This article outlines the most common hardware choices used with Retail POS to help you customize your setup to suit your individual business needs. These common setups are for example purposes only. Hardware is not sold as a bundle and must be purchased individually from the Lightspeed hardware store or third-party suppliers.

How to use this guide

There are three key steps to selecting the right hardware for your business:

1. Consider the logistics of your business and how that will affect your hardware choices:
   • Your locations and how many registers you need per location.
   • The connection types best suited to your location's layout and security needs:
     • W/LAN: Wired (Ethernet/LAN cable) or wireless connection (WLAN), known for reliability and speed
     • USB: Wired connection (USB cable), connects to one device at a time.
     • Wi-Fi: Wireless connection with extended range, prone to disconnections.
     • Bluetooth: Wireless connection with limited range, prone to interference.
2. Review the setups and optional add-ons outlined below to help you decide what hardware devices and connection types you need for your business.
3. Purchase supported hardware from the Lightspeed hardware store or trusted third-party suppliers.

Lightspeed only provides support for supported hardware. If your hardware isn't included in our list of supported hardware, you need to contact the hardware manufacturer for assistance.

The administrative setup

The administrative setup is ideal for completing administrative tasks that require a computer running macOS or Windows, like setting up your account and importing your inventory.

If the computer is located on your sales counter, it can also be used as a sole or main register to process sales by adding a few pieces of equipment.

Additional equipment can be added to suit your business needs. Refer to the Optional add-ons section of this guide for more information.

The point-of-sale setup

The point-of-sale setup is ideal for businesses that require:

• A dedicated register separate from the admin computer.
• Multiple points of sale to serve customers throughout a larger location.

In this setup, Retail POS runs off an iPad, providing a modern and flexible checkout experience. Customers can view purchase details during a sale, either with a secondary display iPad or by turning the stand. The iPad can also be removed from the stand to complete inventory tasks or assist customers on the sales floor.

Additional equipment can be added to suit your business needs. Refer to the Optional add-ons section of this guide for more information.

Optional add-ons

Optional add-ons are ideal for more complex businesses that require additional pieces of hardware to run effectively. These optional pieces can be added to either your administrative or point-of-sale setup.

Purchasing hardware

After deciding on your ideal setup and devices:

1. Confirm the compatibility of the devices you've selected.
   1. Ensure the hardware device is compatible with your register device type (computer or tablet) and operating system (Windows, Mac, iOS).
   2. Ensure the connection types for the devices you have selected match the connection type available to use at each register. For example, a Bluetooth printer that works with the iPad register.
2. If you've created a hardware store cart during a call with a Lightspeed representative, purchase your hardware through the custom link they sent you following the call. Otherwise, you can purchase hardware devices from your regional Lightspeed hardware store:
   • Canada.
   • United States.
   • Netherlands and Belgium.
   • United Kingdom.
   • New Zealand.
3. Once you've selected and purchased your hardware, the next step is setting it up. Refer to the relevant sections of the Supported hardware article to find setup instructions for your specific devices.

What's next?