POSnet

Posnet has developed two major products, a POS system for restaurants and an online ordering solution for restaurants. These products are based on software libraries that have been developed over the last 9 years and allow Posnet to develop Internet based POS applications with huge efficiency.

The Posnet POS system is unique in its architecture. It is the only hybrid system and offers all of the advantages of local computing with those of Internet solutions. The Posnet system consists of two main parts. The first consists of a local server in the restaurant that receives information over the wireless local network from the POS terminals (other networked computers). Every five minutes the local server automatically initiates a session with a Posnet remote server over the Internet. In this session, the database on the local server is synchronized with the database on the Posnet server. The local server sends the remote server all the changes that occurred in its configuration and all transactions that happened since the last synchronization. The remote server does the same from its end. Thus in real time, all the transaction data is available for querying and report generation on the remote server.

During the same synchronization version, the remote server also sends the local server updates and changes from its end. For example, a support call from the restaurant may require a support person to modify the restaurant menu. The support person does this by modifying the menu on the server, and in about 5 minutes, this change is manifested locally in the restaurant.

The synchronized hybrid system makes version updates a breeze. The changes are loaded to the Posnet servers and in about 5 minutes, all the local severs are updated at all the Posnet POS installations.

The hybrid model has many advantages over the local only or Internet only solutions. The local only solutions are at a considerable disadvantage when it comes to generating reports for multiple locations, when versions require updating and when support issues arise. Furthermore, the hybrid model reduces support costs significantly because when a customer reports a problem and it is solved, the software is updated for all customers and they will not repeat the same support call. There is no “known bug list” as the software is updated frequently. As its install base grows, the hybrid solution will allow Posnet to build valuable database of food related transactions and to provide additional services based on this database.

The Internet only solution suffers from three main problems. The first is reliability because of Internet outages. The second is latency. Because all transactions need to go over the Internet, there is no guaranteed response time. When a restaurant is busy, this may become a serious problem. The third issue is cost. Internet only solutions require a large investment in remote servers unlike the hybrid solution. Since every computation is made remotely, the computational load on the servers is large. In Posnet’s hybrid model, all computations are local and the remote servers only update a database.

Posnet’s online ordering solution for restaurants is an off-shoot of its POS and is based on the same software libraries. For the restaurant owner, Posnet’s solution is hassle free. He can be up and running within 48 hours. He does not need to host and maintain the online ordering system but he also has a convenient interface to modify the website on the fly. Customers are reporting that Posnet’s offering is easy and intuitive to use.