With the commonality of credit cards, debit cards, and emerging forms of mobile payments, retail locations, restaurants, and other sellers have had to change systems to accommodate the shift from paper based currency to digital formats. The point-of-sale (POS) terminal is a hardware device that is a standard in the retail industry, enabling the processing of card and mobile payments with embedded software. As
POS terminals are commonplace in many industries for the means of conducting transactions, it can be useful to understand their functionalities and capabilities.
When purchasing an item in a store with a credit card, a typical POS terminal will first read the
magnetic strip of the card so that it can gain information and access a bank account. When funds are checked and are determined to be sufficient, the funds are automatically transferred between the customer’s and seller’s accounts. After the payment has been made, the transaction is recorded and a receipt may either be printed, emailed, or texted to the customer based on the system and preferences. While simplistic seeming, such devices have revolutionized how stores across the globe conduct transactions, enabling an ease of sale and transfers.
If there is a need for POS terminals or
POS terminal accessories, one may either choose to purchase a terminal or lease one. While purchasing a terminal comes with more upfront costs, leasing one can eventually run a higher price over long periods of time. Currently, there is also a major trend of moving away from conventional hardware to software based systems that may be operated on either a mobile device or tablet. This is in addition to the portable and mobile
POS devices currently being manufactured by terminal producers, allowing for more flexibility in transactions.
The mobility of payments is one trend that a number businesses are attempting to take advantage of, due to the fact that many customers do not like to have to wait to pay for something. As such, mobility and user-friendliness is very beneficial for a POS terminal to ensure that transactions may be made with ease. As emerging mobile payment methods such as Apple Pay and Samsung Pay continue to become more widespread and adopted, newer POS terminals have been designed to accept such payment methods to increase inclusiveness.
Beyond the ability to read credit cards, debit cards, and mobile payments for transferring funds, a number of POS terminals will also provide other various features to increase the capabilities of such systems. As many people still pay with cash, stores will often have POS systems that have a cash drawer for making change and storing funds. In order for products to be read in the first place for specific types of transactions, it can also be useful to have terminals with
barcode scanners. For the means of transparency and so that customers may always be aware of what they owe, it is highly recommended that a seller uses a POS terminal that features a customer facing display. Lastly,
receipt printers are also common for when paper based transaction records are desirable.
Whether you are in need of POS terminal parts or POS terminal accessories, ASAP IT Technology has you covered with products from top manufacturers such as
Panasonic, Bematech, Tyco Electronics, NCR Corporation, and Elo Touch Solutions. As you pursue our massive inventory of items, you may request a quote for your comparisons at any time through the submission of an RFQ form. As our team members are readily available for customers 24/7x365, you may receive a response to your request in just 15 minutes or less. Give us a call or email today and see how we can help you fulfill all your operational needs with ease.
