If we analyze the functional efficiency of POS Squirrel, it tends to have high operational efficiency. The POS Squirrel software is quite popular in the United States and tends to be used widely. Primarily, it is used in the restaurant industry. It allows customized features on employee management, customers and back office management in the hotel industry. The managers are also able to run customized reports while it also provides e-commerce facilities. Additionally, the ordering of supplies and procurement is also embedded in the software system.
Background
The POS Squirrel is compatible with Windows. It uses the embedded software in the 2 to 3 terminals that tend to be installed and implemented in the restaurant or hotel. Then, it also uses the Microsoft SQL Server technology to keep all of the data. The application software is embedded software that is included in the POS terminals. In addition, there are also back office features that contain the software application on Windows platform. Furthermore, the POS terminals provide touch screen facilities. The software is hidden, but it is expected to have been developed on C# computer language. The users are provided with GUI.
POS Squirrel Overview
POS Squirrel software is used worldwide. It is available from Squirrel Systems and is POS software. Currently, our restaurant is using the POS Squirrel. It comes with touch screen POS terminals. Furthermore, the back office support is also provided. It is a comprehensive system that includes information for the menus, products, employees, customers, e-commerce, and point of sale, and inventory management. It has numerous features like POS software, back office software, hotel PMS interface, PCI-validated credit card processing and antivirus and firewall (Squirrel Systems, 2012).
POS Software Features
This software is fully customized. It provides custom features to the restaurant including menus, ordering, delivery, tracking, and re... porting. The POS functionality includes inventory management, customer management, employee management, and e-commerce. Other sale features include age verification, gift cards, multisystem integration, price lookup, and receipt notes. The features of inventory management include automated ordering, and customer orders. Customer features include customer management database, loyalty rewards program, and customer appointment scheduling. Employee management features include employee data, and performance management and tracking. The e-commerce features also provide online payments and shipping. Then, accounting of bank transactions is also included in the system, such as making reconciliations. Finally, it provides customized reporting that is required by the restaurant.
Then, the software vendor also provides 6 hours of training to employees who will be using the system. This is comprehensive training that prepares all of the users to start using the system with ease. In addition, the company also provides other support in the form of a helpdesk for 30 days. There is also a hardware warranty of the service (Squirrel Systems, 2012).
POS Squirrel & Decision Making
Business decisions could become hard at times, but they can be made easier if the software provides vital information. POS Squirrel IQ is a cloud-based store reporting solution which allows its users to access a vast variety of reports generated from the POS data of the user. The POS Squirrel stores all the information online; hence it allows the users to access their data while at homes. The POS Squirrel continues to aid business professionals in their decision making on everyday business operations (Squirrel Systems, 2012).
The software is not sold exclusively rather it can be used in collaboration with other softwares. Rather, the software is provided as a SAAS (software as a service). Under this arrangement, the company has not bought the application software; it has only bought the hardware. The software is paid by the company for its use. Hence, the software vendor charges a modest amount for the use of the software service. Accordingly, the application software is not installed on the company's POS terminals or other computers. Rather, the software is accessed from the vendor application servers. Still, the database that holds all of the data is available in-house. Hence, the data of the company is safe in-house. However, the company will have to obtain the service from the vendor for continued use of the system. In this way, the reporting function, which is customized, is installed in the company's systems (in the back office).
There are also many other features of this software system. First, it is widely used in the restaurant industry. It is also proprietary software, which is not open source. It is also highly scalable and could be grown with the growth of the company. The POS is also accompanied by a cash drawer, receipt printer, tablet PC, and touch screen. These are all linked with the software, including the magnetic strip reader (MSR) used in credit card transactions.
Finally, the company provides 24x7 support, a helpdesk, phone, request forms, and system upgrades. Hence, the software is a state-of-the-art system that is embedded in the touch screen hardware, in the POS terminals. On the other hand, the back office software is typically installed and not a service (Find the Best, 2012).
Conclusion
All in all, the POS Squirrel software runs on Windows. The database has been developed on Microsoft SQL Server technology. Furthermore, all of the data is stored in-house while the software is provided by the vendor through SAAS. Hence, the company has to make periodic payments for the use of the software service. The software has been developed on C# as the programming language. However, the users are provided with GUI that hides the software implementation. Furthermore, the software code is also hidden as it is proprietary software, which cannot be changed. The software principally provides POS capabilities; however, other related interfaces like those for e-commerce, employee, customer relationship management, and customized reporting have also been included.
References
Find the Best. (2012). Point-of-sale systems (POS). Retrieved from http://pos.findthebest.com/compare/77-84/Squirrel-POS-vs-Micros-POS.
Squirrel Systems. (2012). Complete POS system to go for hotels. Retrieved from http://www.squirrelsystems.com/Products/Squirrel-in-a-Box-for-Hotels.
