What are Pole Displays and How Do They Improve Point-of-Sale Systems?
VFD Pole displays, also known as customer displays, enhance the checkout experience by showing item and price information directly to customers. You’ll often see these displays in fast-food restaurants, retail stores, and supermarkets, where they ensure transparency during transactions.
Types of Pole Displays for POS Systems
Most pole displays offer one to three lines of text and may support simple advertisements as well. Retailers can choose from various configurations:
- Standard Pole Displays: These displays mount on poles with adjustable heights and feature weighted bases for stability. Fast-food counters frequently use them, and their size can be customized to fit different checkout setups.
- Tabletop Displays: These lay directly on the countertop instead of being mounted on a pole. They perform the same functions as pole-mounted displays and are ideal for counters with limited space.
Why Choose VFD Pole Displays for Your POS System?
VFD (Vacuum Fluorescent Display) pole displays are a popular choice for POS systems. Their bright, easy-to-read text ensures that customers can quickly view transaction details. Connecting a VFD display is simple: you can use RS-232 serial ports or USB ports, which create a “virtual” COM port to interact with the system.
In addition to serial and USB connections, some displays also support parallel port setups and pass-through configurations. This allows multiple devices, such as printers and displays, to share a single connection port.
How to Integrate Pole Displays with Your POS System
To ensure accurate communication, your POS system needs to distinguish between the text sent to the pole display and the data transmitted to other devices, like printers. This distinction is essential for displaying transaction details correctly without any mix-up.
Several command sets are available to help with integration. The Logic Controls universal command set is one of the most widely used and works with many POS systems. Once you install the necessary drivers, this universal command set will operate most pole displays, regardless of the operating system. If you’re unsure which command set your POS system supports, you can opt for a universal command set pole display to ensure compatibility.
Dual-Sided and Customizable Pole Displays
Some displays offer dual-sided screens to let both customers and cashiers view the transaction details at the same time. This feature enhances transparency and speeds up the checkout process.
You can also program pole displays to show notifications, such as promotions, thank-you messages, or special offers. This adds a valuable advertising element to your point-of-sale system, boosting customer engagement.
Choosing the Best Pole Display for Your Business
Whether you need a VFD pole display or an LCD customer monitor, it’s crucial to choose one that fits your business needs. LCD displays provide more customization and support images and graphics, while VFD pole displays work best for businesses that require simple, clear text.
For retailers and restaurant chains, these displays can improve accuracy at checkout and increase customer satisfaction. If you need guidance on selecting the right display, reach out to a POS expert for advice.
Talk to Our Experts
Do you need help integrating a pole display into your POS system? At SomanPOS, we offer customized POS solutions, from basic 2-line text displays to advanced LCD monitors. Contact us to speak with a professional and discover the best option for your business.
