| Hardware for SELLmatix | ||
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Many POS suppliers provide both hardware and software. While this may make things look simple,
it most cases they try and sell expensive equipment so that implementing a system costs megabucks.
We do not sell hardware, and SELLmatix runs on standard PC's and low cost devices such as barcode scanners, receipt printers etc. which are all attached to the computer as standard devices. These devices and equipment are available from a range of suppliers at very competitive prices, and this means that you save lots of money by shopping for the best deal. With SELLmatix, you don't have to install all the hardware at the start. You can implement a system gradually, installing and upgrading devices over time as your budget allows. Another advantage of this approach is that you save big money on maintenance and support agreements. Other POS suppliers might charge you $1000.00 to repair a piece of their closed architecture equipment. Why pay that when you can replace the items for $300.00? Here are some of the typical devices that are often used with SELLmatix and notes to help you save.
Computer System Requirements | ||
| Computer System Requirements |
The processing power required for Point of Sale is minimal, and any standard PC that is available now,
has more than enough power to run SELLmatix. In fact, you don't need new computers. If you have old
computers lying around gathering dust, pull them out and see if they will work. Provided that they can run
Windows 2000 or later, chances are that they will do the job.
If you do need to buy new computers, then the cheapest you can find is more than enough. Preferably, a POS terminal should be something like a Pentium 3 with 5Gb of disk storage and 64Mb of RAM and a network card. But you can get by with less. One machine will need act as a Controller running SELLmatix Control. But this machine does not need to be a dedicated server, and can also be used to process sales. In smaller installations, the POS application and the controller run on the same machine without any problem. This controller should have approx 10Gb of disk, and preferably 128Mb of Ram. While pretty much any PC running Windows 200 or later is OK, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. If you have a standard, generic "white box" computer, the parts are readily available from a range of source at very cheap prices. Power supplies, drives, fans circuit boards etc. are all the same. Some low cost computer makers such as Gateway and Dell, which put the machines together differently. In such cases, if your power supply needs to be replaced, for example, you have to use the original manufacturer's genuine part, because standard components won't fit in the case, or the mountings are different. With computers, brand names don't count for anything really, and you are almost always better off with standard "white box" machines. There are plenty of places where you can get these type of systems at low cost. Search the internet and local outlets for the best deal you can find. Often you can buy refurbished systems for as little as $300-$500.
Connections Apart from standard connectors for keyboards, mice and monitors etc. there are 3 types of general purpose ports that can be used for a range of functions. These are Serial Ports, Parallel Ports and USB Ports. If you are using one of the devices described below that uses a serial connection, you must have a serial port available on the computer where you can plug it in. Same thing for devices using parallel and USB Ports. You can add ports to a computer using expansion cards quite easily. The more serial and parallel ports available on the computer the better, but you will need to have one port of the right type for each device which you will connect. Sometimes it is easier to choose a device according to the type of port already available on the computer. If you already have the device, then you may need to add an extra port of the correct type to the computer. |
| Network Requirements |
Most Point of sale systems charge extra, often a lot extra for network versions. We don't.
All versions of SELLmatix are designed to run on a network, and in fact require that networking
is set up, even on a single user computer, because SELLmatix uses network protocols to communicate
between the Controller and the Point of Sale program, even when they are run on the same machine.
That does not make things complicated however, because a standard Windows network running the TCP/IP protocol is used. Virtually every new computer shipped in the last few years has a network adaptor built in, and standard windows installations detect this and set up the networking by default. If you are using old computers that don't already have network adaptors installed, you can buy these for just a few dollars. Networking is very simple and easy to configure, and even if you can't do this yourself, any computer technician can do this for you quickly and easily. If the terminals can be easily connected using network cable, this is the cheapest and easiest way to go. If running the cables is a problem, then it may be easier to use a wireless network. If you are considering using SELLmatix PocketPos running on Pocket PC's so that waiters can enter orders on a PDA and have the orders automatically printed out in the kitchen, then you will need a wireless network for the PDA's. Once again, this is simple, easy and cheap, and if you are going to be part wireless then it is probably just as easy to go all wireless. But that is up to you. |
| Monitors and Touch Screens |
Monitors are normally used to display information about the sale to the operator, and prompt them
to make input easier. Any computer monitor that works with Windows 2000 or later can be used. In fact, you
could even run SELLmatix without a monitor just using a liquid crystal display the same as a cash register,
(though we don't know anyone that does this).
Flat Panel displays use less space at the Check Out, and this leaves more room to display merchandise that can be sold. Many flat panel monitors can be mounted on an arm so that no counter space is used at all. Small monitors leave more counter space. Large monitors allow you to display more options and information for the operator. Many POS systems require a certain screen resolution or monitor size. With SELLmatix the choice is entirely up to you. The number of buttons with many systems is fixed, and you have to comply with the limitations of those programs. With SELLmatix you can have as many buttons on a screen as you want, and as many different display screen as you choose. Touch Screens are an excellent idea in Point of Sale operations, because they allow you to eliminate the keyboard. The various options are displayed on the screen, and the operator "touches" the area of screen where the option they want is displayed. This is much faster and simpler than finding the right key on the keyboard, and the descriptions shown can be far easier to understand than a legend on a keycap. Touch screens pretend to be a mouse, so that when you touch the screen it is like clicking the mouse at that location on the screen. This means that if you want, you can use the mouse to emulate a touch screen. In theory, you could use a touch screen with any program by having it emulate a mouse. The problem is that you cannot achieve the same positioning accuracy with your finger, as you can with a mouse. This is a real problem for many systems that claim to be capable of using a touch screen, because the operator finds it hard to touch the right place. And with many systems, there is nothing you can do about it. SELLmatix uses big buttons that make it easy and fast to touch the right button accurately, time after time. And because SELLmatix allows you to have as many buttons on the screen as you want, unlike other systems, this is all something you can control. Most SELLmatix sites do use flat panel displays with a resolution of 1024 X 768. But the choice is yours. If you want to use a that clunky monochrome CRT screen that is sitting under the bench, and think about upgrading later, then provided it runs with Windows 2000 or later, you can.
