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How to choose a perfect Point Of Sales System for your Business?

Senthil Raj Jagadeesh, Director – HR & Marketing Bluekode Solutions

Hello, this is Senthil Jagadeesh, Director – HR & Marketing with Bluekode Solutions. In this blog, we are going to talk about key features of Point of Sale system.

There are many different kinds of point-of-sale systems with many different features and different things that they can do. Not all point-of-sale systems are created equal or similar. So it’s important to know what some of the key features are that you should be looking for, in your point-of-sale system.

So first of all, it depends on your business.

If you’re looking for a point of sale system, it’s important to identify quickly what are the key features that you need for your organization that are specific to your line of business. So your business could be food and beverage, in which case you might have a restaurant . Or you might have a retail operation.

For instance, if you’re retail operations, you may need to look at keeping the Product Barcode numbers for each and every product. Not all point-of-sale systems will do serial numbers. So you need to know that if I go start looking for point of sale systems, I should ask do they do product barcode numbers.

If I’m going to look for a system for a restaurant, I should be asking do they do order print to the kitchen and print kitchen displays. Do they have third-party delivery integration? If it’s important to you that it has a customer loyalty program, you may want to have Stock/Inventory in your Point Of Sales systems. it’s important to you to ask upfront, do they the requirements that YOU will need..

What kind of reporting that you will need as a Business Owner? The reporting will vary based on YOUR requirements. There may be many reporting formats but you as a business owner should have the flexibility and the system should be capable of adopting to your needs. The reports needs to be meaningful and should translate into actionable.

“The goal is to turn data into information, and information into insight.”
– Carly Fiorina, former executive, president, and chair of Hewlett-Packard Co

What is the workflow for transactions? Is it simple enough that I can teach all my staffs how to do it? The product search needs to be simplified irrespective of number of products you may have. So knowing what that’s going to work like for your business is important.

Bluekode Solutions has 17+ years in building the perfect Point of Sales systems.

Bluekode Solutions was established in 2003 with a vision to enable digital transformation with software development as a pillar for retail business segment. In the founding years, Bluekode Solutions was primarily catering the needs of the parent company “Kovai Pazhamudhir Nilayam”. In the years to come, understanding its value & potential, Bluekode Solutions streamlined its operations to go all out in extending its offerings new customers. Bluekode Solutions now caters to a wide range customers – Retail, Hospitality, Medical , Educational & Sports.

WE at Bluekode commit to the fact that we build systems to YOUR needs!

We’d love to talk to any of you. If you want to talk to us for a FREE demo, please call the number 0422-4366443 , alternatively you can send a mail as well to our id info@bluekode.com.

Part V : The story of a fascinating place called ” The Nilgiris

NMR approaches its first stop Kallar Station.

A quick recap from where I left in my previous blog post…..

I was so much connected when he mentioned all these. I felt my mistake when I always state , I am busy! , now I realised not everyone is busy at all times and you definitely need short breaks for the wellness of you. As I kept pondering over his statements, the NMR slowly chugged its way to our first stop “ Kallar” station.

As we started to enter Kallar station, Gopi uncle started to give some hard technical facts to me “The Nilgiris Mountain Railway line starts from Mettupalayam all the way up till Udagamandalam. It’s a 46 km ride on top of the beautiful mountains. Mettupalayam is at an elevation of 1070 ft and all the way up to Udagamandalam which is about 7228 ft”.

I was quick to bounce and exclaim “ that’s a quite a climb uncle. How does the train actually pushes in such a steep climb” That’s the point I realised again, on why the engine are behind the coaches and the power they generate to do an actual climb as it is a steep inclination from Kallar station to Coonoor.

Gopi uncle was quick to point out that the engines are powered by coal, the real steam engine concept. I was not a great enthusiast of trains and it’s operations. The NMR was a completely different phenomenon that made me interested to learn the facts and pay attention to it in a great deal.

Kallar was a very silent and a picturesque station amongst the woods. It was a tiny little station so beautiful. For me it was looking like a place straight out of my dream. This was the first time I have come across such a station. Here is where the rack and pinion system starts ( otherwise called as ABT ,alternate biting teeth).

