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POS equivalent to Pro in Sales |
POS, Point of Sales system, to put it simply, is the cash register. It is the location where the business transactions occur. In the yesteryears, POS is non-existence; people paid money in return of goods and no receipt at all was required. Now, POS is compulsory. It has becoming advance by the day to maintain rapid and massive business growth worldwide. Grocery stores have transformed into giant retail stores and the demand for faster transactions is inevitable. Consumers are flocking to retail stores everyday to obtain their supplies and even packed during festive seasons. |
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To improve the speed of transactions, the POS system has been made computerised, making job faster, easier and profitable. The benefits are apparent; the POS provides better inventory management hence reducing shrinkage, and improving margins of business. The ability of POS to provide various reports, invoicing, purchase order and inventory control fast and accurate for most business models make POS a must in retail businesses. The POS system requires a PC for installation and operation of the POS software. The LCD display in the POS provides information to guide you for any inputs into the system during operation. Advanced POS system comes with 2 LCDs that can be viewed from the operator and the customer sides. Keyboard and mouse are provided as input tools. Touch screen LCD is also available for direct and easy input to the system. To have a complete POS system, bar code scanner is required to scan bar code of each product and you can opt for wireless bar scanner as mobile terminal or laser bar code scanner for its robustness. Cash drawer, is another optional item to hold the cash and finally, an external price display tool shall be available to advice the amount that customers need to pay. |
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Authorization Required! |
Before operating the system, the operators are required to verify his/her identity for authorisation. The system will automatically record every movement of the operator into audit trail report for analysis. Superiors or persons-in-charge are authorised to check the audit trail reports for any abnormal transactions. Therefore, most POS requires operator to input their password before starting to operate the system. In some cases, extra mechanical key is required to turn on the system before any further operation. The authentication process normally involves password, cards or key only. Incidents such as sharing of password between operators and stolen of access cards have abused the usage the POS. Manager’s password can be hacked to erase all audit trail files. And when instances like this occur, it jeopardizes the efficiency and reliability of POS system. |
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Make POS More Secure with Fingerprint |
Fingerprint verification is the best and most convenient recommendation for a more secure POS system. How it could be implemented? Plug FingerTec OFIS scanner into POS system as main verification method replacing conventional methods such as password, cards or key. To operate the software, the operator is required to login into the system and all his activities are recorded under his account. System administrator can login using his fingerprint for the highest authority. System administrator can check every detail of audit trial to know each transaction easily. At the same time, normal workers can verify at the OFIS scanner to report attendance too. |
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Objectives of having fingerprint verification in POS system |
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Capturing attendance of staff. |
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Using fingerprint as verification method before handling the POS software. |
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Capturing all transactions attached with respective operator information for easy and fast checking. |
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Identifying system administrator using fingerprint technology for a more secured login method. |
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Technology Characteristics of FingerTec Solution |
Developing the Programming Logic |
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Software developer of POS system can utilize an OFIS server pack to develop programming logic to be integrated into the system. In each server pack, sample of programming is attached for developer’s convenience. The developed programming logic includes enrollment and verification of users, user information and authority.
Enrollment of each person requires a unique user ID and his/her authority level for example system operator or system administrator. By default, POS allows full access to System Administrator to determine the levels of access of other system operators.
Software developer can add icon on the interface of POS for enrollment of system operator, enrollment of system administrator, report time attendance, verification to use POS, verification to enter into system etc. Users press the icons to trigger the fingerprint enrollment or verification process. |
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Attaching OFIS Scanner to POS System |
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After the integration of programming logic is done, the OFIS scanner can be plugged into the POS system using a USB port to activate the scanner. Once the scanner is activated, all the developed features are ready for use. |
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Enrolling system administrator and operator |
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It is very important to enrol a system administrator to access the POS system. The POS system comes with an overwrite system key exclusively designed for system administrator. During first enrolment of system administrator, the overwrite key is required for the POS system to trigger the enrolment. The administrator needs to place finger on the OFIS scanner to capture fingerprint image. Captured images will be sent and saved into the POS system. Now a system administrator can enrol into the POS, and he can continue to enrol for other system administrator and operators. In the next enrolment, system administrator must verify his fingerprint to identify his identity to the system for the system to allow new enrolment. During operation, any new enrolment of system administrator or system operator, the POS system will require fingerprint verification of a system administrator before providing any access. |
Reporting for Attendance and Operating the POS System |
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All system administrators and operators have to report attendance at the POS system. Reporting attendance via POS system has been practised by major retailers the world over. To do this, staff must select Attendance icon, select the status of his attendance before placing finger on the OFIS scanner for verification. Each attendance transaction will be saved into the database and evaluated by its unique time attendance software. |
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Reporting attendance and using the POS system are two different operations and before any user operate the POS system, he must select the operation he wants by pressing the suitable icon. The system would request for his fingerprint verification to identify that he is allowed the next operation. The operation is then saved as a transaction together with his ID for records. |
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