An Analysis of Point of Sales (POS) Information Systems in SMEswith The Black Box Testing and PIECES Method

Abstract

Background: The role of SMEs is crusial in economic growth. To help them running their business, they need to use information system. The research objective was to test the functional level of the Point of Sales (POS) information system and to analyze the effectiveness of the POS information system. Materials and Methods: The research method tested the functional level of the system using the black box testing method and testing using the equivalent partitioning. The analysis of the effectiveness of the POS information system use the PIECES method. The analysis process was carried out by distributing questionnaires to 183 respondents about the effectiveness of the POS information system using six variables and testing the validity. Results: The results of functional test research using the black box testing method are very satisfying because the test cases that have been tested show that there is no interface that is functionally invalid or error. The results of measuring the effectiveness of the POS information system using the PIECES method on the aspects of performance, information, economy, control, efficiency, and service are effective. Conclusion:POS information system is in line with SMEs needs because it provides faster services in obtaining transaction receipts and sales report.

Full text

IOSR Journal of Business and Management (IOSR-JBM)
e-ISSN: 2278-487X, p-ISSN: 2319-7668. Volume 22, Issue 9. Ser. V (September 2020), PP 20-25
www.iosrjournals.org
DOI: 10.9790/487X-2209052025 www.iosrjournals.org 20 | Page
An Analysis of Point of Sales (POS) Information Systems in
SMEswith The Black Box Testing and PIECES Method
Mardiana Andarwati1, Fikri Amrullah2, Elfirahmi Thamrin3,
Ahmad Rofiqul Muslikh4
1,2,4(Faculty of Information Technology, University of Merdeka Malang, Indonesia)
3(Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, University of Merdeka Malang, Indonesia)
Abstract:
Background: The role of SMEs is crusial in economic growth. To help them running their business, they need
to use information system. The research objective was to test the functional level of the Point of Sales (POS)
information system and to analyze the effectiveness of the POS information system.
Materials and Methods: The research method tested the functional level of the system using the black box
testing method and testing using the equivalent partitioning. The analysis of the effectiveness of the POS
information system use the PIECES method. The analysis process was carried out by distributing questionnaires
to 183 respondents about the effectiveness of the POS information system using six variables and testing the
validity.
Results: The results of functional test research using the black box testing method are very satisfying because
the test cases that have been tested show that there is no interface that is functionally invalid or error. The
results of measuring the effectiveness of the POS information system using the PIECES method on the aspects of
performance, information, economy, control, efficiency, and service are effective.
Conclusion:POS information system is in line with SMEs needs because it provides faster services in obtaining
transaction receipts and sales report.
Key Words: InformationSystem; Point of Sales;Black Box Testing;PIECES.
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Date of Submission: 05-09-2020 Date of Acceptance: 20-09-2020
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I. Introduction
Retail sales are sales for end customers that are used for household needs for families and individuals.
The retailing position is the distribution of the factory chain to the final consumer14.Eventhough Small and
Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the retail sector have an important role in supporting the economy in Indonesia,
but they must also be balanced with the use of information technology to run their business. Information
technology is specifically used to manage financial transactions and information. However currently the
majority of SMEs businessmen process transactions and financial records in a conventional manner. Until now,
89% of SMEs businessmen in East Java, Indonesia use Point of Sales (POS) for transaction management and
financial information management because the POS information system is an alternative business management
for them, minimizing the risk of human error in business management and as a measure of total profit13. The
problem is the functional level of the POS information system is not yet known, as well as the level of
effectiveness of the POS information system with aspects of performance, information, economy, control,
efficiency, and service on retail sales for SMEs. Finally, it discovers whether the POS information system is in
accordance with the needs of SMEs businessmen in retail.
So far, many SMEs do not know how much success the sales information system uses1,2,11. Based on
the description above, this research conducts tests on the POS information system which is carried out through
functional testing of the software interface whether it is in accordance with user needs. The testing uses the
black box testing method as a software testing strategy that focuses on functionality and aims to find errors
through specification-based testing. This method is used because the design and testing are independent of each
other, the test is carried out from use, it becomes easier to test only on the application, this test does not require a
programming language, and testers pay attention to the interface of the software used2.
Black box testing or recognized as behavioral testing is a technique for testing software and is used to
determine the functionality of application by focusing on the availability of expected inputs and outputs9,17 and
is used to determine the output based on the data entered in software regardless of what design and code was
used. This method is to test whether the software is in accordance with the businessmen needs7,10,12,18 and detect
software failures so that failures can be repaired4,8,9. Black box testing focuses on system functions and types of
testing, namely equivalence partitioning, boundary value analysis, cause effect graphing, decision table based

