In the modern world, technology has allowed us to transform our work processes from stationary to mobile. Now that tablet POS has arrived, business owners have been able to untether their workers and achieve better productivity. Tablet POS offers many benefits to businesses. They streamline operations, provide access to critical data, and allow you and your workers to operate more effectively. To get the most out of this, you need the best tablet POS for your fast-paced business.
Here are a few tips to help you find that tablet:
Consider Your Environment
Each business has its own unique needs and challenges to overcome, so the best tablet POS will be the one that fits your environment. Retail tablet POS will have different functionality than restaurant tablet POS. The best step is to evaluate your business and your unique needs before you invest in this technology.
For fast-paced business environments, durability is a must. You need your technology to stand up to the wear and tear that it will likely encounter. Industrial tablets are far better than consumer-grade devices, since they are designed to withstand the rigors of business environments, and come with extra features that make them resistant to things like drips, splashes, spills, and dust. You can determine the ruggedness of the device by looking at the IP rating.
Download our free ebook, Rugged Tablet Solutions: A Technical Buyer’s Guide
IP Ratings
An Ingress Protection (IP) rating determines the degree to which the device is protected against solids and liquids. The ratings are expressed as two-digit numbers—the first referring to solids and the second referring to liquids.
The first digit ranges from zero to six, with zero offering no protection, and six offering total protection against fine solid materials that can be harmful to the device, such as dust. A rating between these means that the device is protected from different sizes of solids. The scale goes as follows:
- 0: Device offers no protection from solids
- 1: Device offers protection from solids larger than 50mm
- 2: Device offers protection from solids larger than 12.5mm
- 3: Device offers protection from solids larger than 2.5mm
- 4: Device offers protection from dust, limited ingress
- 5: Device offers total protection against dust
- 6: Device offers protection from solids larger than 50mm
The second digit ranges from zero to eight. Again, a rating of zero offers no protection, while a rating of 8 protections against full device submersion at a depth and under pressure. Depending on the needs of your business, you may need protection against anything from drips to sprays. The scale is as follows:
- 0: Device offers no protection against liquids
- 1: Device offers protection against dripping water
- 2: Device offers protection against dripping water while tilted
- 3: Device offers protection against water spray
- 4: Device offers protection against splashing water
- 5: Device offers protection against water jets
- 6: Device offers protection against a nozzle under pressure
- 7: Device offers protection against immersion up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes
- 8: Device offers protection against dripping water
While the best IP rating for your business depends on your individual business environment and needs, the golden standard for business use is a rating of IP-65, which means the device is completely protected against dust, and protected against most water it will come into contact with, barring full submersion.
Evaluate Your Need for Peripherals
Not only will the right tablet POS depend on your environmental needs, but your functional needs as well. One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to business technology, so each individual business must evaluate its peripheral needs.
Peripherals are add-on devices that make it easier and more efficient to automate business processes, and there is a wide range of peripherals you may need. Examples include:
- Barcode readers and scanners
- EMV card readers
- NFC or contactless payments
- 4G network connectivity
Consumer-grade devices aren’t typically equipped to support all the peripherals your business might need, so it’s important that you choose a tablet POS designed specifically for business use.
Weigh Your Software Options
When it comes to how effective your system is, the software matters just as much as the hardware. The best tablet POS system will be equipped to effectively streamline and automate the processes that you need it to. To find the right one for you, you must evaluate your software needs and determine what functions you need your POS to handle.
One of the most common differences is between cloud-based POS and legacy POS. There are pros and cons to each of these types. Legacy POS is common for traditional POS terminals, but for tablet POS systems which depend on mobility, cloud POS is the way to go. This provides ease of use and can offer access to critical information wherever and whenever you need it.
Conclusion
With the rise of mobile technology and the increased demand for better customer experiences, it’s no wonder that tablet POS has become so popular. Slowly, it is solidifying its place as an essential component of the way many organizations do business. It may be time that your business invests in the best tablet POS that can help you increase profits, stay competitive, and satisfy customers.
Touch Dynamic is an industry leader in tablet POS technology, and has helped many businesses in many different industries identify the right technology to meet their needs. If you are in need of innovative and powerful technology for your business, our experts can help you identify the right solution. Contact us today!
