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Guide to Restaurant POS Systems

In the high stress environment of a restaurant, where cashiers are passing orders back to cooks and impatient diners are waiting for their food, it is critical for your restaurant to minimize the chance of mistakes. Restaurant POS systems are comprised of software that gives owners the ability to keep track of real time transactions. Some of the features of restaurant POS systems include equipment that will process credit cards, a POS display to interface with and a reporting tool to keep track of orders. The type of POS system you need depends on the size of your restaurant; more complicated restaurants, such as table service or fine dining restaurants often need a more integrated system that will keep track of the orders, servers and receipts of multiple tables and diners.

How to choose a Restaurant POS system:

Before restaurant owners can choose a POS system, there are several considerations that they must make. It is important to properly research before making a decision, as the wrong one may result in immense losses of time, manpower and revenue. Crucial questions include:

1.      What are the benefits of restaurant POS systems?

These systems can dramatically increase efficiency and productivity, with the ability to quickly handle transactions and calculate sales and receipts. POS systems can lead to increased customer satisfaction, as it allows servers to quickly address the diner’s needs. These systems also have marketing applications that allow you to maintain frequent diner programs which reward customers for their visits with incentives and gifts. They help reduce losses through computerized systems that keep track of large quantities of data and minimize shrinkage. Last but not least, POS systems can provide employees with real time information on the everyday operations of the restaurant.

2.      Will the POS system properly address your needs?

It is important to consider the capabilities of each POS system with the type of restaurant. The needs of a fast food restaurant will be different from that of a fine dining restaurant, and there are a wide variety of restaurant POS systems that are specialized for each type of restaurant. Another consideration that owners should make is whether they want to rely on proprietary software or software that is compatible with a wide variety of hardware. In general, proprietary systems restrict the owner to one piece of hardware, which restrict flexibility and mobility. However, proprietary software tends to be extremely compatible with their specialized hardware, eliminating the need to understand multiple systems. Restaurant owners can learn more about which POS system to use by exploring eBay’s Guide to POS Systems.

3.      What are the costs?

The price of restaurant POS systems will depend on the type of restaurant and the features that the owner requires. In general, it is advised that restaurants consider employing POS systems if they have a revenue range around $700,000 to $900,000 a year. In addition, owners should consider the costs of training employees to use and maintain the POS system. If the system is too complicated, or employees are insufficiently trained, then the POS system will be of little use to the restaurant.