WEPOS vs. Windows CE FAQ
Retail technology is evolving from a Point-of-Sale orientation to a Point-of-Service (POS) orientation, delivering to retailers the ability to offer exponentially greater customer service through the use of flexible devices. For quite some time, retailers deploying interactive kiosks have been limited to the Windows CE operating system to run on these devices. As with all technology, the landscape continues to change for interactive kiosks, and now retailers have more choices of operating systems for their kiosk devices. To support retailers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in their efforts, Microsoft has developed Microsoft® Windows® Embedded for Point of Service (WEPOS), an operating system optimized for retail POS systems. WEPOS empowers retailers to create the most compelling customer interactions by providing a standard, retail-optimized platform that includes the required retail-specific technologies and full support for standard retail applications and device peripherals.
Today’s retailers require smart technology that doesn’t just sustain in-store technology but is designed specifically for Point of Service retailing. WEPOS helps retailers to reduce costs by simplifying the installation, use and management of in-store POS systems. This retail-optimized technology runs both standard retail applications and modern in-store devices, helping retailers bring compelling interactive systems to the shop floor.
As retail enterprises become increasingly sophisticated, integration and management of new in-store technologies can be costly and time-consuming. Retailers can’t afford to be limited by an inflexible software platform. They need standardized, flexible technology to run interactive kiosks – a software platform that can support today’s most advanced applications and new systems in the future.
So how does WEPOS compare to Windows CE? As one of the industry’s leading suppliers of transactional and interactive self-service solutions, Source Technologies has compiled the following questions routinely received from customers on this important subject.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is Windows Embedded for Point of Service and how does it differ from Windows CE?
Can Windows CE be used on POS devices
I may want to add more device peripherals in the future. Which operating system offers the most flexibility for future expansion
My company has made a large investment in our current devices and peripherals. Does Windows Embedded for Point of Service support legacy devices?
Which one has the shortest time to market?
Is digital signage an option with either operating system?
What kind of support can I expect from a Windows Embedded for Point of Service deployment?
What is Windows Embedded for Point of Service (WEPOS) and how does it differ from Windows CE?
WEPOS is an operating system based on Windows XP Service Pack 2, optimized for retail applications. Like Windows XP, WEPOS has a large driver library with over 9,000 installed drivers. This commonality also allows WEPOS to utilize the enormous PC peripheral market. It permits POS devices to run plug-n-play, giving retailers the ability to easily integrate devices into their POS system. Although its footprint is larger than Windows CE, the WEPOS footprint is considerably smaller than Windows XP and operates well within the hardware requirements of most POS platforms running multiple applications.
Windows CE is a configurable embedded operating system initially designed to operate small footprint devices, like PDA’s. After receiving broad acceptance in these products, Windows CE was rapidly adopted for use in many POS applications. However, the leap from PDA devices to POS devices created a number of issues for deployers including the enormous amount of programming necessary to write and integrate device drivers into the operating system for each application.
Can Windows CE be used on POS devices?
When choosing an operating system platform for full-featured POS devices, there are a number of considerations that should be taken into account: support for the UPOS standard, requiring customized drivers to support most retail peripherals; the number of drivers available for standard PC peripherals and devices; support for Win32 and .NET framework applications; support for Windows Update or Software Update Services (SUS); and the availability of Internet Explorer and support for media players. Given these parameters, most retailers will find that WEPOS is a better option for POS devices such as kiosks.
Windows CE is a good OS platform for very small footprint and mobile devices in a retail or hospitality environment – for example, mobile POS terminals, RFID scanners, mini or portable kiosks, and so on. Windows CE is also a good choice for retail POS peripherals, such as signature capture devices.
With Windows CE, whenever a new POS device peripheral comes to market, it takes a significant effort for developers to integrate each device into the operating system. Coupled with Windows CE’s small driver library, the onus is on the programmer to write drivers for each new hardware piece because peripheral manufacturers rarely provide Windows CE drivers. This is not a trivial effort. And, when adding multiple devices, the challenges become more daunting and time consuming. When retailers decide to change device brands or models in the field, the burden is on them to find hardware with drivers or have the drivers written by a programmer. In addition, the driver must be integrated into the operating system, which takes considerable time and resources.
