From printers to cash drawers to payment terminals, selecting the right hardware for your business helps your business run smoothly. This article will guide you through the types of hardware available and how to set up hardware with Retail POS.
Available hardware
These are the tools you'll need for your transactions, managing inventory, and managing cash flow. For a complete list of supported devices, visit the Supported Hardware article.
Receipt printers
Receipt printers, specifically thermal printers, generate customer receipts. Receipt printers connect to your computer using Lightspeed Hub.
Payment terminals
Payment terminals allow your store to accept debit and credit card payments, accelerating transactions and offering your customers more ways to pay for their orders. They reduce the need for manual card entry, minimizing errors, and ensuring secure, PCI-compliant transactions.
Barcode scanners
Barcode scanners can help you quickly add items to sales or when you are managing your inventory by simply scanning the item label.
Label printers
Label printers are great for inventory management. If you're using barcode scanners, you can use a label printer to apply adhesive labels with barcodes to items so that they can be scanned and added to a sale. Label printers connect to your computer using Lightspeed Hub.
Cash drawers
Cash drawers store cash, coins, and checks. With Retail POS, they're connected to your printer via an RJ12 connector cable. They are automatically triggered to open when needed, improving the organization and security of your cash handling.
Understanding connection types
While purchasing hardware, it's important to be aware of various factors, such as the connectivity options (e.g., LAN vs. USB), their compatibility with your devices, and the specific features of each hardware type.
Choosing the right connection types for your hardware is crucial for the efficient operation of Retail POS. Different connections impact performance, reliability, and versatility in unique ways.
LAN (Local Area Network) connection
Recommended
LAN-connected hardware communicates through a wired network by connecting your device to your router via an Ethernet cable. It's known for reliability and speed, making it a good choice for environments where a consistent, uninterrupted connection is vital. Using a LAN connection is often considered the most stable option.
It's recommended to use printers and payment terminals with a LAN connection to support a sturdy and reliable connection. Bluetooth or USB printers can only be linked to a single iPad at a time.
LAN connections are:
- Faster and more reliable.
- More secure than wireless alternatives.
- Able to connect to multiple POS devices.
LAN connections require a wired setup.
USB connection
USB-connected hardware are ideal for hardware that's positioned close to the POS. However, USB-connected devices are less flexible, as they can only be linked to a single iPad at a time.
USB connections are:
- Fast and reliable.
- Powered directly from the device they're connected to.
- Easy to set up.
USB connections can only connect to one POS device at a time and need to be physically close to the POS.
Wi-Fi connection
Like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi allows for wireless hardware placement but with a more extended range. It's suitable for larger premises or mobile devices. However, Wi-Fi is susceptible to connection issues due to network congestion or interference.
Wi-Fi connections:
- Allow devices to be mobile within a certain range.
- Allow multiple POS devices to connect to shared hardware.
Wi-Fi connections are vulnerable to unauthorized access if not properly secured and offer a slower connection that's more prone to interruptions and disconnects.
Bluetooth connection
Bluetooth devices connect wirelessly and offer flexibility when it comes to hardware placement. They're suitable for smaller establishments or where cabling would be intrusive. However, the range of Bluetooth is limited and interference from other devices could affect connection quality.
Bluetooth connections:
- Allow devices to be mobile within a certain range.
Bluetooth connections have limited range, are susceptible to interference from objects like walls, and can only connect to one POS device at a time.
Purchasing hardware
You can purchase supported hardware directly from Lightspeed. The Lightspeed hardware store is customized for each region:
- United States: https://store.lightspeedhq.com/
- Canada: https://castore.lightspeedhq.com/
- UK: https://ukstore.lightspeedhq.com/
- EU: https://nlstore.lightspeedhq.com
- Australia: https://austore.lightspeedhq.com/
- New Zealand: https://nzstore.lightspeedhq.com/
Purchasing from Lightspeed directly ensures compatibility and support.
Setting up your hardware
Once you have selected and purchased your hardware, the next step is setting it up. Refer to the relevant sections of the Supported Hardware article to find setup instructions for your specific device.