What Is a Restaurant POS Software?
A restaurant POS software is a point of sale system that processes the transactions that
happen at a restaurant. Initially, a traditional point of sale was just a restaurant billing
software that accepted orders and generated a receipt. However, with the advent of cloud
technology, the humble POS system evolved to become a complete restaurant
management system. Armed with Stock & Inventory Management, Smart Reporting &
Analytics, Customer Relationship Management and more, a restaurant POS reduces
manual labor and simplifies operations. Add to this integrations with the various third-
party applications such as Online Ordering, E-wallets, Table Reservations, Loyalty
Programs, etc., and the restaurant POS machine becomes an end-to-end solution for
restaurant management.
The cloud-based restaurant POS software works both online and offline; hence even if
your internet is not working, your POS will ensure that your restaurant operations never
stop.
Why You Need To Install A Restaurant POS Software
Let us look at the various ways a restaurant POS machine solves the daily challenges of
restaurant operations and management.
1. A Restaurant POS System Eases Your Billing Operations
Billing is one of the most critical operations in a restaurant. Apart from the simple billing,
multiple other things can improve the processes and enhance the customer experience.
Your restaurant POS system must allow both the customers and the servers to
view the entire menu on the tablet. Such a table billing feature will reduce the
manual labor involved and also increase customer delight.
A smart restaurant POS machine also allows split billing when demanded by
your customers.
Orders from all the delivery platforms will be pushed directly into the POS. This
eliminates the need to manually add the orders received from the various online
ordering channels. Along with the orders, come the customer details that can be
directly added to your CRM database.
2. A Restaurant POS System Allows You To Have A Tight Control
Over Your Stock & Inventory
Not having a keen eye on your stock and inventory section can be one of the biggest
blunders that you are making. Over-ordering or under-ordering, both can be disastrous
for your restaurant. Hence, while selecting a restaurant POS, make sure that it allows you
to have tight control over this section which can be a source of your constant worry.
A smart restaurant POS system with an integrated Inventory
Management System sends you an alert whenever any stock item
reaches its reorder level. This not only ensures that you never order while
that item is still in stock, but it also ensures that your kitchen never runs out of
stock. Your POS will help you to avoid any inventory management mistakes that
you might otherwise unknowingly commit.
A right restaurant POS allows you totally the physical stock and the ideal stock,
which automatically reduces the scope of any discrepancy when it comes to
inventory.
Recipe management is an integral feature of Inventory Management as it keeps
track of the amount of stock consumed while preparing each dish. Integrated
with the POS, this feature gives you detailed accounts of the amount of actual
stock consumed.
In case you have multiple outlets and a single base kitchen, your POS must have
a Central Kitchen Module to ensure proper circulation of raw materials and
semi-processed items to the various outlets.
3. A Restaurant POS System Will Augment Your Customer
Relationship Management
You as a restaurant owner must always try an cultivate a strong customer
relationship with your customers. How a restaurant POS will help you to develop a better
relationship with your customers are:
With the help of your restaurant POS, you can centrally manage your complete
customer database. In the case of multiple outlets, you can have a central
database of customers and segment the customers based on their geography,
ordering behavior and history.
Once you have the entire customer details, you can very quickly send
customized SMS and emails informing your customers about the new
happenings at your restaurant, like, hosting events, providing offers and
discounts.
Loyalty programs are a great way to increase customer retention. Integrated
with the CRM, you can run customized Loyalty Programs and target customers
better.
4. A Restaurant POS System Helps You Manage Multiple Outlets
In business, one always aims for expansion, right? To achieve this dream, you will have
to install a restaurant POS system that will help you in your business expansion. The best
restaurant POS software comes with all these features and more. The ways in which a
restaurant POS can help you in your expansion are:
You will receive a detailed account of all the sales reports across all your outlets.
The sales account for all the outlet
The stock available in all the outlets
You will even receive a comparison of sales reports across all your outlets.
Once you are assured that you will be able to receive all the information of all your
outlets right at one place, your apprehension regarding how you will go about managing
various outlets all at once will automatically be resolved.
5. You Will Receive Real-Time Reports From Your Restaurant POS
System
Many a time you might be unable to visit your restaurant physically. However, this
doesn’t mean that you have to be dependant on your restaurant manager for the sales
reports. Your restaurant POS system will provide you with real-time reports, which will
ensure that you are always well aware of your restaurant operations.
A cloud-based restaurant POS system can be competent enough in providing you
detailed reports and accounts of all the operations that are happening at your
restaurant across all your outlets.
You as a restaurant owner will be able to customize reports as per your
convenience and even view graphical reports.
You will receive all these reports right on your mobile.
6. Restaurant POS System Will Arm You Against Internal Thefts
It is well known that in reality, the restaurant sector is a primary victim of internal thefts
and pilferage. Since your restaurant POS will be providing you real-time reports of all the
sales, the number of bills generated, stock available, the items sold, it will immensely
reduce the scope of theft and your dependency on your managers. You will be able to
single-handedly run your business from anywhere in the world right from your phone. All
the reports you receive will help you to understand if there is any misappropriation going
behind you in your restaurant.
You must always use a restaurant POS that is flexible enough, and the new technological
innovations can be integrated easily. This will ensure that your restaurant is updated and
is not running behind your competitors in the market.
