Advantages And Disadvantages Of Point Of Sale System: A Case Study

Advantages of Point of Sale System

Introduction

This report is about the questions and answer about the case study “Blooming with Technology” and about the point of Sale system. The advantages and disadvantages of new POS system are discussed according to the case study. POS is helpful in gaining the competitive advantage as well as if it is connected with the Telecommunication Networks; it works wonders in the enterprises.

1. System of POS has some advantages and some disadvantages as well. This system was converted into a new one in the year 2009.

Advantages

• There are many POS systems available in market. One has to choose carefully form them. They are faster in performing and the installation is cheaper.
• The POS system deployment is very simple.
• This system helps in the evaluating errors which are created by humans and saves money for long term.
• The transactions from the bar code scanner facility are quicker and save the time for the customers (Adeoti, 2013).
• If the POS system is web based, then the installation is almost zero percent of a necessity.
• Web based point POS system give the leisure of not worrying about the software updates, backups and system reconfiguration.
• In the POS system which is typical, the business owners are needed to pay for software and hardware but typical pint of scale generally consists of software updates, technical support etc (Lin et al., 2015).

Disadvantages

• Reliability in Connection: The connection of internet which is reliable and ISP are needed for maintaining the POS system which is web based. In case of the internet outrage, one cannot have an access to that particular system. Though there might be the fail safe options in the place, it still is inconvenient of waiting for system in getting back up and operating (PLOMP et al., 2012).
• Costly software upgrades: Not like other web based systems which provide free upgrades that keep up to date software upgrades always comes with the high cost which are attached to  them. Each time when the upgrade is required and mandatory, one will have to pay for the new license and the software when the business expands.
• Costly fees: The POS system which is web based as costly and the subscription is charged in the systems as an investment for the long term.
• Less Convenient: These type of systems are very less convenient in the usage. One needs more than just the computer for the access of t he inventory counts and reports with the software based systems.

2. There are a few ways as to how the subscription of the POS can help in gaining of the competitive advantage. Considering the case study of Four Seasons Green House and Nursery which is located in Colorado, the software is updated: The business company’s pays for the software license and the version which is new are created by the provider will always expect the customer to purchase the software version from there only. Technology and retail market is changing day after day and one should not get trapped for the updates repeatedly. With the subscription of the POS, one will never have to pay again as they are included. This can work as an advantage in beating the competitors. Unlimited Support: Software issues always tale more time. When the POS does not work, support is needed. When the solution is licensed, the problems will be figured out. POS always is able to track the stock which is internal as well as the schedule replenishment stock from the external sources. Management of the inventory is also very important. It is helpful in the margins of profit gaining. With such gains, the higher authorities also work in an efficient manner and the objective is always to obtain good results. POS also helps in the processing of the sales in terms of unit and decreases the wish to enter the data like data entry is done and this makes the people of the business save lots of time and effort. With such results, the managers can deliver more tasks to the staff and the management of other functions becomes easier. This way it can gain the competitive advantage (W. & Namusonge, 2015).

3. There are few advantages of the centralized database systems. They are:

• Data Transformation: With the help of centralized data management, it can be easily transformed and managed by the experts who can do the programming and various kinds of analysis about the study.
• Security of data: Data is easily and safely secured with the documentation done in the way that it is not feasible for everyone to access the data unless someone is given the privilege to do that. Due to this the need to store the data on multiple platforms also decreases (EDM, 2018).
• Sharing the data: Compass data repositories and the staff who is experienced in programm9ng gives the facility in the creation and exportation of the data in various formats. On the basis of the request, data dumps can be created too in the formats that are created. In the addition to this, the stored data on the individual place can be accessed multiple of times by tightly managed privileges.
• Disaster Recovery: Data repositories always do have a backup on the regular basis and tit can be again stored in case of any of the failure of the server. Redundancy of the hardware is maintained at the server as well as the infrastructure levels. Along with this, the management of the professional server insured that more than 99% of the system uptime is maintained (Iacob & Moise, 2015). 

4. Decisions which are effective should and can be taken in a very easy manner irrespective of the situations if the help of the POS system is taken. Those decisions will always gives the benefit in handling perfect operations. Be it any type of the activity, POS will take care of that and those activities are also done in the very specific and smooth manner. The managers and the staff who work for the information will perform the activities aptly. With the help of the POS, the goal becomes is to minimize the work done by the employees of the company manually because the information is important  and should be managed at the single place so  that it is easily tracked by taking help of the database (Wong et al., 2017).

Centralized Database System

5. LAN, MAN and WAN are the most widely used telecommunications network in today’s world. Although there are many other networks which are being used today such as PAN, EPN, VAN etc. but these there are the most relied and favored of all others. All such networks can be used in the POS system for the support. These are the medium of the communication and connection in between the world (Thakor & Joshi, 2017).

