<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10pt"><div><span>A friend said something similar - start with the i) software (inventory & accounting) and ii) back-end database first. Was recommended some open source packages like i) <a target="_blank" href="http://www.openbravo.com">http://www.openbravo.com</a> and ii) <a target="_blank" href="http://l-ane.sourceforge.net">http://l-ane.sourceforge.net</a> , but I'm still trying to understand how to piece it all together. I really want to be able to input inventory arrivals; then have a bar-code scanner (or just POS) track what goes out the door. </span><br><br>It sounds like the cash drawer would have to be hooked up to the receipt printer (
serial connection?) - all from a POS screen. And yes, there is already a cash register and bar-code reader there (don't have the specs). But I want something that can
be hooked up to an inventory control system. <br><br>Hmmm..<br>Tim <br><br></div><div style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><br><div style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><font face="Tahoma" size="2"><hr size="1"><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">From:</span></b> William Park <opengeometry-FFYn/CNdgSA@public.gmane.org><br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b> tlug-lxSQFCZeNF4@public.gmane.org<br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b> Sun, December 5, 2010 3:17:06 PM<br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b> Re: [TLUG]: Inventory and POS/Cash Solutions<br></font><br>Reading between the lines, I'm guessing the store in question already <br>has everything. Otherwise, factor that into your price. Most important<br>i
s transaction at the end (ie. sales and receipts). Then, work backward<br>from there, incrementally.<br><br>Initially, try to avoid "all-integrated-ERP"
solution. Instead, look<br>for "POS screen" which only deals with user interface, like<br> - input from keyboard (or barcode reader, which is the same thing,<br> ie. scanning barcode is the same as typing those numbers),<br> - line items and total on screen.<br> - user input for voiding, price override, tax exemption, etc.<br> - printing receipt and electronic journal.<br><br>The backend database will determine how you store/extract item infos<br>(ie. input for POS screen), and how you post POS transaction (ie. output<br>from POS screen). Look into accounting package, like Simply Accounting,<br>AccPac, etc. It will give you some idea as to what you need for I/O<br>format and
data structure.<br><br>I wonder if a spreadsheet (eg. Excel, etc) can be used, modified, or<br>forked for POS screen side of thing. Hmm...<br>--
<br>William<br><br>On Sun, Dec 05, 2010 at 11:20:32AM -0800, Timothy Washington wrote:<br>> I figure I can get something reasonable where a mobile device enters inventory <br>> as it comes in. Then I would expect the bar code reader / cash system to track <br>> product as it leaves the store. I'm just trying to get educated at this point. <br>> <br>> Tim<br>> ________________________________<br>> From: William Park <<a ymailto="mailto:opengeometry-FFYn/CNdgSA@public.gmane.org" href="mailto:opengeometry-FFYn/CNdgSA@public.gmane.org">opengeometry-FFYn/CNdgSA@public.gmane.org</a>><br>> To: <a ymailto="mailto:tlug-lxSQFCZeNF4@public.gmane.org" href="mailto:tlug-lxSQFCZeNF4@public.gmane.org">tlug-lxSQFCZeNF4@public.gmane.org</a><br>> Sent: Sun, December 5, 2010 12:33:16 AM<br>> Subject: Re: [TLUG]: Inventory and POS/Cash Solutions<br>> <br>> On Sat, Dec 04, 2010 at 06:45:05PM
-0800, Timothy Washington wrote:<br>> > Hello all, <br>> > <br>> > I'm looking into buying a Convenience Store. One thing I want to do is have
<br>> >it's <br>> ><br>> > inventory and POS/Cash systems upgraded. So I want to know the best linux <br>> > solution to handle that (trying to avoid SAP and Oracle bloat). I found a list <br>> <br>> > of Linux ERP solutions below. But I want to know how I can go about evaluating <br>> <br>> > them. <br>> > - <a href="http://www.linuxlinks.com/article/20...17552/ERP.html" target="_blank">http://www.linuxlinks.com/article/20...17552/ERP.html</a><br>> > <br>> > Also, is there a place to look for GTA area consultants / technicians with <br>> > experience setting up inventory control and other systems for convenience or <br>> > retail stores. The immediate task(s) would be things like:<br>> > - setup inventory contr
ol hardware & software<br>> > - all product ( inventory and sales ) must be trackable by barcode<br>> > - software should track<br>> > - prod w/
highest sales volume<br>> > - prod w/ best margin<br>> > - reorder threshold<br>> > - tie sales numbers to employee shifts<br>> > <br>> > <br>> > Anyone have any experience with this? <br>> > Thanks<br>> <br>> The features you're asking are way beyond "convenience store".<br>> - How do you enter items in the first place?<br>> - What payments do you accept, and how how you process POS transaction?<br>> - I assume you already have barcode reader, barcode printer, receipt<br>> printer, etc. If not, which one do you buy?<br>> - it's messy...<br>> <br>> May I suggest dedicated Sharp/Cannon "cash register" from Staples,<br>> Office Depot, Grand & Toys, etc.<br>> <br>> -- <br>> William<br>--<br>The
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