Hardware recommendations
Here are our general recommendations on POS hardware for your store(s).
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 needed, as well as direct recommendations.
Note that Flow Retail runs entirely in the cloud, meaning over the internet, and so you would only need a WiFi-connection for your equipment, however we strongly recommend connecting critical devices like the till devices (iPad, etc) over ethernet (cable), in case of issues with the WiFi-connection. Also the Flowbox requires ethernet connection.
First, what type of equipment 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.
Can you give examples of more concrete POS hardware?
Sure.
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 device
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
Note that Apple has no support for touch mode on any of their Mac's or Macbook laptop series.
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
Needs to support printing PNG image files
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.
One Flowbox is basically required per till, as only one cash drawer should be connected to each Flowbox, however today most stores only have one till dedicated for cash payments, and so one or maximum two Flowboxes should be sufficient in most scenarios.
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.
In most cases you can re-use most if not all of your existing POS equipment.
Can you help me order all of this?
Yes.
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!
Contact sales@flowretail.com for more details and to get started.
Last updated
