When you consider that TouchStar have provided mobile solutions to round-the-world yachting teams, the TouchPC’s seaworthiness is not under debate. But in the drier and more sedate environment of the sea-going ferry, can the TouchPC take to duty free and refreshments sales? Yes – like a duck to water.

The specifications and customer demands of the system were similar to those of the airline duty free P.O.S. – compactness, battery life, portability and the opportunities to accept various means of payment in a number of currencies. The solution TouchStar and the ferry industry liked best was essentially the airline P.O.S. but with industry-specific features brought in.

Because item prices, exchange rates and customer demand rise and descend like the tides, pricing and stock data must be fully customizable and updateable – competition and product affordability affect even the most captive of customer bases. Updating the data on a pre-shift basis is a matter of routine.

The hardware is durable and easy to use, featuring as it does the large, bright and responsive touchscreen found on all TouchPCs. Operation is based on a recognizable, intuitive menu system, which can be picked up in minutes. The result is a solution that won’t leave you lost at sea.