and sales platforms tailored for dining establishments.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_of_sale_system
Inventory Auditing	Inventory auditing provides reliable monitoring of culinary and beverage items, minimizing loss and pilferage. It is essential in POS systems for eating venues by keeping supply consistency and optimizing purchase handling.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventory_management_system
Vendor Managed Inventory	Vendor Managed Inventory simplifies stock control by allowing suppliers to oversee and refill restaurant supplies based on real-time sales data from the transaction system. This integration ensures optimal inventory levels, reduces waste, and boosts operational efficiency in food service establishments.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vendor-managed_inventory
Purchase Order	A Purchase Order is a official document used to requisition and approve the acquisition of materials and ingredients necessary for restaurant operations. It assists optimize inventory management and guarantees accurate recording of orders within the restaurant's sales and management platform.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purchase_order
Sales Forecasting	Sales forecasting aids restaurants anticipate upcoming sales trends by reviewing past data and customer behavior, facilitating better inventory and staff management. Integrating this functionality into a restaurant's transaction management platform guarantees more accurate planning and improved operational efficiency.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sales_forecasting
Demand Planning	Demand planning helps restaurants forecast ingredient needs and control inventory efficiently to cut waste and maintain menu availability. Integrated with sales tracking technology, it allows real-time adjustments based on customer purchasing patterns.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demand_planning
Inventory Optimization	Inventory Optimization makes sure that a dining establishment maintains the correct balance of components and materials, cutting down waste and controlling costs. Unified sales management tools aid follow real-time usage and sales trends, facilitating more exact ordering and efficient stock control.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventory_management_system
Shrinkage	Shrinkage refers to the loss of inventory due to theft, inaccuracies, or deterioration, significantly impacting a restaurant's profitability. Efficient sales management software helps monitor and minimize these losses by providing immediate inventory monitoring and transaction accuracy.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventory_shrinkage
Cost Of Goods Sold	Cost of Goods Sold represents the specific costs of components and resources used to create food items, crucial for monitoring profitability in restaurant sales management tools. Accurate calculation helps improve inventory control and pricing strategies within the establishment's sales tracking setup.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cost_of_goods_sold
Inventory Tracking	Inventory Tracking ensures instant tracking of materials and stock, helping restaurants minimize waste and eliminate stockouts. Integrated with sales management tools, it optimizes the ordering process and enhances overall operational efficiency.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventory_management_system
Inventory Valuation	Inventory valuation assists restaurants precisely follow the cost of items and supplies, guaranteeing financial gain and minimizing waste. It is vital in sales management platforms by offering real-time data for pricing, menu planning, and financial reporting.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventory_valuation
Enterprise Resource Planning	Enterprise Resource Planning unifies various operations to optimize operations and increase efficiency in food service management. It is key in handling sales transactions, inventory, and customer data within restaurant checkout solutions.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enterprise_resource_planning
Stock Keeping Unit	A Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) distinctly identifies every product, allowing efficient inventory tracking and management within restaurant sales platforms. It ensures accurate sales data and simplifies order processing, enhancing overall operational efficiency.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stock-keeping_unit
Restaurant Management System	A Restaurant Management System simplifies order processing, inventory tracking, and customer billing to enhance operational efficiency. It connects smoothly with sales terminals to provide real-time transaction data, improving service speed and accuracy.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_of_sale_system
Sales Metrics	Sales metrics deliver important insights into customer behavior, sales trends, and operational performance, assisting restaurant managers reach informed decisions. These data points are vital in restaurant transaction platforms to optimize performance and increase profitability.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_of_sale_system
Transaction Processing	Transaction Processing provides precise and streamlined processing of customer orders and payments in restaurants. It streamlines sales activities, inventory updates, and receipt generation to enhance service speed and accuracy.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transaction_processing_system
Customer Feedback	Customer Feedback serves a important role in enhancing the performance and service quality of transaction handling tools used in eating places. It provides useful insights that assist customize services, improve customer satisfaction, and optimize operations.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Customer_satisfaction
Financial Reporting	Financial Reporting in dining networks provides crucial insights into sales performance, expenses, and profitability. It enables management to make informed decisions by tracking revenue trends and operational costs in real-time.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_statement
Profit And Loss Statement	A Profit and Loss Statement gives a thorough overview of revenues, costs, and expenses to assess the financial results of a eatery. It has a important role in sales software by enabling restaurant owners make educated decisions to improve profitability.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Income_statement
Key Performance Indicators	Key Performance Indicators aid follow and evaluate sales, customer behavior, and operational efficiency in restaurant transaction platforms. They enable management to make data-driven decisions that boost service quality and profitability.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Key_performance_indicator
