A typical POS system consists of several hardware components working together. At minimal, you only require a single tablet to operate the POS system. The other components are optional.
Your POS system can be operated on a wide range of hardware brands. Most of these hardware items can be procured inexpensively.
Tablet
The Storefront POS is web-based. This means you can use any Android, IOS or Windows tablet for the host display as long as you can browse to the Web page. This is the only required hardware for taking orders.
It's recommended to add a second tablet for the customer display screen to allow customer's to view their transactions. You may prefer a smaller and less expensive tablet for the customer display.
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Kiosk stand
You may want to invest in a kiosk stand with a lock to prevent theft. We recommend a kiosk stand that can rotate the tablet in either horizontal or vertical position.
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Barcode scanner
A barcode scanner with Bluetooth connectivity will help you to quickly scan products instead of searching on screen.
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Thermal printer
A thermal printer allows you to print receipts much faster than conventional printers. You need an ESPON thermal printer with ESC/POS capability over Ethernet or WIFI.
If connecting by Ethernet, you need a RJ-45 cable to connect the printer to your router. Some EPSON thermal printers require purchasing a separate dongle to enable WIFI capability.
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Cash drawer
If you're accepting paper money or checks. You need a ESC/POS capable cash drawer. The cash drawer typically connects by RJ-11/RJ-12 cable to your thermal printer.
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Card terminal
If you are accepting credit/debit card, you will need a card payment terminal (also known as card reader). Many payment gateways can provide you with a card reader for a minimal cost to transact card payments.
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