Popular POS Hardware Components in Australia

Modern-day business is dynamic and requires multiple skill sets, advanced technology, and constant update to keep a business thriving. The retail business is undoubtedly rewarding but is quite difficult at the same time.

That said, it is essential to keep in mind that “the only thing worse than starting something and failing is not starting something”. – Seth Godin, Author

Technological advancement has been a boon in supporting the monotonous tasks of a retail business, thanks to the efforts of Eugene Mosher who invented the first graphical point of sale (POS) software in 1986. Although, the traditional point of sale (POS) system refers to cash registers which were developed in the 1800s by an Ohio-based entrepreneur James Ritty, who is regarded as the originator of the point of sale system.

What is a point of sale (POS) system?

If you are looking for a cash register for sale, then let me inform you that gone are the days when the point of sale (POS) system referred to the traditional cash registers. The point of sale (POS) system has evolved over the years and with modern technology came a modernised point of sale (POS) system that is capable of doing much more than just store cash.

The point of sale (POS) also referred to as the point of purchase (POS) is the place and time where a retail transaction is completed. Here, the retailer calculates the total amount owed by the customer for the purchased item, and prepares an invoice. The customer pays for the item and the retailer issues a receipt for the transaction as proof of purchase. To ease the entire checkout process, retailers use a few devices like cash drawers, barcode scanners, and receipt printers. These devices are called point of sale (POS) hardware. The point of sale (POS) hardware components are connected to a central terminal via a point of sale (POS) software that facilitates the checkout process and performs other retail operations. The combination of these hardware and software components is called the point of sale (POS) system.

As already stated, modern-day point of sale (POS) systems are designed to perform multiple functions to ease retail operations, other than just storing cash. Knowing the functions would help understand how important point of sale (POS) systems are in running a retail business in today’s world.

Functions of a Point of Sale (POS) System

Processing Payment: The most basic function of a point of sale (POS) system is to facilitate transactions. Processing debit and credit cards is a key part of payment processing that benefits both eCommerce stores and physical stores. You can also accommodate near-field communication (NFC) as a part of your payment processing so that customers can pay via mobile payments apps like Google Pay.

Managing Transactions: As a business owner, you would need to keep an account of your inventory database, customer tipping, and receipts. Point of sale (POS) systems help in speeding the transaction process, and maintaining accuracy. The easy-to-use interface makes the checkout process convenient.

Reporting Sales: To track the performance of your retail business, point of sale (POS) software is extremely beneficial. It provides important metrics and generates sales reports to determine the financial health of your business. These reports can help you make an informed decision, allowing you to optimise your business operations for better profits. Reporting also helps you figure out which products are selling better, the amount of money you make each month, and your profit margins.

Managing Inventory: Tracking and managing inventory is an essential aspect of a retail business. An effective point of sale (POS) system helps you track a particular product when a customer seeks it, notifies you when any of your product is running low on stock, and tracks the incoming and outgoing of your products. There are some point of sale (POS) systems that allow users to set automatic purchase orders. Other than that, you can access your inventory in real-time, from any location.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Building a rapport with your customers is the most crucial element to build brand identity. Customer tracking and management that most point of sale (POS) systems support allows you to record the customer information that would help you establish a better relationship with your customers by providing them personalised services based on their purchase history. For repeat customers, you can offer rewards and discounts through customer loyalty programs that would not only encourage your present customers to visit your store but motivate them to convince their network to visit your store too.

Managing Employee: To run a business seamlessly, you need to track your employee’s productivity. Point of sale (POS) systems will help you manage and maintain better relationships with your employees. You can set their work schedules, track their coming in and going out time, track the number of sales they have made, and reward the top-performing employees too.

Now that have covered the basic functions that a point of sale (POS) system offers, the necessity of a robust point of sale (POS) system for a business is quite evident. Therefore, let us dive into the main topic of discussion- popular point of sale (POS) hardware in Australia.

Listed below are the major hardware components and the bestselling ones

POS Terminal

The point of sale (POS) terminal is the monitor or screen where the merchant can process transactions, and view and track all the operations through the point of sale (POS) software. It is the heart of a point of sale (POS) system. Most the modern-day point of sale (POS) terminals support touchscreen capabilities that are faster and more convenient to use.

