8 Reasons to Choose New POS Software for Your Restaurant

Restaurant point-of-sale software, often called POS software, allows business owners to integrate their delivery, online orders, inventory management, customer relationships, and more, all in one place.

POS systems have many features that make them a valuable resource for business owners to increase sales while improving the customer experience. Each software system has unique capabilities to improve overall business operations.

If you’re currently using POS software but are questioning if it’s right for your business, here are eight signs it’s time to choose a new POS tool.

1. Online Ordering and Delivery Integration

Restaurants with integrated online ordering and delivery options reduce friction for customers while increasing overall satisfaction for both customers and restaurant operators.

POS systems enable customers to order and pay online, as well as have food delivered or arranged for pickup.

If you’re using a POS system that doesn’t offer online ordering or integrated delivery options, it’s a clear sign that it’s time to choose new POS software.

The best POS systems for restaurants have built-in ordering features that seamlessly connect customers to the kitchen display. Orders are effortlessly received and then prepared on time, making it easy to manage and fulfill customer requests.

Online ordering and delivery integration features may include:

• QR code ordering
• Digital ordering
• Self-service kiosks
• Online menu with real-time updates
• Third-party delivery integration (Uber Eats, GrubHub, etc).

These features can enhance the customer experience, ultimately leading to increased sales and revenue.

2. Inventory Management and Reporting

Inventory management is a critical element of any restaurant POS system. This feature tracks inventory levels without requiring employees to lift a finger, reduces waste, and optimizes ordering. Old school inventory management involved a lot of counting and wasted time.

If you’re using a POS system that doesn’t offer inventory management and reporting, it’s a clear sign to choose new POS software.

A great POS system offers full-scale inventory management features, including automatic inventory tracking, low-stock alerts, and reporting tools. Teams will still need to manually check inventory periodically to ensure accuracy.

Inventory reporting tools are more than just integrated reporting features; they allow restaurant owners to identify trends and optimize their inventory management strategies.

3. Kitchen Operations

Restaurant kitchen operations are at the heart of your business. How things run in the kitchen is critical, and a trustworthy point-of-sale system will provide features to ensure kitchen operations run smoothly.

Kitchen displays offer the best features, allowing kitchen staff to stay organized while providing a high level of service. It can also improve communication between the front and back of the house.

Kitchen Display Systems

Kitchen display systems are a POS hardware that displays orders and tickets in the kitchen on tablets or screens, which enables employees to prepare orders quickly.

A good kitchen display system should be easy to use, reliable, and customizable, with features such as automatic ticket timing and routing.

4. Customer Relationship Management

At first thought, customer relationship management and POS software don’t seem to go hand in hand. However, customer relationship management is a crucial aspect of any restaurant POS system, as it fosters loyalty and enhances customer retention.

POS system's customer relationship management features:

• Track customer data
• Customer feedback tools
• Customer loyalty programs
• Omnichannel marketing and sales
• Email marketing

These features enable restaurant owners to build strong relationships with their customers.

How Can POS Systems Build Customer Loyalty?

Creating an environment that supports customer loyalty is essential for restaurants, as it helps increase retention and drive sales. Customer loyalty is one of the natural growth engines in the restaurant industry.

A reliable, tech-forward POS system should provide features that facilitate the natural progression of building customer loyalty, such as customer loyalty programs, rewards programs, and personalized marketing tools.

Through these tools, restaurant owners can build strong relationships with their customers while increasing loyalty.

5. Labor and Staff Management

Managing staff or labor can be a full-time job in itself. Restaurant POS systems can help optimize labor costs while improving efficiency. If your POS system isn’t reducing these costs and making staff management easier, it’s time to choose new POS software.

Additional features such as scheduling tools, labor reporting, and employee management help restaurant owners oversee their staff while optimizing labor costs. The right POS system should also provide tools for managing tips, benefits, and other employee-related expenses.

6. Cloud-Based Solutions

POS systems that offer cloud-based services can provide more benefits for restaurants, which range from scalability to reliability and increased flexibility.

Cloud-based POS services enable your restaurant system to be accessed from anywhere, at any time, making it easier to manage restaurant operations remotely. Or if you’re more hands-off during vacation, at least follow up and see that things are running smoothly.

Cloud-based POS systems also offer automatic updates and backups, thereby reducing the risk of data loss and enhancing overall system reliability.

One key consideration with cloud-based POS systems is the need for enhanced security to protect your business.

7. Payment Processing

Accepting and processing payments allows restaurants to run smoothly. Restaurant POS systems manage credit card payments, cash transactions, and all other forms of payment, such as redeeming loyalty member points or rewards for earned gifts.

Payment processing is a basic requirement of any POS system, and if your current system isn’t running smoothly, it’s a sure sign it’s time to choose new POS software.

In every business, not just the restaurant industry, a good POS system should offer reliable, secure payment processing. Features such as EMV chip card readers and contactless payment options allow customers to pay instantly without stress or friction.

Payment processing fees can come at a significant cost for restaurants, particularly for smaller businesses, making it essential to choose a POS system with competitive pricing and transaction fees.

8. Implementation and Support

When adding any new tool to a business, it should offer support and be easy to implement. The right POS system will bridge the gap of your current system and offer a smooth transition without difficulty for business owners, employees, or customers.

If your current POS system is “too difficult” to integrate into your business or the software provider isn’t also providing ongoing support, this is a sign to choose a new POS software.

A reliable POS system will provide comprehensive implementation and support services, which may include installation, training, and ongoing technical support.

Restaurant owners should also consider the level of customer support provided, including phone, email, and online support options, which may or may not be integrated into the system.

Frequently Asked Questions About Restaurant POS Software

What is a point-of-sale (POS) system?

A point-of-sale (POS) system is a software and hardware tool that enables businesses to process sales and payments, manage inventory, and collect sales and customer data.

How do you choose the best POS system?

Choosing the best POS system for your business depends on your needs. For example, if you’re a small business and you need a system that can “do it all,” look for robust software that covers a range of features.

The Bottom Line

The best POS software for restaurants offers features such as inventory management, online ordering, kitchen displays for seamless food preparation, labor management, customer relationship management, and delivery integrations.

By selecting a POS system that meets your restaurant's specific needs, you can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance the customer experience. Restaurants can also streamline operations, enhance customer satisfaction, and drive sales and growth by utilizing these systems.

Paytornix offers a platform with over 450 integrations, including over 30 integrations with POS systems alone. This tool enables you to manage your entire business from a single, central location, allowing you to run your business more effectively.

To learn about how to simplify your tech stack and improve guest engagement, check out Paytronix's ebook.