Do you Need to Switch Over to the Advantages of Coffee Shop POS?

Have been looking around for the perfect Coffee Shop POS system to address the increasing hardware and management problems arising in your establishment? Do you want to switch over to the advantages of a reliable and more secure Cafe POS? If your answer is ”yes”, then read on for some valuable insights to address the increasing costs and concerns connected with your existing cafe point of sale software.

Be it a Coffee Shop POS or a recently launched Cafe POS system, the features and attributes of these latest and inexpensive devices , routers and printers are hitting out at traditional models of POS systems and industry specific programs connected through wireless—and in more ways than one.

POS systems are not programmed to act as an alternative for basic cash registers. They are advanced equipment used for making OTC deliveries and processing orders faster, more accurate and simpler. They are well equipped to provide positive environments which empower fast processing of transactions, order handling, checking out and payment collection from customers—while ensuring correct reporting for the HR, inventory, operations and bookkeeping departments.

These systems are capable of providing 24X7 customer support and induction of staff through live training modules. They come with a warranty and are designed to act as credit card processors and cash sales trackers in an effective manner. These solutions have set new benchmarks in the generation of world class customer service and attainment of more loyal clients and patrons. Along with an unprecedented increase in the volumes of sale, these systems are also capable of processing loyalty bonuses and gift cards—making your clients come back for more satisfying café experiences.

The features added to POS systems, alleviate the percentage of error and provide a modern approach to business. Accuracy and swiftness in taking and processing orders gives rise to better productivity, table rotation and bottom line figures. The inventory management features in a cafeteria POS system helps in tracking and creating alerts about the changes in the levels of inventory. This gives enough lead time to replenish stocks and make sure that all vital ingredients and other items are available at all times. They are also capable of serving automatic orders to suppliers and vendors online and this goes a long way in making your business smoother and all the more successful. The work hours logged in by employees can also be monitored by this software and this helps in the creation of pay slips and wage bills, at any given point of time.

The advent of technology and availability of smart and innovative Point of Sale systems have made business transactions more secure and easy to handle. With these advantages in place, you cannot afford to delay the purchase of your appropriate POS system. Can you?

Why Does your Business Need a Restaurant Point of Sale System

POS—a benchmarked system which refers to “Point of Sale”, is being increasingly used across the retail and restaurant industry, and many more. This well equipped and sophisticated computerized system helps users keep track of their sales, inventory, cash flows and orders. Having positive impacts on bookkeeping functions, productivity and bottom line figures alike, the Restaurant POS system has now become an indispensible part of most establishments.

Why do you need a Restaurant Point of Sale System?

Restaurant points of sale systems are necessary for the careful handling of credit card and cash transactions taking place in your restaurant, throughout the day. Playing the dual role of credit card processors as well as a cash sales tracker, POS systems are a secure means of payment for both customers and your business. Servers with POS systems are accountable for all sales facilitated by them and can gain access into the secure system only after punching the correct password. This goes a long way in cutting down unwanted activities like theft or pilferage of inventory and accounts.

What are the Benefits of POS?

One of the main advantages of using a POS system is that it simplifies all interactions between the kitchen staff and servers. Orders taken at the table reach the kitchen directly –via printouts or digital displays. This alleviates the incidence of any confusion, cuts down on delivery time and makes the entire process smoother and easy and maintain. POS systems act like clocks and are also helpful in maintaining the system of payroll. Along with other generic activities like keeping track of orders, inventory and client information, POS is also capable of organizing Profit and Loss statements and calculating Sales tax figures.

What are the drawbacks of POS Restaurant?

As POS systems are driven by digital means, they can fall prey to the various whims of technology like expired versions of software, failure of proper backup and risk of losing valuable data or records. Words of caution—always keep backups for your POS records and transactions.

Issues connected with warranty

The money saved by installing POS systems can be spent in troubleshooting and taking care of the bills of tech guys brought in to service the same. As this software does not have any shelf life—unlike old fashioned cash registers; you have to update software, replace parts and make sure that all allied equipments are in order. It is always good to purchase extra support for technological glitches, as the warranty and support guaranteed by programmers and manufacturers of these systems are limited to pre-defined periods.

