Product Search and Scanning
Brother POS gives you multiple ways to find products quickly. Whether you are typing a name, browsing categories, or scanning barcodes, the goal is the same: get the right product into the cart as fast as possible.
The Product Pane
The left side of the POS screen is the Product Pane. From top to bottom, it contains:
- Search bar -- type to search by product name, SKU, or barcode
- Category tabs -- filter the grid by product category
- Subcategory filter -- narrow within a selected category
- Brand filter -- filter by manufacturer or brand
- Product grid -- cards showing each matching product
Search Bar
The search bar sits at the top of the product pane and is auto-focused when the POS loads. You can start typing immediately without tapping it first.
How Search Works
- Results filter in real time as you type (with a brief delay to avoid flickering).
- Search matches against product name, SKU, and barcode.
- The search is case-insensitive -- "blue dream" and "Blue Dream" return the same results.
- Clear the search field to return to the full product grid.
Search Tips
If you know the exact SKU, type it in the search bar for an instant match. SKUs are unique across your catalog, so you will get exactly one result.
- Use partial words: typing "blue" will match "Blue Dream", "Blueberry Kush", etc.
- For products with long names, type the most distinctive word first.
- The search bar also accepts customer codes (format
C10001). Scanning or typing a customer code auto-selects that customer for the sale.
Barcode Scanning
Brother POS supports USB and Bluetooth barcode scanners that act as keyboard-wedge devices (they type characters as if they were a keyboard).
How It Works
- The scanner sends characters rapidly -- Brother POS detects the rapid input as a barcode scan.
- When the scanner sends
Enterat the end, the POS processes the buffered barcode. - If the barcode matches a product with at least 8 characters, it is automatically added to the cart.
Scanning Behavior
| Scenario | Result |
|---|---|
| Barcode matches a standard product | Product added to cart (quantity +1) |
| Barcode matches a weight-based product | Weight selection modal opens |
| Barcode matches a product with variations | Variation picker opens |
| Barcode matches a product with modifiers | Modifier selection modal opens |
Barcode matches a customer code (C#####) | Customer is selected for the current sale |
| No match found | Search is cleared and a "not found" notification appears |
Barcode scanning works even when the search bar is not focused. The POS listens for rapid keystrokes globally on the page, so you can scan at any time.
Scanner Setup
Barcode scanners require no software installation. Simply plug in a USB scanner or pair a Bluetooth scanner with your device. The scanner must be configured to:
- Output characters in keyboard-wedge mode
- Send
Enter(carriage return) after each scan - Match your keyboard layout (typically US English)
For detailed setup, see Barcode Scanner.
Category Filters
Below the search bar, category tabs display your store's product categories. Each category shows an icon and label.
Using Categories
- Tap a category tab to filter the product grid to only products in that category.
- The selected category is highlighted.
- Tap the same category again to deselect it and show all products.
Category Icons
Categories display high-quality icons that help cashiers visually identify product types at a glance. Your admin assigns icons to each category from a built-in library of professionally designed images. Common categories like Flower, Pre-Rolls, Vapes, Edibles, Topicals, and Accessories all have dedicated icons.
Subcategory Filters
When a category is selected and that category has subcategories, a second row of filter buttons appears. Tap a subcategory to narrow the results further. For example, under "Flower" you might see subcategories like "Indica", "Sativa", and "Hybrid".
Brand Filter
A brand filter is available alongside the category tabs. Use it to show only products from a specific brand or manufacturer.
- Tap the brand filter dropdown or button.
- Select a brand from the list.
- The product grid updates to show only that brand's products.
- Clear the brand filter to show all brands again.
Brand filters combine with category filters. For example, you can view "Flower" products from "Brand X" by selecting both.
Product Grid
The product grid displays cards for all matching products. Each card shows:
- Product image (if available and enabled in display settings)
- Product name
- Brand (if enabled)
- Price (if enabled)
- Stock level (if enabled)
- Cannabis details such as THC/CBD percentages, strain type (if enabled)
- Category icon in the corner
Product Card Behavior
Tapping a product card triggers different actions depending on the product type:
| Product Type | Tap Behavior |
|---|---|
| Standard unit product | Added to cart immediately |
| Weight-based product | Opens weight selection modal |
| Product with variations | Opens variation picker |
| Product with modifiers | Opens modifier selection modal |
| Out-of-stock product | Tapping the product card does nothing (card is inactive). Stock override is only available when scanning a barcode that triggers a server-side error — it does not appear when tapping product cards. |
Product Info Button
If enabled in display settings, a small info button appears on each product card. Tapping it opens a Product Detail Modal showing the full product description, images gallery, cannabis attributes, and other details -- without adding the product to the cart.
The product info modal is useful for answering customer questions about a product's THC content, terpene profile, or effects without navigating away from the register.
Combining Search and Filters
Search, category, subcategory, and brand filters all work together:
- Search + Category: Shows products matching the search term within the selected category
- Category + Brand: Shows products from a specific brand in a specific category
- Search alone: Searches across all categories and brands
Clearing any filter broadens the results. Clear the search bar to rely only on category/brand filters, or deselect a category to search across all categories.
Offline Product Browsing
When the POS is offline, product data is served from a local cache. The entire product catalog is synced and stored locally, so browsing, searching, and filtering work normally even without network connectivity.
A small indicator appears when you are viewing cached data rather than live data.
Products added to the catalog while you are offline will not appear until the POS reconnects and syncs. Stock levels in the cache may also be stale.
What's Next?
- Cart Management -- what happens after a product is added to the cart
- Weight-Based Products -- selecting weights for cannabis and deli products
- Modifiers and Variations -- handling product options and add-ons