If there is any positive change that COVID-19 has brought, it is an increased focus on safety. Consumers and business owners alike are more concerned than ever about reducing the spread of infectious diseases and are paying more attention to how these diseases are transmitted.
Your POS is a critical component of your restaurant technology, and as such, it’s often handled by many different people in a single shift. From servers entering in orders to managers entering in approvals, most of your employees come into contact with at least one of your terminals throughout the workday.
If you use self-service kiosks for tableside or kiosk ordering, you must sanitize well and frequently. Customers come into contact with these screens all day, every day. When you have a large number of people handling a single device, you must be cleaning and sanitizing it properly and often.
Taking these measures will help you create a safe environment for employees and guests alike:
Follow the Manufacturer’s Instructions
Since most devices vary in how they should be cleaned appropriately, the first step is to check with the device manufacturer. Generally, the manufacturer will have clear guidelines on what needs to be done and which cleaners are safe to use.
These instructions can be very specific, so be sure to follow these guidelines very carefully. Your hardware may require special cleaners to ensure that they don’t become damaged by harsh chemicals during the cleaning process.
If you’re in the market for an upgrade or your hardware is difficult to clean, this would be a great time to invest in new technology that can withstand frequent cleaning with disinfectants. You’ll likely need to continue these safety practices even after the pandemic is over and restrictions have lifted, as consumers are more aware of how diseases can be spread in the first place and will continue to be concerned with safety.
Download cleaning instructions from Touch Dynamic.
Use a Quality Disinfectant
If you’ve checked with your manufacturers and your technology can handle it, the CDC recommends using a sanitizer that contains a minimum of 60% isopropyl alcohol to effectively kill any viruses lingering on the surfaces of your technology.
Spray the disinfectant on a microfiber cloth, rather than spraying it directly on the surface area. This prevents excess cleaning solvent from seeping in between the cracks and ensures your technology doesn’t get scratched by any abrasive materials during the cleaning process.
You must do this regularly in between each use. If even one person comes into contact with your devices without them having been sanitized prior, you open yourself up to the risk of spreading the virus.
Because technology can easily be damaged with harsh chemicals, it’s essential to make sure that the chemicals you are using aren’t too strong.
Avoid:
- Keytone-based solvents
- Paint thinner
- Bleach
- Trichloroethylene
All of these contain chemicals that could damage plastics and shouldn’t be used with any POS, tablets, kiosks, printers, or other devices.
Download our free ebook: The Ultimate Guide to Navigating Your POS Technology Upgrade
Other Safety Measures to Take
Your POS isn’t the only surface that employees and customers come into contact with regularly. Surfaces that are touched often include door handles, tables, card readers, countertops, menus, and more. All of these surfaces must be wiped down regularly with a safe cleaning solution.
Set up hand sanitizing stations at strategic locations throughout your business—especially high-traffic areas like near restrooms and at POS terminals. Implement signage in your restrooms and throughout your facility, reminding employees and patrons to wash their hands regularly and thoroughly, for at least 20 seconds, and to dry them completely with a disposable towel.
It may be a good idea to make the switch to single-serving paper menus so that you don’t have to wipe down your menus after each customer touches one. Better yet, move your menu online to cut down on paper waste and costs. This provides you with the added benefit of having menu changes reflected immediately.
Train your employees to wear proper personal protective equipment, like masks and gloves if necessary. Make sure they know how often they need to wash their hands and what the updated safety procedures are.
Train them well on how often they need to clean and disinfect surfaces, and which surfaces need the most attention. A well-trained team of workers can operate as a cohesive productivity machine when they know what their responsibilities are and are prepared for how to carry them out.
Why It’s Important to Clean and Disinfect Regularly
Operating a restaurant in these times can be difficult. Implementing all of these new procedures can slow you down and make it feel like you’ll never be able to operate at the speed and capacity you had before.
It’s important to remember that customer safety is your top priority right now. Your customers want to feel like they can enjoy a safe dining experience with you. If you demonstrate that you uphold a commitment to cleanliness and safety, your customers will reward you with their trust and loyalty.
Think of this as an opportunity to build a better relationship with your customers, one based on trust and mutual respect for everyone’s safety. That is the best way forward. Only with a clear commitment to customer safety will you be able to stay competitive and profitable in a COVID landscape.
Contact Touch Dynamic today for precise instructions on how to clean your Touch Dynamic touchscreen terminals and devices.
