Computers In The Retail Industry
Overview
Walk through a supermarket checkout and a remarkable amount of computing happens in a few seconds. A laser reads a barcode, a price appears, the shop's record of how many tins are left drops by one, and if stocks run low the computer quietly orders more, all before you have packed your bag. Tap a card and money moves from your bank to the shop's bank through a secure link. Retail is one of the richest examples of ICT at work.
This lesson explains the two big retail systems: the point of sale (POS) terminal with its automatic stock control, and electronic funds transfer at point of sale (EFTPOS) for paying by card or phone. You will follow the barcode from scan to re-order, see how chip and PIN, contactless and NFC payments are checked with the bank, and weigh the advantages and disadvantages of internet shopping.
Objectives
- Computers in the retail industry.
- Characteristics and uses of computers in the retail industry including point of sale (POS) terminals and electronic funds transfer at point of sale (EFTPOS) terminals Point of sale (POS) terminals including updating stock files automatically and ordering new stock automatically Electronic funds transfer at point of sale (EFTPOS) terminals including checking of the validity of cards, the use of chip and PIN, the use of contactless cards, the use of Near Field Communication (NFC) payment, the communication between the supermarket computer and the bank computer.
- Internet shopping.
- Characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of internet shopping.
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Computers In The Retail Industry. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- At a supermarket POS terminal, the barcode is used as the: A. Check digit B. Primary key linking to the stock record C. Authorisation code D. PIN Answer: B
- What do the letters EFTPOS stand for? A. Electronic File Transfer Per Order System B. Electronic Funds Transfer at Point of Sale C. Encrypted Funds Transfer Online Service D. Electronic Form Transfer Point of Service Answer: B
- When an item's stock level reaches the re-order level, the system: A. Deletes the record B. Automatically orders more and flags the item C. Raises the price D. Stops the item being scanned Answer: B
- A customer pays with a smartphone held within 5 cm of the terminal. This uses: A. Chip and PIN B. OMR C. NFC D. A magnetic stripe Answer: C
- Which is a disadvantage of internet shopping? A. Access to a worldwide market B. Open 24 hours a day C. Goods cannot be examined before buying D. No need to travel Answer: C
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