Restaurants need POS systems in order to survive in such a fast-paced, demanding, competitive industry. Installing a restaurant POS system can take the hassle out of managing a restaurant and increase your profits in many ways. Here are four features your restaurant POS system must have.
1. Inventory Management
The two biggest expenses in the restaurant industry are inventory management and labor management. Restaurant POS systems can keep track of inventory, subtracting from your numbers after each sale. You will also be notified when a product is running low, enabling you to place a restocking order, and preventing you from truly running an item out of stock. Depending on your POS software, you may even be able to automate the whole process by setting reorder benchmarks for each item and allowing the system to send the reorder for you when those benchmarks are reached. This will prevent product spoilage due to overstocking, and 86 items due to understocking. You will never have to disappoint a customer again by telling them their favorite menu item is unavailable. What’s more, you will discover a hardy return on investment as your restaurant POS system helps mitigate expenses and decrease overhead inventory costs.
2. Labor Optimization
Restaurant POS systems can track sales by day and by time of day. This keeps you informed as to which days are busiest and which times of the day see the most traffic. Ultimately, this will allow you to schedule your employees accordingly, preventing you from over or understaffing, saving you on your second biggest expense, labor.
Employees simply clock in and out right on the restaurant POS system as well as record their tips. This allows you to accurately and effortlessly track hours and calculate labor costs. Such information is also vital for payroll purposes.
3. Rugged Tablet POS
Mobile POS is very capable of, and critical to enhancing your existing POS system. However, using consumer grade tablets, such as iPads, for taking orders right at the table is risky because restaurant environments are not suitable for delicate devices. Rugged tablet POS is the ideal option for your restaurant’s mobile POS device. Rugged tablets will handle the wear and tear of a kitchen environment as well as the constant handling by servers carrying them from table to table, taking orders, delivering food, and processing payments.
Processing payments tableside is actually a necessity for your restaurant POS system to be EMV Level 3 Certified, and the best way to do this is with a rugged mobile POS tablet.
4. All-in-one Host/Hostess Touch Screen Terminal
Restaurant POS systems can be optimized to include an all-in-one host/hostess touch screen terminal at the front of the restaurant. Employees can manage reservations, view open tables, and take to-go orders right on the screen. The terminals are ergonomically-efficient as well, taking up very little space while offering all the features a host or hostess may need.
Restaurant POS systems with these features can be a game-changer for your business. These must-haves can improve the efficiency and professionalism of your restaurant, leading to higher profits and an expansion of your customer base.
