Walk into almost any business and you are sure to find the ubiquitous point-of-sale (POS) terminal sitting next to the cash register.Over the years the devices have become smaller thereby taking up less counter space but they remain tethered to the counter by a tangled mess of cords. Given the ease in setting up a wireless internet network it is now time businesses consider making a switch from a wired to wirelessPOS terminal.Although Bluetooth and long-range cellular devices are available this article will primarily focus on Wi-Fi devices.
Setting aside any potential cost savings the real benefit is switching from awired to a wireless POS device is the convenience of using a device that is not tied to a fixed location. Restaurants, now needing a pay-at-the-table solution with the advent of Chip cards, are the most obvious example of how a business can benefit from a portable solution but more traditional retailers can benefit as well. A retailer might use a wireless POS to service customers shopping at a sidewalk sale or perhaps as a second or third device during the busy holiday season. The ability for multiple devices to run off a single wireless router makes adding devices much easier than adding ‘wired’ devices as a separate phone line and power source are not required.
A Wi-Fi device does cost more than a wired device but that does not meaning making the move from a wired to a wireless terminal cannot generate cost savings.If the wired device is communicating using a standard phone line there is the monthly cost associated with maintaining a dedicated phone line and multiple terminals means multiple phone lines.If high-speed internet is how the device is communicating the monthly costs associated with running multiple devices are lower than a dedicated phone line but there is an initial cost to run cables for the terminals. Assuming a business does not have an existing wireless network a wireless router will be required to enable a wireless terminal solution.
There are (potential) disadvantages to using a Wi-Fi based solution. Typically, the terminals do not have dial back-up functionality; meaning if the internet goes down the terminals will not work.Large metal structures like elevator doors,beams, and garage doors can block the Wi-Fi signal creating ‘dead-zones’ where the terminal will not function properly.And as with any portable device they can be damaged if they are dropped. The devices are built to handle rough usage but the fact they can be damaged, left out in the rain, etc. is worth noting.
The needs of every business are unique and therefore it is unreasonable to think the standard, hard-wired POS terminal is the best fit for every business. It may be for reasons as trivial as a lack of counter space or something that directly impacts the customer experience like a pay-at-the-table solution but many businesses are switching from a wired to a wireless POS solution. From cell phones to laptops we live in an increasingly wireless world so why should POS terminals be any different?