LAN: This is the network which works in the computer groups which are places in the same building or the company. They are connected together for the connection. It gives high speed and it is inexpensive like other networks (Dodonov et al., 2010).

MAN: The full form is Metropolitan area network and it is larger than the LAN and yet smaller than what WAN is. IUB network is one of the famous examples of the MAN. It can be used in different location but the locality has to be the same.

WAN: This is wide area network and as the name suggests, it is used in the wide area. There is no restriction related to the geography etc. The speed of Wan is very high and it is relatively expensive due to the area it covers (Ersoy & Panwar, 1993).

A few cables are used by the technologies which are wired are UTP or unshielded twisted pair cable, coaxial cable, shielded twisted pair i.e. STP, wireless LAN’s and fiber optic cable.

Technologies which are wired are cliché and are used such as Radio receivers, broadcast, TV, cordless, garage, door openers, wireless computers, satellite TV, headphones, GPS etc (Braine & Yorozu, 1998).

6. There are a few risks which are involved in the implementation of the POS system. They are:

• Security: Keeping the data secure should be the first and the utmost priority of the organization as it contains sensitive information. In case if any hack happens, it will become the threat to the business. So, all the information should be kept safe and secured. For doing this, the experts should be hired who can handle to secure the data effectively such that it can be managed well (Trendmicro, 2014).
• Confidentiality: After keeping the data safe, confidentiality is the second major thing which should be kept in mind. The passwords should be kept secured so t hat the data is not leaked and easily kept confidential (Tri, 2018).
• Privacy: Privacy is somewhat linked to security and confidentiality. All these three actors are almost one. The data which is recorded can be kept private by keeping it secure and confidential (Tallysoft, 2016).

References

Adeoti, O., 2013. Challenges to the efficient use of point of sale (POS) terminals in Nigeria. African Journal of Business Management, 7(28).

Braine, G. & Yorozu, M., 1998. Local Area Network (LAN) Computers in ESL and EFL Writing Classes: Promises and Realities. [Online] Available at: file:///C:/Users/Nidhi%20Vyas_JPR/Downloads/jj-20.2-art3.pdf [Accessed 22 May 2018].

Dodonov, E., Mello, R.F.d. & Yang, L.T., 2010. A Network Evaluation for LAN, MAN and WAN Grid Environments. [Online] Available at: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/2601/5e1bc511185b733c76a62ae4f7d1f5655933.pdf [Accessed 22 May 2018].

EDM, 2018. Why Should You Have a Centralized System? [Online] Available at:

https://effectivedatabase.com/why-should-you-have-a-centralized-system/ [Accessed 22 May 2018].

Ersoy, C. & Panwar, S.S., 1993. Topological Design Of Interconnected LAN/MAN Networks. Journal of Selected Areas in communication, 11(8).

Iacob, N.M. & Moise, M.L., 2015. Centralized vs. Distributed Databases. Case Study. Academic Journal of Economic Studies, 1(4).

Lin, Y.C., Ha, N.H. & Lin, K.S., 2015. The Role of mPOS System in Process Change and Strategy Change: A Situated Change Perspective. Technologies, 3, pp.198-218.

PLOMP, M.G.A., RIJN, G.V. & BATENBURG, R.S., 2012. Chain digitisation support by point-of-sale systems: an analysis of the Dutch product software market. [Online] Available at: https://postprint.nivel.nl/PPpp4899.pdf

 [Accessed 22 May 2018].

Tallysoft, 2016. 3 POS System Security Risks You Need to Recognize. [Online] Available at: tallysoft.https://www.tallysoft.com/news/3-pos-system-security-risks-you-need-to-recognize/ [Accessed 22 May 2018].

Thakor, J.B. & Joshi, N.C., 2017. Computer Networks. International Journal of Science and Research, 6(5).

Trendmicro, 2014. Point-of-Sale System Breaches. [Online] Available at:https://www.trendmicro.com/content/dam/trendmicro/global/en/business/capabilities/solutions-for/point-of-sale/wp-pos-system-breaches.pdf [Accessed 22 May 2018].

Tri, R., 2018. 7 Ways your Point of Sale Security is at Risk. [Online] Available at: https://posoncloud.com/7-ways-your-point-of-sale-security-is-at-risk/ [Accessed 22 May 2018].

W., N.V. & Namusonge, G.S., 2015. Role of Inventory Management on Competitive Advantage among Manufacturing Firms in Kenya: A Case Study of Unga Group Limited. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 5(5).

Wong, T.E., Srikrishnan, V., Hadka, D. & Keller, K., 2017. A multi-objective decision-making approach. PLOS, 12(6).