Restaurant technology has moved far beyond traditional ticket systems and cash registers. Today’s point of sale (POS) systems enable efficient order management and handling of payment transactions. But this tech can provide restaurants with benefits beyond the counter.
POS systems for restaurants have become the nerve center of the entire operation, connected to every aspect of the business. If you’re ready to upgrade your tech, here are the things you need to consider when building a complete POS system for restaurants.
Front-of-House Components of a POS System for Restaurants
The Software
The ideal POS solution begins with the software. Its functions should be customizable so it supports the unique way a restaurant operates. For example, it should provide easy access to menu items when taking orders or updating prices and availability. Ease of use is another key quality; user-friendly interfaces are vital for efficient operations and minimal training requirements (which saves time and money, especially in an industry with high turnover).
The software’s design is also important. Consider an embedded POS solution, in which the hardware runs only the specific POS software that is pre-loaded onto it. Since nothing else can be downloaded from or uploaded to the devices, these systems are completely secured against viruses and hacking (without the cost of additional anti-virus or security programs). Plus, employees can focus on work tasks without the potential distractions that a PC would make available.
Finally, your POS system for restaurants should have 100% terminal redundancy, meaning that your data is stored across the entire system so that if one terminal crashes, your business can keep operating without data loss.
The Terminal and Peripherals
Once you’ve found the right software, you need the hardware to run it. The main component is, of course, the ordering and payment terminals (or tablets). These should preferably have a touchscreen interface for ease of use and faster order entry.
Peripherals may vary depending on individual restaurant needs but can include:
- Receipt printers
- Credit/debit card readers
- Barcode scanners for QSR or grab-and-go items
- Scales for self-serve items such as frozen yogurt or sushi that are priced by weight
Obtaining all needed peripherals from the same provider to create an all-in-one POS system for restaurants ensures compatibility and ease of integration and maintenance.
Online Ordering Integration
When choosing and customizing your software and hardware, think about what functions you need besides basic in-house ordering and payment transactions. One option that has gone from “nice to have” to “must have” is online ordering integration. If you’re only taking orders in the restaurant, you’re severely limiting your potential sales. Customers now expect and even prefer the availability and convenience of online ordering (via website or app) for pickup or delivery.
Integration of online orders with your POS software streamlines the processes and increases accuracy. Orders go directly to the POS system and are instantly communicated to the kitchen, via ticket or kitchen video system (KVS), and properly placed in the queue. Since no labor is required to take these orders, your staff can focus on preparing the food and serving customers.
Order and Pay at the Table
Table-service restaurants can enhance in-house dining experiences by providing all services tableside. Orders can be placed by staff on a mobile device, increasing speed and accuracy — no more writing down orders and running them back to a busy terminal to be entered.
Then, at the end of the meal, a mobile payment solution can allow customers to complete their transactions at their convenience, with added benefits such as easily combining or splitting tabs. Tableside payments can expedite turnover and make customers feel more secure, since their cards never leave their possession. Mobile devices can also assist with ordering and payments in outdoor dining areas or at curbside pick-up.
Kiosks
A good POS system for restaurants will also offer self-service functions via kiosks. Fast-casual establishments and QSRs, in particular, may benefit from this option. Kiosks allow customers to place their own orders and make payments, which can help solve some of the challenges created by ongoing labor shortages. In addition, self-placed orders tend to be larger.
Also, many people prefer self-service kiosks. According to Digital Divide: Technology, the Metaverse and the Future of Dining Out (a collaboration between PYMNTS and Paytronix), 51% of grab-and-go customers feel positively about ordering via kiosk, far greater than the 20% of dine-in customers who share this sentiment.
Kitchen Video Display Systems
Moving from front-of-house functions to back-of-house, another key element of a complete POS system for restaurants is a KVS. With a KVS, orders are sent directly to the kitchen from a terminal, tablet, or online orders, saving valuable time. This option eliminates the human errors introduced by lost or illegible paper tickets, and it saves the cost of supplies associated with paper ticketing. The system can prioritize orders according to required prep time or when they entered the queue, and it sends orders to the correct prep stations, ensuring that all parts of an order are ready at the same time.
Hybrid-Cloud Headquarters
The final essential element of a total POS system for restaurants is effective data management through a hybrid-cloud headquarters solution such as RHQ. This option allows your POS system to run independently and keep all sales data stored locally until it can communicate and send information to RHQ. You won’t have any downtime due to Internet outages. RHQ provides a centralized location from which you can view reports and get front-end data at any time, accessible from any Internet browser. Sales and labor information are at your fingertips, enabling you to make better-informed business decisions.
Integration is the Key
A complete POS system for your restaurant ensures that all components are connected and share data. Integration streamlines operations, decreases labor demand, saves costs, and provides comprehensive data. Ultimately, a connected system enables efficiency that leads to the best dining experiences for your customers — which benefits your bottom line. Learn how to create a totally integrated POS environment for your restaurant by contacting the experts at NCC today.
