Hardware
Intro
Choosing the right POS hardware depends on several factors, from requirements on aesthestics (basically how nice/slim should it look) to stability (basically how much dust shall it withstand) to cost.
Learn what type of equipment is recommended, alongside our general requirements.
Flow Retail supports most major POS hardware on the market. However, due to differences in hardware models, production batches, firmware versions, and other variables, we cannot guarantee full compatibility with every specific device.
We always recommend testing hardware in your environment before full deployment.
What type of devices do I need for the various Flow Retail clients?
In addition to the various POS-specific hardware, a user must operate Flow Retail using a device.
Flow Retail can run on more or less any devices, with a shortlist below:
Flow Client
Windows, Mac, iPad, Android (coming soon)
Flow Assistant
iPhone, Android
Flow Backoffice
Any web browser (desktop)
In general, what type of hardware is required for a store?
In its absolutely simples variant, you only need a device (iPad, laptop, etc) and a card terminal.
With this setup you can add products and other data, create sales, charge money paid by card or tapping, do refund, and more.
Most stores however would want some additional POS hardware, including:
To add products to a sale quickly or check prices, a barcode reader/scanner is required.
Some customers still prefer a physical receipt, so a receipt printer like a thermal printer is needed.
To handle cash in addition to card payments, a cash drawer is required.
To print price labels (those small stickers with EAN, price, SKU on it), a label printer is needed. This printer is also used for printing gift card numbers to stick onto some nice-looking gift cards.
Some stores want to print out pick lists, delivery notes, invoice papers, etc. and then a laser printer is needed, eventually an ink jet printer, however we do not recommend ink jet as they tend to dry literally dry out.
If you want to be more mobile, and check prices or inventory, register sales, delivery out products, do stock taking and more, then a mobile device like a Zebra mobile device or simply a modern smart phone is also needed.
To connect all these peripherals to Flow Retail, you will also need a Flowbox, which is a cute tiny little box that connects Flow Retail with the devices connected to it. The Flowbox is delivered by us.
Specific hardware recommendations
Our general recommendation for a small to medium store, where esthetics and ease-of-use is very important:
Device
Apple iPad's for each till, with external keyboard and a barcode reader. The keyboard and barcode reader are both so-called input-devices, and shall be connected directly to the iPads.
We also recommend a powerful (...) power supply, with at least 60W, to be able to give enough power to both the iPad and to the peripherals, like the barcode scanner
Price
A typical iPad is relatively expensive, however they are extremely robust, and also has a very sensitive touch interface, which makes it very effective to use. The price ranges from NOK 8.000 and upwards for the iPad Air. In general we do recommend iPad Pro (which starts as around NOK 12.000), however iPad Air will also work flawlessly in most scenarios.
The hub costs around NOK 800.
The extra powerful power supply costs around NOK 600-800.
The stand/cradle costs around NOK 500.
The total price for the till without barcode scanner, etc. will therefore be between NOK 10.000 and NOK 15.000 depending on the specs.
Alternative devices
As an alternative to an iPad, all of the following options are fully supported:
Windows computer, running Windows 10 / 11, or a later version, preferably with a touch monitor
Mac / Macbook, basically of any kind
Android tablet, basically of any kind
Linux computers, running a relatively modern distribution like Ubuntu
For devices in-store, in the warehouse, and on other fixed locations, we in general recommend using simply a Windows-based computer.
For stores with tills where more operations than just registering sales are needed, we also recommend using Windows computers instead of iPad's.
Handheld device / smart phone
With our Flow Retail Assistant native app for iOS and Android, you basically have Flow Retail in your pocket. For stability and robustness, we do recommend a professional handheld device like a Zebra handheld. These cost anywhere from NOK 3000 for a relatively cheap and OK version, to NOK 10.000 to NOK 20.000 for the top models.
Based on the exact requirements, we will give more concrete recommendations.
Barcode reader
This depends a lot on whether you would want to move the barcode reader away from the till, for example to scan large products which cannot be put on top of the till.
There are dozens of variants, and we give concrete recommendations based on each store's needs.
In general a barcode reader will cost anywhere between NOK 1500 and NOK 3000.
Strict requirements
Needs to handle 2D barcodes
Should be USB connected (however Bluetooth connected in most scenarios works, at least until the bluetooth connection or pairing is lost)
Thermal receipt printer
For receipt printers, most modern variants works fine. There are "cheap" variants which costs around NOK 2000, and more expensive and solid variants like the Epson TMT series, which costs around NOK 4500.
Strict requirements
Needs to be USB connected
Cash drawer
Here basically all drawers will work, as there is very little logic in a cash drawer.
The price is normally around NOK 1500 for a fully functional cash drawer.
Strict requirements
Needs to be USB connected
The cash drawer is connected to the Flowbox
Labels printer
The labels printers is for some reason relatively expensive, and normally clocks in at around NOK 4000-5000, however they are built to last for decades.
Strict requirements
Needs to be USB connected
The labels printers are connected to the Flowbox
Support for TPL / ZPL (zebra printing language) - basically all such printers support this printing language
Card terminals
Flow Retail supports all major PSPs (Payment Service Providers), like Nets, Verifone, Adyen, Stripe and more.
The integrations are all cloud-based, meaning Flow Retail communicates with the card terminals over the internet, and the card terminals in turn are connected to the WiFi in the store (most can also be cabled over ethernet).
In most cases, one can use its existing terminals, however some older models are not cloud-ready, and needs to be replaced with a newer version.
Flowbox
The Flowbox is a small physical device delivered by Flow Retail.
The purpose of the box is to handle all communication between the Flow Retail platform and your peripherals, like thermal receipt printer, cash drawer, and labels printer.
Summary
If you wanna go fancy, and esthetics is extra important, and mainly sales operations are being handled in the till, go for iPad's, with the mentioned equipment.
If you have much traffic in the store, and also need to handle other operations in-store, then going all-in on Windows computers is a good choice.
A combination is also perfectly fine.
How do we order the hardware?
Together with our sales staff and our external partners we can help in ordering everything. Just keep in mind we are a software company, and so in general we do not offer hardware support, and so you should use a local IT company to set up the equipment and to support it as you go, or if you have a local IT department, they should also be able to assist on the POS hardware.
We will always do our best to help you getting the best possible setup!
Connecting the POS hardware
Connecting the various hardware differs a bit. See below for how to connect.
Receipt printers
Must support ESC POS
USB via Flowbox,
or network**
Label printers
Must support ZPL
USB via Flowbox, or network**
Barcode scanners*
-
USB or bluetooth
Cash drawers
-
USB via Flowbox, or network**
*Note that the barcode reader is connected directly to the relevant device, as a bardcode reader is simply a "keyboard" with the exception that it only takes barcodes as input, and then "types" the relevant letters and numbers from the barcode into the operatingsystem.
Connecting directly to the device over the network
Flow Retail supports printing directly to a network-connected printer, either over the LPD port (515) or the Jetdirect ports (9100-9102).
This option requires the Flow Retail Enterprise option, and with Flow Retail being hosted inside your own infrastructure. This option is only available for clients with a minimum of 100 stores.
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