After many years of research and development, testing, and more testing, Squirrel Systems had finally introduced their next generation of point-of-sale systems. Called ‘Squirrel for Windows NT’ and ‘Squirrel Classic for Windows NT’ these two systems are a radical departure for Squirrel’s traditional proprietary hardware and software.

The Touch Interface  

The touch screen interface is completely redesigned from previous versions of squirrel. What used to be the traditional squirrel (blue order screen with rectangles) has come alive with the use of vibrant colors, high-resolution graphics, and animation. 

Visual delight aside, the main focus of the redesign was an improved intuitive look, feel and function of the system. Squirrel's goal was to create an interface where "servers are immediately productive when they start to use the system". The human factors engineering team did a great job implementing these changes. Some of my favorite features are:

• Ability to swap the orientation of the screen for left handed servers

• Online help that prompts the server’s next step in creating the order

• Pop up buttons that are shown only when they are useful

• Visibility of the entire order while ordering items (this is a great improvement over previous versions)

• All the buttons and function on the screen have a consistent look and feel (size, color and appearance) and are always found in the same place on the same screens.

Backoffice System

Although the touch screen interface was vastly improved, managers and owners alike will be thrilled to use the completely redesigned configuration modules. Working in a browser-like environment, the software is very powerful, customizable and yet, still remarkably easy to learn and use. Menu setup is done through an interactive WYSIWYG interface that permits the manager to have full flexibility (colors, button size and type, groups, etc.) when designing orders screens.

Reporting and data mining follows the same basic approach. Simply go the report section of the Squirrel Browser, choose from pre-defined reports or create your own reporting criteria. Use of Crystal Reports has made Squirrel’s reporting capabilities as powerful as any other software product on the market today. In addition to printing and displaying reports, Squirrel now offers the ability to export the report in a variety of formats (RealWorld, FoxPro, ACCPAC, Excel, AsCII, HTML, Email, just to name a few of the 40 or so formats)