Automatic Open/Closed/Lunch sign

On the left of this page is an image which shows whether we are open or not. If working correctly, it should show as an "Open" sign during business hours and "Closed" during non-business hours. Also, between 12-1PM, it should show as "Lunch". Saturdays and Sundays should also override the hourly settings with a "Closed" sign all day.
I think it works, but will need to check it over time.

Kiosk

What to do with an 12 year old laptop or desktop? Why, turn them into kiosks, of course.
I had previously tested the kiosk check-in, but on my own PC in a regular browser tab. This time I tested a proper dedicated kiosk system which will be installed in the shop for use by the customers.
An old HP Pavilion dv8000, in fantastic condition, was recently re-purposed for this task. It was too old and slow to use comfortably with a modern operating system. So the operating system was replaced with a stripped-down linux system which only runs firefox browser on one website only. And then it is full-screen, with no navigation bars or menus, restricted keyboard use, etc.
All it does is display a check-in screen for my customers. If I am busy with a customer and another enters the shop, they will have the option of checking their computer in them-self via the kiosk. I then get an alert in my customer management and trouble ticket systems to be processed with a couple of clicks. Then I will already have the basic info to get started when I am able to help them.
After turning the laptop into a kiosk, I did the same to an old desktop machine which a friend had donated.
Next I will contract a friend to make a wooden cabinet to mount either, or both, machine(s) in. There will be a window for the screen and a platform for the keyboard and mouse. The mouse and keyboard will both be knotted behind grommets, so they can't be pulled out of their USB sockets. The kiosk will need to be comfortable to use and accessible to all. Most likely it will be a box sitting atop a normal table, with the computer guts mounted inside it and an LCD panel up against the plexiglass window. Those guts might just end up being the laptop itself, with the screen detached to be mounted. Perhaps I should use both machines and make it a double kiosk, back-to-back.

Full POS/ticket system test performed

The entire point of sale & ticket system was set up last night and tested. I tested the full process, from customer creation to invoice payment. After a bit of experimenting and fine tuning, I got it all working nicely.
One of the big things tested last night was customer self check-in at a kiosk-type environment. This triggers an alert to me that there is a customer check-in, which I can then process into a new customer and/or new job ticket. When that occurs, all necessary documents and receipts are automatically printed:

• Sign-in sheet from the document printer.
• Ticket receipt from the receipt printer.
• Customer and ticket labels from the label printer.

Also tested was capturing a digital signature for the sign-in sheet and for invoices, etc. For the time being I am using a small digital graphics tablet, in lieu of a proper signature pad. I am planning on using a cardstock template, placed over the graphics tablet, with a small area cut out to do the signature within. That way I can set the sign-in page full-screen and scroll to the bottom, where the signature box will always be in the same place. Then, if my template was made well, the customer can just use the pen to sign in the little square on the tablet and the signature gets captured properly. This tablet has a high-resolution so the signature can look very smooth, as though signed with an ink pen.

Now I have finally been able to test the following process and feel that it is ready to do business with customers:

1. New customer/ticket self sign-in ("Lead" for me to act upon).
2. "Lead" turned into a new customer by me w/ 1 click.
3. New ticket created for the customer > 3 printers magic.
4. Ticket worked on by tech.
5. Ticket invoiced.
6. Invoice paid > print invoice, print receipt & cash drawer pops.
7. Ticket marked as resolved... job done.

The customer self check-in feature is for when I am already busy with a customer at the main desk. Another customer can enter the shop and choose to get their check-in started at a kiosk, instead of waiting for me. I will then get the alert in the system which allows me to add them as a new customer with a single click. When I have finished with the current customer, the new customer is already in the system when they bring their computer to the check-in counter.

Also tested were ways of searching the system by scanning various barcodes. These barcodes are on invoices, receipts, sign-in sheets, tickets, ticket receipts, and 4 types of labels...customer, ticket, asset (customer's computer), and stocked products.

Good to go.

I am curious to find out if this will be the first point of sale, customer, inventory, and ticket management system to be set up on the Coast, which runs in Linux.