As the sister blog discusses, many problems can be solved without calling your service provider, and it's a wise idea to troubleshoot all the common problems before you call support.
So, diving back into the world of malfunctioning POS systems, here are 5 more ways your point-of-sale might be failing you and how you can troubleshoot them on your own.
This could mean the printer is out of paper and just needs to be refilled. Reloading the ribbon ink cartridge is important to check before calling IT, if it’s run out replace the ink cartridge and it should work.
Just like computer software, POS systems can error if too many programs are running. Check to see how many programs are open, and close unnecessary items.
We all tend to have bad habits with technology, leaving our computers on constantly is one of them. POS systems need to be restarted, and some systems come automatically programmed to restart at certain times.
There should be a feature in your program to control this and set an automatic "shut-down" option. Try resetting the number to zero, and it should prevent random shutdowns. Please do restart your system often, since it needs a chance to refresh.
We’d even suggest restarting it after closing your business for the day.
It's amazing how a small amount of dirt can ruin the most advanced technology. POS terminal screens need to be cleaned to run smoothly. Make sure you clean your POS terminal screen every day with the right equipment. Be sure to use recommended cleaning products on the device, not just any old rag.
You may have blown a fuse, which can be common if your outlets aren't wired to handle the kind of power a POS system needs. Check the outlet to see if any other outlets work by looking for the system lights to glow.
If the outlet is in fact dead, resetting it by pushing the button on and off may solve the issue (if you're lucky). If that doesn’t work, the more complicated step of flipping the circuit breaker may be needed.
These issues will more often than not be solved through these hacks, but at the end of the day, if none of these areas working, you will have to call your point-of-sale system provider.
While other problems can arise, these are the most common that could usually be fixed without a long phone call with IT. There comes a time for every business when they need to weigh their current point-of-sale system and see if it is performing at the level it should be.
If you’re unsure whether your current system is up to the challenge or want a free consultation on if it’s time to upgrade, contact our team for a free consultation.
