The following sections of this BookRags Literature Study Guide is offprint from Gale's For Students Series: Presenting Analysis, Context, and Criticism on Commonly Studied Works: Introduction, Author Biography, Plot Summary, Characters, Themes, Style, Historical Context, Critical Overview, Criticism and Critical Essays, Media Adaptations, Topics for Further Study, Compare & Contrast, What Do I Read Next?, For Further Study, and Sources.
(c)1998-2002; (c)2002 by Gale. Gale is an imprint of The Gale Group, Inc., a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Gale and Design and Thomson Learning are trademarks used herein under license.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Encyclopedia of Popular Fiction: "Social Concerns", "Thematic Overview", "Techniques", "Literary Precedents", "Key Questions", "Related Titles", "Adaptations", "Related Web Sites". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
The following sections, if they exist, are offprint from Beacham's Guide to Literature for Young Adults: "About the Author", "Overview", "Setting", "Literary Qualities", "Social Sensitivity", "Topics for Discussion", "Ideas for Reports and Papers". (c)1994-2005, by Walton Beacham.
All other sections in this Literature Study Guide are owned and copyrighted by BookRags, Inc.
The point-of-sale (POS) system is a computerized retail transaction system, such as the one commonly seen at supermarket checkout counters. POS is also sometimes called EPOS for "electronic point-of-sale" in order to emphasize the computerized character of the current point-of-sale system. This system may use personal computers (PCs) or other specialized terminals that are combined with electronic cash registers, bar code readers, optical scanners, magnetic strip readers, among others, for accurately and instantly recording transactions at the time and place of the sale, hence the term "point-of-sale."
A POS system may be connected to an intranet (a private network within a company or organization) via a centralized computer for such activities as inventory updating and credit checking, or it may be a stand-alone machine that stores transactions until they can be delivered or transmitted to the main computer for processing. Some of the point-of-sale operations performed by the POS system are reading product tags, updating inventory, and checking customer credit. It often also includes such retail activities as merchandising techniques and aids, advertising displays, and the methods used to enable transactions. The total system generally includes the hardware and software that runs both the front counter and the back office operation of the business.
The following are important advantages of the POS system:
A POS system provides control over transactions, with access to a large amount of historic data for comparisons over periods of years, months, and weeks with regards to such thing as profitability on different retail lines, stock comparisons, and other important financial and marketing indicators. The system can also track inventory, provide efficient computer stock control and reordering, and automatically create order lists as needed (even adjusting quantities for seasonal demand).