Point of sale, scanners, cash registers and receiprt printers for shops

Point of sale, scanners, cash registers and receiprt printers for shops

Point of sale

Standard point of sales equipment include:

• cash register or till
• Cash register / till display pole
• a bar code scanner
• a receipt or cash slip printer.

Cash register / Cash till

The cash register holds the cash customers pay to the business. The cash register may include a number of compartments which hold notes and coins,

The cash register would connect to a computer or a POS workstation. The cash register runs POS software, and the POS software may be programmed to automatically open the cash drawer. This is known as a kickback interface.

The cash register has a number of different interfaces, and this may be USB or RS-232.

Some cash drawers include a further interface for a receipt printer.

Select a cash register that is best suited to your business, and interfaces easily with your point of sales software and your other POS hardware.

Barcode scanner

A barcode scanner is essential in today's fast moving business.

Select a bar code scanner best suited to your business. Some bar code scanners are loose for handheld use, others have mounting brackets and others are mounted directly onto a table.

Bar code scanners may be used in several businesses including:

• retail (grocery stores, super markets and other shops)
• warehouses
• distributors
• couriers

A laser bar code scanner is the best to use for most applications because it has the best range and accuracy. Bar code scanners may be programmed for short or long distance scanning and are capable of scanning different bar code standards including these linear bar code:

• U.P.C.
• Codabar
• Code 25 – Non-interleaved 2 of 5
• Code 25 – Interleaved 2 of 5
• Code 39
• Code 93
• Code 128
• Code 128A
• Code 128B
• Code 128C
• Code 11
• CPC Binary
• DUN 14
• EAN 2
• EAN 5
• EAN-8, EAN-13
  Facing Identification Mark
• GS1-128 (formerly named UCC/EAN-128), incorrectly referenced as EAN 128 and UCC 128
• GS1 DataBar, formerly Reduced Space Symbology (RSS)
• HIBC (HIBCC Health Industry Bar Code)
• ITF-14
• Latent image barcode
• Pharmacode
• Plessey
• PLANET
• POSTNET
• Intelligent Mail barcode
• MSI
  PostBar
• RM4SCC / KIX
• JAN
• Telepen

Matrix (2D) barcodes

A matrix code, or a2D barcode / 2D code, is a two-dimensional way to represent information. It is similar to a linear (1-dimensional) barcode, but can represent more data per unit area.

Receipt printers / Cash register printers

A receipt printer enables the business to print cash receipts or cash slips for their customers.

A thermal cash receipt printer is standard at most businesses and it is the cheapest option,. A thermal till printer or receipt printer can only print on thermal receipt paper, and the print will always be black on white.

An ink or ribbon cash receipt printer is better because they do not fade over time and they can print in more than one color, usually black and red on white. The ribbon and ink receipt printer uses standard receipt paper.

A dot matrix printer or laser printer can also be used for printing invoices and cash receipts. The advantage of using a standard dot matrix printer or laser printer is that invoices can be printed without any special software requirements, they print on standard A4 paper. Dot matrix printers have impact heads that can transfer the print onto multiple sheets by using special carbonized paper.

Dot matrix printer options: 9 pin dot matrix printers, 18 pin dot matrix printers, 24 pin dot matrix printers.

Magnetic card readers

A magnetic card reader is used for access control.

Card readers are extensively used in medium to high security application, such as

• access control for gyms
• access to security estates
• access to security complexes
• Charging by transportation companies (as used by the Gautrain)

Label printers

Label printers are used to print labels, such as bar codes.

Label printers are available in different interfaces such as RS-232, parallel and USB.

Label printers can be thermal or ribbon.