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Bring Back Built-in Virtual Keyboard in Xstore POS New Desktop for Touchscreen-Only Environments
1) Current functionality limitations: The current design of the Xstore POS "New Desktop" UI (v25) lacks a built-in virtual/on-screen keyboard. The application now fully relies on the native Windows OS touch keyboard. This design change significantly hinders the operator's checkout journey compared to the "Classic Desktop" UI, where a dedicated, integrated virtual keyboard was always available and seamlessly embedded within the POS application flow.
2) Business use cases and operational impact: Our retail operation consists of more than 6,000 POS terminals deployed entirely without physical keyboards or mice. All user interactions—starting from the operator login process to the final checkout—are performed exclusively via touchscreen monitors.With the New Desktop UI, cashiers are forced to rely on the Windows 11 native touch keyboard. In a fast-paced retail environment, this creates severe friction. The Windows keyboard does not integrate cleanly with the Xstore application layout, requiring operators to constantly drag, resize, or move the Windows keyboard window because it frequently obstructs critical POS fields, totals, or action buttons during the sale journey.
3) Attempted workarounds and business impact: As suggested by Oracle Support, we attempted to configure and use the native Windows 10/11 touch keyboard services. However, this workaround has proven inefficient for an intense, high-volume retail operation. The lack of standard docking and the unpredictable behavior of the OS keyboard floating over the Xstore New Desktop interface slows down the cashier, increases customer wait times, and impacts overall store productivity.Note: To clearly illustrate this gap, we are attaching two videos to this request:
- Video 1: The seamless journey in the Classic Desktop UI showing the efficient built-in virtual keyboard.
- Video 2: The friction-filled experience in the New Desktop UI, demonstrating how the Windows 11 keyboard obstructs the user journey and requires constant manual repositioning.
4) Description of the needed functionality: We request the restoration of a built-in, application-level virtual keyboard within the Xstore POS New Desktop UI, equivalent to the functionality previously available in the Classic Desktop. This keyboard should automatically trigger, dock cleanly, or overlay within the Xstore application boundaries whenever a text input field (such as operator login, manager override, or product search) receives focus.The primary business users benefiting from this would be store selling personnel (cashiers) and store managers, allowing them to operate the POS fluidly without any peripheral hardware.
5) Value provided to the businessImplementing this request will enable a smooth, risk-free migration from Xstore v23 to v25 for large-scale retail operations utilizing touchscreen-only hardware. It will preserve checkout speed, maintain operational ergonomics for thousands of cashiers, prevent layout obstruction issues caused by the OS, and ensure the successful adoption of Oracle's New Desktop UI strategy across our 6,000+ terminals.