Forget about antiquated cash registers. These days, restaurants are ringing up sales with restaurant POS software and systems. Basic systems include a computer, a cash drawer, a touch-screen monitor and a receipt printer. More sophisticated versions of these nifty systems can do a lot more than simply take orders and process payments. Souped-up restaurant POS software can help you:
1. Track reservations and seating.
2. Fine-tune inventory management.
3. Increase efficiency.
4. Reduce labor costs.
5. Improve customer service.
6. Reduce shrinkage.
7. Schedule employees.
8. Analyze your business with reports.
Switching from a paper-based order-taking system to a restaurant POS system is pricey — a single system can set you back more than $2,000. The transition is also time-consuming and requires a real commitment to training. Getting employees up to speed can be a painstaking process. But the effort can pay off handsomely in the long run.
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Quick-service restaurant POS systems
In the quick-service industry, time is of the essence, which makes a restaurant POS system a must-have. Quick-service eateries can get by with the most basic restaurant POS software, with which orders taken in the front are automatically printed out in the back where food is being assembled.
I recommend: POSNation offers quick-service restaurant point of sale systems whether you need one station or more than five stations.
Restaurant Manager is also designed with quick service in mind. For more restaurant point of sale systems suppliers, check out
Business.com.
Table-service restaurant POS software and systems
More sophisticated restaurant point of sale software lets you enter your own menu and seating arrangements and helps you communicate orders to the kitchen and bar, track reservations and seating and handle payments. Upscale dining establishments often need restaurant POS systems stations in multiple locations, including the hostess station, the server station, the bar and the kitchen. Pumped-up restaurant POS software allows servers to alert the kitchen when it’s time to start the next course.
I recommend: Download a demo of
Aldelo Pro for Restaurants or of
Maitre’D POS, which offers specialized solutions for table service restaurants, quick-service restaurants and bars. Also scan the directory of restaurant software providers at
Business.com.
Restaurant POS systems for bars and nightclubs
If you’re in the bar/nightclub business, invest in restaurant POS software that offers reports on pour activity, including number of pours from a specific bottle, brand or price category, as well as overpours, costs per pour and more.
I recommend: Check
Business.com for vendors, including
POSNation, which offers a restaurant POS system designed specifically for bars and nightclubs.
POS restaurant software and systems for pizza and delivery joints
In the fast-paced delivery field, getting pizzas and other takeout foods to diners on time is crucial. POS restaurant software can speed up the order-taking process and provide real-time driver dispatch and routing.
I recommend: MicroWorks,
RestaurantPOS.com and
Nurol.com offer restaurant point of sale software and systems designed specifically for pizza and delivery shops.
Handheld restaurant POS systems
Speed up order taking and improve communication and customer service even more with handheld restaurant point of sale systems. Handheld systems allow wait staff to spend more time at the table rather than at a POS station and allow managers and owners to access the POS system from anywhere in the restaurant.
I recommend: Write-On Handheld relies on handwriting recognition, making it very easy for wait staff to enter orders.
MicroWorks also offers a version of a handheld device to be used with its restaurant POS systems.
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