November 17, 2006; 07:09 AM
In
a never ending battle to ease costs, many hospitality providers today
are looking at Linux as a server operating system. Issues such as cost
and flexibility make Linux an attractive choice. However, just as many
operators may be asking, “what exactly is Linux anyway?”
Linux is a free Unix-type operating system created by Linus
Torvalds. Developed under the GNU General Public License , the source
code is freely available to everyone. According to IBM, Linux is
currently the fastest growing server operating system.
Once businesses have chosen their operating system, the next task
is usually sourcing out a POS (point of sale) system. At the best of
times, sourcing out a POS system for your business can be a confusing,
time consuming and arduous job. Throw in the added obstacle of having
to select point of sale software that can actually run on your
operating system, and it’s easy to see why owners and managers often
shy away from this difficult and often expensive task.
Research has shown that the number of POS terminals running Linux in
North America has increased 80% since 2002. The reason why is simple;
Linux, as an operating system, is more cost effective, flexible, and
allows for greater freedom of choice in software than more mainstream
operating systems. Linux is also very cost effective in regards to
licensing, installation, administrative and support costs. Linux can
offer all these features without sacrificing
functionality. For retailers and hospitality/restaurant operators
alike, cost and ease of use are king, and reasons such as these can
make the difference between a business that succeeds and a business
that fails.
POS software providers have been slow, however, to jump on the Linux bandwagon. Currently,
there are few well-known or enterprise-wide POS software packages
available for Linux. One company, however, has seen a niche in the
market and has embraced it head on. Volanté Systems, of Toronto,
Canada, offers a POS solution that has been developed entirely in Java.
Java is cross platform compatible and operates in multiple environments
– this gives the user freedom to choose Linux, Windows 2000/XP, or
Windows and Linux. For many operators, having a choice is key.
Not only does Java provide cross platform compatibility, but like
Linux, using Java POS solutions can be cost effective as well, as Java
allows users the opportunity to save on additional Windows license
fees, as an example. Java’s open standard architecture allows the
entire system to be compatible with third party industrial
applications. Users are free to choose their operating
environment and are not bound to costly proprietary restrictions.
Volanté also offers integration with Windows-based back office
applications. This flexibility is rare in the POS industry. More
information on Volanté’s Linux & Java POS solutions can be found at
www.volantesystems.com.
From a retail perspective, Linux is definitely catching on.
Burlington Coat Factory, for instance, has already rolled out Linux in
all of their locations, both as a desktop and POS system. Other
retailers/restaurateurs’ currently using Linux in their stores include:
Papa John’s, Garden Fresh, Mark’s Work Wearhouse, Home Depot, and Gap,
to name a few.
The push for Linux isn’t just in North America, either. Asian
governments are looking closely at Linux, hoping it will lead to the
development of a domestic software industry that isn’t hostage to
foreign licenses. According to Linux Insider International, “Asia is
emerging as a key battleground for the open-source movement. The
Japan-China-Korea (JCK) partnership, announced last month in Osaka, is
the latest in a string of initiatives to promote Linux.
Two weeks earlier, Singapore hosted the second annual Asia Open Source
Symposium, where 20 Asian countries discussed closer collaboration in
standardization, localization and interoperability of Linux software.”
It's time to jump on the Linux point of sale bandwagon.