Your mobile POS machine helps you make money every day. So, if you want it to last, you have to know how to how to maintain a POS machine and take care of it.
The good news is that you don’t need to be a technician to maintain your POS machine. A few simple habits can help you keep your POS clean, charged, responsive and ready for transactions. More importantly, they can help you spot small problems before they become bigger and more expensive ones.
Let me show you a few simple habits can help you keep your POS clean, charged, responsive and ready for transactions.
How To Maintain a POS machine?
The simplest way to maintain your POS is to make these 7 things part of your routine
- Keep it clean.
- Take care of the battery.
- Protect it from heat and water.
- Use the right charger.
- Keep the software updated.
- Don’t overload it with unnecessary apps.
- Don’t ignore small problems.
Now, let’s look at each one.
1. Keep your POS machine clean
Your POS machine is handled many times every day.
Customers touch it. Staff touch it. It sits on your counter. And if you operate in a dusty environment, dust can gradually find its way into the card reader, charging port and other openings. So, clean your POS regularly.
What should you clean?
Pay attention to:
- The screen
- Keypad
- Card slot
- Charging port
- Back of the machine
- Around the buttons
You don’t need to wash the machine.
In fact, never pour water or cleaning liquid directly onto your POS. Instead, use a soft, lint-free cloth to wipe the outside. One thing you should NEVER do: Don’t blow into the card slot with your mouth. If you see dirt inside the card slot, use the cleaning method recommended for your particular device.
2. Take care of your POS battery
Don’t wait until the battery is completely dead every day before charging it. When the battery is getting low, charge it using the charger recommended for your device. Your POS used to last from morning until evening. Now, it dies before afternoon. The battery may be getting weaker.
What if the battery becomes swollen?
If the body of your POS starts bulging, the casing begins separating, or you notice other signs that the battery is swelling: Don’t press it down. Don’t try to open the battery yourself.
Instead, contact your POS provider for assistance. Lithium-ion battery swelling can be dangerous, and continued use or charging of a swollen device is not recommended.
3. Don’t leave your POS in extreme heat
This is particularly important if you operate outdoors or in a very hot environment.
For example, don’t leave your POS:
- Inside a hot car
- Under direct sunlight for hours
- Beside a generator
- Beside a hot electrical appliance
- In a place where it gets unusually hot
Heat can affect electronic devices and batteries.
So, if your POS becomes unusually hot, give it a break. Move it somewhere cooler and allow it to cool down before continuing to use it. Keeping payment terminals away from direct sunlight and heat sources is also recommended in device guidance.
4. Protect your POS from water
Your POS device and water are not friends.
Therefore, don’t place the machine beside:
- Drinks
- Wet surfaces
- An area exposed to rain
- A leaking roof
And don’t clean it by pouring water over it.
If you accidentally spill liquid on the machine, don’t keep pressing buttons and hoping it will continue working. Instead, disconnect it from power if it is safe to do so and contact your provider for advice.
5. Stop throwing your POS around
Your POS may be portable that doesn’t mean it is indestructible. If you’re moving it around, don’t throw it into your bag with keys, coins, chargers and other heavy objects.
Similarly, there’s a secret on how to maintain a POS machine. Don’t place heavy items on top of it. Don’t drop it either. A simple protective pouch can help if you carry the machine around frequently.
Think about it this way, you paid money for the machine. Treat it like something valuable.
6. Use the correct charger To Maintain Your POS
If your POS came with a charger, use it or use a replacement that your POS provider recommends. Don’t assume that because another phone charger fits into the port, it is automatically suitable for the POS.
If your machine suddenly stops charging, check the simple things first.
- Step 1: Check if the cable is damaged, bent or broken?
- Step 2: Check the power adapter
- Step 3: Try another working socket.
- Step 4: Check the charging port for obvious dirt or damage.
- Step 5: If the battery is completely drained, the device may need some time before it responds.
If it still won’t charge, contact your POS provider.
7. Don’t install unnecessary apps
Your POS is primarily for business transactions. The more unnecessary apps, files and processes you put on the device, the more you may affect its performance.
So, if you don’t need an app for your business, don’t install it.
Also, remove apps you no longer use, where your device or provider allows this.
Keep your POS focused on what it needs to do: Process transactions.