Linux-based POS systems installations increasing
Comparing the licensing costs of a simple Windows based installation to a Linux based makes Linux the clear winner. I think using open source based solutions with such a Linux based installation can even improve that, reducing costs to just installation and service/maintenance support.
What may be expected from a linux POS system?
I set myself some long-term objectives to make the system valuable and some immediate objectives to make it usable. So here are some answers what one expects from a linux POS system and which I try to keep in mind during design and development:
- Low costs for implementation and support
- Easy and/or cost-effective extensibility
- Security, safety and stability (backups, encryption, password protection…)
- Fast workflow
- Ease of use, easy access and fast learning results
- Enhancement of productivity
- Offload work to the system, like billing and accounting
- Inexpensive hardware costs
- Wide-range hardware support
- Mobile and stationary access
- Support orders via different medias: internet, phone, fax
- CTI-like support for fast caller identification
- Keep a customer database for deliveries and CTI
- Support normal and thermal receipt printers (for billing and kitchen)
Indeed this software is free, you only need hardware, a Linux installation and someone to install and setup the system. Linux does not require expensive hardware to run. And everything is open source and new hardware support can be adapted, new software extensions can be integrated easy and fast. Please use the comment function for discussion of this.