Point of sale systems

Australian businesses depend on POS systems for everyday trade. Customers expect them to be accurate and reliable.

Under trade measurement laws, POS systems connected to measuring instruments and used for trade must be:

• pattern approved
• verified.

POS systems and components

A POS system:

• converts measurement results into a net measurement or price
• can display this to the operator or customer
• generates a label, docket or other form of transaction record.

A supermarket checkout is a POS system that connects to a scale and calculates price. POS systems connected to weighbridges provide drivers with tickets showing the weight of their load. Both have software and hardware components. They can connect to measuring instruments physically through cables or wirelessly.

Similar systems or devices that we don’t class as POS systems:

• duplicate, but don’t calculate, measurement data or price (such as simple printers or indicators)
• control the connected instrument or affect its measuring performance (such as those connected to fuel dispensers).

POS systems require the following measurement information on electronic displays:

• quantity
• unit price
• price.

The POS system must show this information once per transaction, at a character height of whichever is the greater of:

• 3 × L mm, where L is the reading distance in metres
• 9.5mm.

We must also approve the connected measuring instrument. POS systems not connected to an approved measuring instrument do not need pattern approval. Similar systems or devices may need to meet other pattern approval requirements.

Certificates of Approval may not mention all indicators, such as auxiliary indicators connected to POS systems. These include additional indicators for customers. If you do have these, they must satisfy the requirements in NMI M7, Pattern Approval Specifications for Point of Sale (POS) systems.

See all pattern approval requirements and guidance documents.

Certificates of approval

Once approved, we issue a certificate of approval for the POS system.

The certificate of approval:

• will detail the POS system hardware and compatible measuring instrument
• will specify the approved software version(s)
• may permit the use of equivalent hardware components such as printers and displays where appropriate
• may permit connection to other compatible approved measuring instruments
• will include a test procedure to verify the POS system.

Changing and maintaining POS systems

If you submitted a certificate of approval, you should ensure any changes to POS systems comply with the certificate.

If the certificate permits you can:

• make software updates
• repair or adjust hardware.

Changes to systems in use may require re-verification after the change. If the certificate does not permit the change, then you may need to seek re-approval or an update to your certificate.

POS system users and verifiers should check with the supplier or designer who submitted the certificate before making any changes. See the certificate for their details.

If your POS hardware and software remains the same, as approved under S1/0/A, it's acceptable to:

• relocate your POS system within a trading premises or to a new site
• replace hardware with equivalent hardware.

However, if you change the POS software then that is considered a new installation. You’ll then need to get pattern approval against the NMI M 7 requirements and be verified before use.

To confirm if changes require re-approval or re-verification, email us.