Overview
Below are our guidelines for choosing a computer that will work with Cloud Retailer. Outside of the detailed specifications provided below, there is really one major overarching message: buy quality
Procedure
You might be able to save a few bucks on a cheap machine, and it will work but will it last? Especially with a POS station. If your computer goes down while you have customers waiting in line you damage your reputation and lose your ability to collect money. If, in general, you buy a computer that comes standard with a 3-year warranty (not something extra you buy - it comes standard), that's a very strong indication you're buying a machine that will last a long time. Someone like Dell doesn't put a 3-year warranty stamp on something unless they are basically positive they won't have to mess with it. We typically sell Dell's Optiplex PC's, they come with that magic warranty.
Additionally, if we're deploying on existing equipment, the short answer is if anything is over 5 years of age, it is a waste of energy to use it. While we hate throwing what appears to be working equipment out, we hate seeing customers throw good money after bad far more.
Whether you buy it from us or not, get new stuff. If we are responsible for deploying your software and the computers or peripherals are more than 5 years old we will give a "best-effort" to making it work but if we're unable to complete a given task within 30 minutes you will need to replace the device, even if the issue is a software issue (aka a hard to remove virus, etc).
⚠ Currently, we do not support any ARM-based processors, including the Surface Pro X, though other versions of the Surface Pro with i3, i5, or i7 processors work just fine.
POS COMPUTERS (TYPICAL USAGE)
✔️ Windows 10/11 Pro/Enterprise - 64-bit (Windows 10 S is NOT supported)
✔️ 8 GB of RAM - if using for other tasks other than POS, 16 GB is preferred.
✔️ 20GB Free Disk Space
✔️ Processor with at least:- 4 Cores
- 4 Threads
- 2.20 GHz Clockspeed
- Passmark score of 4400+
✔️ 6 USB ports on the BACK of the machine. A powered USB Hub is also an option for computers with fewer USB ports.
⚠️ If you are buying a new computer, we'd recommend this specification as a minimum.
POS COMPUTERS (HEAVY LOAD/ SPEED DESIRED)
This means that you have:
➤ More than 40,000 products OR
➤ You have over 75,000 customer records OR
➤ If a given POS station is high volume, as in 800 or more sales transactions line items per day. If the average product you sell is $15, that would mean the individual POS station in question sells more than $12,000 per day on average.
✔️ Windows 10/11 Pro/Enterprise - 64-bit (Windows 10 S is NOT supported)
✔️ At least 16GB of RAM If you have more than 75,000 customer records AND will be using loyalty, 32 GB of RAM and an SSD hard drive are desirable.
✔️ 40GB Free Disk Space
✔️ Processor with at least:- 6 Cores
- 6 Threads
- 3.0 GHz Clockspeed
- Passmark score of 7100+
✔️ 6 USB ports on the BACK of the machine. A powered USB Hub is also an option for computers with fewer USB ports.
BACK OFFICE COMPUTERS
We're less picky about back-office computers as it boils down to needing a Google Chrome web browser on the machine if you do not plan on using the POS app or printing labels. The back office program is accessible from a phone or a tablet (i.e., Surface Pro with i3, i5, or i7 processor, iPad with Google Chrome browser).
If you're buying a new back office computer for use with the back office and other things, here's what we'd recommend:
We suggest 16GB of RAM because typically back-office computers are using a variety of programs that end up using a lot of RAM - NOT because Cloud Retailer specifically needs it. Any existing machine to be used must be virus/malware and virus-free and in good working order, or additional charges will apply.
If you are a "buyer" and use elements of the system that display many many rows of data (Supplier Purchase Planning, for example), we'd suggest considering upping this specification for an optimal experience.
⚠️ If you buy your computer from CLOUD RETAILER, it will be preconfigured by us, and you get a few added benefits:
✔️ When you plug it in, it's basically ready. No more taking an hour or so to go through the initial setup process and download updates, etc. Cloud Retailer and all of our needed utilities are preinstalled and tested. The machine is run on our bench for 48 hours to let burn-in and avoid sending the rare but occasional dud out to a customer.