Online references and explanations for ABT ( Alternate Bitting Teeth) :

“ABT technology whereby centrally laid rack bars engage a cog wheel under the locomotives and coaches. The rack bars are laid on the cast iron chairs in a double row above the level of guide rails so that they do not slip of the tracks during deep and sharp curves. The rack bars were originally imported from England, but now they are locally made at Southern railway loco works.nsert the picture again of rack and pinion

In pics : ABT technology, Rack and Pinion

Here is where the actual clim begins. The NMR stops a bit and the engine drivers just step out to check if everything is fine with the coaches and the engines. I am sure it’s going to be such an experience and to add Gopi uncle started off with his description of the journey ahead. “Senthil, even though we are not very far away from Mettupalayam, this is thickly populated place with the gentle giants , the elephants. It’s more an elephant corridor. I have seen so many elephants pass by just inspecting the NMR”. He said this so casually, and the fear from the rock slides shifted to animal encounters within me. I was little terrified and asked, “ uncle, have you seen many such encounters of elephants, what do you do, does the train just keep zipping away , or do we just embark and run to a safer place till the elephant passes, what happens if one comes now” I shot out these series of questions to him and visibly in a lot of panic !

Gopi uncle looked bemused and he started off, “ Hold on Senthil…do not get scared. Wow so many questions out of fear, he laughed . I said, there could be animal spotting and did I say they will come now. I think you have not seen any animals in it’s natural habitat. You are pretty much used to see them tied up in their cages. Let me tell you something, animals in their natural habitat are far more calm and they are fearless as well. The biggest mistakes the tourists do is that they get excited and start to yell and scream, which actually frightens the animal, propelling them to attack or defend their territory . There have been so many encounters of elephants in this stretch and none have harmed any one and it’s very bad idea to abandon the train to hide or run elsewhere. I think more I talk to you about Nilgiris, I will talk also to you about co-existing with Nature and especially at these eco hot spots”.

He continued “Kallar has a beautiful horticulture garden that was formed in 1900 and there are so many fruit plantations and a river stream. Many of the elephants tread along this area from deep forests. The plantations have some unique fruits like jackfruit, guava, durian,grapefruit etc, probably that could be a reason why these elephants are attracted too..”

While we were talking and this happened ….

More on the next chapter!

The most incredible and interesting that I heard is the word named “co-existence “. Over the years, I realised how much this was true and specifically at natural hotspots like Nilgiris. At present I do a lot of treks in remote parts of Nilgiris and have sighted many animals. The only thing that keeps ringing in me is the conversation I had with Gopi Uncle 20 years ago and how relevant it has been to me. His words, Co-exist with Nature, as long you are not going to harm nature or animals , they in turn will never harm you. It’s a serious thought and lesson obtained at a very young age!

In video : Just wanted to share this beautiful video that was filmed and was shared in Facebook by an avid photographer. Enjoy.

Part IV : The story of a fascinating place called “The Nilgiris”.

Part IV : NMR chugs away from the Mettupalayam Station…

The train started to chug its way from Mettupalayam station . Long way up to Udagamandalam and loads of learning awaiting.

The train moved quietly into an area surrounded by banana trees. It was packed both sides and a sight to behold. There was a small level crossing, it was cute as It was the first time I saw such a small level crossing. The place was so quite and still as I could only hear the chug chug of the steamer with a neat whistle to warn people or animals to ward of the path.

While I was admiring all of these, I quickly realised that I have still not clarified why there was a person at the front of the train with lever. I instantaneously turned towards the elderly gentlemen besides me, and asked “uncle, can you let me know why is that man siting right in front with a lever in hand ?”

He responded, “He is the most important person on the NMR” , my curiosity grew and responded “why so uncle?”.

The elderly gentlemen continued “ As you can see the path from Mettupalayam up till Coonoor is steep climb, more so this the area where you can expect maximum rockfall and landslides too. It is his responsibility to ensure that he alerts the engine driver by pulling the lever so the train can come to an halt. He is also responsible to see if there are any rocks in track as missing them would be a costly error as it can derail the train. In local terms we call him the ‘Spotter’ or ‘Signal man’.