The way forward:

Smaller operations like a sandwich shoppe or bagel does not necessitate the requirements of a POS system. However, if you are dreaming of expanding or business or going in for a franchisee, then you must integrate the services of a well equipped POS system into your opening costs.

Versatile Functions Make Restaurant POS Systems Indispensible

One of the most important recording and reporting tools for any restaurant or eatery to have in place is its restaurant point of sale software. At the very onset, you may find it difficult to understand the capabilities and features of a point of sale software for restaurants. So, read on for some valuable insights into the functionalities of a well equipped POS system.

Credit card processing

The ultimate requirement for a POS system is to take menu orders in an accurate manner and process the dues for these orders. As many clients prefer to pay through their credit cards, credit card processing is an important feature and applicability of a well programmed restaurant point of sale software.

Before purchasing this software, you need to have a clear idea about the compatibility of the POS system with particular merchant account providers. The software should be customized to add bar tabs and tips to the main order bill as well.

Organization tool

Apart from being accurate and reliable software for processing orders and collecting payments, POS systems also act as the perfect organization tool for handling several facets of your restaurant business. With less confusion in handling orders and servicing them in a timely manner, you can be assured of more loyal customers and repeated visits to your restaurant.

Some areas which need attention and benchmarking are:

Table Management

It is good to have your restaurant packed to full capacity. But are you prepared to handle each client with expertise and care? A well programmed POS system helps in keeping track of the dining time preferences of regular clients and records reservations in an orderly fashion—thus allowing enough time to manage the servicing capacity of your wait staff, butlers and other floor employees. Tracking of orders

Scribbling orders on small scraps of paper and passing the same on to chefs in a chaotic kitchen is passé. Now restaurant POS software is geared to take in the order at the table print /display the same in a convenient manner inside the kitchen. The server is then left free to handle the needs of other customers who have just arrived or are waiting to take a decision on what to order.

Inventory Tracking

Some POS systems are also programmed to keep accurate track of the inventory and conduct comparisons with the items which have been sold. A clear perception of your requirements and in-possession inventory along with all that is going to waste, leads to cost effectiveness and greater savings for your business.

Along with the above, these systems are also capable of generating sales and cost reports, employee payroll slips and other functions like keeping track of cash receipts, recording of client preferences and so forth.

Tips Which Ensure Positive Customer Experiences and Loyalty

Are you planning to set up a full service restaurant or coffee shop? Positive customer experiences are one of the key success factors for reaping in great dividends and a long list of loyal customers. Given below are some important points to keep in mind-- as you plan out your restaurant ordering system or other factors contributing to great customer service and support.

The Employees in your Establishment

How often have you been bowled over by the courteous attitude and pleasant demeanor of the employee waiting to take your order with a smart POS coffee shop in place? Employees related to a restaurant or cafeterias are the first point of interaction with the services rendered by the establishment. Undoubtedly, a well trained team of restaurant staff will keep guests happy and make them come back for more.

Not any staff can cater to guests at the bar counter or table. It is important to train an enterprising team of young people ready to take on challenges and satisfy clients with their multitasking, friendliness, undivided attention and non-irritating behavior. They also have to be trustworthy, educated and capable of working in teams.

Handling of Customer Complaints

The next step towards generating loyalty from clients is in the way in which a restaurant or other establishment handles complaints. Things may go wrong at times—no matter how hard you try to make them otherwise. So, how do you deal with situations when food gets burnt or is left undercooked, orders are delayed or forgotten during peak hours of dining or when servers forget to behave as trained?

Regardless of the nature of complaint, employees in the hospitality business have to learn how to please their clients. Acknowledgement of the problem and empathy with the same is as important as laying down the realistic levels of expectation of the clients. Some research into the handling of common customer complaints will go a long away in helping you train your employees in the right manner.

