How the trade scale interfaces have changed

We talk about how modern trading scales are changing in terms of interfaces for the exchange and output of information.

Information Interfaces

In chain stores, trading scales by themselves are no longer practical. Increasingly, they are being integrated into the general infrastructure of the outlet and with other retail equipment to improve business processes and make greater profits. Such a bundle leads to the fact that the interfaces of the scales also evolve.

Russian experience shows that the interfaces of the scales are used to integrate with:

• back-office (for transferring information from the back-office to the scales) - concerns, for the most part, the scales introduced in the trading floor of the store, for example, self-service scales. However, this category can sometimes include platform scales installed at the place of receipt of goods;

• cash register equipment (ports through which the balance transfers information about the weighed goods to the cash register) - applies to checkout scales and scanner scales;

• self-service systems (transmit data directly to the self-service system) - concerns the scanner scales and platform scales used to check the total weight of the basket;

• electronic price tags (transmit data to the electronic price tag system) - applies to counter scales with the function of check printing;

• packing and labeling mechanisms (used as a complex of weighing, printing and marking for conveyor processing of goods) - concerns mainly a group of industrial scales.

Foreign experience covers everything that we wrote above, but it expands the use of weights somewhat: in foreign stores, it is common practice when these devices are used instead of a full-fledged cash register. Therefore, they are equipped with cashless payment and scanner interfaces. And instead of a label printer, check receipt printers. Therefore, such scales are equipped with cashier software.

The most necessary (and, as a result, the most common) in network stores for the integration of scales with other trading equipment are the following interfaces:

• in large retail chains - this is Ethernet, Wi-Fi (and, of a class not lower than N);

• on small networks, it is still a COM port.

It is also worth touching on the radio ports that solve the problems of integrating the scales with electronic price tags, and USB with the ability to both receive information on the scales and transfer data from them to other equipment (it allows not only to upload data to the scales using a flash drive, but also transfer necessary information about goods for other equipment).

Of course, these interfaces are constantly evolving due to the changing business processes of retail chains. Take, for example, a group of checkweigher weights. Previously, they were equipped with only one COM port, with the help of which product data and label templates were transmitted to the devices. Today, all such scales are equipped with Ethernet ports - thanks to this it has become possible to control the data transfer processes by key parameters, as well as solve service problems, for example, monitor the performance of the scales, their consumables and device updates.

In addition to Ethernet, as we said above, today it is widely used to integrate scales with other equipment and Wi-Fi. This is true in the case of stores with developed Wi-Fi infrastructure, where, in addition to weights, for example, data collection terminals are actively used. If earlier in such networks the scales were equipped with Wi-Fi modules of standard A, B, now it’s G and N, basically, it’s the N-standard.

In small networks, where COM ports are used to integrate the scales, RS232 was used earlier, and now, mainly RS485. However, in their case, even the simplest scales began to be equipped with USB slots and, sometimes, mini- and micro-USB. For example, the Dibal DPOS400 scales are equipped with micro-USB, which allows not only to exchange data through this interface at high speed, but also to power the device. A set of such equipment can work with small POS-computers in mini-markets. And it’s not necessary to have another charging port.



Today, manufacturers, taking into account the new requirements for the integration of scales, are trying to bring to the market relatively inexpensive models with already enough interfaces. So, the self-service system scales (for example, Dibal D900) are equipped with Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Home Plug ports.



And today the PC series self-service scales are generally produced with a huge set of slots: four / six USB slots, PS / 2 (for connecting a keyboard and mouse), several COM ports, radio modules. In older models, by the way, you can also find LPT for connecting an additional printer. This makes such scales a full-fledged working complex: you can bring the device into working condition right at the place of their installation (configure labels, display products, product groups on the screen).



A separate category is a scanner scale. They are equipped with USB, COM for inclusion in the scanning module. An exception is CAS PDS2 - their scales are the main module, and the scanner is an additional element (scanning unit).

Information Output Interfaces

An equally important block is the display of information on the screen of the scales. Most often, this parameter is important for self-service scales installed in the trading floor of the store, and, sometimes, counter scales.

Previously, these were devices with small monochrome displays, where, in addition to weight, cost per kilogram, nothing else was displayed. Therefore, the interface and interaction with them also remained quite simple - DOS commands or their own language for exchanging data, and nothing more was needed - just enter the weight and print a pre-formed label.



Now the scale is becoming more and more like computers with multimedia displays, the size of which is increasing. To match it, the information output interfaces are also changing. Previously, on the scales screen, you could, at best, see only the catalog of goods to be weighed (with their images). Now, on device displays, engineers are finally starting to display multimedia (including video and audio).



As the displays became large, the scales desktop interfaces allow you to place a lot of information: display not one picture of the goods being weighed, but also, in addition to weight and cost, provide useful information or recommend additional products.

Weight management software

The interfaces of interaction with the scales are also changing in terms of information output programs on the scales. Previously, we worked with text editors for labels, wrote scripts for them, thus setting the nomenclature and principles of its input. Now the interfaces that send information are also quite full-fledged products. These are graphic designers, a database control element that adjusts what the client will see on the display and label. Moreover, this is a standard factor that all manufacturers take into account, from niche products with check button presses that do not have multimedia screens and that store employees work with, and ending with self-service PC scales. These software products are increasingly one element for the entire range of weighing equipment of the same brand. Another option that usesScaleService ), in which modules for working with different brands are configured, thereby simplifying for the client the interfaces of the interaction of the goods accounting system with the scales of different manufacturers.