An Analysis of Point of Sales (POS) Information Systems in SMEswith the Black ..
DOI: 10.9790/487X-2209052025 www.iosrjournals.org 21 | Page
testing, and error guessing17. The test results in the test case table are used as a conclusion whether the Point of
Sales (POS) is successful in the test, then a test table for input, expected results, output, and conclusions is
made. Meanwhile PIECES framework is a framework used to classify problems that exist in the scope
definition of system analysis. The analysis of the information system effectiveness of the PIECESis
performance, information, economy, control, efficiency, and service because the PIECES method is the basis for
obtaining more specific issues. Its function is to assess the effectiveness of the POS information system.
The POS information system is software that is specifically for sales transactions (supermarkets/
minimarkets, restaurants, cafes, and others) and is designed to help produce sales reports so that they can
produce information related to sales5,16 for customers, stakeholders, and retail business managers at SMEs13.
POS consists of stock management, purchasing and sales reporting, customer and supplier management,
transaction security standards (passwords), and the return process6.
II. Material And Methods
The target of this research is the owner, leader, and cashier at retail SMEs who use the POS
information system for at least six months. The first stage is to carry out the functional test of the POS
information system with the black box testing method through an interface test, equivalence partitioning. The
following sections are related to the sales process and its relation to the menu or tools used in the POS which are
presented in the flow diagram of the POS retail sales process context.
INV, PI INV
INV, PI PI, CB
SI, CB, SR
FC SI, CB, SR, FC
Figure no 1: Context Diagram Flow of POS Retail Sales Process
Figure no 1 illustrates the flowchart of the EDP section recording the identity of products on the
inventory menu (INV) and entry of merchandise transactions purchased on the purchases invoice (PI) menu in
the sales information system (SIP). The consumer share makes purchases that affect the purchases invoice (PI)
menu, inventory (INV) because it reduces products, and makes payments from the bank cash menu on the SIP.
The cashier makes cash sales entries using the sales invoice (SI) menu, bank cash (CB) to receive payments, and
generates sales reports in the sales report (SR) menu on SIP. Meanwhile, the owner leader receives financial
reports from the financial report (FC) menu on SIP.
Tabel no 1: User Interface on Point of Sales (POS)
Related Part
Task
EDP
(1) Enter the name of the products to be sold.
(2) Record the number of items in the inventory.
(3) Check incoming and outgoing products
Cashier
(1) Entering product sales transactions through cash sales and sales returns based
on notes obtained from waiters.
(2) Print out the total sales (sales receipt) that must be paid by customers
(3) Recap a sales report
Owner/Leader
(1)Receive sales reports on all sales transactions.
(2) Taking decisions on the procurement of products to be sold (added, reduced,
or replaced by products)
Information
System for Sales
EDP
Consumer
Cashier
Owner/Leader

