Point of Sale systems have indeed, revolutionized the way people do and run business establishments. Through both the hardware (peripherals, terminals, etc) and the software (program itself), many tedious office procedures have been simplified and processes have been streamlined. This has resulted to increased productivity, increased sales and more happy and contented customers.

Many functions can be integrated into POS systems, and these include (but are not limited to) recording and automatic updates of received items and inventories, and real-time adjustments between sales and stock items. However, in today’s fast paced society, the most important function your POS system should have is the ability to process credit card transactions on site.

Older systems do not have this feature. In other establishments, the credit card must be swiped on a separate terminal (usually provided by the card issuer) for it to be processed. Newer systems have integrated card verification system into the POS system. In these newer devices, the terminals are already equipped with a slot wherein the credit card can be swiped. There is no need to manually punch in the credit card numbers thus reducing what are termed as keystroke errors. Once the card has been swiped, the terminal will process the transaction.

In some POS programs, especially where handheld “hand over” devices are used and credit-card pin or debit card pin numbers are accepted, the customer can personally plug in the pin numbers themselves. This is especially convenient in restaurants and bars as the customer does not have to leave their seats and to go to the counter just to pay, nor do they have to wait for the attendant or the cashier to process their payment. This makes paying more convenient and also assures clients of utmost security and privacy.

Apart from credit cards, newer POS systems also have the capability to process smart cards, debit cards and, can even input information on discount and rewards cards. It is this multi-functionality that makes the feature of integrated credit card functionality important amongst retailers and business owners.

There are different kinds of Point of Sale peripherals which allow integration of credit card functions and your choice, whether it’s integrated in the terminal or several hand over devices, will depend mainly on the kind of business you are running. Select the option that would be appropriate for your establishment and which you believe would greatly increase productivity and sales. If you do not know which product is best for you, consult with a POS representative and ask for guidance.