I was staring at the gentlemen as I was amused and awe struck on how that man is so very important for us to have a safe ride. I was equally scared on these landslides etc as I have been hearing few in these regions during the rain times. With a look of concern on my face I asked the elderly gentleman “ uncle, thank you so much for explaining. Now you are psyching me on the rockfall. I am bit scared as it seems to have rained pretty heavily a month before”. I had learned this thru newspapers.

The elderly gentleman responded confidently, “ Boy, I understand your anxiety. But i can confidently tell you that we do not expect any rockfalls. The NMR management is always a step ahead, yes there was minor landslides last month, after which they have taken a huge survey and only when they are convinced they re start the NMR”. Further he said “ the management is also equally concerned and alert all times to ensure a smooth ride to all the NMR patrons. This being an important and crowded tourist spot, NMR takes all precautions”.

The response was so heartening and it calmed my nerves. How often, we look behind the scenes and what effort each one does to put up a good show. Here is a classic example of how dedicated the Railway authorities are and how cognizant they are to the ever changing situations of this beautiful but dangerous landscapes. After hearing this re assurance , my respect doubled for the NMR authorities and the every one who is working to make our journey joyful.

The train chugged it’s way and now you can clearly see that you are at an decent altitude surrounded by the thick forests. I can only say the more you go up, more the altitude is going to attract you with its dense forests. Can’t wait to get there.

I turned around to the elderly gentleman, and by now I would want to introduce myself and to know his name. I know I am late, but I was so engrossed with all the things that are happening around me. “uncle, my name is Senthil , I am from Chennai and work for a company called Cognizant. May I know your name uncle?”.

He responded, “ Wow, so you are from an IT background. My name is Gopi and I own couple of business and my house is tucked away in a beautiful place called “Lovedale” , far from all the noise of Ooty town”.

Lovedale, it sounded so pleasant. “ Gopi uncle, why is that you always take the train. I am sure you will have cars and it is much more faster to reach on top? “.

Gopi Uncle, started, “Yes Senthil, I have more than three cars at my disposal. But why do I take this route? In my business I have so many stress and always occupied. Four hours on this train is always a stress buster for me. From the time you have started your journey, did you hear any other sounds apart from the steamer and the beautiful birds chirping ? This is called a state of tranquility and peace. I do not get this elsewhere or when I drive up the hill in my car. My phones are always ringing and did I even get a call now? Hahaha all signals are blocked , no network.

In this busy world, each time you will need to unwind yourself in something which distracts you from the disturbances of the modernised society. For which the best thing I have found is connecting with Nature. If I feel this trip on NMR is so stressful and time consuming, I will have a miserable time till I reach on top, but if I consider this as the time for one to be himself and soak up all the pressures, be one with Nature, he will surely enjoy this trip.

I am sure you are on the right path, you’ve just started your career , and it’s important that you identify you destress formulae,and if i am right you are attracted to Nature. That’s a good thing , work on it a develop it”

For me this was quick 5 min lesson. I felt so much connected and realized my mistake when I always state , I am busy! , now I understand not everyone is busy at all times and you definitely need short breaks for the wellness of you. As I kept pondering over his statements, the NMR slowly chugged its way to our first stop “ Kallar” station.

More on the other side , with few technical descriptions of Kallar, the bride , the river and much more. My journey continues with the NMR and Gopi uncle.

Part III : The story of a fascinating place called “The Nilgiris” Entralling ride on the Nilgiris Mountain Railway to the iconic Udagamandalam

Quickly, I noticed another change from our regular trains. The Engine went right back to the coaches as though to push them along. I felt strange, and am always used to see the Engine upfront and coaches lined behind them… what’s on earth is this arrangement of Nilgiri Mountain Railway!!

I was still bit surprised and slowly moved towards my coach for boarding. Another most striking point that I noticed was the discipline of the passengers waiting to board the train.

Are we not used to this mad rush of pushing and pulling to board the train?

