The 7 Characteristics of the Best POS System for Your Restaurant

“Quick Summary” Every restaurant manager wants their staff to provide an excellent customer experience. That's why the best restaurant POS systems are designed with service in mind. The most successful restaurants use these systems to handle unique customer requests better, get feedback on food quality, and more. 

When choosing POS software for your restaurant , it is essential to consider all the factors relevant to how well a POS system will work with the needs of your business. Below, we have outlined 7 of the best restaurant POS system features to make it easier to choose the right one for you.

1. Customer Experience

This is probably the most important factor in selecting a POS system. Your POS system needs to handle all of the day-to-day transactions. Besides, it also needs to be user-friendly and enjoyable for customers. Customers expect to order and pay for their food with minimal hassle. The ideal system should provide an easy interface for customers to place orders, choose their payment method, and receive quick service from the waitstaff. 

If your guests have a bad experience, they may not consider revisiting your restaurant, resulting in decreased revenue. This is why you need a POS system that can provide excellent customer service without making your employees' jobs harder than they already are.

Related Blog: How to Choose the Best POS System for your Restaurant?

2. User Experience

The best POS system should have an intuitive design that's easy to navigate and understand. Even if users aren't computer savvy, they should still figure out how it works quickly without needing extra help from their colleagues. 

Moreover, your POS system should be intuitive to use and easy to learn. Because you don't want your staff spending hours in training, or even worse not using the system because it's too complicated. A good POS will have a clear, logical layout that makes sense for the restaurant industry.

3. Data Access & Control

POS systems are used to manage a restaurant's finances. Therefore, the best POS system for restaurants should give you easy access to critical data for your business. You should be able to access your sales reports from any device. This includes not only PCs and laptops but also smartphones and tablets.

The POS system should have controls to set up departments or zone-specific budgets. These controls will help you track their performance vis-à-vis budgets. 

4. Security

Choose a POS system for your restaurant that handles financial data and transactions. Buy a secured POS System that stores no credit card information and is PCI compliant. 

When it comes to your customer's data safety, you can never be too careful. Features of most restaurant POS systems are designed with some level of security. But it is not uncommon for cybercriminals to break through even the most robust security measures.  So look for a system that has proved resistant to hacking attempts and malware. It should use encryption when storing your customer's credit card information. 

5. Reporting

You need to know what's going on in your business at any given time. 

• How many tables are open?
• How many tickets have been run?
• How much money has been collected?

You'll need this information for tax purposes and running your business effectively.

The best POS system for your restaurant will give you all this information and more.

The most effective POS systems have built-in reporting features that allow you to analyze sales and inventory data, trends, and more. They will provide you with the information you need to make informed business decisions and take action based on what your numbers are telling you. 

6. Inventory

If you're running a restaurant, you know how important it is to keep track of your inventory. Therefore, when choosing POS software for your restaurant, the first thing to consider is how well it handles inventory. If you don't have an accurate idea of your inventory, you cannot track it. The cost of inventory loss is a big reason for restaurants to go out of business. You don't want to be like them!

In addition, you need to find out the best way to price items on your menu. A sound POS system will make this easy for you!

Related Blog: Best POS Systems for Inventory Management

7. Speed

The speed at which a POS system can process orders is essential for restaurants and bars. Not only does speed affect how long customers have to wait for their food, but it also affects the efficiency of your kitchen. The POS system you choose for your restaurant has to handle large queues and complex orders from multiple chefs. You don't want to be behind on orders because your POS system is slow. 

Customers won't come back if they feel their orders take too long to complete. The best POS systems for restaurants can process orders as quickly as possible.

Moreover, you should expect your POS system to run at high speeds, allowing easy transaction processing. The faster the system works, the more productive your staff will be. 

It's all about speed to market and efficiency to accuracy. Speed also means that your team can move faster through the ordering process to get more customers in and out in a shorter amount of time. This helps ensure that you're getting the most out of your staff.

Related Blog: Benefits of setting up the right QR Code POS System for your Restaurant

Conclusion

A POS system is a must-have for any restaurant. It allows you to keep track of your inventory, manage employee hours, complete work orders, and much more. All this put together will make it easier and more efficient for customers to order food from your restaurant. The best POS systems will increase the efficiency of your business, reduce errors, and help you stay organized.