Best Practice Keeping All Store Systems Powered and Connected

BEST PRACTICE:

KEEPING ALL STORE SYSTEMS POWERED AND CONNECTED

This document explains the importance of keeping all store computers—including the Server/Office computer and POS terminals—powered ON and always connected to the network.

Note: In this context, a computer being “OFF” refers to any of the following:

  • The computer is powered down

  • The network cable is unplugged

  • The network device (router/switch) is turned off

Also, please note: An internet outage does not necessarily mean the store’s internal network is down. Internal systems may still communicate if networking equipment remains powered and connected.

Why It’s Important to Leave All Computers On:

1. Ensures Real-Time Synchronization Keeping the Server/Office computer and POS terminals powered on ensures real-time data synchronization. This eliminates the need to manually sync POS stations each morning.

2. Enables Overnight Reporting Several critical reports are generated and emailed after store closing hours. These automated tasks rely on the systems remaining powered and online overnight.

3. Supports Overnight Database Backups Backups are scheduled nightly—typically beginning around 1:00 AM local time—and are processed one POS computer at a time.

  • These backups copy the product database from the Server/Office computer to each POS terminal.

  • This ensures that each POS has the most up-to-date data in the event it needs to operate in Stand-Alone Mode.

  • If the Server/Office computer is turned off, backups will fail. As a result:

    • Product updates (e.g., prices, barcodes) won’t be available at the POS.

    • This can lead to pricing discrepancies, scan errors, or slowed performance during Stand-Alone operations.

4. Protects Against Hardware Failure or Natural Disasters If the Server/Office computer crashes or is damaged (e.g., due to a power surge, hardware failure, or natural disaster), having recent database backups on each POS terminal significantly increases the chances of restoring operations quickly and with minimal data loss.

Recommendation: As a best practice, ensure that all store computers remain powered ON and connected to the network at all times, especially overnight. This guarantees smooth daily operations, reduces support issues, and ensures the system can recover quickly from any unexpected disruptions.

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