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Hardware Recommendations & Testing

Boulevard recommended compatible hardware to support your business and utilize the system based on your business needs.

Alexa Stewart avatar
Written by Alexa Stewart
Updated over a week ago

Overview

Boulevard has multiple pieces of compatible hardware you can utilize with the system based on your business needs. Specifications are outlined below.

Hardware

Required Hardware:

  • Desktop or Laptop to run the system at its full capacity

    • We recommend a device with at least 2 USB ports as well

  • iPad: for Boulevard Duo App to be able to have clients check in, complete forms, and check out/add gratuity with Boulevard Duo

    • Must be on iOS 15+ update. iPad Mini is not compatible at this time.

  • Boulevard Duo: https://shop.joinblvd.com/products/duo

    • Offers the flexibility to dip and tap cards or use multiple contactless payment methods like Apple or Google Pay.

    • Compatible with the Boulevard Duo iPad app and Boulevard dashboard for a complete front-desk client experience.

  • Required Specs: The computing requirement is that the computer still actively receives updates from the operating system and can run the latest version of Google Chrome

Download Chrome for Mac: https://bit.ly/2OiPS68

Download Chrome for PC: https://bit.ly/2qq2uLe

Optional Hardware:

  • Credit Card Swiper:

    • Recommended options: https://bit.ly/2LKAvSA, https://amzn.to/2pbUpNm

    • At the moment BLVD is only compatible with USB credit card scanners and not Bluetooth-enabled scanners. Please do not purchase these items outside of these links (i.e. Staples, Office Depot, Amazon) as their security levels could be specific to the store where it is purchased and are not compatible with Boulevard.

  • Receipt Printer: https://amzn.to/3pX2aDg or https://bit.ly/3ij6gzg (USB Versions)

    • The receipt printer is set up via the computer itself, not through Boulevard. If you run into issues during set up you can feel free to reach out via Help Chat or support@blvd.co but if needing assistance with the initial setup you will be directed to the printer manufacturer’s support.

  • Cash Register/Drawer: Any cash register is compatible as long as it is “stand-alone” and does not require to be synced to a receipt printer.

  • Barcode Scanner: https://amzn.to/3Jikcrz or https://bit.ly/3I6qJnr

    • We recommend any 2D/3D scanner with a USB connection

  • iPad stands: https://amzn.to/3J28MIj, https://amzn.to/3vX5emU, https://amzn.to/3KyGTrr

Testing

How to test credit card swipers:

NOTE: Credit card swipes are really a shortcut to “typing” the information contained in the magnetic track into the computer - no different than if you had typed it yourself. However, it is encoded in a special way. These instructions help to determine if your credit card swiper is compatible with Boulevard based on the response format you receive.

  1. Open Notepad (or any other text editor on your computer)

  2. Select the screen to focus the cursor as if you were about to type into the document

  3. Swipe the credit card

  4. After swiping, you should see something that looks like the following: %B4242424242424242^DOE/JOHN …..

Compatible swipers produce a code that:

  • Starts with a "%B"

  • Includes the card's full, correct number

  • Is followed by a caret (^) symbol

  • Ends with the card owner's full name

Swipers are NOT compatible if they produce a code that:

  • Doesn't follow the exact format outlined above

  • Doesn't match the numbers shown on the card

If it does not follow this format, or the numbers do not match the exact same numbers on the card, that means the credit card swipe has encryption keys added to the device that causes the swiper to be unreadable - if you swipe a card into Boulevard, we are not able to charge it.

How to Test Receipt Printers:

NOTE: This test must take place using Google Chrome on your computer. This test cannot be completed using a mobile or iPad device.

  1. Sign in to your Boulevard dashboard

  2. Select the Sales tab and click New Sale

  3. Create a new sale for a product or service

  4. Manually adjust the price to $0

  5. Complete the sale by selecting "Complete and Close"

  6. Click "Print Receipt" once the sale is finalized

    1. If your printer is compatible, the receipt will print as expected without complications or errors

    2. If your printer is NOT compatible, the receipt will not print

How to Test Current Barcode Scanners:

NOTE: This test must take place using Google Chrome on your computer. This test cannot be completed using a mobile or iPad device.

  1. Sign in to your Boulevard dashboard

  2. Add your test product from the Manage Business tab, including the product's barcode, and enable the product at your location

  3. Select the Sales tab and click New Sale

  4. Click on the product line of the sale window (the scanner will not read the barcode if the cursor is not on the product line

  5. Scan your test product

    1. If your scanner is compatible, it will add the product to the order

    2. If your scanner is NOT compatible, the product will not be added to the order

NOTE: It is recommended to use the barcode scanners recommended by Boulevard as these have been verified to be compatible with the dashboard.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please reach out to us via Help Chat or support@blvd.co. If you are not live yet your Onboarding Specialist is the best person to contact, but Support can loop them in if necessary!

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