Real Time Data	Real-time data facilitates immediate tracking of transactions, inventory, and customer preferences, enabling restaurant staff to make prompt, knowledgeable decisions. This immediate access to information boosts operational efficiency and improves customer service quality.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real-time_data
Discount Management	Discount management simplifies the implementation of promotions during customer transactions, ensuring correct pricing and enhanced customer satisfaction. It is key in improving sales operations and boosting revenue control within restaurant transaction platforms.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_of_sale
Debit Card	A Debit Card allows clients to make protected and quick payments directly from their bank accounts when eating out. It streamlines the checkout process in restaurant payment systems, boosting convenience and efficiency for both staff and guests.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debit_card
Payment Gateway	A payment gateway enables safe and smooth electronic transactions between customers and the restaurant's checkout setup. It ensures rapid authorization and processing of payments, enhancing the overall dining experience by facilitating effective and reliable payment handling.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Payment_gateway
Emv Chip Technology	The EMV chip technology improves payment security by securing payment information, lowering the chance of fraudulent activity during card transactions. In dining establishments, it simplifies the checkout process, providing faster and more secure card transactions for both customers and staff.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMV
Nfc Payment	Nfc Payment technology facilitates rapid and safe contactless payments at eateries, improving customer convenience and accelerating checkout processes. It integrates seamlessly with restaurant checkout platforms, reducing wait times and boosting overall service performance.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Near-field_communication_payment_systems
Pos Terminal	A POS Terminal in a restaurant functions as the primary system for processing requests and transactions efficiently. It simplifies processes by uniting order management, billing, and inventory tracking in live.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_of_sale_terminal
Pci Dss Compliance	Pci Dss Compliance ensures safe management of cardholder data, shielding customer information from data leaks during purchases. This requirement is vital for any eatery's checkout process to ensure reliability and avoid costly penalties.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Payment_Card_Industry_Data_Security_Standard
Tokenization	Tokenization enhances payment security by transforming sensitive card details into unique tokens during transactions at dining establishments. This process lowers fraud risks and guarantees customer data protection throughout the checkout experience.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokenization_(data_security)
Encryption	Encryption secures confidential customer and payment data by transforming it into coded code during transactions at dining establishments. This protection helps prevent fraud and unauthorized access, ensuring secure and dependable payment processing.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encryption
Chargeback	Chargebacks play a vital role in food service transaction management by allowing customers to dispute invalid or incorrect charges. This process helps maintain reliability and ensures financial accuracy in digital payment systems used within restaurants.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chargeback
Fraud Detection	Fraud detection plays a crucial role in foodservice transaction platforms by detecting fraudulent activities and blocking unauthorized payments. This helps protect both the company and patrons from monetary losses and provides protected, dependable service.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraud_detection
Payment Processor	A payment processor enables safe and smooth transactions by processing customer payment information and validating payments in dining locations. It guarantees seamless integration with sales terminals, allowing restaurants to quickly complete orders and manage financial data.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Payment_gateway
Transaction Fee	Transaction Fee charges are charges applied to each transaction processed through a restaurant's sales technology, covering costs associated with payment gateways and card networks. These charges play a crucial role in ensuring safe, efficient transactions and maintaining flawless financial operations during customer checkouts.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Payment_processing
Payment Network	A Payment Network supports safe and efficient electronic transactions between clients and vendors in eateries. It guarantees seamless processing of card payments, allowing fast checkouts and accurate record-keeping for restaurant management systems.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Payment_card_network
Digital Wallet	An Digital Wallet facilitates seamless and protected transactions by allowing customers to pay fast using their smartphones. In restaurant transaction platforms, it improves efficiency and reduces wait times, improving the overall dining experience.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_wallet
Integrated Pos System	A Integrated Pos System streamlines order processing, inventory management, and payment processing in food service venues. It improves operational efficiency and improves client service by combining various features into a single platform.	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_of_sale_system

POS Software for Restaurant

POS Software for Restaurant: The Point-Of-Sale System Simplifies Operations For Food Service Establishments

Hardware Elements of Dining Establishment POS Systems

The Core Components

Navigating the Hardware Maze

Brilliant POS: Your Hardware Consistency

Software Characteristics and Capabilities Summary

Beyond the Fundamentals: What to Expect

The Great Integration Frustration

Hidden Gems and Specialist Tips

Future-Proofing Your Financial investment

Security Considerations

Uncorking the Advantages of Utilizing a POS System

Performance: More Than Simply Speed

Decoding the Information: Insights You Can Really Use

Dealing With the Most Significant Headache: Order Management Nightmares

Beyond the Fundamentals: Concealed Advantages of a Modern POS

Implementation and Training Considerations

Smooth Implementation Strategies

Attending To Prospective Roadblocks

The Brilliant POS Technique

Tips from the Trenches

Restaurant Point of Sale Systems in the United States

Brilliant POS

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