POS vs Barcode Reader
Both POS and Barcode Readers are used where a transaction involves in supermarkets, retail stores or restaurants. POS (point of sale) is an entirely computerized system that basically manages the selling process at the storefront, it also facilitates to create and print the bills for customers. Barcode Reader is an electronic device that scans and reads the barcode placed on goods and products. It uses a laser beam for capturing the barcode and then translates into digital data for sending to a computer for further processing. In the retail industry, POS systems are mostly used, which consist of a Barcode Reader too, in order to perform the transaction process quickly and easily.
POS
POS is a term that defines the location where retail items are sold to customers, and POS terminal is capable of capturing data and payment details of the customers, tracking customer orders, process transactions with credit and debit cards and also managing inventories. The POS terminal functions are similar to cash register used earlier. Typically a POS system consists of a variety of devices such as a computer, monitor, cash drawer, receipt printer, barcode reader, also a credit/debit card reader. Using all these devices POS systems offer reliability, higher operating speed, remote support, ease of use and also rich functionality. The retail industry greatly benefits from this POS system. Apart from retail industry, hospitality industry and hotels and restaurant businesses have incorporated the POS systems.
Barcode Reader
Barcode Reader is an electronic device which is capable of reading a barcode. Barcode is a small image including some bars and spaces and it contains an encoded reference number for representing a product or an item. A barcode is not readable by a computer, and so the Barcode Reader is used to convert the information inside it into a computer understandable data format. Typically, a Barcode Reader consists of a scanner, decoder, and a cable to connect to the computer. The barcode can be captured by the scanner inside the reader by shining a laser beam on that. This laser beam senses the reflection of lines and spaces deviation and the thickness of them. The inbuilt decoder translates that reflected light into digital data and this data is then sent to a computer for getting the detailed description about that product. Barcode Readers are prominently used in supermarkets and retail stores, but there are more applications such as inventory controls, to track shipping movements and also to track attendance to the work.
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What is the difference between POS and Barcode Reader? – Both POS systems and Barcode Readers are used in transaction processing at storefronts. – POS system has various devices embedded, in order to accomplish its task of managing the selling process, and Barcode Reader is only one such devices included to the POS terminal. – Barcode Reader can only scan the information in the barcode, convert it into machine readable data and then sent it to the computer. Whereas, POS systems can perform a variety of functions, such as processing the customer bills and payments, print receipts, and make transactions with credit / debit cards. – Both of these technologies have affected in improving the management process of selling products and items, especially, in the retail industry.
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