What is Restaurant POS Software?

Introduction

Restaurant POS software is also called EPOS (electronic point of sale). It is the system where customer transactions are completed. In restaurants, the POS serves as a hub in which waiters enter orders which are then printed in the kitchen. This platform is used by the front- and back-ends to communicate customer needs. Top vendors are delivering advanced POS systems and tablet-based solutions help to enhance the in-store consumer experience.           

Today’s cloud-based POS systems store business data securely and make them instantly accessible anytime, anywhere. Top vendors of restaurant POS products include Clover, Aloha, Lightspeed, Talech, Breadcrumb Restaurant POS, and Square.

Today’s POS programs do much more than accept orders and produce a receipt. They incorporate added functionalities such as CRM, smart analytics and reporting, and inventory and stock management to simplify operations and minimize manual tasks. In addition, the software’s capabilities are extended by seamless integrations with third-party solutions such as loyalty programs, table reservations, e-wallets, online ordering, and others.

Features of Restaurant POS Software

Ease of Use and Speed

The restaurant sector requires speed of operations. This includes decision making, hands, feet, and fire times. A slow platform will hamper the productivity of cooks, waiters, and managers. Speed in a POS software extends to fast hardware, intuitive layout, and ease of use. Delay in customer service can impact the reputation and profitability of an outlet, therefore speed is essential.

Inventory

Inventory management is a laborious but important task in the restaurant business. Efficient inventory control is necessary to gain an edge in this competitive industry. Find a restaurant POS product that allows you to easily input and manage inventory, to control wafer-thin margins. Plus, the inventory functionality allows you to track every item sold. This paves the way for long-term success and profitability.

Reporting

Restaurants need actionable insights from their reporting to make informed decisions. The POS system facilitates this providing numeric insight into business operations to owners and managers. It offers data on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) such as labor costs, food costs, sales by hour, item, and department as well as the number of new diners who visit the place. Opt for web-based platforms as they provide real-time analytics and reporting features that can be accessed from anywhere with web connection.

Marketing

Today’s marketing involves maximizing your internet and social media presence. Start with an attractive website that provides relevant info to visitors such as contact details, menus, hours, and links to your social site pages. You can boost your marketing with engaging Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social pages to cater to returning and new diners round the clock.

If you deliver excellent food and service, the word of mouth is sure to get around and boost your business. Plus, you can collect email addresses from prospects and customers to execute direct marketing campaigns. Restaurant POS systems offer features that empower you to market to your customer database in real time, creating a huge positive effect on your business.

Technical Support

The vendor should be able to provide prompt and knowledgeable technical and customer support round the clock. A malfunctioning POS system can prove disastrous to restaurants. When this happens, you should be able to immediately contact the support team to get the issue resolved. Web-based platforms have an advantage here as the support agent need not visit your place and can solve the problem over phone or live chat.

Besides emergency support, the vendor should also be able to assist you with the initial setup, software upgrades, credit card payments, and ongoing training. Thus, responsive and reliable support from the POS vendor is essential for a restaurant’s success.

Benefits of Restaurant POS Software

Paperless Reports

The best part about a POS system is it processes and manages all reports digitally. This means you don’t have to manually note details such as receipt info, sales reports, or inventory amounts. By eliminating paperwork, restaurants can reduce the time spent on routine administrative tasks and focus on delivering quality customer service and generating additional sales.

Minimizes Wait Times

An advanced POS platform helps to boost your level of customer service. It empowers your staff to input orders quickly, process transactions swiftly, and move the lines efficiently. Thus, the POS software lowers wait times and assists restaurants to serve more diners and improve customer satisfaction.

Loyalty Programs

Loyalty programs help to generate repeat business and additional revenue, and bolster relationships with consumers – all of which are important for business growth. A POS product assists you to run a productive loyalty program by enabling you to efficiently manage customer data. You can monitor and store loyalty programs in the POS solution, and easily process and redeem a customer’s loyalty points.

More Tips for the Staff

Tablet-based POS platforms give customers the option of leaving a tip on the screen. This means more customers are likely to give tips for the service and you can also easily collect and distribute more of them.

Improves Customer Satisfaction

A quality POS system helps restaurants deliver delightful customer experiences. The software allows you to provide new menu suggestions, alter menu items, and prepare a database of customer info using phone and email. Restaurants can use this information to provide fast, personalized, and accurate service – which is sure to boost customer satisfaction.