FAQ

We’ve answered our most frequent questions below.

POS stands for “point of sale.” A point of sale program is the modern version of a cash register. Depending on the software, you can track customers and inventory, enter sales, process returns, create loyalty programs, write purchase orders, manage employees, link to an online store, and run reports (Artisan does all that and more).

With over 20 years of experience, CerTek knows the struggles store owners face day to day. Artisan’s carefully-tested features provide insight into your sales, inventory, customers, and more. Our team works diligently to find what POS hardware works best for your store, providing solutions patiently and carefully. We know running a business is a team effort–and we’re here to help!

Yes. We offer a free 14-day trial of the software. Click here to get started.

Artisan runs on Windows 10 and above and some Mac operating systems. Artisan also runs on computers and tablets that have Windows or Mac installed, and supports portable data handhelds.

Not sure what to purchase, or if what you have is compatible? Speak to our sales department (sales@certek.com or 877-723-7835) for guidance. 

Recommended Windows Specifications for Primary Server Station: 

  • Windows 10 Professional 64-Bit
  • Intel Six-Core i5 or Eight-Core i7
  • 16 – 32 GB RAM
  • 8 USB Ports
  • Gigabit LAN
  • Two 512GB SSD/NVME or larger in a RAID configuration

Maximum Server Standards:

  • Windows 10 Professional 64-Bit
  • Intel Six-Core i5 or Eight-Core i7
  • 32 – 64 GB RAM
  • 8 USB ports
  • Gigabit LAN
  • SSD/NVME 1TB (terabyte) or larger in a RAID configuration

Recommended Windows Specifications for Your Secondary Stations:

  • Windows 10 Professional 64-Bit
  • Intel Six Core i5
  • 8 GB Ram
  • 8 USB Ports
  • Gigabit LAN
  • 250 GB (or better) SSD

Recommended Mac OS Specifications for Primary Server Station:

  • Mac OS X 10.11 (El Capitan) or later, or Mac OS 11 (Big Sur) on Intel or M1 operating system
  • Time Machine backup drive
  • Minimum requirements:
    • 2.7GHz quad-core Intel Core i5
    • 16GB memory, 32GB memory preferred
    • 1TB hard drive

Requirements for Remotes

Any machine running a remote should meet the maximum standards for server machines (see “Maximum Standards” listed above).

We require remote operations to have a separate server machine that the Staff can work on without interrupting your sales.

A station is a register. A site is where your business is located. Servers help communicate information between stations and can communicate across multiple sites if you have more than one store. A server may also be a station, depending on how your store is set up.

Regardless of the size of your store, you’ll want reliable hardware. Artisan supports cash drawers, barcode scanners, PIN pads, receipt printers, label printers, pole displays, tablets, and scales. We’re slowly introducing support for other handheld devices (ex. portable data terminals) and will post approved devices on our website when we have that information. Contact sales@certek.com for recommendations. 

You do not need to purchase a support plan to use Artisan. Artisan is intuitive and user-friendly, and many users don’t need any assistance with the program. However, others prefer the ability to call the team with any questions they encounter. Talk to our sales staff to see what choice is right for you.

Artisan’s Remote Operations system is similar, yet different, to a cloud-based system. Remote operation allows users to access data locally on a computer, laptop, or tablet, then synchronize with the main server’s data every few minutes. If your Internet connection is interrupted, the changes are queued and synchronize again when the connection is restored. Plenty of our clients use remote operation to support multiple stores, offsite inventory, and events like sidewalk sales.

Artisan works for up to 99 stations per site, for up to 999 sites. No matter the size of your business, we have the right configurations for you!

Yes, but this requires additional licensing and fees.

We recommend practicing with Sample Data and reading through our Knowledge Base to learn about the program.

The CerTek support staff is available outside of normal operating hours via our emergency support line, for an additional fee.

Our normal operating hours are Monday – Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM EST, and 10 AM to 5 PM on Saturday.

Yes, we do! Our Partner program has opportunities for both resellers and referrers. Fill out an application today to learn more.

CerTek Software is located at 507 Paula Dr S, Dunedin, FL 34698.