Point-of-sale (POS) software and hardware have transformed the common cash register. Spurred by the PC revolution, point-of-sale systems changed the nature of the sales transaction, from the smallest mom and pop shop to the biggest mega bigbox conglomorate store. Sales data is instantaneously captured, as credit transactions are authorized and inventory levels are updated. As consumers, we often take these point-of-sale systems for granted, stopping only to grumble about them when they don’t perform as quickly as we’d like.

When compared to the the laborious checkout lines I remember
from childhood, today’s point-of-sale systems operate in the blink of
an eye. I nostalgically recall standing at the counter in the
neighborhood hardware store, as the owner tediously wrote up each
receipt by hand. And I remember the day I first saw a bar code scanner
in action at the local supermarket. What a marvel of engineering!

It almost seems that when off-the-shelf point-of-sale computer
systems began to pop up in the early eighties, all of a sudden, the
cash register became cool.

In the early days of the age of point-of-sale system, Apple
computers could often be found at the sales counter. As the IBM
Personal Computer became the ubiquitous standard, Apple lost a great
bit of its POS shine. Of course, there are still POS systems for Mac
folks; PayGo POS and PlatipusPro POS are two that come to mind (both
are also available for Windows PCs, as well).

Today’s point-of-sale system revolves around the barcode. When integrated with a full-scale inventory control system,
the barcode enables the tracking of each piece as it comes in and goes
out. When an item is rung up at the register, the electronic inventory
database is updated to reflect the change. For the shop owner, less
work taking stock means better living through high-technology.

Windows POS system software is available from a host of companies,
including: COMCASH, Intuit, iQmetrix, ProfitLine, Retail Technologies
International, Windward, and many others.