Choosing equipment for a gold shop moving to management software

Gold shop software only delivers its full value when it connects to the right counter equipment: a scale that writes weight straight into the ticket, a scanner that reads the customer's ID card, a label printer for every item. Here is the minimum kit for one counter and the order to buy it in.

Minimum kit for one counter

A counter needs equipment for three jobs: weighing and pricing an item, identifying the customer, and printing documents and taking payment. The list below is the minimum configuration for one counter.

• Electronic scale accurate to 0.001 g with a USB port so the software reads weight directly
• QR and national ID scanner to create customer records fast and avoid typing errors
• 80 mm receipt printer
• Cash drawer that opens on command from the receipt printer
• Jewellery label printer for item codes and weights
• Customer-facing display of around 10 inches

The electronic scale matters most

Every calculation in a gold shop starts with weight: the amount equals weight in chi times the price per chi, plus or minus labour, loss and surcharges where they apply. The scale needs 0.001 g accuracy and a connection so the software reads the value directly, with no handwritten step in between.

One example in this class is the A&D GF-303A, which has a USB Virtual COM port and works as soon as it is plugged into the computer. Cheaper scales also offer 0.001 g readability but should only be chosen after checking that they connect to the counter computer.

The scale reports grams, while gold shops trade in chi. The software should convert on weighing at 1 chi = 3.75 g and round to 3 decimal places, so staff never convert units by hand.

QR and national ID scanner

The scanner does two jobs: it reads the QR code on the national ID card when creating a customer record, and it scans the code on the item label at the point of sale. Taking customer details from the ID card avoids typing errors and lets the software warn about duplicate ID or phone numbers.

A wired scanner such as the Newland HR32 Marlin suits a fixed counter, while the Winson WNI-6710g is a lower-cost 2D option. Reading the chip on the ID card needs a dedicated reader, which is different from an ordinary QR scanner.

Receipt printer, label printer, cash drawer and display

An 80 mm receipt printer such as the HPRT TP80K prints the document as soon as the transaction is completed. The receipt should show the selling price per chi at the time of the transaction so the customer can check it and price complaints are reduced.

An RJ11 24V cash drawer, for example the MAKEN MK-410 or EK-350, plugs into the receipt printer and opens on the print command. A customer display of around 10 inches with HDMI lets the customer follow weight, unit price and total while staff work.

Every piece of jewellery needs a label with its item code for scanning at sale and during stock counts. A 300 dpi label printer such as the TSC TE310 prints small text and barcodes on jewellery tags. The Xprinter XP-H500B is a lower-cost alternative.

Purity testing

A density kit attached to the electronic scale is the economical option for checking purity when buying gold, for example the A&D AD-1654 kit on an A&D scale. Shops with higher volumes can use a dedicated tester such as the DahoMeter DH-300K.

The result is a gold content figure, for example 75%. The software should also show the karat converted from that figure, such as 18K or 24K, and allow staff to enter it manually when needed.

Later purchase: RFID for stock counts

As stock grows, a shop can add RFID equipment to count stock faster than scanning labels one by one. This group includes:

• Desktop RFID reader such as the Hopeland S120 or Chafon CF601
• Handheld stock counter Chainway C72, or the C61 to save cost
• Zebra ZD621R RFID label printer
• Metal-safe RFID tags for jewellery, for example 60x12 mm

All RFID equipment must be set to the band permitted in Vietnam, 918.4-923 MHz.

What the software must support

Gold shop software should read weight from the scale over USB, accept data from the ID scanner, print labels and receipts in the shop's own format, and work in chi as the weight unit. Sol26 Gold is designed to connect to the equipment groups above.

Frequently asked questions

Do we need to buy all the equipment at once?

No. The minimum kit for one counter is a scale, scanner, receipt printer, cash drawer, label printer and customer display. RFID equipment can wait until stock volumes justify it.

Why does the scale need 0.001 g accuracy?

Transaction value is weight times price per chi, so a small error on the scale becomes a money difference. A 0.001 g resolution is also enough to round to 3 decimal places when converting to chi.

Can a QR scanner read the chip on the ID card?

An ordinary QR scanner reads the QR code printed on the card. Reading the chip needs a dedicated reader and is a separate investment.

What should we check with RFID equipment?

RFID equipment must be set to the 918.4-923 MHz band for Vietnam, and jewellery tags should be the metal-safe type.