Overview

A growing provider of automated point-of-sale (POS) systems for the car wash industry is on a mission to help owners streamline operations, reduce onsite staffing needs, and improve the customer experience. Their self-service kiosks are designed to support a wide range of car wash systems, enabling centralized management of payment processing, equipment control, and membership plans.

As the company scaled and expanded its product line, they recognized a growing need to simplify system architecture and increase hardware reliability. The original setup included two low-cost PCs and several external USB devices, which created unnecessary complexity, space constraints, and reliability concerns.

The ability to consolidate components, reduce failure points, and improve performance will pave the way for a cleaner, smarter POS solution.

Flexio simplified the system architecture by consolidating computing and I/O needs into a single, rugged platform— while the 120PoE module replaced unreliable relay modules without requiring additional power infrastructure.

The Challenge

As the company prepared to scale to hundreds of units annually, their current kiosk setup revealed several issues:

  • System Complexity: Two separate PCs—one for POS and one for remote resets—added unnecessary cost, cabling, and configuration overhead.
  • Unreliable I/O Devices: Unreliable I/O Devices:
  • Power & Space Constraints: External USB hubs and power requirements for I/O added to enclosure clutter and complexity.
  • Performance Considerations:Growing interest in future-proofing the system with increased processing power as demand and software requirements scale.

They needed a solution that could reduce hardware sprawl, improve reliability, and maintain the flexibility to evolve with their business

With the Flexio and 120PoE, the company is on track to reduce component count, eliminate unreliable USB I/O modules, and streamline hardware design—ultimately enabling more efficient deployments and fewer maintenance calls.

The Solution

Sealevel recommended the Flexio Fanless Industrial Embedded Computer configured with an internal USB hub, allowing the customer to eliminate a second PC and external USB devices. The system met all technical requirements and environmental conditions for 24/7 kiosk operation.

The addition of Sealevel’s 120PoE module provided reliable, Power over Ethernet relay control—eliminating the need for separate power sources and replacing unreliable USB-based alternatives. Replacing legacy hardware and standardizing future builds on the Flexio plat- form will enable this provider to more effectively scale their business

Ultimately, the solution included:

Flexio Fanless Industrial Embedded Computer, with the below configuration:

  • Intel Atom® Processor
  • 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD
  • Dual Gigabit Ethernet Ports, 6x USB Ports
  • DisplayPort Video Output, Audio Out
  • 9–36 VDC Power Input
  • 0°C to 60°C Operating Temperature Range
  • Fanless, Solid-State Design for 24/7 Use

120PoE Digital I/O Module

  • 2 Form C Relays
  • Power over Ethernet (PoE) Operation
  • Mechanically optimized for space-constrained enclosuers
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