RetailEdge POS System Requirements
If you have or are going to purchase your own computers to run RetailEdge, RetailEdge can work on lots of systems. From tablets to desktop computers to All-In-One dedicated POS machines. When purchasing a system for your RetailEdge POS here are some things you will want to consider.
We know this is a lot and we want to help. If you have any questions, contact us. We want your business to succeed and we are here to help.
Business Size
Transaction Volume and Items
What you need to run a boutique with a few transactions per day, is less than what you need for a business that has 500,000 items, 50,000 customers and 100s of transactions per day.
Number of Workstations
What you need for a single register operation is less than what you need for a business running 25 registers and back office workstations.
Number of Locations
What you need for a single location business is less than what you need for a business synchronizing data between multiple locations real-time.
Day-to-Day Operations
The POS hardware you use should match your business’s operations (and budget). Will you be bringing your existing computer to the store or purchasing new, installing a fixed POS counter, going mobile, walking the floor with your customer, selling from a popup or trade show, or blending your POS into your store’s design?
Desktops
Minimum Recommended
- Modern (within the last two years) Intel i3 Processor or AMD Ryzen 3
- 8GB RAM
- 128GB or Greater HDD
You Might Like Better
- Modern (within the last two years) Intel i5 Processor or AMD Ryzen 5 (or better)
- 16GB RAM
- 256GB or Greater SSD (or more)
Considerations
- Desktop computers provide the most economical solution.
- More RAM is better
- SSD is faster than HDD
- RetailEdge does not require a lot of Disk space, but Windows updates and other applications might.
- There are many affordable small form-factor computers that can fit nicely under your counters to give you a clean looking installation.
- Using your existing system?. When purchasing or using your own system you will want to be aware of the processor generation (age). Not all i5 processors are alike.
Laptops
Minimum Recommended
- Modern (within the last two years) Intel Core m3 Processor
- 8GB RAM
- 128GB or Greater SSD
You Might Like Better
- Modern (within the last two years) Intel Core m5 Processor
- 8GB RAM
- 256GB or Greater SSD
Considerations
- The mobile m3 and m5 chips are going to be slower than the i3 and i5.
- Even i3/i5 mobile laptop processors are typically slower than desktop processors and try to balance battery life against performance. What can you live with?
- Using your existing system
Tablets
Minimum Recommended
-
Microsoft Surface Go 4
- Intel N200 Processor
- 8GB RAM
- 64GB or Greater SSD
- WiFi
You Might Like Better
-
Microsoft Surface Pro 9
- Intel Core i5 Processor
- 16GB RAM
- 256GB or Greater SSD
Considerations
- Using a tablet is good for doing a small volume of transactions for remote sales or line busting applications or if you simply want to check stock while walking around the shop with your customer.
- If you need more power and don’t really need the tablet form factor, then you should consider a desktop or laptop.
- How small do you want your POS to be. Traditional POS Desktop Screens are 15-inches. A Surface is 13-inches and the Surface Go 3 is 10.5-inches. The Surface’s are 12.3 and 13 inches
- Using your existing system
All-In-One (AIO) POS Workstations
Minimum Recommended
- Modern (within the last two years) Intel i3 Processor or AMD Ryzen 3
- 8GB RAM
- 128GB or Greater SSD (500GB HDD but slower performance)
You Might Like Better
- Modern (within the last two years) Intel i5 Processor or AMD Ryzen 5
- 16GB RAM
- 256GB or Greater SSD
Considerations
- More RAM is better
- SSD is faster than HDD
- RetailEdge does not require a lot of Disk space, but Windows updates and other applications might.
- Using your existing system
AIO Advantages
AIO POS systems are typically more expensive than an off the shelf computer, but can provide:
- a simpler installation and a clean sleek look at the counter,
- small footprints for businesses with limited counter space
- lots of ports for devices like scanners and label printers,
- integrated ports for rear displays, magnetic strip readers, and bio-metric readers,
- cable management to hide your cables,
- colorful wraps so that you can match your store’s branding,
- flexible touchscreens that can be angled to prevent your store’s lighting from causing glare and minimize any barrier between you and your customer,
- fan-less options to improve your system’s life in dusty or dirty environments, and
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Processor Generation
Processor Generation: The increased performance of newer processors can be significant. Older processors are effected more by the Meltdown and Spectre processor vulnerabilities patches. Many discounted systems may seem like a good deal until you see that they contain older processors. The first digit in the four-number sequence indicates the processor generation (i.e., i7-8650 is a 8th generation processor)
Using Your Existing System
Can you use your existing computer or POS system? Of Course. But you should follow these recommendations. RetailEdge will run on older generation and smaller processors with older operating systems (Windows 10) with less RAM or hard drive capacity. These recommendations were developed to provide you the best value, longest life, and most stable systems to run your business on.