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Deployment and field work

Checks to make before promising an installation

A one-hour visit to the client’s site, before you set the date, lets you check the four points the installation depends on.

In short

Before promising an installation date, a reseller checks four things at the client’s site: the power supply and the exact position of each device, the Internet access and local network, the chosen till software with its driver requirements, and the access constraints of the premises. Those four points determine whether the date can be met.

Why visit the site before setting a date?

A point-of-sale installation rarely fails because of the hardware. It fails because an outlet is missing, because the Internet link is not live yet, because the software needs a driver nobody brought, or because the premises are only open from noon. None of these problems appears on a purchase order, but one hour on site is enough to spot them.

The visit also lets you announce a date you have checked and record your findings in the quote. The client then knows what has been verified and what they need to prepare on their side before you arrive.

Power and position: what should you measure?

Measure how many outlets are actually free, where they are and how much counter space is usable once the station is running. The till and the printer each have their own power cord. The cash drawer usually plugs into the printer’s drawer output, such as the 24 V output on the MG80. A makeshift power bar on installation day can lead to a service call a few months later.

  • Count only the free outlets, since some already power equipment the client owns.
  • Measure the counter with the screen in place and the cash drawer open.
  • Work out the cable route, and check whether it crosses a walkway.
  • Check the distance between the kitchen printer and any sources of heat and steam.

Network and Internet access: what should you confirm?

Confirm that the Internet link exists, that it works and that it will still work on installation day. For a client covered by Québec mandatory billing, this point is essential: Revenu Québec lists the Internet connection among the required equipment, alongside the certified SRS. A station installed without a live link cannot transmit any transactions.

  1. Confirm the Internet service activation date with the client, in writing.
  2. Find out who manages the router, and get the name of someone you can reach on installation day.
  3. Check Wi-Fi coverage at the actual position of each wireless device.
  4. Plan a wired link for fixed devices and keep wireless as the fallback.

Regulatory framework and procedure:

The client’s software: what should you get in writing?

Get the software name, its version, the driver layer it requires and the list of printing interfaces it supports in writing. The software vendor is the source for all four; ask for them before you place the order. They determine whether the MG80 printer connects over USB, serial or Ethernet, and which driver to install.

What should the written commitment include?

The commitment describes what you will do, what you need in order to do it and what happens if something is missing. It is a plan with prerequisites, several of which are the client’s responsibility. Writing them down helps the client prepare and helps you keep to the announced date.

  • The client’s prerequisites: outlets, a live Internet link, access to the premises and a manager on site.
  • The exact content of the visit, step by step, including the final print test.
  • The exclusions, such as network cabling to be pulled, electrical work and software licences.
  • The steps to follow if a prerequisite is missing on arrival, agreed before anyone travels.

To structure the document:

Key points

  • Installation failures usually come from outlets, the network, the software or access to the premises, and rarely from the hardware.
  • Revenu Québec lists the Internet connection among the equipment required for mandatory billing.
  • Driver requirements come from the software vendor and should be requested before ordering.
  • A written commitment that lists the client’s prerequisites helps you keep to the announced date.

Frequently asked questions

Should the site visit be billed?

That is a commercial decision for you to make. Billed or not, do it: one hour on site generally costs less than a day of rework. Present it to the client as the step that lets you announce a reliable date.

What if the client has not chosen their software yet?

Wait for their decision before setting an installation date. You can prepare the quote in the meantime, but the printing interface, the driver and sometimes the terminal model depend on the software; without it, you may end up installing twice.

Who needs to be present on installation day?

Plan for someone who can make decisions and someone who will use the station. The first settles questions of position and access, and the second receives the training. If either one is absent, a second visit is often needed.

Sources

G4POS·Updated on · 4 min read

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