On the contrary what I saw was such peaceful crowd standing in a neat line, waiting for their chance to board the train. What if all our systems changes to this mindset, it would be just wonderful.

My time came to board the train. All the excitement started to unfold as soon as I stepped into the train. It was a different feeling altogether. It is indeed a special moment and first in my lifetime. I took my seat, and it was a “window seat”, I was elated and had that childish smile. Little I knew that this journey is going to teach me so many things which in future will become part of my life long learning’s.

Just to elaborate the seating arrangements inside. It’s all wooden seating and pretty neatly cleaned and maintained. Not more than three (3) people can sit on side of the seat, pretty similar to our regular railway coaches. I made myself comfortable and cozy, out came my camera for clicking pictures all the way.

I was patiently waiting for the train to start its journey, then came an elderly gentlemen, he should be in the mid 70s. He was smart and looking much fitter than all of us in the 20s. He politely requested me to hang his water bottle in the hook near the window and made himself comfortable in the seat. I looked at him, smiled and exchanged greetings.

The coach that were all seated was the first one, and then came the Loco-man who took his position just outside the coach and I saw a small lever attached to the place where he sat. My state of confusion further grew, at first the engine is at the back and now the loco-man is seated right in the front. While I was excited about the journey, I still felt I needed to know these answers. It would be so stupid of me that I travel in NMR but did not research into these facts.

NOTE: “Its important that whenever you go to a place or be in such kind of trains, you should always have the inquisitiveness to know what’s the story? This helps one to gain knowledge and understand ones presence better. To say, I always had this inquisitiveness in me and over the years it grew. This helped me to answer all questions from my daughter. She is extraordinarily inquisitive”

I was still sitting in my seat a bit uncomfortable or can I call it bit restless. I wish if someone would just come and tell me all about this NMR train. Suddenly I heard a voice next to me, “Hello am I crunching the space, are you feeling uncomfortable sitting”. I turned around and it was the elderly gentlemen next to me.

I replied in a low tone, “Not at all sir, I am very much comfortable” and I thought this was the chance to get the agony out of me and I continued “I am bit restless, as I really wanted to know about this NMR train. This is my first time on this train”.

For which I could see his face beaming and he replied “Wow, in my all years travel on this, probably you could be the first one who have come out asking about this train. I have seen so many tourists who just travel without even bothering to know about the specialty of this train”. He continued stating that he was a resident of Udagamandalam and he keeps coming down to Coimbatore for his business needs. He further stated that even though he has cars, he always prefers to take the NMR as he relishes nature and wants to admire every single beauty of Nilgiris through the NMR route.

I was like Wow! This is a kind of person I really wanted to travel with. I was excited to have in him in there as sure I am going to learn a lot. As mentioned in my earlier posts, I still continued to be blessed and nature is providing me with all opportunities for me to have a great learning!

He further continued to help me understand the technical aspects of the NMR engine first. The first major stopover as a town is Coonoor. Before this we will be passing thru many small vantage points and small stations. The route the NMR will be taking from Mettuppalyam till Coonoor is a steep climb. Hence you will need pressure to be applied by the steam engine as though pushing all the coaches from back to make this steep climb. Till Coonoor, you have the steam engines getting operated and from then on till Udagamanadalam (Ooty) you have the diesel engines.

One more awesome fact that I learned is the “Rack Rail System”. The tracks are fitted with an extra teething (in simple terms), and in technical terms it is with a toothed rack rail, usually between the running rails. The trains are fitted with one or more cog wheels or pinions that mesh with this rack rail. This allows the trains to operate on steep grades above 10%, which is the maximum for friction-based rail. Most rack railways are mountain railways. He asked me to look out and check the tracks. I was thrilled seeing this mechanics, as this is the first introduction to me on this kind of a technology. Simply superb ! .

He then exclaimed “ Boy, there is about 45 kms that we need to go, with 108 curves, 16 tunnels and 250 bridges to cross”. I was awe struck and started to imagine how this entire construction of this beautiful rail road and how dangerous it could have been too!

