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Convincing people that broadband is stable enough to bet their income on is going to be a hard one.

by misuba 17y ago

tocomment 17y ago
An offline mode should work. Doesn't HTML 5 support something like that? Otherwise Google gears. Otherwise maybe an applet or something?
- tbgvi 17y ago
  Yea we're working on offline support with HTML5 now. We were really happy when we heard about that :) I think it's a better way to go than having another completely separate application
hackoder 17y ago
I haven't tried out their product yet, but it seems like that would be one of the first things they would've thought of. Probably a way to do transactions offline and upload when there is a connection.
tbgvi 17y ago
Agreed, that definitely a hurdle here :) Most people using a POS system already require an internet connection for processing credit cards, so either way it's critical to a retailer. If someone's connection isn't stable we recommend a dial-up as a backup plan. We're also investigating html5 and other options for offline functionality. You're definitely right thought, not everyone's comfortable with web-based pos software (yet)
- Huppie 17y ago
  It seems to me that using Gears (or similar technologies) is definately a must-have.
  - ryanwaggoner 17y ago
    Gears is being phased out in favor of HTML5 http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/12/01/google-is-phasing-out-gears-phasing-in-html5/ http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/12/01/google-is-phasing-ou...
- ismarc 17y ago
  You may just want to offer an additional piece of hardware that lives on site and does the same logic as the web-based piece (everything's just forwarded to your backend systems for processing), only stores data if their internet is down (with the ability to control how cards are authorized, as in up to $x auto authorize if internet's down and eat the cost later if it fails, or deny all, etc.). I think this would integrate well with the hardware options you have and would provide another sell-point without a large amount of effort. The trick is, they buy the hardware, not the software. The software is still a service that is provided (or you can have a more expensive plan that includes onsite hardware, in which case you own the hardware even though it's at their site).
- steveplace 17y ago
  A backup 3g/4g wireless data plan helps.
ShabbyDoo 17y ago
Do customers want a "web-based" system or simply one that they need not upgrade manually and which stores their data in the cloud? I ask simply because it might be feasible to deploy some client-side software to solve this problem. It's going to be run on dedicated hardware, right?
minalecs 17y ago
I've looked into this problem too, and I think its hard for vendors in a mall type setting, where they may have access to a phone line but use it for credit card systems, or may not have access to separate internet connection. The site looks polished, and product looks solid. Good luck.

Convincing people that broadband is stable enough to bet their income on is going to be a hard one.

by misuba 17y ago

Convincing people that broadband is stable enough to bet their income on is going to be a hard one.

An offline mode should work. Doesn't HTML 5 support something like that? Otherwise Google gears. Otherwise maybe an applet or something?

tbgvi 17y ago
Yea we're working on offline support with HTML5 now. We were really happy when we heard about that :) I think it's a better way to go than having another completely separate application

hackoder 17y ago

I haven't tried out their product yet, but it seems like that would be one of the first things they would've thought of. Probably a way to do transactions offline and upload when there is a connection.

tbgvi 17y ago

Agreed, that definitely a hurdle here :) Most people using a POS system already require an internet connection for processing credit cards, so either way it's critical to a retailer. If someone's connection isn't stable we recommend a dial-up as a backup plan. We're also investigating html5 and other options for offline functionality. You're definitely right thought, not everyone's comfortable with web-based pos software (yet)

Huppie 17y ago
It seems to me that using Gears (or similar technologies) is definately a must-have.
- ryanwaggoner 17y ago
  Gears is being phased out in favor of HTML5 http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/12/01/google-is-phasing-out-gears-phasing-in-html5/ http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/12/01/google-is-phasing-ou...
ismarc 17y ago
You may just want to offer an additional piece of hardware that lives on site and does the same logic as the web-based piece (everything's just forwarded to your backend systems for processing), only stores data if their internet is down (with the ability to control how cards are authorized, as in up to $x auto authorize if internet's down and eat the cost later if it fails, or deny all, etc.). I think this would integrate well with the hardware options you have and would provide another sell-point without a large amount of effort. The trick is, they buy the hardware, not the software. The software is still a service that is provided (or you can have a more expensive plan that includes onsite hardware, in which case you own the hardware even though it's at their site).
steveplace 17y ago
A backup 3g/4g wireless data plan helps.

ShabbyDoo 17y ago

Do customers want a "web-based" system or simply one that they need not upgrade manually and which stores their data in the cloud? I ask simply because it might be feasible to deploy some client-side software to solve this problem. It's going to be run on dedicated hardware, right?

minalecs 17y ago

I've looked into this problem too, and I think its hard for vendors in a mall type setting, where they may have access to a phone line but use it for credit card systems, or may not have access to separate internet connection. The site looks polished, and product looks solid. Good luck.