NETWORK
Networking services are never included in proposals unless explicitly stated. It is expected that you will have Cat5 or Cat6 network cables prepared and available—one for the POS station and one for the payment terminal—reaching the desired locations for each device.
If we are performing onsite installation at any time, any time spent routing cables will be considered billable and falls outside the scope of your proposal.
- Standard Card Defender payment terminals require a hard-wired Cat5 cable (or better) wherever they will be located.
- Stationary POS stations require a hard-wired Cat5 cable (or better). If they are wireless-enabled, that can also work; However, if possible, a hard line is preferred.
- Tablet-based POS stations require a secure/encrypted wireless LAN network connection. If you're using a wireless payment processing unit, this also requires an encrypted wireless network. The SSID of the wireless network should not change.
- LAN connections should have a 1ms ping response time with less than 0.1% packet loss on average.
- Wireless networks should have a 10ms or less ping response time with less than 0.5% packet loss on average.
- Internet connections for synchronization and card processing should have a ping response time to Google of less than 50ms and less than 0.5% packet loss on average.
- If you are providing a "segmented" network to separate the POS terminals from the payment devices, you MUST
- Be able to ping the payment terminal from the POS device
- Be able to ping the IP of the credit card processing company from the payment terminal
- These need to be tested and operational before we start our work
- If you don't know what a segmented" network is, then this likely does not apply to you :)
- If you are enabling outbound network restrictions (firewall), then ensure your rules comply with the information outlined in our Firewall requirements for Cloud Retailer page.
These are our preferred network environments, though Cloud Retailer is quite flexible. If you have a different situation, it's likely we can accommodate. Please discuss it with your Cloud Retailer technical contact.
POS PERIPHERALS
If reusing existing peripherals, the following criteria must be met:
- General Hardware Requirements
- All equipment must be less than 5 years old. Even if listed as "supported," hardware older than 5 years must be replaced or will be treated as unsupported—with any related costs the responsibility of the customer if you are newly moving to Cloud Retailer.
- All hardware must be WIRED unless explicitly stated otherwise.
- “Supported” hardware simply means it’s compatible with the POS software. It does not mean we provide troubleshooting for physical defects or connectivity issues unrelated to software communication. Most hardware support is considered a premium service. For example, if a Bluetooth scanner isn’t connecting wirelessly, that issue would not be supported unless the device was purchased from us and is part of a new deployment. Wireless troubleshooting is always classified as a premium service.
- Payment Terminals
- Only PAX terminals are supported.
- MSRs are only used for driver's license scanning (where applicable).
- View the list of supported payment terminals here.
- Barcode Scanners
- Must be 2D and from one of the following brands:
- Zebra, Motorola, Symbol, Metrologic, Honeywell, Datalogic. No other brands are supported.
- We recommend wired connections over wireless, as in our experience, wireless runs into more issues and has slower scanning speeds.
- Must be 2D and from one of the following brands:
- Supported Printers
- Receipt Printers:
- Epson TM88
- Epson T20
- Label Printers (Must be listed DPI):
- Zebra ZD410 (203dpi)
- Zebra 2824 PLUS (203dpi)
- DYMO LabelWriter 450 / 450 Turbo (for keg tags only) ⚠️ Newer models (e.g., 550) only work with DYMO brand labels. Third-party labels will not work in the printers.
- GoDex barcode/keg tag printer – Contact us at support@cloudretailer.com for model-specific info.
- Receipt Printers:
- Display Hardware
- Customer Display: Must be a second monitor, minimum 800x600 resolution.
- Green character pole displays are not supported.
- Customer Display: Must be a second monitor, minimum 800x600 resolution.
- Touchscreen Monitors
- Supported brands:
- ELO
- Logic Controls
- Surface Pro touch monitors
- Supported brands:
- Scales
- Supported models: Datalogic Magellan 9400i, CAS mG series
- Additional Notes
- Our standard installation assumes we will be providing the peripherals; if not, there is a "hardware reuse fee" that needs to be in your proposal for the time we spend researching drivers, etc.
- Cloud Retailer Mobile does NOT support Windows Mobile (CE, Pocket PC, Windows Mobile 5/6, etc.)
References
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