View source for Point of sale systems

Stub page for a much-needed POS&nbsp;section.<br> 

== Sources to pull from to improve this page  ==

*This is a perennial discussion topic on the [http://www.cgin.coop/listserves/basic general CGIN-list], and on the [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/coconerds/ CoCoNerds yahoo group].<br> 
*The February 2012&nbsp;[http://groups.google.com/group/intercoop Food Co-op Alliance NYC] meeting was focused on POS&nbsp;discussions, hopefully notes exist?<br> 
*[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtTeG0tk7BrDdEtsMkk4WktmNDNubVFfTnY1V0lYRmc&hl=en_US#gid=0 Spreadsheet listing POS use at food Co-ops.]<br> 
*See also: [[Software]] - Sections on POS, lightweight POS, e-commerce, and accounting.

== Evaluating POS Solutions  ==

Though it's often mentioned within POS discussions that there are no perfect solutions, and that systems must be evaluated with consideration for needs, wants, budget, in-house skillsets, etc, it may be useful to assemble a "shopping list" of features to help organizations gather their own requirements.<br> 

=== Some specs for evaluation raised on the [http://www.cgin.coop/listserves/basic general CGIN list] ===

*Inventory Tracking<br> 
*Purchase Order creation<br> 
*Vendor tracking<br> 
*Inventory turns, square foot analyses<br> 
*Sales reports.<br> 
*Credit Card through the register<br> 
*Compatibility with existing scales<br> 
*Member tracking<br> 
*Member pricing vs non member pricing<br> 
*Search function for items on the screen (like for produce)<br> 
*Wireless if possible<br> 
*150 departments (for all the vendor and food categories)<br> 
*Report writer cababilities<br> 
*Exporting reports to Excel<br> 
*Importing reports (Like large new items files, not having to enter each<br>item.)<br> 
*Compatibility with UNFI (importing of price tables)<br> 
*Shelf tag generation<br> 
*Supervisor functionality<br> 
*Up to 12 cashier names

=== Questions to ask existing POS users  ===

*Reliability: How many times in the past month has a transaction been interrupted by software failure? 
*Member info: Does the software accommodate customer information, and related details such as customer-discount levels? 
*Reports: Are your office staffers able to generate the reports they want? Can custom reports be created by a capable staffer?

== Some current POS systems  ==

Microsoft RMS, SMS, Catapault, COPOS, ISS45, Market Master, SMS, [http://www.is4c.coop IS4C] ([http://www.is4c.coop/bb/index.php forum]), NCR Scanmaster, Counterpoint, ACR5000, ACS Checkout, ARSS, BRDate Retail Xoss, ISIS, PC Poll, Retail Solutions, Storenext Master. 

[[Category:Technology]]