4 ways POS solutions help restaurants beyond payment acceptance

Whether you are first starting out or growing your restaurant, it is important to make thoughtful investments in operations, hiring, and technology to set yourself up for success*. These financial commitments to your future will create some operating overhead – including inventory, utilities, payroll and more. Managing expenses and finding opportunities to boost savings is important for restaurant profitability. Learn how an integrated point-of-sale (POS) solution can help you closely track cash flow and grow your bottom line.

Your POS solution is much more than a cash register – modern solutions bring together all daily business activities into a single cloud-based platform, allowing you to closely monitor operations and identify areas for improvement. This setup allows you to seamlessly switch between handheld terminals, tablets, desktop registers, and mobile devices (depending on the customer experience you are trying to create). Regardless of how you take orders or accept payments from customers, all transaction data flows back to a single source where you can analyze sales trends, optimize staffing and improve menu options. Ultimately, this level of data availability and ease of use will help you identify opportunities to reduce operating expenses and reinvest profits in areas of improvement.

1. Reduce waste in your restaurant operations

Restaurant management is trickier than other types of small businesses because most inventory items are perishable. That’s why it is critical to merge your inventory management* with your POS solution so that you have a real-time view of inventory levels, expiration dates, purchase orders, and supplier invoices. Then, you can closely track inventory usage and find opportunities to reduce waste – this data can help you decide to change resupply schedules, remove unpopular menu items, and boost efficiency in your kitchen.

2. Maximize employee performance and optimize staffing levels

Restaurant staff are only as efficient as the tools you give them – gone are the days of managing reservations, seating charts, and orders on paper. By equipping employees with handheld terminals that are synced with the back-of-house order management system, your servers and kitchen staff can fulfill orders more quickly and with less confusion than ever before. Further, integrating your POS solution with your scheduling platform and payroll systems can help you optimize shift staffing levels, award tips equitably*, offer employee performance incentives, and much more.

3. Improve the customer dining experience

Even as persistent restaurant industry trends challenge the dining experience – staffing shortages, price increases, and seasonal demand – research shows that consumer satisfaction* with dining experiences remains high. Diners value menu options, order accuracy, and staff helpfulness above most other factors – which is why it is critical to align your POS solution with these expectations to guarantee positive experiences and repeat visits.

Train your employees to use handheld terminals and other digital order tools to ensure every guest receives top-tier service and accurate order placement. This will help your front and back-of-house staff quickly turn orders into hot meals at the table and reduce negative experiences for guests. Further, the guest experience is not complete until the bill is paid – your POS solution can also help split bills and establish tabs for each patron, leaving your customers with a positive final impression of your restaurant.

4. Analyze sales and marketing performance

The key to business growth is data-driven decision-making – an integrated POS solution can help you analyze trends in restaurant sales and identify opportunities to invest in marketing activities. Consider launching a loyalty program, selling gift cards, offering seasonal promotions and more incentives for repeat customer visits and boost sales for lower-performing menu items. Once you establish these tactics, closely monitor their performance to end unsuccessful attempts and keep resources focused on improving marketing activities that grow sales.

Your overhead is your path to profit—get it right, and it becomes a rewarding investment in your future. Small business owners have to spend money to make money. Rather than viewing these expenses as a negative drain on your potential, you should treat them as building blocks for success. With the right POS system, your overhead is just the starting point for your growth and success.