A system and method enables a central processor to control the operations of a plurality of checkout stations. Each checkout station includes a high speed data hub to provide data from a checkout station to the central processor. The central processor processes the data and generates data and/or commands. The data may be stored in a data repository located proximately with the central processor or at the checkout station that communicated the data to the central processor. Data messages generated by the central processor are communicated to the checkout stations at a high speed data rate of at least 12 Mbps. By using a central processor for controlling the operation of more than one checkout station, processors and processor support requirements are reduced for checkout stations.