Connections Touch screen have an additional input to the computer which plugs into either a Serial Port or a special controller port for the particular model of Touch Screen. Serial controllers are easier to configure and more flexible. |
| Keyboards & Other Input Devices |
If you want, you can use a standard computer keyboard with SELLmatix. They keys on a standard keyboard can be programmed to perform
any of the functions the same way as a button on a touch screen, so with SELLmatix, every standard computer keyboard is a programmable keyboard.
The problem with computer keyboards is that sales clerks without computer experience often take one look and freeze. They develop a mental block. Training users to operate a system using a computer keyboard is more difficult and requires more training than other input devices. POS Keyboards specially designed to use a layout other than the standard QWERTY layout have been available for many years. Most of these have removable caps which allow you to label each key with a description of its function. You can use most of these keyboards with SELLmatix, provided they have drivers which allows them to work with Windows 2000 or later. The main problem with POS keyboards is their expense, and the limitation on the number of keys. Generally speaking, it is better to use a touch screen because of the cost, and the fact that on a touch screen you can have different buttons for each display, which is like having an infinite number of keys. Mouse You can use a mouse with SELLmatix if you wish. Once again, these require more counter space, and are slower and more difficult to use than a touch screen. But almost every system comes with a mouse, and they are very low cost. Touch Pads are used occasionally, and these also emulate a mouse. If you want to use these with SELLmatix, then you can. We think there are better alternatives, but if you have a touch pad and want to use it, then go ahead.
Connections Mice normally plug into the standard mouse port on the computer, but some older mice use a serial port. Avoid serial mice, as you will probably need the serial ports for other devices. |
| Barcode Scanners |
Barcode Scanners are very important. If you sell goods which have barcodes
already printed on the packaging the using a barcode scanner is a no-brainer.
Barcode scanners read the product number printed on the packaging automatically. They input this data many times more quickly than it could be entered manually, and do so without operator error. Handheld scanners are cheap, so even the smallest store can afford them. For larger stores with higher sales volumes, there is a wide range of bench scanners where you just pass the item in front without the need to for the scanner to physically contact the goods. The reason why you see barcode scanners used in virtually every supermarket and major retailer is because they do make a massive difference to operations. If barcodes are printed on the products, then you use those product numbers in your database, and barcode scanners at the point of sale. End of story. On the other hand, if you have a restaurant or type of operation where goods are made to order or don't have barcodes printed on the packaging, then a barcode scanner is of little use. Whether you use a barcode scanner or not depends on the type of merchandise you sell.
Connections
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| POS Printers |
Almost every Point of Sale system uses a POS Printer for printing receipts and Z-Reads etc.
With SELLmatix, you can also use a page printer such as an inkjet or laser to produce invoices instead.
In fact, you can even use a combination, so that most customers get the standard receipt for the POS
printer, but when needed, a customer can be given and invoice printed on the page printer.
The main advantages of POS printers are that they are small, very rugged and reliable, extremely cheap to run and for most simple receipts, a lot faster than using a page printer. There are dozens of models available, and the major manufacturers are Star, Citizen (CBM), Epson and more recently Samsung. Older printers are almost all dot matrix which have poor print quality, are relatively noisy and slow. Newer printers are more often Thermal, and these are faster, quieter and have better print quality. Any of these printers will work with SELLmatix. All of the major brands are very rugged and reliable and designed for heavy duty cycles. Old POS printers just keep going and keep going. Sometimes you can pick up old models with plenty of life remaining for very little. Dot matrix printers use plain paper and a ribbon. They are good if you need multiple copies and you can use precarbonised paper. Paper loading can be tricky on older models. Thermal printers use thermal paper and do not have a ribbon. Thermal paper is a little more expensive than plain paper, but the cost is about the same because you don't replace the ribbons. Paper loading on most models just involves dropping in the paper roll which is much faster than older dot matrix printers. The print on thermal paper does fade when exposed to sunlight for an extended period just like thermal faxes, and this concerns some people. In reality this is not a big problem. Many bank automatic teller machines also use thermal paper, and if it is good enough for bank transactions, then it is good enough for most retail receipts. But if this is a problem for you, get a dot matrix printer instead.
Connections
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| Cash Drawers |
Cash Drawers are designed to store the cash, and other payment documents. Using
an electronic cash drawer that is connected to the POS system enhances security because they are opened
automatically when required. This reduces the chance for money to be taken, and the system records
each event where the drawer is opened which helps track fraud. Cash drawers have inserts so that a float to enable the operator to give change can be prepared in advance so that when a shift changes and a new operator starts using the system one insert is removed containing the takings, and the new insert containing the float is put inside the cash drawer. This enables shift changes to occur quickly.
Connections SELLmatix can also control cash drawers directly connected to a serial port on the computer unlike some other POS systems, however this is generally more expensive because you need a plug pack, and a controller that plugs into a serial port. |
| Pole Displays |
Customer Pole Displays are becoming less popular because they are still quite
expensive and don't show very much information, and customers done seem to care if a
customer display is present in most cases.
If you want to use a pole display with SELLmatix, no problem.
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