Introduction to the AccuArk Point of Sale System
AccuArk's Point of Sale (POS) system is the core sales processing module of the application. It is where your cashiers and sales staff ring up purchases, process payments, handle returns, and manage their cash register throughout a shift.
Two POS Screen Modes
AccuArk provides two different POS screen layouts to fit different business environments:
- Standard POS Screen — A full-featured interface with dedicated buttons for every function. Best suited for desktop monitors and environments where staff need quick access to all features at once.
- Compact POS Screen — A streamlined, modern interface with a touch-optimized button grid. Designed for smaller screens, tablets, and touch-screen kiosks. All essential features are available, with less frequently used functions organized under a "More" menu.
Your administrator chooses which screen mode each POS machine uses through the Machine Settings (covered in a separate article). Both screens share the same underlying functionality — the difference is layout and button arrangement.
What You Can Do from the POS Screen
From either POS screen, you can perform the following actions:
- Sell Items — Add items by scanning barcodes, typing item names or IDs, or browsing the item catalog
- Process Payments — Accept cash, credit/debit cards, checks, bank transfers, digital wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay), ACH, Buy Now Pay Later, and more
- Split Payments — Allow customers to pay with multiple payment methods on a single transaction
- Apply Discounts — Apply item-level or order-level discounts, coupons, gift cards, and loyalty point redemptions
- Process Returns & Refunds — Return items to stock and issue monetary refunds
- Hold & Resume Transactions — Pause a sale and resume it later (useful when a customer forgot their wallet)
- Attach Customers — Link a sale to a customer record for purchase history, loyalty points, and email receipts
- Print & Email Receipts — Print thermal or full-page receipts and email digital copies to customers
- Manage Cash Drawer — Open the drawer, perform safe drops, and check machine balances
- Run Shift Reports — View X-Reports (shift summaries) to reconcile cash and track sales activity
Before You Begin
Before using the POS screen, make sure the following setup is complete:
- A POS Machine has been created — Your administrator must create a POS machine entry in the system and assign it to a location (see the Machine Settings article).
- Payment methods are enabled — The machine must have at least one payment method turned on (cash, card, etc.).
- Inventory items exist — Items must be entered in the Inventory module before they can be sold (unless Quick Add is enabled).
- A tax rate is assigned — The machine should have a default tax rate configured.
- A receipt printer is connected (optional) — For printing receipts, a printer must be configured in the machine's hardware settings.
Starting a Shift
When you first open the POS screen, the system will ask you to check in (start a shift). During check-in:
- You confirm or enter the opening cash amount in the register.
- The system records who checked in and when.
- All sales, payments, and cash movements during your shift are tracked.
At the end of your shift, you check out to close the register. The system generates a shift summary showing all transactions, cash collected, card payments, and any discrepancies.
Navigation
For detailed instructions on each feature, see the related articles in this category:
- How to Add Items to a Sale — Scanning, searching, browsing, and using Quick Add
- How to Process Payments — Cash, card, and all other payment methods
- How to Apply Discounts and Coupons — Item and order-level discounts
- How to Process Returns and Refunds — Returning items and issuing refunds
- How to Hold and Resume Transactions — Pausing and recalling sales
- POS Machine Settings Explained — Configuring your POS machine
- Shift Management and Cash Operations — Check-in, check-out, safe drops, and reports
- Keyboard Shortcuts Reference — Speed up your workflow with shortcuts
- Using the Compact POS Screen — Guide specific to the compact layout