THE SMB RETAILER’S GUIDE TO POS HARDWARE 2020 EDITION
                     THE SMB RETAILER’S 
GUIDE TO POS 
HARDWARE: 2020 
EDITION
Though there are still people who consider paying 
with cash, more and more modern consumers are 
shifting to credit or debit card payments. There 
were times when retail stores would only accept 
cash as their sole payment method, but in this 
digital era, acquiring new customers and 
increasing sales can be way more difficult if you 
do not have a system to accept and process 
credit/debit card payments.
From scanning products at the 
point of purchase to accepting 
card payments, printing 
receipts and ringing up sales, 
every process needs a push 
from POS systems that are 
compatible with one another to 
run frontend and backend office 
smoothly.
If you a retailer wondering exactly what 
hardware equipment your business needs for 
seamless operation and great customer service, 
this guide will take you through different types 
of POS hardware in the market and how each of 
them will benefit your business.
What Kind of POS 
Hardware do Retailers 
Use?
Every modern POS system consists of five 
essential hardware devices that 
contribute to the checkout transaction in 
their own way.
Barcode Scanner
The transaction process begins 
when an employee uses a 
barcode scanner to identify the 
price of each purchased item. 
Without the scanner, the 
employee has to manually enter a 
Universal Product Code (UPC) 
which is labelled in every product, 
making the whole process time-
consuming and prone to errors.
Scanners come in different shapes and sizes 
that are suited to different environments. For 
example, handheld scanners are good to go 
when an employee needs to check out large 
or bulky items while stationary scanners work 
best in a high-volume environment where you 
have to check out similar sized products 
quickly.
Monitor or Tablet
After passing the scanning phase, the 
corresponding product shows up on the monitor, 
allowing the staff to view the list of items, price, 
tax, saving, subtotal and other related 
information about the customer purchase in 
real-time. Combining the monitor with point of 
sale software and other hardware peripherals 
like barcode scanner, cash drawer, 
receipt printers brings out better functionality.
While some businesses stick 
to standard PCs or desktop 
computers as monitors, iPads, 
and touchscreen tablets and 
android devices are becoming 
a preferred choice of monitor 
for remote retailers that seek 
on-the-go functionality.
Payment Terminal
Years ago, cash registers 
were the only POS terminals 
for merchants. Though it is 
still used by many merchants, 
modern payment terminals 
have surpassed these 
traditional registers in terms 
of functionality, reliability and 
performance.
These come in a variety of styles – from 
magstripe readers (MSRs) to touchscreen 
payment terminals with number pads, 
allowing users to input their PIN number 
to verify transactions.
Cash Drawer
Easy to understand and simple 
to function, a cash drawer is 
exactly what it sounds like- a 
drawer that secures money, 
receipts, cheques and other 
important paperwork. As the 
drawer connects to the POS 
system, it opens only when a 
sale is billed and prevents 
unusual theft.
Receipt Printers
At the end of every 
transaction, the employee 
must generate a receipt to 
hand the customer as a proof 
of the transaction. This printed 
record of transaction can be 
used later to return or replace 
an unsatisfactory item.
Besides, if you are shopping around for 
the right POS hardware, here are some 
helpful tips.
• Determine if your checkout employees stay 
in one place or move through the store 
while interacting with customers. Handheld 
hardware works better for mobile 
employees while cashiers who stay at the 
counter will perform well with a large 
monitor.
• How many backend processes can you 
automate? If you can combine POS 
hardware with an inventory system, you 
may be able to save expensive man-hours 
on accounting in the long run.
• Do you sell in tight quarters or in a large 
store? Considering your store size helps 
you invest in POS hardware that increases 
space-efficiency.
• There is a wealth of information available 
online (check out YouTube videos, demos) 
and offline (ask fellow retailers about their 
POS equipment and experiences). Use that 
information to your advantage.
Once you have the important 
information in hand, a POS system can 
benefit your business in the following 
ways.
• Provides better inventory control
• Accurately tracks transactions and 
related-accounting operations.
• Helps with reporting and analysis
• Improves employee scheduling
• Offers detailed receipts
• Manages customer data with 
intuitive customer management 
software
To conclude, the capabilities of 
POS systems have no limits. When all 
the hardware and software are tied 
together rightly, it streamlines your 
online and offline sales and transactions 
for better sales and customer 
experience.
Contact Us
POS Sales
PO Box 7921 Baulkham Hills BC 
NSW 2153
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1300 026 062