Q. Why use the MSDE database?
A. The short answer is that the Microsoft MSDE database is inexpensive (free) and extremely stable. It supports up to 25 concurrent users and is perfect for POS transaction processing because of its stability. If you already have the Microsoft SQL database or require more than 25 concurrent connections to the database, there is no difference from our perspective in using the full MS-SQL database.

Q. What Versions of the ACCPAC Advantage Accounting System are Supported?
A. ACCPAC Advantage Accounting System on the Pervasive SQL and Microsoft SQL databases. Versions 5.2 and 5.3

Q. What types of transactions can I perform at the POS?
A. The Orion POS system supports the following types of transactions: layaways, regular sales, Cash Paid In, Cash Paid Out, On Account, No Sale.

Q. The ACCPAC Advantage Accounting System has a number of modules. What Modules does the Orion POS integrate with?
A. The Orion Point of Sale System integrates to the ACCPAC Advantage General Ledger, Accounts Receivable, Inventory Control, Bank Services and Tax Services and optionally to the Serialized Inventory Module. The Orion Point of Sale System Does Not Integrate to the ACCOAC Advantage Order Entry Module.

Q. Will the Orion RMS integrate to my accounting system?
A. The Orion Point of Sale System will integrate to the ACCPAC Advantage series of Accounting Software with either Microsoft SQL (MS-SQL) or the Pervasive Database. Currently, there is no support for DB2 or Oracle versions of the ACCPAC Advantage Accounting System.

Q. What Database does the Orion POS Use for the POS Data?
A. Internally, the Orion Point of Sale System uses the Microsoft MSDE or Microsoft MS-SQL database. The Orion POS software will reference Inventory and Accounting Data directly in the Accounting System. The Accounting Systems Data is stored separately. The Orion Point of Sale System links to accounting data in the Pervasive SQL and Microsoft SQL Databases.

Q. Can the Orion POS link to the Accounting System Data real time?
A. Yes, the link to inventory is usually set to a real time link (though this can be changed to be non-real time if necessary). Typically, the other integrated modules are passed data during the day end process.

Q. How is the Orion POS software priced?
A. The Orion POS software is sold on a per workstation basis and has a required annual maintenance. The price per workstation is $1,200.00/workstation + 18%. There are currently no other fees (i.e. no lan paks, no server components, etc).

Q. Can I operate more that one branch location?
A. The Orion POS software has built in remote polling capabilities (at no extra cost). You can operate multiple remote locations and have accounting, inventory and sales related data passes to and from those locations.

Q. How about Security, how secure is the Orion POS?
A. Very Secure. The system has password protection at the menu level and has user definable password protection available on most of the main pos functions. The system has a manager override capability should a password override be necessary.

Q. Can the Orion POS handle Serial Number Processing?
A. Yes. We have built in support for the ACCPAC Advantage Serialized Inventory Module.

Q. Does the Orion POS process Layaways?
A. Yes. The Orion Point of Sale System has support for layaway processing.

Q. Does the Orion POS support specialized POS hardware like Customer Displays and Slip Printers?
A. Yes, the Orion POS has extensive support for most popular types of specialized POS equipment like Customer (Pole) displays, slip printers, touch screen monitors, credit card readers, bar code readers, POS keyboards and cash drawers.

Q. Does the Orion POS work with Touch Screen Monitors?
A. Yes, the software has extensive support for Touch Screen Monitors. The system is completely capable of working without a keyboard or a mouse.

Q. I currently use a cash register in my store. Does the Orion POS work with my cash register or do I need to replace it?
A. The Orion POS does not run on traditional cash registers. Instead, the software is installed on a Windows-based computer with point of sale peripherals attached via the available ports on the computer.

You will need to replace your cash registers with computers.

Like an electronic cash register, the Orion POS is used by cashiers or sales associates to process sales.

Q. Other than the software, what other equipment will I need to purchase?
A. At a very minimum, you'll need a computer with a standard keyboard, mouse and monitor. (Remember, the Orion POS software requires a Microsoft Windows compatible computer.) Most POS registers using the Orion POS also have a standard 40-column receipt printer, a scanner to read barcodes, a cash drawer to store cash and various tenders, and a pole display to let the customers view and verify the item prices and transaction total.

Q. Can I buy and install The Orion Point of Sale System myself?
A. No. The Orion Point of Sale System is not sold in retail stores, but is available from a wide network of ACCPAC Advantage resellers. Our resellers are trained to install and provide training and support on the system.

Q. What types of reports are available within the application?
A. The Orion Point of Sale System ships with a number of standard POS reports and a number of Sales Analysis type reports. The Accounting System also has a number of reports that are impacted by the POS system.

Q. What types of transactions can I perform at the POS?
A. The Orion POS system supports the following types of transactions: layaways, regular sales, Cash Paid In, Cash Paid Out, On Account, No Sale.

Q. Can I use my current credit card processing system with the Orion POS?
A. Possibly. Don’t forget that the Orion Point of Sale System is IP based, this means that there are a number of performance advantages to using IP based credit card clearing companies.

Q. How is the software licensed?
A. The Orion Point of Sale System is licensed by the active workstation.

Q. Can I use the Orion Point of Sale System in more than one store?
A. Yes, we fully Support Remote Polling through the Internet.