An Analysis of Point of Sales (POS) Information Systems in SMEswith the Black ..
DOI: 10.9790/487X-2209052025 www.iosrjournals.org 22 | Page
Table no 1 describes the related parts and tasks of the user interface using Point of Sales (POS) and the
tasks of each user who is a respondent.
EDP
Consumer
Cashier
Owner/Leader
Figure no 2:Flow of Sales and User Interface Process
Figure 2 describes the process of the POS retail sales information system flow which explains the task
of Entry Data Processing (EDP), which is to enter data (input and output) in the sales section to enter the name
of the item in inventory, the number of stock items, and the selling price of the products. Meanwhile, customers
choose products at outlets or retail stores then they are brought to the cashier for cash payments. Customers get
a receipt from the cashier for the products purchased. The cashier always reports sales results, namely sales
reports.
Customer
Cashier
Owner/Leader
Figure no 3. Flow of POS Retail Sales Information System
Entry data
incoming and
outgoing products
Choosing
products
Pay the product
Receive the sales
report (montly)
Entry sold product
Record the sale
products
Report the sales
Start
Choose the
product
Entry Name,
amount, totalprice
of the product on
Sale Menu
Accept the
payment
Arrange the
sales report
Check the sales
report
Sales report
Finish

An Analysis of Point of Sales (POS) Information Systems in SMEswith the Black ..
DOI: 10.9790/487X-2209052025 www.iosrjournals.org 23 | Page
Figure no 3 describes the sales process using POS. The cashier section that is directly related to POS
enters the name of the item, the number of products, and the total paid by the customer. Then the manager
receives financial reports, especially sales reports that have been made by the cashier.
The second stage of the effectiveness of the POS system was analyzed with the PIECES method
consisting of performance, information, economy, control, efficiency, and service variables. This type of
research is descriptive quantitative. This stage was carried out by the observation technique by distributing
questionnaires online to 183 respondents using the PIECES framework domain in the POS information system.
This questionnaire uses Likert scale with a value of 1–5 (very ineffective– very effective). The questionnaire
was made based on the PIECES framework analysis with the research object of SMEs retail sales entrepreneurs
in East Java, Indonesia. Furthermore, the results of the distribution of the questionnaires are tabulated and tested
for the validity of the performance, information, economy, control, efficiency, and service variables. The
validity test aims to determine whether the primary data obtained is relevant to the goal. If r count is bigger than
(>) r table (2-sided test with sig. 0.05), the statement item is declared valid.
III. Result and Discussion
SMEs retail businessmen who use Point of Sales (POS) information systems was tested by using POS.
Furthermore, functional testing is carried out by cashiers, owners, and leaders using the black box testing
method through the planning and design stages. This stage collects interview data about the need for item data
entry, entry of purchase and sale transactions, preparation of purchase and sales reports. The design stage is
carried out with the interface of the POS information system for the inventory, purchases, sales, cash bank,
financial reports, user id and password menu. The results of the POS information system functional test are
presented in table no 2.
Tableno 2: POS Information System Test Results (Black Box TestingMethod)
No
Testing Description
Expected Results
Testing Result
Information
1
Login user ID and password
The system displays information “fill user
and password” and “erroneous password”
The system displays the
info "correct user ID and
password"
Appropriate
2
Push down inventory,
purchases, sales, cash bank
menu
Saved transaction is unsuccessful (error)
Saved transaction
“successand saved”
Appropriate
3
Save all filled tools
System dispalys the info “fill all fields”
System dispalysthe info
“saved”
Appropriate
4
Add, delete, and edit
products in the inventory
menu,purchases, sales, and
cash bank
System dispalys the info “data cannot be
deleted, changed, and added if the related
transaction has not been deleted"
System dispalys the info
“data was successfully
deleted / changed / added)
Appropriate
5
Perintah exit
System dispalys the info “need backup
data”
System dispalys the info
“data backupedand exit”
Appropriate
Table no 2 describes the test results of the POS information system related to the POS operational
system starting from entry passwords, processing products input from purchase transactions, and processing
products output from sales transactions, processing payments and receiving money, and sales reports. The
results are as expected and the interface in the test case is valid or not error.
The results of the PIECES method by using the Likert scale are used to assess the effectiveness of the
SMEs retail sales information system at the Point of Sales (POS). The percentage of the results of the
questionnaire distributed to 183 respondents was calculated from the value answered by the user. After that, the
validity test is conducted to determine whether the data obtained is valid or not. If it is valid, it is relevant for the
purpose of knowing the POS information system effectiveness through six aspects. The results of the validity
test are presented in table 3 and the results of the data obtained are valid.
Table no 3: Results of Validity Test Data Processing
Domain
Korelation Coef.
Sig.
Inf
Performance
0,684
0,000
Valid
Information
0.467
0,000
Valid
Economy
0,558
0,000
Valid
Control
0,552
0,000
Valid
Eficiency
0,615
0,000
Valid
Service
0,257
0,000
Valid
**. Correlation is significant at the 0,05 level (2-tailed).

