Professional POS or just PC This presentation should give you an overview about standard POS and standard PC technology, about advantages and disadvantages of each. It is done with Beetle POS from Wincor Nixdorf in mind but it is valid on the same way for any professional POS. If you like you can follow or contact me at Twitter @PavicDarko

1. PC versus POS
For professional retailing

2. Retail IT Specialists
Reasons for downtime
53 % of all service calls
were related to hardware Reasons for the service call
problems
8% CPU / RAM / Fans
4% Drives
2% Power supply
18 % 2% Exp. cards / LAN
2% Others
47 %
13 % Printer
10 % Cash drawer
35 % 5% Scanner
3% Display
3% Keyboard
Not included, downtime due to: Source:
 Power failures Wincor Nixdorf ITS failure
 Server and network failures statistics 4. Q. 1999
 Non-availability of supplies (paper,
ribbon cartridges, etc.) Based on BEETLE /L
 Missing change configurations, 90% of which
 etc. were DOS systems.

3. Retail IT Specialists
Reasons for downtime
47 % of all service calls
were related to software
issues and the user.
Reasons for the failure:
 Installation faults
 Wrong setup parameters
47 %  Operating system & driver bugs
 Compatibility issues with SW versions
 Network problems
 User faults
 ...
The software and user related Source:
call rate share will increase Wincor Nixdorf ITS failure
statistics 4. Q. 1999
with the use of more complex
Based on BEETLE /L
operating systems such as configurations, 90% of which
Windows and Linux. were DOS systems.

4. Retail IT Specialists
Iceberg
Costs in the POS environment
Acquisition Costs: 20-25%
Running Costs: 75-80%
The acquisition costs are only the
top of the iceberg of the total cost
of ownership.
The lion´s share are the running
costs for training, administration,
maintenance and system downtime.

5. Retail IT Specialists
TCO
TCO
 Reduce running
Total Cost of Ownership costs
Downtime  Optimize
Administration serviceability
60-70% Service
Support  Increase system
Power consumption ~75% availability
Installation
Training
etc.
HW & SW
acquisition ~25%
costs Taking TCO to the
next level
Typical for POS systems over a 5-year period

6. Retail IT Specialists
Reduce complexity
SIMPLER CHEAPER
 Plug & play  Cost reduction
 Useability  Power consumption
 Ergonomics  Serviceability
 Simplify business /  Optimized TCO
service processes
BETTER
 Improved
performance
e.g. printer speed
 Increased resources
 Improved MTBF
 High quality

7. Retail IT Specialists
Features and functions that influence TCO
Function/Feature Customer benefit
Scalable product family Tailor-fitted configurations
Versatile usage Efficient serviceability
Long-term availability Homogeneous IT environment
PC & Retail standards Vendor independency
Powered interfaces Higher reliability
Embedded OS Reduced complexity
Management readiness Efficient remote administration
Proven technology Higher availability
Integrated UPS option Reduced downtime
Mobile and ULV processors Reduced running costs
Multi-modular product concept Cost-effective swap service
Solid state memory (uDOC) Increased data security
International approvals World-wide availability

8. Retail IT Specialists
Lifecycle issues
PC:
New model every 4-6 months
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4
BEETLE:
Long availability of systems and spare parts
Take into consideration
 Planned lifecycle of the POS systems (2, 5, 8 or more years?)
 Rollout size / schedule
 Availability of spare parts / system replacements
 Pros and cons of homogeneous and heterogeneous IT environments

9. Retail IT Specialists
System environments
Homogeneous BEETLE Heterogeneous PC
Environment Environment
 Same motherboard  Different motherboards
 Same processors  Different processors
 Same BIOS  Various BIOS´
 Same LAN adapter  Different LAN adapters
 Same video adapter  Different video adapters
 Same video BIOS  Various video BIOS´
 Embedded OS  Desktop OS
 Same administration and  Various administration and
management tools management tools
Which system platform is easier to manage and to maintain ?

10. Retail IT Specialists
Characteristic
Feature BEETLE PC
Long-term availability  -
Cash drawer interface  extra card / printer
Powered COM interfaces  extra card
24V printer outlet  -
System management features  system dependent
CMOS memory  -
Integrated UPS  extra card
DOS support  -
Scale approvals  has to be approved
Memorial fiscal approved  -
Extended environmental characteristics  -
Small footprint / smart design  system dependent
International approvals and availability  system dependent

11. Retail IT Specialists
Consequences
Homogeneous BEETLE Heterogeneous PC
environment environment
Long-term Short-term
availability availability
Identical Various
systems systems
Uncomplicated More complex
administration administration

12. Retail IT Specialists
Financial comparison
Financial Comparison BEETLE versus PC
Euros
18.000
Software upgrades
16.000
Downtime
14.000
12.000 Support
10.000
Operation
8.000
6.000
System integration,
4.000
qualification and
installation
2.000 Software
-
BEETLE PC Hardware

13. Retail IT Specialists
Cost categories

14. Retail IT Specialists
Open Systems
Consistent use of PC & Retail standards
 Operating systems: MS-DOS, Linux, Windows XP, WEPOS
 System architecture: Intel compatible (CPU, BIOS, I/O bus, etc.)
PoweredUSB
 Interfaces: RS232, powered RS232, Centronics, PCI,
PCI Express, PS/2, VGA, USB, SATA, E-IDE,
powered USB, Audio
 Communication: LAN-HW : Cheapernet/Ethernet/TP/RF
LAN-SW : TCP/IP, NetWare (IPX)
WAN-HW: X.25, ISDN, Datex-L/P, leased line
WAN-SW: SNA, BSC, ISO, TCP/IP
 System Management: WfM, DMI, PXE, WoL, SNMP, APM, ACPI, CIM
 Device drivers: JavaPOS, OPOS, POS for .net

15. Retail IT Specialists
Power
• One power outlet for the whole • Several power supplies / more power
configuration outlets required
• Lower power consumption • Greater heat dissipation / higher
• Higher reliability power consumption
• Simple cable management • Many potential points of failure
• Complex cable management

16. Retail IT Specialists
Embeded OS
A software provider can
individually configure an
embedded OS to meet the
retailer´s exact requirements
Reduce i t to the MAX
Advantages of an embedded operating system:
• Less overhead – better performance
• No unneeded functions – increased stability and security
• Purpose-optimized – reduced hardware requirements
• Lower OS licensing costs
• Long availability
 Licensing
 Support

17. Retail IT Specialists
UPS
„Power problems are the source of 50% of
data loss for computer installations.“
Contingency Planning Research
Optional, integrated UPS for
BEETLE /M and /XL-II:
 20 minutes system retension time
 Supports the system and system
powered peripherals

18. Retail IT Specialists
Proven technology
 Sealed housing reduces dust
RF collection
Security interference
hazards  Onboard components optimize
system availability
Humidity  Designed for 24 / 7 operation
Dust
& dirt  Flexible usage (POS, kiosk,
management or self-scanning
terminal)
 Enhanced environmental
conditions
 Resistant against static
charges, RF interference,
Temperature power surges
External  Robust, easy-to-service
Static charges influences aluminum housing

19. Retail IT Specialists
Dust
 Lint dust can influence the MTBF values (Mean Time Between Failure) of IT systems in a
negative way
 With the increasing system performance the amount of air circulation needed to cool the
components inside a system increases as well
 The BEETLEVIEW agent monitors temperatures and fan speeds
Lint
filter
The lint filter is a unique feature of the BEETLE /M and BEETLE M-
II models