Beginning retailers and restaurateurs always ask themselves: what is better to choose for their business, a personal computer or a POS (Point-of-Sale) terminal.

Beginning retailers and restaurateurs always ask themselves: what is better to choose for their business, a personal computer or a POS (Point-of-Sale) terminal.

This question arises for several reasons, the main one being saving money. But, as practice shows, cheaper isn't always better, and that a miser pays twice.

A POS terminal (from English Point Of Sale) is a point of sale terminal (a hardware and software system for trading) installed at the point of sale. This device is used these days by virtually all retail and service companies, but some believe that a PC is better. This article is written to dispel all doubts about the right investments and help make these investments long-term.

Let's consider the main advantages of a POS terminal over a desktop computer when conducting trading operations.

Specifications Corresponding areas of application

A regular personal computer can perform many functions, including various types of cash transactions, network work, support the operation of special programs for trading and accounting, you can install absolutely any operating system on it, but the main disadvantage is that the PC does not support the required range of specialized peripherals for this area, namely: fiscal machines, receipt printers, barcode scanners, etc. The computer does not have additional ports for connecting the above equipment, not to mention the built-in modules and controllers to support them. As a result, it is necessary to modify the system for additional money or refuse to use some peripheral devices, which is fundamentally wrong and in the future will only bring additional costs and loss of time, and will also play a significant role in reducing the quality of the enterprise.

POS terminal, in turn, provides a wide range of options for connecting and configuring a huge range of retail and cash register equipment. To do this, you will not need to purchase additional parts and adapt it, since it is initially designed to work with this type of device and is equipped with the necessary connectors and sockets. As for expansion and modernization, POS terminals are in no way inferior to stationary PCs and, moreover, have some advantages, in particular the installation of additional controllers for working in the field of sales of specific goods.

Ergonomics

Now almost everyone has seen how much space a standard personal computer can take up.  A bulky system unit, a large keyboard, a monitor, a mouse—all of this needs to be accommodated somewhere. In small spaces (cafes, restaurants, retail spaces, etc.), where space is at a premium, a desktop PC that doesn't offer these advantages is unsuitable.

POS terminal is a compact solution, ideal for retail. Manufacturers pay close attention to ergonomics and the development of various modifications, which provides a wider choice for the user.

Security and Protection

On a desktop PC, everything is in plain sight: the disk drive, the power button, the reset button, the rear panel with ports and slots. Such accessibility inevitably leads to various kinds of abuse and fraud, which in turn result in financial losses for the organization. Also, any power surge can cause the computer to reboot or freeze immediately, resulting in data loss and the inability to recover it.

The POS terminal provides a high degree of protection against unauthorized access thanks to locks on the drives and covers protecting the connector panel. Additionally, POS terminals can be equipped with more powerful, so-called vandal-proof screens. As for data security, many modern models have a built-in uninterruptible power supply that can prevent data loss and keep the terminal in working order even in the event of a complete power outage, and, importantly, can support the operation of peripheral devices that are powered by the terminal.

Lifespan and service

A conventional computer can serve for many years, but given the current development of innovative technologies, its relevance is no more than a year, which in turn results in constant updates, wasting money and time on modernizing the system.

Manufacturers of POS terminalsguarantee a long operational period without essential updates for up to 6-7 years, and if the model is discontinued, technical support is provided for another 5 years, which will significantly save your time and money.

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