The Ultimate Restaurant POS Buying Guide

Restaurateurs usually think of innovation in their industry in terms of adding new signature dishes or daily specials to their menu. But today’s biggest innovations are occurring less on the menu and more in the technology that’s increasing efficiency in the restaurant industry. This POS buying guide will help you access next-generation restaurant POS systems that can profoundly impact business operations, guest satisfaction, revenue growth, and overall profitability. 

The replacement of on-site installation with cloud-based deployment, along with both the customizability and flexibility modern POS technology offers, have quickly become the hallmark of next-generation solutions. Don’t get left behind.

This Ultimate Restaurant POS Buying Guide offers a roadmap to success for both new and existing businesses. It includes insights for evaluating different solutions and practical guidance for making the right selection based on individual priorities and requirements. It also includes pointers for maximizing the value of the investment once you’ve implemented the system.

If you’re looking for another reason to download this free POS system buyer’s guide, here’s a preview of what’s inside.

POS Software Buyer’s Guide: Buying Considerations and Evaluation

Use this POS buyer’s guide to keep a list of key considerations on hand and to make sure your next POS system comes with the following capabilities:

Performance Reporting

Whether looking at menu item profitability, table seating configuration, server productivity, or any other metric, restaurateurs need to know to what extent a POS system will let them make ad hoc queries, generate reports, and refresh dashboards using any number of relevant data sets, over any time period, to get the answers they need.

Usability

Your new restaurant POS system should be easy to use. The interface should be attractive and intuitive. Screens should be laid out in a logical and easy-to-understand format, whether they relate to placing orders and processing payments or any of the back-office functions, such as accounting, reporting, and employee management. For both servers and management, as well as guests, the overall quality of the user experience should be kept top of mind throughout the purchasing process. 

Customization and Flexibility

Determining the extent to which a POS system allows for customization, as well as its relative limitations, can rank as critical buying considerations for restaurant operators who want control over how they run their businesses.

Ordering and Payment Capabilities

Look for a POS system that lets customers pay however they want: via cash, credit cards, gift cards, and mobile payment options. Take convenience a step further by opting for a POS that enables servers to place orders and process payments tableside, and eliminates the need for servers to travel back and forth between tables and a stationary terminal.

Most next-generation POS systems also facilitate routine tasks, like check-splitting by item or number of guests. Most of these systems come with preset tip percentage options, which virtually all guests can appreciate — while also working to the benefit of servers in terms of their earnings.

Data Security Capabilities

POS systems that are EMV-compliant are a must to protect customers from having their credit card information compromised. 

Along with safeguarding cardholder data against potential outside theft, the systems also need to protect against the possibility of employee theft. One way to do this: automatically track all the cash that servers collect. Some systems offer “blind closeout” capabilities, which requires servers to reconcile all cash across all drawers at the end of each shift, without them knowing the precise amount they are expected to collectively turn over. Apart from ensuring employee accountability, this approach will help make end-of-day tasks quick and painless.

Setup, Support, and Training

Purchasing a new restaurant POS system means entering into a potentially long-term relationship with a solution provider. With that in mind, buyers should go with a company that offers a sufficiently high level of customer support, from implementation, to addressing any day-to-day operational issues that may arise down the road.

Download our free Ultimate Restaurant POS Buying Guide to get more expert intel on purchasing this critical restaurant technology.