Finding the Best POS System

Whether you’re looking to make your first POS purchase or switching to a new system. There are many factors to consider when doing your research. First you need to decided what capabilities are best suited for your business. Does your POS need to:

• split checks multiple ways
• multiple open tabs
• advanced reservation
• floor layouts with tables and assigned seating
• order tickets can be printed to the kitchen
• inventory deductions based on ingredients in menu items
• to-go capabilities

After you’ve narrowed down your options be sure to account the following factors before you make your final decision.

Easy of Use

If  your POS interface is hard to understand and learn, you’ll have a difficult time processing sales and training your employees. This will cause you to waste time, money and create dissatisfied employees.

Great Customer Support

If you have questions or problems with your POS you’ll need reliable customer support. Look for systems that offer support in a timely manner without additional fees or troubleshooting.

Adaptability

With technology advancements like mobile payments and cloud-based software, look for a POS system built on a flexible platform. This will allow your system to support future integration and enhancements.

Robust Reporting

Your POS should be able to generate detailed sales reports, record margins and measure price effectiveness. You also need to look for a system that will track sales by department, item and hour to help with scheduling labor and allocating floor space.

Data Accessibility– Local server VS cloud-based

Traditional POS data is stored on a local server, in-house in the restaurant. While a cloud-based server stores your POS data online allowing you to access it anywhere, at anytime. Cloud-based servers are usually more ideal for small to medium sized businesses who need lower hardware costs, or for managers in need of instant access to data.

Pricing

Here are the initial costs to consider:

Setup/Hardware

The setup fee will vary depending upon the size of your business. If you have a larger business, expect a higher cost to get started.

Software

The fees for software can vary from a one-time licensing fee to monthly subscriptions. Be sure to budget accordingly depending on which POS you choose.

Credit card processing

Most POS systems will require you to setup a merchant account in order to accept credit or debit card payments. Credit card processing fees will vary depending on your sales volume.

To learn more information about POS systems check out these articles by Merchant Maverick and Shop Keep.

Interested in learning how POS data can be used to improve your business and team? Request a demo with us!