I haven’t even started and the train hasn’t moved a bit, getting so much information was bit of overload for me, but I am game for it! I am sure that I am going to have fantastic drive on top and I have excellent person next to me to explain all facts!!

Truly lucky to have him and I am keeping my eyes and ears all open !! exciting times ahead..

The train started to chug its way from the Mettupalayam Station…. Long way up and loads to learn!!

The next episode onward, it’s going to get exciting and really adventurous … Stay tuned!!

Part II: Enthralling ride in NMR to the iconic Udagamandalam

Train journeys are always special. You get to meet a lot of different personalities from different walks of life. You will see many people genuinely interested to strike a conversation with you; it could be a time pass activity or few serious discussions. As each and every station passes, you will keep looking out at the window to see how the place looks like. Is it any different from where we live? These are thoughts that arise not only to kids, but for everyone in general. Have you ever felt it?

In Tamil, we always refer to a term called “Rail Sneham” a.k.a “Friendship during a rail journey”, and it usually lasts only till the train arrives at some point. Many rail friendships even go beyond the railway coaches.

I am about to narrate a beautiful friendship that transpired on my maiden visit on Nilgiris Mountain Railway (NMR) and the sheer beauty of the entire journey to Ooty. I will be quoting references from other sources on technical aspects of NMR as well to help you understand and connect with the journey.

So……my train arrived at Coimbatore at around 4.00 am. I was awake by 4.15 am, not been able to sleep peacefully. I was allocated a middle berth and the sheer size I was, made it more difficult to adjust while sleeping. I always preferred the side lower berth. I felt it gave me a lot of privacy with the curtains and gazing outside as and when each and every station passed by. My co passengers were still sleeping, not to disturb them I just moved away to the next berth and to my surprise a lower one was vacant. I happily sat there and started to peep outside as the train slowly started to move away from the Coimbatore station.

The train started to make headway into the suburbs and it was a sight to see. I can see pristine clear waters in the form of lakes, and beautiful arrangement of houses with the red concrete slabs, with an antenna bar in the form of walking handle. It was used to arrest the wires in a neat way. It was indeed magical to see all of these, transition of a boy from the concrete jungle to nature’s paradise.

Around 6.00 AM , the train started approaching a quintessential town “Mettupalayam”. My introduction to Mettupalayam was more of a small town in the foot hills of Nilgiris, where one just swipes from Nilgiris Express to the NMR. Probably, the connecting point upward to the mountains. But as my affinity drew closer to Nilgirs, I realized that Mettupalayam is more than what it is perceived to be. Hustling and bustling town it was with so many small and large time industries, vegetable markets etc.

Finally, I arrived at my first destination. I stepped out, and the Ticket Officer came to me once again and said, “ Boy, you are going to have a ride of your life up the mountains. Hold on here and there will be an announcement to board the NMR”. I politely thanked him for his guidance and the excitement that he has generated. I just couldn’t wait to board the NMR.

Most of us think, or would have thought, it’s just another train connecting you from one point to another. I too felt the same, but something told me that it’s not “another” train journey, but it will be a special one. I was up to it, patiently waiting for the announcement. Just to add a bit more on the Mettupalayam Railway Station, it’s a pretty small and cute Railway Station. For the ones that are used to chaos of Central and Egmore, this sure will give surreal peace. I have never ever enjoyed my wait at a Railway Station.

Suddenly, I see a bunch of people getting up with their cameras and running to the other side of the station. I too rushed to see if the train had come. At a distance, I see a beautiful, artistic and dressed in blue and black an engine engulfed in thick black smoke arriving. Whoa!! It was a beautiful sight, it took be back to years when I first saw these engines. The “chug chug” noise with a whistle was the icing on the cake. I was mesmerized and was starring at the engine. I only could remember these in the small train toys that we use to play and in some old English movies.

Surely and truly, this train is a blast from the past!!

The coaches arrived and they were another beauty. Neatly painted in blue color denoting the “Nilgiris” a.k.a “Blue Hill”. There was glass sliding windows supported by a thick wooden frame. This is truly magical. I have no other words to explain. Completely spellbound! I was so excited to take a ride on this marvel and my journey to Ooty could have not started better than this!! It was magical and poetic to say the least!

