In September 2024, the Post Office said it had bought HP point-of-sale equipment to support Horizon branches while a replacement system was being developed. An unnamed source told Computer Weekly that the equipment might not suit varied branch counters and warned of possible shortages. Those were reported concerns, not confirmed installation failures or a proven equipment shortfall; the Post Office said it was surveying branches and assessing configurations.
What hardware did the Post Office procure?
Computer Weekly reported on 11 September 2024 that the Post Office had acquired thousands of HP point-of-sale devices for branches. The reported categories were monitors with integrated CPUs, keyboards, scanners and printers. The equipment was intended to keep Horizon branches supplied with compatible hardware during development of a replacement system. The report did not identify model numbers, technical specifications or final quantities. Computer Weekly’s September 2024 report is the source for these procurement details.
Why was the fit for existing counters questioned?
An unnamed source with knowledge of the matter alleged that little or no research had been done into whether standard equipment would work in branch environments or fit existing counters. The report said the Post Office was considering pole mounts, which could require work inside branches. It did not include an independent survey of branch layouts or technical tests establishing that the equipment would not fit.
The Post Office gave a different account of the procurement. It said it had bought devices with different mounting options, including an integrated counter, and was surveying branches to configure installations for local needs. It also said ergonomic assessments were under way and that it was working with the manufacturer on additional configuration options. Those statements describe the company’s intended assessment and options; they do not establish that all fit or ergonomic concerns were resolved.
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Was there a shortage of replacement equipment?
A shortage was a risk raised by the unnamed source, not an outcome confirmed by the report. The source described about 24,000 units as then being in branches and linked possible shortages to a plan to reduce the unit count. That estimate was not an independently verified total, and it did not mean that 24,000 units were missing or deficient.
The Post Office said it had made an initial procurement and that branch surveys would establish the full programme requirement. It denied plans to reduce units in “some branches,” while saying it works with branches to remove unused equipment. The report established neither a shortage rate nor how many replacement units were ultimately needed or installed.
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What was the timetable pressure?
At the time of the report, the Post Office was still working on a deployment plan. Computer Weekly said new counters might be used as an interim replacement when existing hardware failed. An unnamed source attributed timeline pressure to approaching support deadlines for existing hardware and software, and said political pressure was affecting timelines. The report did not establish a completed rollout or give a final deployment schedule.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How did the wider Horizon replacement plan change?
The counter-equipment questions were part of a transition effort, but they should be distinguished from later decisions about the replacement system itself. In October 2024, chairman Nigel Railton told the public inquiry that two original decisions were wrong in hindsight: focusing on getting off Horizon rather than building for the future, and choosing to build a system in-house. Computer Weekly reported that the Post Office was reassessing its approach. These comments concern programme strategy, not whether specific printers, scanners or counter fittings worked. Computer Weekly reported Railton’s inquiry evidence.
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In a separate development reported on 14 August 2026, the Post Office had moved toward buying an off-the-shelf EPOS replacement, and losing bidder Escher challenged the contract award to OneView Commerce. That report shows the broader replacement procurement was still in motion; it does not establish the outcome of the challenge or what became of the hardware refresh described in 2024. Computer Weekly’s August 2026 report covers the supplier challenge.
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What the reports establish—and what they do not
- Established: The Post Office said it had procured HP equipment to support Horizon branches while a replacement was developed, and said it was surveying branches and assessing installation configurations.
- Reported concern, not confirmed result: An unnamed source questioned counter fit and ergonomics and warned of a possible shortage.
- Not established: A branch-by-branch fit failure, a verified shortage, final installation quantities, or whether every branch’s requirements were met.
- Later context: Replacement-system strategy changed, and a supplier challenged a later off-the-shelf contract award; neither point verifies the outcome of the 2024 hardware procurement.
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