Buy it, don't lease it.
Hardware is a small share of three-year cost and a large share of complaints. Here is what each industry needs and where buyers get caught.
Field Service
Phones or tablets for technicians, a card reader that takes tap and chip, a printer only if customers ask for paper.
Retail
Countertop terminal or iPad, barcode scanner, receipt printer, cash drawer, and a label printer if you print your own tags.
Restaurant
Fixed terminals, handhelds for tableside orders, kitchen display screens or printers, and a reliable network.
Grocery
Fast scanners, integrated scales, high-volume printers, EBT-capable readers and self-checkout where volume justifies it.
Automotive
Counter terminal, scanner, a tablet in the bay for inspections, and a card reader that can take payment at the vehicle.
Wholesale
Warehouse scanners, label printers, a counter terminal and mobile devices for reps and drivers.
Beauty
A front-desk tablet and a card reader, often nothing more. Client-facing tipping screens are useful.
Specialty
Depends on the mix; most need a tablet, a reader and a printer, plus a scanner if retail is meaningful.
Where buyers get caught
Leases. A terminal that costs a few hundred dollars can cost several times that over a four-year non-cancellable lease. This is the most common hardware complaint we track, and it is almost entirely avoidable.
Lock-in. Some vendors' hardware only works with their software. If you leave, the hardware is scrap. Factor that into the exit cost.
Compatibility. Ask for the supported-hardware list before buying anything, especially scales, scanners and label printers.
Network. Restaurant and grocery systems fail on bad Wi-Fi far more often than on bad software. Budget for a proper network.
Hardware lock-in concern
Editorial rating, 1 low to 5 high
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