Odoo OpenERP 7 POS Technical Architecture

OpenERP 7 POS provides a good option for retailers to use the system for billing purpose. A great feature which it has is the ability to work in a offline mode. Its web based architecture makes it very easy to deploy on multiple POS PC machines. In this blog we present the technical architecture on how to configure the OpenERP 7 POS system along with integration of hardware.

We have configured the system to use it as a hardware proxy server which connects with all the hardware devices such as printer, scanner, cash drawer and customer display. Following describes the various components of the system.

OpenERP 7 Main Server:- 

OpenERP provides an application server on which business applications are built. This server has all the modules and server side code to run the OpenERP 7 server. It should generally be hosted on a server hardware and configuration depends on the traffic and number of users.
 
Pragmatic Hardware Proxy Server (PHPS):-
Pragmatic has build from ground up the hardware proxy servers which interacts with all the hardwares. PHPS runs on local POS PC system and connects to different types of hardwares. It provides facility to connect local Printer, Cashdrawer and VFD display-(On which Product,Quantity and Total Amount of order gets display). After generating order from POS touchscreen terminal when user hits on validate button it automatically generate printed receipt of sale order without issueing other instruction for print.
 
POS Touch Screen Terminal:-
POS Touch Screen is used for selecting products while creating order for customer. It is also used for managing quantity,discount, receiving payments and for printing receipts.  
 
Cash Drawer:-
Cash drawer connects to receipt printer port. When a print is fired, this port on receipt printer sends an electrical signal to cash drawer to openup the drawer automaticaly, once order is validated and receipt gets printed. 
 
VFD Customer Display:-
A vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) is used for displaying product on the screen. As soon as we select products it appears on VFD display. It also shows qauntity .total order amount as well as change after validation of order on VFD display. 
 
Barcode Reader:-
A barcode reader (or barcode scanner) is an electronic device for reading printed barcodes. Like a flat bed scanner, it consists of a light source, a lens and a light sensor translating optical impulses into electrical ones. After setting barcode labelling on the product when user scan product while making order that product is automatically added to shopping cart.  
 
Thermal Printer:-
Thermal Printer is used for printing the POS receipt.