Retail POS Systems – PC Cash Drawer vs. Dedicated POS Hardware
Dedicated Retail POS System Hardware
PC Cash Drawers have lower upfront costs when compared to dedicated POS hardware, but over the long run, PC Cash Drawers cost significantly more than using dedicated retail POS system hardware. In fact, the total cost of ownership (TCO) of a PC Cash Drawer system is an average of 27% more than the TCO of a dedicated hardware system.
Both systems can run a standard operating system (OS), like Windows XP or Windows 7, but dedicated retail POS system hardware is “retail hardened” – meaning it was designed to operate in a retail environment. The main component of a PC Cash Drawer system, the PC, was probably meant to be sitting under a desk in a home or office. Maximum uptime is crucial for specialty retailers because most specialty retail stores do not have a high number of checkstands. When one register goes down, it makes a big impact on the store’s ability to serve customers. Retail POS systems using dedicated hardware have a 1.5-year longer lifespan and go down two hours less per week on average than PC Cash Drawer systems.
Retail POS systems utilizing dedicated POS hardware also process transactions approximately 10.5 seconds faster than PC Cash Drawer Systems. When other point of sale software integrations come into play for peripherals that can seamlessly operate with dedicated hardware, the checkout time can be reduced even further. For high-volume retailers, employees can process more customer transactions per hour with dedicated retail POS system hardware, creating faster checkout times, increased customer satisfaction, and lower labor costs.
Standardization can be a major issue for retailers, too. PC manufacturers change models and hardware components frequently. The PC model you buy in the first quarter of the year may not be available six months later. This can lead to significant differences in the hardware across retail locations, adding extensive IT labor costs to implement and troubleshoot. When you purchase a dedicated retail POS system, components are standardized.
It’s clear that there is a lot more to consider beyond the initial price tag when choosing a new point of sale system. From the compact design and rugged durability to the fast and reliable components, retail POS systems can gain a lot more from dedicated hardware.
