When you’re looking for a new POS restaurant system, it can be tough to know where to start. There are so many options out there that just adding POS into your search terms won’t often give you a clear insight of what’s available or how much one costs, let alone how each option works.
Don’t wait until the last minute to buy a new POS restaurant system. Now is as good of a time as any. Do some research and compare features, then find out which one will work best for your business before making this important purchase decision. To ensure you get the best POS for your needs, look for some of the features below:
Quick Checkout and Speedy Interface
One of the most important features of a restaurant or bar POS is speed. When you get busy on Friday and Saturday nights, it’s essential that your system isn’t lagging because people might be turned away at the door by the slow service.
Also, most tablet systems out there today rely heavily upon internet bandwidth as well which can cause problems for those with slow connection speeds—meaning their own experience might suffer too if things go slow.
Restaurants with a local hardwired system are typically more reliable than those that use the internet. So be sure to find out if your restaurant is only wired for communication or not, as this will affect its performance in different ways and may determine how much speed you need.
Easy to Manage
Systems can be as complicated or simple, depending on your needs. If you’re looking for the most advanced system possible with all of its bells and whistles then there are systems out there that will meet this high standard. But is it really worth paying extra money just because they have what seems like an endless number of features?
An important decision to make is whether you want a more complicated system that will require professional installation and training, or an easier one with pre-programmed features.
Easy to Use
A number of companies now offer access to their POS software, so finding the right one for your business can be tricky. One way that you can narrow down which products are best suited towards what type or size restaurant is by taking part in a live demo and seeing how easy it is to use before making any purchases.
Learn about the software configuration of what you’re looking for, because there are many different programs. You will want to make sure that it’s not too difficult or time-consuming when using these basic tasks like placing orders and checking out quickly with your bartender.
Finding a restaurant system that is easy to use and one where your staff can easily input their orders will make life easier for everyone. To see if this software works well with other businesses, ask around at local restaurants or find out more about it online beforehand so you know what features are available before committing.
Inventory Control
One of the most important aspects in running a successful restaurant is keeping track and knowing how much food you have on hand. This way, your costs will stay low because there’s no need for unnecessary spending or overproduction; plus with an accurate inventory control system, it becomes easier to make more profitable deals when ordering from suppliers.
A POS system is a great way to manage your inventory efficiently, and some even have built-in features that allow you to control it. If you want more granular power over how the product count gets calculated when making sales or purchases, most systems offer third party integrations so users can connect with compatible platforms.