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Restaurant POS Equipment: Types of Input Devices
Point of Sale Equipment – types of input devices
Point of Sale Equipment: Keyboards and touch screens
One of the first choices you will have to make about your POS equipment is whether to go with a touch screen or a programmable keyboard. Most businesses choose touch screens. The only market where keyboards are mostly used is grocery stores, where the ability to program individual keys for specific item codes and prices is appreciated.
A growing number of touch screens today are designed by restaurant owners, and since most retail establishment owners aren’t tech savvy they prefer to use touch screens that are more intuitive to use. They also provide more flexibility in the user interface and programming. You will find most touch screens these days are based on flat-screen LCDs instead of traditional CRT monitors. While LCD touch screens are a bit more expensive (typically $600 – $1,000 instead of $400 – $500), they are sturdier, saves electricity, and take up less space. They also look much better. When purchasing touch screens, avoid “overlay” touch screens that are added on to regular monitors – aside from being prone to breakdowns, they can also add unnecessary complications to your system.
When it comes to 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 common in fast food chains. Often, POS keyboards come with built-in magnetic stripe readers for credit card processing. Programmable keyboards usually ranges between $150 and $300.
No matter which you use, make sure you consider the environment where it will be used. You can find both keyboards and touch screens have varying levels of spills and dusts proofing.
POS Scanners
All scanners work in the same basic manner, reading a bar code and sends the information back to the computer. Typically, scanners connect to the system through Y-connectors called wedges that make them function as an extension of the keyboard. It can improve the speed of transaction as well as accurately stores information.
Low quality scanners are based on charge-coupled device (CCD) technology. These scanners are inexpensive, 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.
Laser scanners uses a beam of light in order to read a bar code, they offer much better scanning ability since they are able to scan at long ranges. Some laser scanners are “autosensing,” meaning they turn themselves on when scanning a bar code, and then turn off again. Omnidirectional scanners send out 15 or 20 lasers simultaneously, which can easily scan a bar code at any angle. The top of the line scanner is the embedded scanner, which you commonly see in supermarkets installed below the counter.
Choose a scanner based on your customer volume. If the counter line has only one or a couple of customers, CCDs or entry-level laser scanners should be able to meet your needs. In a fairly constant flow of customers you might want to use an autosensing model for speeding up sales transactions, and for businesses with high volume of traffic, they should check out omnidirectional or embedded scanners. Their prices may range from below $100 to $350 or more.
Handheld POS
The latest type of input device is the handheld, wireless terminal. PDAs, it can take orders and transmits it wirelessly it back to its base station. A distinct advantage for restaurants is that they increase the amount of time servers spend on the floor taking orders and interacting with customers, because it eliminates the need to go back to a terminal to give the orders.
Write-on handhelds: think about combining touch screens with 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 as needed.
These handheld terminals costs more compared to a traditional touch-screen order terminal. However they can make up for the cost by allowing your servers to spend more time up-selling more desserts and drinks. If you are evaluating handheld terminals, make sure you ask about the “drop test” – these units are rated for toughness according to how much they can survive a fall. You can easily find out if your business is a candidate for handheld POS terminals by comparing POS equipment from multiple suppliers to learn what products and services they offer.
Need more information or perhaps an online resource?
Check out POS-For-Restaurants.com
The author of this article is the Vice-President of Customer Relations at POS-For-Restaurants with over 20 years of experience serving restaurants of all types throughout the U.S.
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