You've seen them in stores, maybe you've even installed them in your own business, but the question remains: How do you use POS?
First, there is no such thing as a "POS" machine. Instead, the term is sometimes used to refer to a card terminal or point-of-sale (POS) system, or perhaps even the till interface where you type sales.
The term "POS machine" is based on the assumption that there is one device that represents the entire checkout. In fact, the modern checkout counter consists of several hardware and software components, such as:
Computer monitor or tablet screen
EPOS(electronic Point of Sale) software
Card machine
Cash drawer
Receipt printer
"Barcode Scanner"
Let's assume that using POS means handling sales. The two biggest forms of payment today are cash and credit or debit cards. Let's see how to do that.
There are generally two ways to accept credit cards at the cash register: manually or automatically through a connected system. Both require some type of card reader -- a stand-alone terminal for manual input or an integrated terminal connected to the system. Regardless of terminal type, it must be connected to the Internet through a phone line, cable, WiFi or a built-in SIM card.
A standalone card terminal is separate from POS software or cash registers, through which you can make transactions. There is no communication between the stand-alone terminal and the rest of the POS system. This means that when you work out the items to be sold at the register or cash register, you have to enter the total amount on the card machine's keyboard. The terminals will then connect with card issuers, commercial banks and others to approve transactions. Once approved, it prints a receipt if it has a built-in printer or if an on-screen beep or notification that the payment has been successful appears.
The integrated terminal is connected to EPOS software, and when you enter an item on the cash register screen and take your card to pay, the central software sends the transaction amount to the card terminal. The ATM will then usually light up and automatically display the total amount paid, prompting the customer to pay (a tip can be added if this setting is turned on). This way, you don't need to manually type anything on the terminal. Like standalone terminals, integrated machines process payments over telephone lines or the Internet and, if applicable, print receipts.