Showcasing Customer appreciation

Actions always speak much louder than words—and the adage is all the more applicable in the field of hospitality and customer appreciation. Fortunately, this does not cost any money and can be imbibed into your system with a lot of efficacy and ease. Personal attention delivered by the manager or owner is always helpful in enhancing customer experiences and making them feel more wanted and at home.

Technological advancements and the advent of sophisticated hospitality management software have made it easy for restaurant owners like you to handle their guests with a lot more flair and ease. Right from programming the restaurant ordering system to making sure that all required details of the client are in place before he leaves the venue—the impact of technological inputs are being felt—and in more ways than one.

The Increasing Popularity of Restaurant POS Systems

Point of Sale Restaurants use computer-based technology for recording data, capturing orders and displaying tickets. Bartenders, restaurant servers and cashiers in these establishments use POS Restaurant systems to take and enter beverage and food orders—in an easy and comfortable way.

Capabilities of POS Applications
 

A POS fulfills the role of a computer as well as a cash register. As a rule, a POS Restaurant can consist of credit card terminals, multiple stations, display screens, receipt printers, server stations and hostess stations. A properly equipped POS system can add higher levels of accuracy and convenience and also save valuable time during peak hours of heavy business. Some of the capabilities and functions of a smart POS system are:

• Calculations of cash due for every single order entered into the system.

• Keeping record of the mode of payment.

• Creation of sales report on an hourly and daily basis.

• Recording of daily check averages of each worker on the restaurant floor.

• Keeping a track of all the menu items purchased by guests.

• Recording particulars and information regarding repeat customers.

• Keeping track of the cash present at any given of time in the cash drawer.

How do In-House Staff Use POS Systems
 

It is important to note that the features and functions of different POS systems vary from each other. User processes need to be customized to suit the service style and restaurant type of various establishments. The common steps involved in taking orders with a restaurant POS are:

• The name and/or user code of the employee is fed into the initial touch screen of the system. This allows access to the secure POS system.

• A new check or order is prepared using the menu items selected by the client. Full service restaurants usually opt for pre-created checks or order lists and the employee simply adds the table number and selected items to this list.

• The POS system sends the selected menu items that are ordered to the kitchen or bar counter via a digital display monitor or printed ticket.

• The bar or kitchen employees go through the order and start preparing the same-- for the wait staff, butler or other employee waiting to serve the guest.

• Restaurants which cater to clients looking for express or fast service usually program their POS systems to take orders and collect dues from the customers in a single step. In contrast, employees linked with full service restaurants present the check, wait for the guest to pay and then enter the requisite figures into the POS.

The reliability, accuracy and quick results offered by the POS systems installed in restaurants are reaping great advantages for their users and are becoming increasingly popular by the day.

Things You Should Know Before Buying for a Restaurant POS System

A very important business tool for the restaurant industry is a Point of Sale (POS) system. Since a POS system uses handheld devices, errors and omissions typical of the manual order taking process are eliminated when an automated restaurant ordering system is used.

Though having a Point of Sale restaurant is quite beneficial, the functioning and associated procedures of a POS system can be quite complex. Since implementing one is a substantial investment, you need to know what you’re getting into.

The following information might prove useful in familiarizing you, as a member of the restaurant industry, with POS concepts. Importantly, you’ll understand how your business can be protected from the usual pitfalls related to POS.

Get Familiar with Components and Costs

It’s important for you to know all the hardware and software components of your POS system. Some systems offer comprehensive functionality with others only the basics. When you are shown an initial demo, the system provider might use a lot of fancy equipment which may not be included in the quotation he provides. Ensure that he lets you know the pricing for all optional software and hardware that might not be part of the main quote.

In addition to this, make it a point to find out other affiliated charges such as license and installation fees along with possible recurring costs such as maintenance charges and fees for service level agreements (SLA).

By being well informed regarding how much total expenditure you’re in for initially as well as over a period of time, you can determine your total cost of ownership (TCO) and avoid any financial shocks later.

