POS - Cash register

B.O.S.S. Enterprise ERP system has its own directly integrated POS subsystem which provides a practical and simple solution for retail sales. The cash registers are therefore a direct part of the ERP system. In the area of supermarkets with fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), high demands are placed on the POS system. It is particularly about high reliability, stability, response speed and ease of use. The system remains stable and reliable even under the highest loads in day-to-day business, such as when thousands of sales receipts are created in continuous operation every day.

In all configurations of the POS system, a smooth and automatic switch to offline mode is guaranteed in the event of a sudden internet interruption. The POS database is always replicated directly to the POS computer. After the network connection is restored, all data sets are automatically synchronised and missing data are transferred. The POS then smoothly returns to online mode without operator interaction.

Option 1: POS application with external components

In this case, the core of the cash register is the POS computer with all the POS peripheral devices connected to it. Usually there are two basic hardware options:

• A touchscreen configuration where the cashier operates the POS by touching configurable buttons,
• A classic computer with a conventional monitor which is operated using a standard keyboard or a programmable POS keyboard.

Both options can be freely combined within a retail network or even a shop.

Option 2: POS application within a counter scale

In this case, the cash register is adapted to the needs of specialized shops where mainly weighing articles are sold. These are mainly counter shops such as butcher's or greengrocer's. This is where the POS application of the B.O.S.S. Enterprise ERP system finds its application. The POS application can be operated by several shop assistants at the same time (several receipts pending at the same time). The floating receipt feature then allows the receipt to be completed and printed at any other cash register in the shop than the cash register at which the receipt was originally created.

In order to to use the POS application in counter scales, it is necessary to obtain a certificate from the calibration authority for a specific manufacturer and a specific model range. Shown below is the Mettler Toledo Freshway series counter scale. The corresponding certificate is valid for our system.

Option 3: POS application in petrol station mode

The B.O.S.S. Enterprise ERP and POS system can also be used to control a petrol station network. In this option, the POS communicates with the equipment of the petrol station via a specialized communication bridge and directly controls the refuelling of fuel at individual pumps, prices on price sign totems or fuel displays and other special facilities of petrol stations. The application can be started in self-service mode and integrated directly into refuelling terminals. All forms of payment including fleet cards are supported.

The system combines the convenience of a common food retail management with the support of  specialized petrol station hardware.

Option 4: POS application in restaurant mode

The POS of the B.O.S.S. Enterprise ERP system also finds a special use in the restaurant environment. The POS can be configured with many convenient functions in restaurant mode. In this case, several receipts can be created at the same time for individual tables, the receipts can be combined or divided again and orders can be sent to the kitchen and printed.

Basic functions of the POS

• Sale by barcodes, article numbers, PLU codes, names (and partial names) and serial numbers, sale of individual product variants (definition by colour, size, etc.)
• Sale of non-stock items, e.g. services
• Storing photos of articles or customer cards
• Use in retail with high requirements for a continuous operation (non-stop kiosks)
• Smooth transition between online and offline mode
• Integration of discount flyers with definition of a discount period, "free of charge" special offers, "happy hour" special offers (combination of day and time), etc.
• Another diverse range of possible discounts (percentage discount, point discount, etc.)
• Payments in foreign currencies and their combination
• Use of customer cards including customer loyalty systems with the possibility of tracking purchases, credit and customer bonus accounts
• Status of articles in other warehouses (branches) incl. option for online booking
• Stock control (stock changes) in parallel at several POS, possibility of stock management during operation (for counter sales)
• Repeated printing of already created receipts at any period of time, printing of warranty cards and other documents (invoices, credit notes, sales contracts, etc.) on standard printers (A4)
• Creation of additional types of receipts at the POS: receipts, credit notes and purchase orders
• Possibility to park unfinished receipts
• Support of special hardware: customer displays, printers, receipt printers, barcode scanners, portable data transfer terminals (possibility of mobile solution of orders, receipts, inventories and sales), counter and retail scales, cash drawers, special keyboards and touch screens
• Order processing in e-shops (backend for e-shop)
• Many online features