Point of Sale (POS) Application

[eluser]salbertson[/eluser]
[quote author="thurting" date="1222157418"]This is a serious undertaking. If you really plan on offering a web based POS application, you will need feature packed software, advanced technical support, and numerous servers running across multiple data centers. Things like hardware integration are not features that you should 'eventually' be looking at, but are absolutely necessary to make your application at all practical. Based on some of the comments you have made I don't know if you have really thought things through. I'm not saying don't do it, and I do wish you luck, but something like this really requires a large team and a fair amount of start up capital. I don't know your situation, but it may not be the most prudent business decision, especially considering an already crowded market. Unless you have come up with a new technology or feature that will greatly increase efficiency at the register, I just don't think it is worth the time.[/quote]

I don't think successful web-based apps have to be "feature packed". All the POS software out there is over packed with features that people don't necessarily need and just get in the way. Look at 37signals and their methodology. They have been successful in building apps that are very specific and do one thing and do it well. That is my goal with FireSale.

Hardware integration will come but is not necessary for the app to be useful. Using a combination of auto-suggest and clever UI I think a person could be just as productive using a keyboard as they would using a sku gun. With that being said integration with sku guns and labels printers will be the first priority when it comes to hardware integration. The market is crowded with overpriced standalone applications that aren't for the average small business owner.

I really appreciate the feedback.