Ensure clearly defined Service Level Agreement and Fee Schedules

The SLA which is a negotiated agreement between you and the POS System Provider enlists the provider’s obligation with regards to his services, responsibilities and warranties. Sometimes, even penalties are agreed upon in the event of SLA non-compliance. A clearly defined SLA will go a long way in avoiding potential misunderstandings in future, minimizing questions and providing necessary recourse.

In addition to the initial POS system cost, you will need to incur recurring charges for services given by other business partners such as credit card processing, online ordering, time and attendance etc. It is advisable to confirm the party providing each service. You also need to be clear about fees for additional services like upgrades, software and hardware support and staff training. Once you have a schedule outlining all costs and their recurrence, you can plan your budgets accordingly.

Know your Service Provider and Affiliated Financial Benefits 

If you’re stuck in a non-profitable business relationship with your POS provider, it can have a detrimental effect on your restaurant’s operations. Before you actually sign a contract, make sure you know all options for terminating the agreement or payment processing and any other associated fees.

It is common for POS System Providers and payment processing companies to have revenue-sharing arrangements. Ask the POS System Provider to disclose financial benefits, if any, from such associations.

A System Provider may significantly bring down the cost of a POS system if you use the “processing services” of his company or increase it if you don’t. When processing is outsourced to an independent sales organization (ISO), the provider may charge more than the direct processor. Find out the additional services that you are getting from your System Provider which may not be available from the direct processor.

If you go in for a POS restaurant being well-informed, you’re sure to reap innumerable benefits. An organised workplace, increased revenues, happier customers and larger profit margins are only a few of them.

An Insight into Restaurant Point of Sale Software

When we refer to Point of Sale (POS) software, we address its essential features and applications linked with the hospitality or retail business. A well equipped restaurant Point of Sale software helps in managing the checkout operations and acts as an interface with which the perspective customer transacts--during the course of making a purchase.

What is POS software?

A restaurant wireless order taking system or POS terminal is located at the site at which a transaction takes place. Appropriately used as checkout systems, they also serve to perform the processes of electronic cash registers. They keep track of and record the sales/orders in a cafeteria, restaurant or other establishments linked with the hospitality industry.

These systems are often linked to very sophisticated backend driven IT systems and are associated with ordering, back-office stock control, inventory management and customer relationship management (CRM). 

What are the operating systems on which POS terminals work?

POS systems are generally manufactured, run and serviced by companies which use DOS, Linux, Windows and UNIX as their operating platforms.

What are the networks used by POS systems?

There is an exhaustive range of physical layer protocols used in the networks of these systems. The most widely used network in contemporary times is Ethernet—which is flexible, fast as well as inexpensive. However, with new technologies being interwoven in the restaurant management software, wireless based applications are being used to facilitate effective communication between the POS system and the kiosk.

This technology is being used to enable the tracking of orders, reservations and transactions of restaurants, cafeterias and drive-thru establishments.

Standardization of Point of Sale systems-

POS retailers and vendors are now working hard to bring about standardization in the technologies driving the POS systems. Along with bringing about reductions in their software, product and manufacturing costs, these updated systems are highly instrumental in increasing bottom line figures and customer loyalty alike.

OLE for POS (OPOS) is considered as the first standard which was commonly adopted by most vendors in the year 1996. Created by Microsoft, Fujitsu-ICL, Epson and NCR Corporation, these systems faced tough competition from the programs developed by IBM, Sun Microsystems and NCR Corporation in the year 1997.

JavaPOS was first released in 1999, and is an independent platform which has similarity with OPOS standardized by Windows.

The future of POS software solutions-

The flexibility options offered by the various features of wireless POS terminals are making them a preferred choice for restaurant and café owners along with others associated with the retail and hospitality industry. High volume and high end restaurants are shifting towards handheld POS devices; instead of the traditional and complex programmed systems.

Secure, reliable, cost effective and highly accurate—POS systems of today are creating a paradigm shift in the world of customer service, tracking of transactions, inventory management, contact database management and other associated fields of operation. With web based POS applications on the rise and Android applications making a strong impact on the way transactions are done and serviced; the going can only get better for these POS applications.