KEEP PONDERING…. MORE TO DISCUSS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY!!

Few Technical Facts of the NMR Engine

Indian Railways (Southern Railway) metre gauge X class 0-8-2T rack tank 37391 (SLM 4071/1952) is seen at Coonor loco shed in April 1968. At this time the locos were kept in immaculate condition and worked the full length of the railway including the adhesion section from Coonor to Ooty. This loco is still in use on the line from Mettupalayam to Ootacamund and has been converted to oil firing and is limited to working the rack section up to Coonor. Sadly, standards of cleanliness have declined considerably.

See you in the next episode: Ride on the iconic NMR

The story of a fascinating place called ” The Nilgiris”

Mountains are always mesmerizing!!
Mountains bring peace!!
A mountain is where the nature sits pretty!!

I am Senthil. I was born and brought up in a cosmopolitan city in the eastern side of India Chennai. My Life in a city which has the second longest beach in the world, the Marina you ought to believe that my intentions and liking would be definitely towards the beaches. On contrary, I developed a liking to mountains.
For me, I developed this unique liking to mountains at the age of 10.

The inspiration is when we had a family tour to the famous Coutrallam in southern part of India. I absolutely admired the nature ,the mountain range surrounding this surreal place. For me it was the first introduction to mountain ranges. As a kid, I always wanted to climb the mountains and see what’s on top of them.

Coutrallam was not a place which is situated at an altitude. What struck me was the series of mountains surrounding the town and “Blue” in color (The thought process of a 10 year old kid 😀). Even after several days after returning back to Chennai, the vivid images of the ranges did not leave me. I kept looking at the sky and the clouds, kept imagining and painted a picture of a huge mountain in my mind. . Pretty much after that trip, whenever we traveled anywhere outside Chennai, my first question, is there mountain in that place. Surely, but slowly I was annoying quite a few in my family.

Many years passed by, I graduated out of high school, then college and started working as well. Over the years being busy and other diversions with your studies, work, my preferences changed from mountain ranges, nature. It was an abrupt stoppage of the beautiful memories from childhood.
Things became so monotonous with work and nothing much to do. There was a lucky break in between as we were preparing as a family to go to a hill station – Udagamandalam a.k.a Ooty. Being what I was then with work, It did not excite me as much as it did for Coutrallam. I even told I may not join, but my family forced me and I agreed but to join them and not travel along considering the leave permissions from office. All of my family had already reached Ooty and I was starting the next day. Actually, this is my first solo trip anywhere without my family. It was pretty strange even though I was big adult then. My uncle had given me all guidance on the trains, timing, place of arrival etc.

The travel day arrived, I finished my office and reached the railway station and boarded Nilagiri Express. The ticket was checked by the officer and he told you need to have one for your train that will reach Ooty. I was not aware then, decided to ask him that do we have train that goes all the way on top of the mountain. Yes and I was explained about the famous Nilagiri Mountain Railway (NMR).

Instantly by listening to the ticket officer, my memories of Coutrallam, the mountain ranges started to kick in. The way the officer explained it to me was fantastic, I am sure he was so much obsessed with the place that he could have given me a beautiful walkthrough. He was my first of many teachers who helped me learn Niligiris.

It is at this instant I realized how I was crazed with mountain ranges, nature. I felt I missed in cultivating these thoughts, whereas my studies and work took over. I decided I should trust and follow my passion and I had strong intention that mountains and nature are the way I should lay my interest in.

“A single spark can ignite the fire of intelligence” and I believed I found that spark on that day. Blessing in disguise it was to travel alone. Probably with Family, I would have skipped details.
This is the beginning of my beautiful association and affinity with “THE NILGIRIS”………In these upcoming posts, I am going to tell you how I was enthralled with this place , the sights, sounds of nature that I am sure will leave a lasting impact on you.

Coming up Next: Enthralling ride in NMR to the iconic Udagamandalam !

The Journey Begins

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton

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