For any restaurant, the key reporting and recording tool available to them is their point of sale (POS) system. When a restaurant point of sale on iPad system is first installed, people will need to get trained on it, so that it can be used to its full capacity. So what are some of the key things this type of system can done for you?
Credit Card Processing
It is very important that a POS system is able to take the order of a customer, and to make sure the fees for these orders are properly created. Most consumers now use credit or debit cards rather than cash, which is why it is very important that these systems can handle those types of payments. Do make sure, before you choose your POS system, that it is compatible with your personal merchant account. Additionally, it should be capable of adding tips and, if you have a bar, the bar tab.
Organization Tools
A good POS system is reliable and accurate, which is how it can process different orders and make sure payments are collected. However, they also help to organize the restaurant business as a whole. Orders are handled clearly and easily, as well as being serviced as early as possible. Because everything is properly organized, customer satisfaction is increased, which in turn makes it more likely for them to return.
Key Features of a Good POS System
There are a number of key things that a good POS system should be able to do for restaurants, including:
- Table management. Ideally, your restaurant is filled to capacity. However, doing so makes it more difficult to manage everyone with care an expertise. When you have a good POS system, however, you can ensure reservations are recorded and what the expected length of time is someone will stay based on what they ordered. This ensures the entire establishment runs efficiently.
- Tracking of orders. No longer do waiters have to scribble orders. Rather, they take them at the table and a copy is immediately sent to the kitchen for processing. This means that waiters no longer have to walk backwards and forwards between the dining area and the kitchen, making them far more effective.
- Inventory tracking. This is a key element of the restaurant POS system, because it ensures a restaurant always have the right items in stock, and don’t overorder certain ingredients or items that don’t get used. This is all automated, particularly if you have specific suppliers with whom you have an account. This reduces waste and makes the entire process more cost-effective as well.
Besides all the above benefits, POS systems can generate cost and sales report, time schedule staff, run payroll slips, track receipts, create client accounts with preferences, and much, much more. Take the time to consider what your individual needs as a restaurant are, and look into the systems that are available. You are guaranteed to find the system that best suits your personal needs.