A POS device is the thing your staff touch: a tablet, a dedicated touchscreen terminal, or an all in one unit with printer and card reader built in. The price gap between them is large and the functional gap is small, because they all run the same software. What differs is durability, support and how much of the counter they replace.
Integrated, and what the word covers
Integrated POS usually means the card terminal takes the total from the till rather than being keyed by hand. That removes the commonest source of counter errors and is worth real money in a busy service. It also usually means the card rate rides on the software contract, so ask whether your chosen acquirer can integrate before assuming you can keep it.
All in one units
An all in one puts screen, printer and card reader in a single housing, which saves counter space and cabling and costs more than assembling the parts. Epos Now's Android bundle is priced as one unit with a monthly subscription attached. Compare it against the component bands EPOS Direct publishes, and treat the difference as the price of tidiness and support.
How long a POS device lasts
A dedicated terminal will typically outlast a consumer tablet in a kitchen or behind a bar, which is where the price difference is justified. A shop counter with clean hands and no heat is a different environment, and there a tablet with a spare in the drawer is usually the better spend. Match the hardware to the room rather than to the brochure.
Questions people ask about pos device
What is a POS device?
The screen and computer that run the till software. In current UK offers that is usually a tablet, sometimes a dedicated touchscreen terminal, and occasionally an all in one unit with the printer and card reader built in.
What does integrated POS mean?
That the card terminal receives the sale total from the till instead of a staff member typing it. It removes keying errors and usually means the card rate is part of the software contract.
Is an all in one POS system worth the extra?
On a cramped counter, often. Compare it against the published component bands for a screen, printer and scanner, and treat the gap as the price of tidier cabling and single supplier support.