The popular POS terminals in Australia are-

1. ELO DESKTOP 1517L LED RESIST VGA SERIAL USB
2. 200I 15” POS TERMINAL I3 W/PCAP 8GB 12
3. ELEMENT 315 D2500 2GB 64GB SSD 14 RES FLAT

Barcode Scanner

As the name implies, barcode scanners are used to scan and read barcodes from products, and are amongst the most important components of a point of sale (POS) system. Scanning a product using a barcode scanner expedites the checkout process, ensuring accuracy. There are different types of barcode scanners in the market but the most widely preferred ones are the handheld barcode scanners. These devices are easy to use and carry and do not involve complex wiring.

The bestselling barcode scanners in Australia are-

1. Zebra DS2278 2D-SR Bluetooth Barcode Scanner Kit (USB) - zebra ds2278
2. SocketScan® S700 1D Bluetooth Barcode Scanner - socket mobile s700
3. Zebra Scanner Only CS6080 Cordless Black 2D Standard Range with MFi - zebra cs6080
4. Zebra Scanner Kit DS9308 with 1D, 2D scanning capabilities - zebra ds9308

Receipt Printer

Even though emailing invoices is the new trend, there still are customers who prefer a hardcopy of their invoices. To print these receipts, a device called a receipt printer is used. If you are purchasing a receipt printer separately, ensure that it integrates with the other hardware components of your point of sale (POS) system. There are 2 types of receipt printers - thermal receipt printers and impact printers (dot-matrix receipt printers). Thermal printers work when a printhead (which generates heat) comes in direct contact with the thermal paper rolls (which are chemically treated), thereby eliminating the requirement of ink or toner, for example, Epson Thermal Printers. On the other hand impact printers have pins attached in a form of series on the printhead which when impacts a paper creates dots in the form of an alphabet.

Talking about modern receipt printers, we cannot miss out on the advanced mobile receipt printers that help with the transaction process on the go and makes business operations even more seamless.

Some of the popular receipt printers in Australia are-

1. Epson TM-T82IIIL Thermal Receipt Printer Ethernet - epson tm-t82iiil
2. Star TSP143III LAN Thermal Receipt Printer with Ethernet - star tsp143iii
3. Epson TM-U220B Dot Matrix Receipt Printer - Ethernet & Auto Cut - epson tm u220b
4. EPSON TM-M30II Black Receipt Printer with Built-In USB, Ethernet, Bluetooth & USB-Charging. Includes AC Adaptor & Cable - epson tm-m30ii bluetooth
5. Element RW80L Thermal Receipt Printer, Ethernet/Serial/USB Interfaces, Black - element rw80l

Cash Drawer

Even though cash registers are a passé, cash drawers never run out of trend. Merchants still require cash drawers to store cash and other important bills and receipts. To maintain the safety and security of the cash stored in the cash drawer, especially during business hours, the opening and closing of these are connected to the point of sale (POS) software and would require the merchant to prompt a command from the computer.

The bestselling cash drawers in Australia are-

1. VPOS Cash Drawer EC410 BLK - 24V - ec 410
2. Nexa CB910 Cash Drawer with RJ11 Connector - nexa cb910
3. GOODSON CD410 Manual Push to open Cash drawer Black - cd410
4. VPOS Cash Drawer EC350 4N 8C 24V Black S/S Front - ec350

Payment Processor

Since people these days prefer cashless transactions, you need to have an EMV-enabled card processor that can read all forms of debit/credit cards, thereby facilitating the payment process. At the same time, you also need to ensure that you have near field communication (NFC) that supports accepting payment via apps like Google Pay, Apple Pay, etc.

Some of the popular EVM-enabled card reading machines in Australia are-

1. SMARTPAY
2. PAYPAL HERE
3. SQUARE

Wrapping Up

If you are a new retail business owner, it is always wise to opt for point of sale (POS) bundles instead of picking out every hardware component separately because you would need to ensure that every component complements each other for smooth functioning of your business.

These are some of the popular point of sale (POS) bundles which are extremely popular in Australia.

1. Shopify Compatible Hardware - shopify pos hardware
2. VEND Compatible Hardware - vend pos
3. Square Register Compatible Hardware - square hardware
4. Kounta Compatible Hardware - kounta pos
5. TouchBistro Compatible Hardware - touchbistro pos

If you are wondering where to purchase your point of sale (POS) components, you are in the right place. POS Plaza is Australia’s one-stop destination for all point of sale (POS) needs. Contact us and get personalised assistance with all your point of sale (POS) needs.