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.

Is it Time to switch over to the Benefits of Free Café POS Software?

How often have you felt the urge to look around for appropriate free café POS software to address the ever increasing hardware problems surfacing in your establishment? Are you are desirous of re-installing the point of sales terminal in your restaurant or café? Are you now looking for reliable and secure restaurant POS software free programs to counter the increasing day to day costs and concerns connected with your system in use?

If your answers are in the affirmative, then do read on to understand the features of recently launched and inexpensive hand held devices , printers and outers –which are fast toppling over industry specific wireless programs and traditionally modeled POS setups.

Why move away from established POS terminal systems?

Even though your outdated and established POS terminal system offers configured solutions on a day-to-day basis, it still proves to be complex and adds little value to your work processes. Your propriety software was probably launched much before the advent of smart and innovative hand held devices and runs on costly licenses—with low productivity gains.

Under the circumstances, it makes good business sense to shift to the power packed features offered by multi-touch mobile platforms and devices; which are cost effective, accurate and promise to improve your bottom line figures.

The quantum of support offered-

Traditionally setup point of sale software solutions came packaged with installed programs, licenses and pre defined periods of customer support. Clients using these systems are generally aware that after a period of time, the technology featured in these systems become obsolete and do not attract immediate and satisfactory support. This leads to refurbishing of contractual agreements and updating of software on a regular basis –and all this comes at a cost.

Newly launched POS systems promise ongoing customer and software support and are well equipped to address the various concerns of restaurant and cafeteria owners. Therefore, your overall cost of ownership is reduced to a great extent and harnesses lower maintenance figures.

Reliable features offered by Restaurant Software Management programs-

• Offers cross checks for payments before clearance of bills.

• Online spreadsheets updated on a regular basis through well planned inventory management systems.

• Logs the time of staff sign in and sign out with accuracy.

• High replication distribution systems help in the creation of distributed databases, which ensures synchronization and high levels of security.

• Different colorations used to depict the correct status of orders and reservations.

• Cloud or browser printing techniques used for kitchen orders.

• Correct order status tracing with colors and flags.

Along with the above mentioned features and benefits, properly programmed POS terminals also go a long way in building up customer loyalty. They keep track of the reward systems offered by your establishment and help generate repeat visits and business; through customer contact management and other functions which ensure attraction of new clients and retaining of old patrons.

So, get ready to experience the newly developed features of café POS software and restaurant management systems.

Android POS Terminal to Increase Your Restaurant’s Efficiency Multi-fold

So called overpriced and traditional “solutions” and Point of Sales terminals are now passé. Highly power packed and versatile Restaurant management systems are the order of the day. With a host of features and caveat of attributes and offerings, Android POS for restaurant and software compatible with applications associated with the coffee shop POS iPad, are now making their mark felt—and in more ways than one!

At about 5% of the cost of the outdated point of sale systems used in your restaurant or establishment, these Android based programs are much more secure and streamlined. Very easy to use and extremely workplace friendly-- they can be operated on thin hand held devices –which are obviously the first choice for your customers and employees alike.

So, get ready to enjoy the advantages of rock bottom rates on a monthly basis, free restaurant menu creation software and secure payment options. A small insight into the features of this software and its various benefits will throw light on why you should consider shifting to the Android POS terminal.

Why should you shift to the Android POS terminal?

• It helps you replace and do away with paper menus and outdated features of your existing POS program. Thin, state-of-the-art and highly feature packed Android handheld devices and tablets make your restaurant point of sale processes more accurate, easier and convenient.

• Say no to overpriced and bulky POS programs and terminals which can notch up figures running into thousands of dollars under the “Assets” column of your balance sheet. Apart from decreasing your overhead costs of maintenance and installation, they serve to make your bottom line figures all the more attractive.

• With features like benchmarked inventory management systems, secure batch processing and single button reporting on their cards, Android Point of Sale systems are the most appropriate choice for your restaurant.

• The licenses associated with POS terminals also come at a cost – which can also run into thousands of dollars for each license. With the system in place, you need not worry about investing in expensive multi-use or other software licenses.

• The smartly built in inventory management system allows you to track your sales transactions, status of inventory and the items which are leading you towards losses—all in real time.

Best features of Android POS Restaurant systems

• They include well framed restaurant menu software.

• Serve to reduce the time taken for management reporting; with innovative features for generating end of day sales reports, data management and batch processing.

• Help in the reduction of errors connected with taking customer orders. Digital menus minimize the margin of errors and make sure that the right dish is served to all patrons-- at the right time.

• Ascertains the correct stock position of all raw materials and ingredients to make sure that all the popular menu options are available-- at all times.

• Leads to improved levels of operations, cuts down the point of sales costs and helps you enjoy supercharged figures on your ROI.

As a restaurant owner looking for best solutions for managing your POS terminal, you simply cannot go wrong with the Android point of sale application in place.

Are you Ready to Purchase the best Coffee Shop POS?

Are you ready to launch yourself in the world of “Java” and coffee beans with a brand new coffee outlet? Well, if you are browsing around for the best POS coffee shop program for your new cafeteria or are desirous of reinstalling the café management software in your existing facility-- then you certainly are spoilt for choices-- with a host of solutions in the offing.

Do read on for some vital inputs into the factors that need consideration while choosing the appropriate coffee shop software suite.

The processes performed by the POS coffee outlet -

As a coffee shop owner, you certainly understand that your point of sale requirements vary from your competitor across the street. Amongst the many processes and functions performed by the software, the most important are:

• Organizing the contact information and personal details of regular patrons.

• Keeping a track of the reward points of customers.

• Updating the correct status of inventory after every sales transaction.

Most stores go in for more generic function and processes which include online table reservation, internet based ordering system, sharing the status of logged in users, printing order notes for the kitchen, tracking order status through different colours , flagging of late orders and so forth.

What are the levels of customer service required by you?

Restaurant software programmers and manufacturers offer different levels of services to their clients. You have to decide the levels of aid and service required after setting up the POS system in your coffee shop or establishment.

Citing an example, some sellers offer the services of a trainer to hand hold the operations of your system for a pre-defined period of time. They work on-ground with your new employees-- until they are confident of logging into and running the software on their own. Others may simply offer their support through phone calls or through their online customer service forums. 

Will the POS program fit your budget?

Apart from syncing with all your specific coffee shop needs and requirements, the POS program should also fall in line with your budget. Adherence to your pre-defined budgetary limits necessitates a thorough analysis of all the various features required by you and paying for only those services which you plan to use in the long run.

Management software for your coffee shop should be purchased after a comparative study of the prices of all the available software in the market.

In reality, it sometimes becomes quite cumbersome for shoppers like you to select the best software coffee shop for their customized needs and requirements. The selected POS system will not only impact each and every aspect of your day to day running of the show; but will also have a positive impact on how your employees and on ground staff help customers buy their favourite beverage on the menu.

It’s official. The moment your customer lays his eyes on your smartly trained employees punching in orders on a well equipped point of sale platform, they know that they can look forward to delightful moments in a coffee shop-- which cares about customer experience.