An Analysis of Point of Sales (POS) Information Systems in SMEswith the Black ..
DOI: 10.9790/487X-2209052025 www.iosrjournals.org 24 | Page
Table no 4: Hasil Tabulasi Data (%) Metode PIECES
Aspect
Scale (%)
1
2
3
4
5
Performance
-
-
30,1%
50,8%
19,1%
Information
-
0,5%
26,8%
47,5%
25,1%
Economy
-
-
19,7%
50,8%
29,5%
Control
-
-
27,3%
43,2%
29,5%
Eficiency
-
0,5%
24,6%
48,1%
26,8%
Service
-
1,1%
23%
60,1%
15,8%
Rata-rata
0
1%
25%
50%
24%
Table no 4 presents the percentage of tabulated data results from 183 respondents' answers to the
questionnaire on a scale of 1-5 (very ineffective to very effective). It was explained that the biggest performance
aspect was 50.8%. It shows that the performance of the Point of Sales (POS) information system was effective
for the process of productsdata entry, sales transaction entry, payment entry from customers. In addition,
financial reports were faster and errors were minimal. The biggest information aspect is 47.5%, it indicates the
information generated from the use of POS is very effective with regard to incoming and outgoing products
data, transaction report information, and profit information obtained by SMEs. Meanwhile, the biggest
economic aspect is 50.8%. It means that economically the use of POS is very effective in obtaining financial
information that is comparable to the cost of a POS information system procurement. Next, the biggest control
aspect is 43.2% which means that the control of the POS information system use is very effective in using
passwords, controlling duplicate numbers of transaction numbers, data backup facilities, and inventory control.
In addition, the biggest efficiency aspect is on a scale of four at 48.1%. It describes the efficiency of using POS
is very effective in terms of cost and time efficiency, data search and processing and the number of employees
needed to operate the Accurate software. Finally, the biggest service aspect is on a scale of four at 60.1%, which
means that the results of using the POS information system are very effective in relation to customers to obtain
proof of transactions and sales report information for the owner or leader.
Based on the description above, the highest level of effectiveness is from the six aspects, which is the
service aspect, which means that the cashier service provides financial reports, especially sales reports to the
owner or manager, which will make it easier to make policies related to the procurement of products to be sold.
In addition, cashiers find the effectiveness of using the POS information system because it can provide faster
service in the process of receiving payments from customers.
IV. Conclusion
The results of the functional test of the SMEs retail sales information system with Point of Sales (POS)
do not show invalid and the interface in the POS is as expected, which can help complete the activities of the
EDP section for data entry of products, entry of sales transactions and financial reports in particular sales
reports.The owner or leader is easy to see the results of financial reports. The Point of Sales (POS) information
system used by SMEs is effective from the performance aspects, the information generated, expenses for POS
procurement. Furthermore, the POS can be control byhaving a password and transaction error info, in terms of
costs incurred and time taken for use. In short, POS is acceptable because the service is faster for speed of
obtaining transaction receipts and sales report.
The highest level of effectiveness is the service aspect because the main key to the effectiveness of the
SOP sales information system for SMEs lies in the cashier service providing financial reports to the owner or
leader. Services provide the sales transaction process with customersfaster and with fewer errors.
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