| - Restaurant POS Equipment: Keyboards and touch | | | | retail setting, this should be fine. |
| screens | | | | Laser scanners uses a beam of light in order to read |
| Choosing which input devices to use as your | | | | bar codes, they offer much better scanning ability |
| restaurant point of sale equipment should be one of | | | | since they are able to scan at long distances. Some |
| the important tasks listed in your checklist. Choosing | | | | laser scanners are "autosensing," meaning they turn |
| whether to go with a touch screen or a programmable | | | | themselves on when an item is placed in front of them, |
| keyboard helps you save time and money. The only | | | | scan the code, and then turn off again. Omnidirectional |
| market where keyboards are mostly used is grocery | | | | scanners send out 15 or 20 lasers simultaneously, |
| stores, because it has the ability to program individual | | | | letting you scan bar codes from any angle. And the |
| keys for specific item codes and prices. | | | | top of the line are embedded scanners, which you |
| Touch screens are more intuitive to use than | | | | commonly see in supermarkets located below the |
| keyboards for many users. Touch screens also | | | | counter. |
| provides flexibility in the user interface and | | | | Properlu use different types of scanners to serve |
| programming, where it eliminates costly staff traning. | | | | customers. If you do not usually have more than a |
| Most touch screens sold these days are based on | | | | customer or two in line, CCDs or entry-level laser |
| flat-screen LCDs instead of traditional CRT monitors. | | | | scanners should be able to do the job. In a fairly |
| While LCD touch screens are slightly more expensive | | | | constant flow of customers you might want to use an |
| (typically $600 - $1,000 instead of $400 - $500), they | | | | autosensing model for speeding up sales transanctions, |
| are sturdier, uses less electricity, and space-saving. | | | | and very high volume businesses should investigate |
| They also look much better. With both CRT and LCD | | | | omnidirectional or embedded scanners. Prices range |
| displays, avoid "overlay" touch screens that are added | | | | from below $100 for the most basic CCD scanners to |
| on to regular monitors - they are more prone to | | | | $350 or more for omnidirectional laser scanners. |
| breakdowns and add an unnecessary complication to | | | | |
| your system. | | | | - Restaurant POS Equipment: Handheld POS terminal |
| For keyboards, . Others are smaller, more | | | | The latest type of input device is the handheld, |
| POS-specific devices, such as the flat-panel | | | | wireless terminal. Essentially a PDA, it can take orders |
| membrane keyboards you often see on fast food | | | | and wirelessly transmits it back to a base station. A |
| outlets. Often, POS keyboards come with built-in | | | | great advantage this POS equipment can provide to a |
| magnetic stripe readers for processing credit cards. | | | | restaurant is that they increase the amount of time |
| Most programmable keyboards usually go for | | | | servers spend on taking orders on the floor and |
| between $150 and $300. | | | | interacting with customers, because it eliminates the |
| It doesn't matter which POS equipment you use, make | | | | need to go back to a terminal to process orders. |
| sure you consider the environment where it will be | | | | Newer still are write-on handhelds: think about |
| used. Both keyboards and touch screens are available | | | | combining touch screens with PDAs, this tiny input |
| with varying levels of spill and dust-proofing. | | | | device allow servers to simply write the orders down. |
| - Restaurant POS Equipment: POS Scanners | | | | Handwriting recognition software parses the order |
| All scanners work in the same basic manner, reading a | | | | then sends it on to the kitchen and bar as needed. |
| bar code and sends the information back to the | | | | Handheld terminals are more expensive than traditional |
| computer. They typically connect to the system | | | | touch-screen order terminals. However they can make |
| through Y-connectors called wedges that make them | | | | up for the cost by upselling your customers more |
| function as an extension of the keyboard. Bar code | | | | desserts and drinks. If you are evaluating handheld |
| scanning can improve speed and accuracy during | | | | terminals, make sure you ask about the "drop test" - |
| checkout. | | | | units are rated for toughness according to how much |
| Low-end scanners are based on charge-coupled | | | | of a fall they can survive. To find out if your business |
| device (CCD) technology. They cost less, but usually | | | | is a candidate for handheld POS terminals, compare |
| have a very short range - an item being scanned | | | | multiple POS equipment vendors to learn what |
| needs to be 1 to 3 inches from the scanner. In a typical | | | | products and services they offer. |