The same is not true for WEPOS. It requires little or no additional programming to operate replacement peripheral devices that come to market. It only requires developers to write generic applications before deployment to support a variety of devices. Device peripherals typically run plug-n-play, just like one might expect from a Windows XP-operated desktop computer. Generic device programming can usually be accomplished with minimal coding effort. Legacy XP devices can use their provided driver disk, and can be field installed. Additionally, next-generation technologies coming to market, such as radio frequency identification (RFID) and biometric (retina and fingerprint) scanners, will be supported by WEPOS, but will not be supported by Windows CE without extensive programming and more robust processors.
Yes, like Windows XP, WEPOS provides automatic hardware detection, support, and configuration for existing, legacy, and next-generation devices and peripherals. Many existing POS applications can be ported to WEPOS, providing an enormous cost benefit to retailers. WEPOS also supports Microsoft’s .NET framework. Retailers planning to purchase new POS terminals will be able to utilize many existing and legacy device peripherals, thereby reducing deployment costs and improving ROI figures.
Which operating system has the shortest time to market?
In the majority of environments, WEPOS devices will reach the market quicker than Windows CE devices. Because most retail devices and peripherals operate plug-n-play with WEPOS, there is very little integration to be done by programmers prior to deployment. Windows CE devices require extensive programming for each application because it is built as a componentized operating system. The more device peripherals you add, the longer it will take to integrate them into the operating system.
The majority of peripheral manufacturers do not provide Windows CE drivers, since the average Windows CE device (such as a
Smartphone, PDA, or piece of industrial equipment) is not intended to accept plug-n-play peripherals. Conversely, almost every peripheral manufacturer provides a Windows XP compatible driver.
Is digital signage an option with either operating system?
The processing power required to run WEPOS enables applications like digital signage to run efficiently and effectively. Windows CE does not require the same level of processing power and the processor size dramatically affects which applications can be utilized. Because Windows CE is a small footprint operating system designed to interface with backend systems, the processor requirements are substantially lower, preventing applications like digital signage from being a valid option.
What kind of support can I expect from a WEPOS deployment?
WEPOS provides support for device peripherals that implement the Unified POS interoperability specifications published by the Association of Retail Technology Standards (ARTS); this includes peripherals based on OLE for point of sale (OPOS), and JavaPOS (JPOS) implementations as well as peripherals based on the POS for .NET implementation. WEPOS enables peripheral vendors to integrate devices into a WEPOS based POS system easily, and ensures that the operating system provides lower development, deployment,
management, and hardware costs than other POS environments. Other device
peripherals apart from the Unified POS specification can still be supported with a generic device class.
Just like Windows XP, WEPOS comes with support for network-based updates via Windows Update, as well as installation, reboot, and remote management. Microsoft has committed to support WEPOS for up to 10 years after its initial release, so retailers and OEMs are assured that Microsoft is supporting their needs for the life cycle of the next generation of POS systems.
Source Technologies interactive kiosks utilizing WEPOS will help retailers introduce new POS systems that will help boost competitiveness and encourage customer loyalty. Retailers will be enabled to adapt the selling floor with technologies that are compelling to visitors, encouraging them to be come shoppers. Greater shopper loyalty can be engendered with the potential to increase shopper’s spend per visit, ultimately reinforcing the relationship between the retailer and the consumer.
Individual stores in a retail chain previously operated in relative isolation, but now they are expected to participate as nodes in an integrated enterprise network. They must be able to handle sales transactions as well as share critical business and customer data with other stores (or central headquarters) in real time. How retailers capture and communicate that necessary data is evolving rapidly, and the rapidity with which technology is evolving is prompting retailers to look for a flexible, accommodating environment that will enable them to take advantage of the latest technologies.
Source Technologies believes that WEPOS will be one of the driving forces moving retailers toward Point of Service. With reduced customer service system life cycle costs – including operating system and application development, deployment, service and maintenance, and POS hardware costs – WEPOS provides retailers with a flexible, cost-effective POS environment that will help lower initial fixed costs as well as ongoing variable costs of managing and supporting operating systems, applications, and hardware over time.
Contact us if you would like to learn more about WEPOS