The high volume of credit cards and cash that passes through a restaurant every day makes a Point of Sale (POS) system a necessary part of doing business. A POS system helps you track inventory, manage customers, and process payments quickly and securely.
This is particularly important in a fast-paced environment like a restaurant where every second counts. A good POS system will free up your staff to focus on providing excellent customer service. Also, keeping an accurate inventory ensures your restaurant operates smoothly and turns a profit.
When you’re ready to take your restaurant to the next level, it’s time to invest in a quality POS system. Not sure where to start? Here are some of the best features to look for in a POS system.
Contactless and Mobile Ordering and Payment
Mobile POS systems had become popular even before the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. The pandemic has only made them even more relevant and essential, as customers seek to minimize contact with surfaces and other people.
Indeed, the days of customers waiting in line to place their order and then pay for it at the register are over. Today, restaurant servers can take customer orders at the table, either by smartphone or tablet.
And this not only reduces the time customers have to spend waiting in line and allows restaurants to upsell and cross-sell items. For example, if a customer is looking at the menu and having trouble deciding what to order, the server can make recommendations based on the customer’s preferences.
Also, it expedites the ordering process and eliminates human error. In return, customers appreciate convenience and efficiency, which leads to higher levels of customer satisfaction. Want this feature? Check out the POS systems offered by 21st Century Business Equipment.
Flexible Reporting Capabilities
Successful restaurant owners heavily depend on in-depth, pinpoint reporting on food and drink sales, margin, labor, employee performance, and more. Most restaurant POS systems come with some form of reporting, but the quality and depth of those reports vary greatly.
Some reports are challenging to interpret, while others don’t offer enough customization options. The best restaurant POS systems offer flexible, customizable reporting capabilities that make it easy to get the data you need to make informed decisions.
When it comes to restaurant POS reporting, more isn’t always better. The key is finding a system that offers the right mix of reports and customization options to fit your needs. With flexible reporting, you can easily track and interpret the most important data, whether sales by menu item, labor costs, or something else entirely.
Robust Product and Inventory Management
Inventory management helps restaurants maintain their margin. With too much inventory, restaurants risk food spoilage and waste. Too little inventory and they might miss out on sales opportunities or have to turn away customers.
Product and inventory management is a vital part of effective restaurant operations. A robust POS system can help restaurants keep track of their inventory, manage product pricing, and make order decisions.
Evaluate your restaurant’s product and inventory management needs before selecting a POS system because the right POS system can help your business run more smoothly and efficiently.
Cloud-based Operations
Another feature to look for in a restaurant POS system is cloud technology. This technology is becoming more and more popular for many reasons. First, it’s much more affordable than on-premise software.
There’s no need to invest in expensive hardware or worry about maintenance and upkeep. Second, cloud-based systems are much more flexible and scalable. You can easily add or remove users as your business grows or slows down.
Finally, cloud-based systems offer enhanced security and disaster recovery features. As a result, you can rest assured that your data is safe and secure in a power outage or other catastrophe.
When you’re considering a restaurant POS system, be sure to ask about the company’s cloud-based offerings. It could be the difference between a successful business and a failed one.
CRM Module
Restaurants live through their customers, and in today’s age, that means having an excellent CRM system to keep track of them. A good CRM will allow you to track your customer’s visits, orders, preferences, and anything else that might be relevant to giving them the best possible experience at your establishment.
Also, you can use it to segment your customers and run personalized campaigns via notification, emails, or SMS. Then, you can reward your loyal customers with a loyalty program or incentivize them to visit more often with discounts.
So, when looking for a POS system, make sure to find one with a suitable CRM module. It’ll be worth its weight in gold.
Third-party Integrations
Many restaurants are now adopting and embracing third-party integrations, especially with online ordering on the rise. The best POS systems will have an open API that allows these integrations. Some famous examples include:
- ChowNow
- OrderUp
- Delivery.com
- GrubHub
- Seamless
- Postmates
- Ubereats
These companies partner with restaurants to either provide an online ordering platform or a delivery service. By integrating with one (or more) of these companies, you can significantly increase your reach and sales. And there’s no need to worry about the quality of these services- all of the above companies are well established and have a good reputation.
Table Management and Reservations
Restaurateurs need this POS feature to manage tables and reservations with ease. In addition, the system should allow customers to make online reservations that flow directly into the POS, saving time and effort.
The ability to see a floor plan of the restaurant and drag and drop table assignments is critical for effective table management. And when it comes to reservations, setting up rules such as blocking off tables for parties of a specific size or age group can help you run your restaurant more efficiently.
But note that not all POS systems have this feature. So, if table management and reservations are essential to you, check with your POS provider before purchasing.
Takeaway
No single POS system has all these features built-in. That said, evaluate which is essential and helpful to your restaurant business and go from there. Do some research and figure out which system will work best for you and your business.